Lok Sabha Question No. 4494 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-07-19
Subject: Trafficking in Children
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Pallab Lochan Das

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4494

TO BE ANSWERED ON 19.07.2019

## TRAFFICKING IN CHILDREN

## 4494.  SHRI PALLAB LOCHAN DAS:

Will the Minister of WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT be pleased to state:

- (a) whether the Central Government has taken initiatives to combat trafficking in children for labour, sexual and other form of exploitation and if so, the details thereof;
- (b) the steps taken by the Government in terms of rescue, rehabilitation, skill development and provisions of alternative livelihood options to human trafficking survivors;
- (c) the budget allocation and expenditures incurred for the aforesaid measures; and
- (d) the current status of the Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SHRIMATI SMRITI ZUBIN IRANI)

- (a) &  (b):  Even  though  'Police'  is  a  State  subject  under  the  Seventh  Schedule  of  the Constitution of India and as such prevention and combating of the crime including crime against  children  is  the  responsibility  of  State  Governments,  the  Government  of  India has  been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  through  various measures  to  combat  trafficking  in  children  for  labour,  sexual  and  other  form  of exploitation.

The  Ministry  of  Home  Affairs  (MHA)  has  provided  financial  assistance  to  all States for setting up Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) and so far 332 such units have  been  set  up  in  various  districts  of  the  country.  MHA  also  provides  financial assistance to the States and Judicial Academies in States to hold 'Judicial Colloquiums' and 'State level conferences' to sensitize police officials, judicial officers and prosecutors  about  various  provisions  of  law  relevant  to  trafficking  and  their  role  in curbing trafficking. Meetings of Nodal Officers of Anti Human Trafficking Units of States &  UTs  are  also  convened  on  periodic  basis  to  sensitize  them  on  human  trafficking issues. MHA has also 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.

For prevention of trafficking and  rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration  and repatriation of victims of trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation, the Ministry of Women  and  Child  Development  is  implementing  the  'Ujjawala  Scheme'.  Under  the scheme, at present, there are 254 projects including 134 Protective and Rehabilitative Homes  in  the  country.  In  these  homes,  the  victims  of  human  trafficking  are  also provided vocational training.

Further, in order to comprehensively address the various aspects of trafficking of persons including trafficking of children, a legislation in the form of 'The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018' was drafted by Ministry of Women & Child Development.

- (c):     The budget allocation and expenditure of Ujjawala Scheme for the last three years and current year are as under:

(Amount in Crores)

| Year    |   Budget Estimate | Revised Estimate   |   Expenditure |
|---------|-------------------|--------------------|---------------|
| 2016-17 |                35 | 24.00              |         20.31 |
| 2017-18 |                50 | 30.00              |         24.56 |
| 2018-19 |                50 | 20.00              |          6.43 |
| 2019-20 |                20 | -                  |          6.33 |

- (d):        The  Trafficking  of  Persons  (Prevention,  Protection  and  Rehabilitation)  Bill,  2018  was passed by Lok Sabha on 26.07.2018. The said Bill was then sent to the Rajya Sabha for introduction and passing. But, it could not be considered in the Rajya Sabha. Upon dissolution of the 16 th  Lok Sabha, the Bill has lapsed.

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