Lok Sabha Question No. 3644 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-16
Subject: Kidnapping and Trafficking of Women
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rajan Baburao  Vichare

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 3644

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 16 TH  JULY, 2019/ ASHADHA 25, 1941 (SAKA )

KIDNAPPING AND TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN

†3644. SHRI RAJAN VICHARE:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  trafficking  of  women  and  girls  is  being  carried  out  in  the country on large scale and after kidnapping they are being sold in the gulf countries by antisocial elements;

(b)  if  so,  the  number  of  such  cases  reported  during  the  last  three  years, State/ UT-wise;

(c) the action taken by the Government against the culprits considering the gravity of such incidents; and

(d) the efforts being made by the Government to bring back the kidnapped women and children in the country?

## ANSWER

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

(a)  &  (b):  Such  specific  data  is  not  maintained  by  the  National  Crime Records Bureau.

(c) & (d): To address the issue of victims of such cross-border trafficking, the Government has taken several initiatives:

i) India  has  signed  bilateral  Memorandum  of  Understanding  (MOU)  for Prevention of Human Trafficking with United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 25.1.2017. This MoU aims to  enhance  bilateral  cooperation  on  the issue  of  prevention,  rescue,  recovery  and  repatriation  related  to human trafficking, especially women and children.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 3644 FOR 16.07.2019

- ii) India  has  ratified  the  United  Nations  Convention  on  Transnational Organized  Crime  (UNCTOC)  in  2011  and  its  Protocols  namely    (a) Protocol  to  Prevent,  Suppress  and  Punish  Trafficking  in  Persons, especially Women and Children and (b) Protocol against the Smuggling of Migrants by Land, Sea and Air.
- iii) In order to promote the welfare and protection of women workers, the Ministry  of  External  Affairs  has  taken  measures  to  restrict  the recruitment  of  Emigration  Check  Required  (ECR)  passport  holding Indian female workers only through seven State Government recruiting agencies w.e.f. 2nd August, 2016 to avoid their harassment by  foreign  employers.  The  Foreign  Employers  who  intend  to  recruit Indian female domestic workers directly, have to register themselves on e-Migrate System with the respective Missions and deposit a bank guarantee  equivalent  to  US$2500/-.  The  age  restriction  of  30  years has  been  made  mandatory  in  respect  of  all  women  emigrants emigrating  on  ECR  passport,  irrespective  of  the  nature/category  of employment.  Further,  mandatory  insurance  and  medical  cover  is extended  to  all  Indian  workers  including  women,  through  Pravasi Bhartiya Bima Yojana (PBBY) who go through e-Migrate after clearance. Also,  the Missions  are proactive in providing medical  and

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 3644 FOR 16.07.2019

legal  support  to  distressed  Indian  women  workers  and  take  all possible measures, using Indian Community Welfare Fund (ICWF) for their speedy repatriation to India. ICWF guidelines have been further revised with effect from September 2017 to make them more broad based  and  expand  the  scope  of  welfare  measures  that  can  be extended through the fund. These revisions are expected to provide flexibility in swiftly addressing to requests for assistance by overseas Indian  nationals,  including  distressed  women.  The  Mission  houses such  women  workers  at  its  premises  as  they  await  completion  of their repatriation process by the Deportation Centre.

- iv) MHA has issued various advisories to the States and UTs from time to time on preventing and combating human trafficking. These advisories are available at MHA's website: www.mha.gov.in.
- v) MHA has provided financial assistance to all States for setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units and 332 Anti Human Trafficking Units have been set up in various districts.

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