Assam Govt. to Introduce Law to Curb Human Trafficking

GUWAHATI: The Assam Government has decided to introduce a law to curb the rate of human trafficking in the state.

The decision to bring out a law to check the growing rate of human trafficking in the state was tabled in the Autumn session of the Assam Assembly by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Monday. 

"It is often thought that when a child is taken outside the state for employment, only then it amounts to human trafficking. But I feel when children under 14 are separated from their parents to work as domestic help in other districts or towns of the state, it is also a form of human trafficking," CM Sarma said while tabling the decision in the assembly. 

CM Sarma also added that the employment of domestic help will be regulated along with the people who employ them in their homes. 

CM Sarma while elaborating on the law said that those who employ house help will have to register the details of their house helps in the nearest police station and will also be responsible for their house help's education and medical treatment. 

"The Government of Assam will soon frame out a policy for proper rehabilitation of trafficked children and also their education will be taken care of. We will also ensure that stern measures will be taken against those who are found trafficking children inside or outside the state", CM Sarma added. 

According to the National Crime Records Bureau data for 2021, Assam reported 203 cases of human trafficking last year, the third highest in the country after Telangana (347) and Maharashtra (320). A total of 460 persons were trafficked outside the state last year.

The Assam Government has a special unit namely Anti Human Trafficking Units (AHTU) which is operationalized in all districts of Assam to effectively combat crimes related to the trafficking of persons, especially women and children.

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