SHILLONG:
Meghalaya Director General of Police LR Bishnoi, on March 31, said understanding the dynamics behind human trafficking, use of technology, active coordination among different states and law enforcing agencies, including social groups are of utmost importance to solving the problems of trafficking.
Speaking at the State Level Conference on Anti-Human Trafficking here in the city, Bishnoi gave an insight into the grave problem of human trafficking in a country like India which is surrounded by international borders on all sides, particularly the North East, and how it can be prevented.
Emphasising on need for active coordination between different states, the DGP said taking advantage of the latest technology can also help curtail the crime to a great extent, while calling upon the citizens to play a role in curbing this menace in society, by reporting such crimes on time for police to act upon.
Asserting that generating awareness among the masses about the problems of human trafficking can go a long way in tackling this problem, Bishnoi warned of the presence of organised networks that trap young girls on the pretext on employment. “Sensitisation on the issue is something the government and NGOs have to do,” he said.
Citing 2016 as the worst year for Meghalaya and the entire North East when maximum number of human trafficking cases were registered, Bishnoi said though the number has gone down since then, “unfortunately in a few pockets of India, particularly Jharkhand, West Bengal, a few districts of Assam and Andhra Pradesh, human trafficking has increased during the lockdown,” he added.
“The lockdown created a lot of financial problems; and to overcome this problem, people realised that they have to go out in search for jobs. And because of such circumstances, the placement agencies exploited the situation and trafficking cases went up in certain pockets of India. But in Meghalaya, the trend after 2016 is by and large decreasing. So that is a good sign for all of us, and I hope that jointly, if we work together, we can overcome this problem,” he said.