Anti-trafficking bill with stringent punishments proposed, Centre invites suggestions

Ministry of Women and Child Development on Sunday presented  Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021 inviting suggestions and comments from stakeholders on draft before its approval. According to Ministry, objective of  bill is to prevent and counter, trafficking in persons, especially women and children. It also focuses on providing care, protection, and rehabilitation to victims, while respecting ir rights, and creating a supportive legal, ecomic and social environment for m.

new draft is said to have increased scope of nature of trafficking offenses as well as kind of victims of se offenses. Emphasis has been placed on ensuring prosecution of offenders and laying down implications of cross-border trafficking.

Details of anti-trafficking bill 

According to draft bill, a person who is found guilty of trafficking can be imprisoned for a term t less than seven years which may extend to 10 years. convict shall also be liable to a fine t less than Rs 1 lakh that may extend up to Rs 5 lakh. Property brought using money from trafficking is also liable to be forfeited with provisions detailed. 

Moreover, severe punishment has been proposed for offenses classified as 'aggravated forms of trafficking'.  anti-trafficking bill once enacted, will extend to all citizens inside as well as outside India. suggestions have been invited by Ministry till July 14, after which it will be sent to cabinet for approval before being tabled in Parliament. 

Last month, Bengaluru Police h unraveled a human trafficking racket under which women from Banglesh were being smuggled into India. Bengaluru Police, while probing horrific gang-rape case, identified one of five accused- Rafiq- as operator of human trafficking racket who h been trafficking girls to India for last 10 years. It was found that Rafiq would smuggle women from Banglesh to Bengaluru by getting m fake Ahaar Cards, and involving m in prostitution along with or illegal activities. accused was arrested by Banglesh Police. 

(With ncy Inputs)