Survivors of trafficking urge MPs to support TIP bill amendment

Vijayawada: The state level forum of sex workers and survivors of trafficking has written an open letter to all the members of parliament across India pleading for incorporating certain changes in the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021 that has been passed by the Union Cabinet.

Vimukthi, a state level collective of survivors of sex trafficking, commercial sexual exploitation and women in prostitution, appealed to the MPs to support the newlw drafted Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care & Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021 as it was victim-centric.

Vimukthi state convener S. Meharunnesa, co-convener, Pushpa and ILFAT state in-charge Bhanupriya urged Union minister for women and child welfare, Smriti Irani, to place the Bill with necessary amendments that have been suggested by survivors groups in the present session. They appealed to MPs from both Telugu-speaking states to ensure that the Bill is passed unanimously to achieve a ’human trafficking-free India’.

They said that while several necessary measures in ensuring care, dignity, and rehabilitation have been mentioned in the Bill, it has not fixed individual accountability. They mentioned that for example, in Chapter (V) there is no dedicated Rehabilitation fund mentioned in the Bill. They sought that a dedicated fund must be maintained for relief, rehabilitation, compensation, and funds for inter and intrastate investigations.

Women members said that reintegration of victims with the society and family, and community-based rehabilitation were crucial aspects but it does not define community-based rehabilitation or how it will ensure reintegration and its outcome parameters. They stated that the Bill makes just one mention about Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTU). They sought a law that would set out procedures and give clarity on sharing of responsibilities.