Lack of specialised training of police officials, in addition to they being overburdened, is a drawback in combating trafficking, according to a report by the National Commission for Women.
The NCW, which recently conducted an inquiry into the incidents of trafficking of women in the states of Bihar, Jharkhand and West Bengal, also found that recommendations of an advisory issued by Home Ministry on September 9, 2009 to evolve an effective and comprehensive strategy encompassing prevention, rescue, relief and rehabilitation of victims are not being complied with and remain merely on paper.
The advisory listed special measures to prevent trafficking, such as identification of women and children at risk, development of victim profiling, carrying out checks on sponsors and persons who claim to be the relatives of children identified as being at risk of trafficking.
According to the advisory, detailed instructions are to be issued to all police formations, especially SP/DCP and Station House Officers, to sensitise and alert the beat constables to lookout for cases of suspected trafficking at all transit points and places like railway stations, bus stands, taxi stands, public places, isolated hotels or guest house and streets along with display of contact numbers of the Anti- Human Trafficking Units at all such places.
"It is clear that the advisory is not being followed and is merely on papers," the inquiry committee said.
Apart from that, the Committee in its report stated that most of the shelter homes are in dismal condition and helpline numbers largely defunct and are not being properly coordinated with District administration and local police.
"The migrant girls do not possess any identity papers nor are they aware of mechanism for help. There is no monitoring mechanism to check the movement of these girls either at panchayat, block or thana level despite claims of government.
In addition to that Child Welfare Committee's have not been sufficiently empowered and need training programmes and there is no mechanism for filing of labour law cases in most states like Government of Jharkhand do not have office or legal representative there," the report stated.
