Lok Sabha Question No. 3079 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2015-08-07
Subject: Rehabilitation of Women
Ministry: WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT
Asked by: RAGHAV LAKHANPAL

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

MINISTRY OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

**LOK SABHA**

**UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 3079**

TO BE ANSWERED ON 07.08.2015

**REHABILITATION OF WOMEN**

3079.	SHRI RAGHAV LAKHANPAL:

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

1. whether her Ministry has been unable to formulate special schemes for rehabilitation of women who are in prostitution and also failed to implement the guidelines which were formulated in the National Plan of Action 1998 for rehabilitation of women in the red light area in the country, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the Government thereto;
2. whether the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) report that came out with a set of recommendations have not been complied with so far, if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
3. whether the failure to implement the measures set out in 1998 Plan of Action and also the recommendations of the NHRC report has caused severe injury and prejudice to the victims of prostitution, if so, the details thereof; and
4. the present status of implementation of recommendations by the NHRC and National Plan of Action 1998?

**ANSWER**

MINISTER OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT

(SHRIMATI MANEKA SANJAY GANDHI)

(a) 	to (d): A National Plan of Action to combat trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of women and children was formulated in 1998 with the objective to prevent, mainstream and re-integrate the women and child victims of commercial sexual exploitation in society.  The recommendations made in the NHRC – UNIFEM – ISS Report on Trafficking in Women and Children in India (2002-2003) also cover the activities identified in the National Plan of Action.

The Government has taken a number of initiatives and put in place legislations and programmes such as: -

1. The Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000 was brought into force to provide a juvenile justice system for juveniles in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection by adopting a child friendly approach in the adjudication and disposition of matters in the best interest of children and for their ultimate rehabilitation.
2. Swadhar – A scheme for women in difficult circumstances was launched by the Ministry of Women and Child Development during 2001-02 with the objective to provide primary need of shelter, food, clothing and other support services to the beneficiaries.  Trafficked women/girls rescued or run-away from brothels also form the target group of the scheme.
3. The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) was set up in March, 2007 whose mandate is to ensure that all laws, policies, programmes and administrative mechanisms are in consonance with the Child Rights’ Perspective.

1. The Ministry of Women and Child Development formulated a protocol for pre-rescue, rescue, post-rescue operations of child-victims of trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation in 2005.

1. The prohibition of child marriage Act, 2006 was brought into force which declares a child marriage null and void, if the child is sold or trafficked or used for immoral purpose.

1. Anti-Trafficking Nodal cell was set up in the Ministry of Home Affairs in 2006 to act as a focal point for communicating various decisions and follow-up on action taken by the State Governments to combat the crime of human trafficking.

1. The Ministry of Women & Child Development launched a comprehensive scheme – Ujjawala in 2007 for prevention of trafficking and rescue, rehabilitation, re-integration and repatriation of women and child victims of trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.  The scheme under the rehabilitation component provides shelter, food, clothing, counselling, medical care, legal support, vocational training, etc. to the inmates.

1. Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS) was launched in 2009 which is implemented in partnership with the State Governments/UT Administration.  The main objective of the scheme is to contribute to the improvements in the wellbeing of children in difficult circumstances, as well as to the reduction of vulnerabilities to the situations and action that lead to abuse, neglect, exploitation, abandonment and separation of children from their families.  The scheme supports the creation of new institutional facilities for target group of children.

1. To deal with the child abuse cases, the Government had brought in a special law – The Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, 2012 which among other things provide for a child-friendly process for reporting of offences and recording of evidence and trial.

1. Handbooks for various stakeholders like Social Workers, Judicial Officers, Medical Officers and Counselors dealing with victims of trafficking have been developed.

1. The Ministry partnered with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and developed a protocol on inter-State rescue and post-rescue activities relating to persons trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.
2. The Ministry in collaboration with National Institute of Public Cooperation and Child Development (NIPCCD) is organising workshops for NGOs on issues relating to trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.

1. Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013 was brought into force wherein Section 370 of the IPC has been substituted with Section 370 and 370A IPC which provide for comprehensive measures to counter the menace of human trafficking including trafficking of children for commercial sexual exploitation in any form.

1. Ministry of Home Affairs has sanctioned a comprehensive scheme “Strengthening Law Enforcement Response in India against Trafficking in Persons through Training and Capacity Building” for establishing 330 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) throughout the country and imparting training to 10,000 police officers.

1. A web-portal on Anti-Human Trafficking – [www.stophumantrafficking-mha-nic-in](http://www.stophumantrafficking-mha-nic-in/) was developed by the Ministry of Home Affairs on 20 th February, 2014, which is a vital IT tool for sharing information across all stakeholders including States/ UTs for effective implementation of anti-human trafficking measures.
2. In order to train and sensitise the trial Court Juridical Officers, Judicial Colloquium on human trafficking are being held throughout the country at the High Court level.

1. The Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D) has prepared a training manual “Human Trafficking – Handbook for Investigators” which is being used in the National, Regional and State Police Training Institutes.

1. To improve the effectiveness in tackling the crime of human trafficking and to increase the responsiveness of the law enforcement agencies, the Government has issued a number of comprehensive advisories to all States/UTs which have had a lasting impact on the law enforcement agencies across the country and have conveyed the seriousness and gravity of the crime.

1. The Ministry of Home Affairs advised all States/UTs to take up a month-long campaign titled ‘Operation Muskan’ during 1 st July to 31 st July, 2015.  The purpose was to screen all children residing in shelter homes, platforms, bus stands, roads, religious places, etc. by trained police personnel and upload the particulars of those children considered to be missing children on the ‘Track Child’ portal by the State Police.

1. India has ratified the United Nation’s Convention on Transnational Organised Crime which has one of its protocols Prevention, Suppression and Punishment of Trafficking in persons particularly in women and children.

1. India has ratified the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in women and children for prostitution.

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