Lok Sabha Question No. 4584 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-03-23
Subject: Advisory on Human Trafficking
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Dr. T. Sumathy (a) Thamizhachi Thangapandian

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4584

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 23 RD      MARCH, 2021/ CHAITRA 2, 1943 (SAKA)

ADVISORY ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING

4584.  DR. T. SUMATHY (a) THAMIZHACHI THANGAPANDIAN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Anti-Trafficking Cell, set up by the Ministry of Home Affairs has  issued  an  advisory  'Preventing  and  Combating  human  trafficking especially  during  the  period  of  COVID-19'  under  which  Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) are to be set up in every district;
- (b) if so, the details thereof along with the status of follow-up action taken;
- (c) whether  the  States  can  empower  their  AHTUs  with  the  powers  to investigate a case;
- (d) if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;
- (e) whether there are plans for conducting an e-crime review meeting this year to monitor the implementation of the advisory issued on 6 th  July 2020; and
- (f) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI G. KISHAN REDDY)

(a) to (f): 'Police'  and  'Public  Order'  are  State  subjects  under  the  Seventh Schedule  (List-II)  to  the  Constitution  of  India  and,  therefore,  the  State Governments  and  Union  Territory  (UT)  Administrations  are  responsible  for prevention,  detection,  registration,  investigation  and  prosecution  of  all crimes  within  their  jurisdiction  including  trafficking  in  persons.    State Governments/ UT administrations are competent to deal with such matters under extant provisions of law.

However,  taking  cognizance  of  the  risks  of  human  trafficking  during COVID-19  pandemic,  the  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  had  issued  a comprehensive advisory on 6.7.2020 to all States and UTs for countering and combating human trafficking.  The measures, which the States and UTs were advised  to  undertake,  included  coordination  mechanism  to  be  evolved amongst various Departments of States and UTs to handle issues of human trafficking, which should be monitored at the highest level; identification of vulnerable sections of the society; special awareness generation campaigns amongst them;  engagement of law enforcement agencies with Panchayats, local bodies, community leaders, etc.; specific 'intelligence' and 'surveillance'  mechanism  to  identify  gangs  involved  in  trafficking;  keeping special vigil  at  transit  points;  and  setting  up/  strengthening  of  Anti  Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) etc.

AHTUs are integrated taskforce units with the mandate to prevent and combat trafficking in persons and to investigate and prosecute the crime of trafficking.

Engagement  with  States  and  UTs  is  a  continuous  process.    The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has issued various advisories and guidelines from  time  to  time  and  reviews  the  relevant  issues,  inter-alia,  through meetings  with  State/  UT  functionaries.    MHA  has  also  set  up  an  online monitoring portal for the States and UTs to update and track the progress of AHTUs as well as for sharing their best practices and success stories.

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