Lok Sabha Question No. 4263 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2019-12-13
Subject: Kidnapping of Girls in North Eastern Area
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: Badruddin Ajmal

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

## LOK SABHA

## UN STARRED QUESTION NO.4263

TO BE ANSWERED ON 13.12.2019

## KIDNAPPING OF GIRLS IN NORTH EASTERN AREA

## 4263. SHRI M. BADRUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  note  that  several  girls  are  kidnapped  or trapped in North East States and are sold out in other States;
- (b) if so, the number of such cases during the last five years, State-wise;
- (c) whether any mechanism is being adopted to check such illegal activity  and  to provide immediate aid to the victims;
- (d) if so, the details thereof; and
- (e) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

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

- (a)  &  (b)  As  informed  by  National  Crime  Record  Bureau  (NCRB),  no  information  is available in this regard.

(c) to (d) 'Police' is a State subject under the Seventh Schedule to the Constitution of India  and  as  such  prevention  of  the  crime  of  human  trafficking  and  crime  against children is the responsibility of State Governments. However, the Government of India has  been  supplementing  the  efforts  of  the  State  Governments  by  taking  various initiatives and measures. The Government of India has provided financial assistance to all States for setting up of Anti-Human Trafficking Units and 332 Anti-Human Trafficking Units have been set-up in various districts of the State. The Government of India also provides  financial  assistance  to  the  States  and  judicial  academies  in  States  to  hold 'Judicial Colloquiums' and ' State level conference' to sensitize police officials, judicial officers and prosecutors about various provisions of law relevant to trafficking and their role in curbing trafficking. The Government of India has also issued various advisories to the State Governments and UT Administrations, from time to time, on preventing and combating human trafficking. Through the National Investigation Agencies (Amendment)  Act,  2019,  the  Schedule  of  NIA  Act,  2008  has  been  amended  and National Investigation Agency has been empowered to investigate the cases committed under Section 370 and 370A of Indian Penal Code relating to Human Trafficking. To address the cross border trafficking, Memorandum of Understanding on prevention of human trafficking have been signed with Bangladesh, UAE and Cambodia.

Further as per Section 2 (14) (ix) of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015 (JJ Act), a child who is found vulnerable and is likely to be inducted into drug abuse or trafficking is included as a 'child in need of care and protection'. The JJ Act, 2015 mandates a security net of service delivery structures to provide Institutional and non-Institutional care to these children. The Act contains a separate chapter on offences against children including Section 84 of the Act which provides for dealing with cases of kidnapping and abduction of children. The primary responsibility of execution of the Act lies with the States/UTs. The Ministry of Women  and  Child Development is implementing a centrally sponsored Child Protection Services (CPS) Scheme (erstwhile Integrated Child Protection Scheme) for supporting the children in difficult circumstances. The primary responsibility of implementation of the scheme lies with the States/UTs.  The  scheme  inter-alia  provides  for  setting  up  of  Child  Care  Institutions (CCIs)  by  the  States/UTs  either  by  themselves  or  in  association  with  voluntary organizations. The scheme, also provides for non-institutional care wherein support is extended  for  adoption,  foster  care,  and  sponsorship.  The  scheme  supports  24x7 outreach  helpline  service  for  children  in  distress.  This  service  is  available  through  a dedicated  toll-free  number,  1098  which  can  be  accessed  by  children  in  crisis  or  by adults on their behalf from any place in the geographical location of India.

(e) Does not arise.

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