Goa, the land of beautiful
beaches, is an extremely popular destination for tourists from
different parts of the world. Unfortunately a serious area of
concern is the proliferation of incidents of violence against
women and children, drug abuse and crime. We are undertaking
an innovative research on the vulnerabilities of women and children
with community participation. The goal is to get community feedback
on area wise driving factors and identify ways to combat increase
in sex tourism and trafficking. Interactive street theatre shows
in Konkani, Hindi and Marathi are being held in beaches, jetties,
markets, bus stands, schools to build awareness on the issue.
The shows are creating a public platform for discussion and
providing insight into local push and pull factors.
Trafficking
in Person in West Bengal
It is a ground
reality that West Bengal has become a source, transit and
destination for trafficking. A large percentage of the victims
are trafficked into prostitution, while others are subjected
to domestic servitude, forced marriage, begging, crime and
other forms of exploitation. Women and children in backward
rural areas are particularly vulnerable owing to their low
socio-economic status, lack of awareness and poverty. Current
developmental trends like opening up of borders with globalization,
increase in migration, flourishing international sex trade,
demand for cheap labour have accentuated this terrible crime.
During 2005-2006, we are focusing on strengthening community
based structures to create an aware and vigil society to combat
trafficking. Here we share our learnings from a theatre based
research project in the Eastern Himalayan region and an awareness
campaign in Murshidabad.
Empowering
women to take action
Using theatre to build awareness on stopping
violence against women and children
West
Bengal
Emerging
vulnerabilities in the Northern Hills and Foothills
Out migration for
work has always been a tradition in the hilly areas of Darjeeling.
The menfolk have traditionally migrated to work in the army,
civil service and as security guards while women worked in
beauty parlours in big cities. A theatre based research intervention
in end 2005 revealed how migration has become unsafe and trafficking
in person is on the rise because of poverty, lack of income
opportunities and lure for a better lifestyle.
This area, because of its geographical characteristics which
deter stringent vigilance, is as such vulnerable to trafficking.
The girls of Mongoloid ethnicity , because of their looks
are in high demand.
Jalpaiguri
Tarai-
Siliguri Mahakuma Area in Darjeeling
Darjeeling
Hill area
Trafficking
in Person in Murshidabad
A large number of young
girls are married off by poor parents to grooms in other
states. Recently there has been an increase in 'grooms'
from Kashmir. Other destinations are Bihar and UP. In
many cases, these girls are married off to married old
men . The girls are then either forced into menial labour
or are sold off. Men from the area who work outside
take away young boys giving false promise of jobs. Young
boys are trafficked outside the country to Arabian countries
where they are forced to work as camel jockeys. The
villagers mentioned cases where poor men who had migrated
to work as daily labourers , had not received even half
the promised wages. Some times women from outside the
area come and befriend the locals. They tell tales of
a life of luxury and convince the parents to send the
girls with them. If the parents do not agree they even
abduct the girls.
Trafficked persons
are taken to Islampur, Domkal, Berhampore or Khagraghat
and then finally to Howrah or Sealdah to board long
distance trains. The poor parents often can not afford
to search for their children. Many do not even report
it to the Police Station as they are threatened by the
traffickers. Villagers even mentioned how they suspected
some persons to be involved in trafficking from signs
of sudden extravagance. In general , villagers felt
that poverty, lure for a better life, lack of awareness
on the ramifications of trafficking were leading to
increase in human trafficking
