Draft Manipur State Plan of Action for Preventing and Combating Child Trafficking presented

Imphal,  Feb 25:After submitting a  draft Manipur State Child Rights Policy, to the Department of Social Welfare Government of Manipur, the CHILD RIGHTS and YOU (CRY) Kolkata and Manipur Alliance for Child Rights (MACR) have taken up another paramount step by presenting a “Draft Manipur State Plan of Action for Preventing and Combating Child Trafficking”. The draft Action Plan was presented formally for first round of discussion by Mr. Ashim kumar Ghosh the Associate General Manager, CRY, Kolkata in an interaction session held yesterday at Imphal Hotel, by Classic, Imphal
“The draft Plan of Action came out considering the grim situation of the state, in which child trafficking continues as a serious organized heinous crime against the vulnerable section of the society in Manipur state. Children should be never equated asproperty, commodity or voiceless soldiers. They are human beings having inherent human Rights” said Mr. Ashim kumar Ghosh introducing the draft Action plan, which will be first of its kind in the whole north eastern states of India.  
The Action plan proposed a detailed structural and operational guidelines for effective prevention, combating of child trafficking and rehabilitation of trafficked survivors through synergizing different linked departments, stake holders and right bodies such as police, education, labour, medical, child rights commission, DCPUs, MSLSA, NGOs, CWCs, JJBs etc. apart from Social Welfare Department, which will take implementing role as a nodal department.
 It called for mandatory registration and monitoring of job placement agencies and safe migration arrangement  of children and young peoples  of the state seeking jobs,  restricting media from publishing advertisements of unregistered firms calling young candidates for jobs outside Manipur. The Action plan also signaled the emerging needs for enacting   a comprehensive Standard Operating Procedure(SOP)and Anti Human Trafficking Protocols for combating intra- states and intra-country child and human trafficking in the region, as Manipur being a gateway to South East Asian countries.
Speaking during the discussion session, Mr.  Montu Ahanthem Convener, MACR said that, “The Draft Action Plan will be submitted formally to the Department of Social Welfare, Government of Manipur for due rectification and notifying it as an official State Action Plan soon”.  The West Bengal State has already notified its State Action Plan for Prevention and Combating Child Trafficking in recent time.   Mrs. Rakshanda Associate General Manager of CRY Mumbai, KeisamPradipkumar Member, Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR), former Director Social Welfare Department and Former Chairperson MCPCR Mr. Sh. Sharatkumar Sharma were also present in the interaction session.