The British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Fleming, engaged with various stakeholders including elected representatives, police, community leaders, and groups of women and girls to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons at Taki in the North 24 Parganas district. This region is one of the most vulnerable areas for trafficking.
The interaction was part of the British Deputy High Commission-supported project ‘Naya Savera,’ implemented by the ASHA NGO in South and North 24 Parganas districts. The project aims to make vulnerable communities self-sufficient through sustainable livelihood opportunities and linkages to government schemes that provide food security, healthcare access, stipends, and pensions for girls and women. It also supports women entrepreneurs. The project’s objectives include reducing school dropout rates, child marriages, and child labor—all factors that contribute to trafficking.
Beneficiaries, including adolescent girls and women, shared their experiences and insights gained from the project in combating trafficking in persons. Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Fleming emphasized the importance of gaining insights from stakeholders actively working towards combating trafficking in Taki and its surroundings. He highlighted this year’s theme for World Day Against Trafficking—”Leave no child behind”—and stressed the importance of educating children, their parents, and the wider community to prevent exploitation, abuse, and trafficking. Drawing from his experiences combating trafficking in West Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan, Dr. Fleming acknowledged the unique complexities of border areas and expressed hope that community support would address these challenges holistically.
Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Secretary of ASHA NGO, expressed his privilege in continuing the partnership with the BDHC, Kolkata, through the ‘Naya Savera’ project. He explained that the project sensitizes the community on issues such as child marriage, unsafe migration, school dropouts, and online sexual abuse, which often lead to trafficking—a prevalent issue in the Sundarbans bordering Bangladesh. The initiative also supports Self Help Group women in enhancing their income through petty businesses and provides parenting supervision for adolescent girls. Collaborating with relevant government departments is seen as a crucial step toward eradicating trafficking.
The event was attended by various local dignitaries, including the Chairman of Taki Municipality, Somnath Mukherjee; Panchayat Pradhan of Barunhat, Abul Kalam; Chaitali Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Subrata Patra; Inspector in Charge of Hasnabad Police Station, Samir Das; and other police and government officials, as well as community leaders and beneficiaries.
West Bengal, with its porous international borders shared with Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Nepal, is particularly vulnerable to trafficking. The North 24 Parganas district has a 230 km border with Bangladesh, much of it unfenced river border. This situation facilitates smuggling and trafficking, making the border villages both transit and source points for trafficking. According to the Crime in India (NCRB) 2022 Report, West Bengal reported 19,540 missing children (3,360 boys and 16,180 girls). It is strongly suspected that many of these untraceable children may have been trafficked for cheap labor or commercial sex. Additionally, many cases remain unreported. The 2023 UNICEF report indicates that over half of the girls and women in India who married in childhood reside in five states, including West Bengal, where at least 40 percent of young women were married before turning 18. Child marriage is often a prelude to trafficking.
The COVID-19 pandemic’s prolonged lockdown exacerbated the situation for many families in the Sundarbans region, particularly migrant workers, seasonal laborers, and daily wage earners. The loss of income and purchasing power has led to near-starvation conditions, debt bondage, domestic violence, abuse, and increased trafficking, especially among adolescent girls and young women. The ‘Naya Savera’ project aims to educate the community, mitigate these challenges, and advocate for child protection.
