Major action against human smuggling, 'Zero Tolerance' announced

Patna, August 8 (ABN): The government has now given a strong message of zero tolerance to save children and vulnerable sections from the clutches of human trafficking in Bihar. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary clarified that immediate and strict action against human traffickers, recovery of missing children, rehabilitation of victims, linking them with skills and employment, and providing a new life with dignity is the top priority of the government. The government has announced to expand awareness, prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation actions through the 'Naya Savera 3.0' campaign.

Inaugurating the East Zone Conference on Missing Children and Human Trafficking organized by the Home Department, Bihar, at Gyan Bhavan in Patna, the Chief Minister said that human trafficking is not just a legal crime, but an attack on the future of children, women, and vulnerable sections. To eradicate it, the police, administration, judiciary, different states, and social organizations will have to work together. He said that the major reasons for the danger of trafficking include economic distress, limited employment opportunities, and forced migration. Therefore, on the one hand, the government is taking action against traffickers, and on the other hand, it is emphasizing increasing employment, skill development, and industrial opportunities in the state, so that people do not migrate forcibly.

The Chief Minister said that in Bihar, real-time monitoring of missing children cases is being done, and more than 1200 missing children have been rescued so far. Through 'Sahayog Sahayak', an attempt is being made to resolve public complaints promptly, where more than 6 lakh applications have been received, and more than 5.50 lakh cases have been resolved. He said that after 'Naya Savera 1.0' and 'Naya Savera 2.0', now 'Naya Savera 3.0' is being given a new pace to the campaign against human trafficking. The government's goal is not only to rescue the victims from the clutches of trafficking but also to provide them with skills, employment, self-reliance, and a dignified life.

The Chief Minister said that in Bihar, the way is being paved for large-scale industrial investment. In recent days, memoranda of understanding worth more than Rs 51,000 crore have been signed with different groups related to the steel industry. The government's effort is to create such employment opportunities that the people of Bihar can get an enabling environment to return from 'Karm Bhumi' to 'Janm Bhumi'. He said that there is no shortage of talent in Bihar, only a need to connect it with education, skill, employment, and proper opportunities. To make the war against human trafficking successful, economic self-reliance will also have to be strengthened.

Samrat Choudhary said that it is also necessary to find a sustainable solution to long-standing problems like floods for the overall development of Bihar. Several measures have been taken in the water management and irrigation sector to reduce the effects of floods in North Bihar. He said that irrigation facilities are being expanded in the state, while planning is also being done for better water management and interlinking of major rivers like Ganga, Gandak (Narayani), and Kosi.

The Chief Minister said that the Bihar government is fully committed to taking forward the vision of 'Developed India' of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and 'Prosperous Bihar' of former Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. He assured the experts, judiciary, police, and administrative officers, and representatives of different states participating in the conference that the Bihar government will provide all possible cooperation for action against missing children and human trafficking, recovery, and rehabilitation of victims.

During the conference, a video film was also presented on the adverse effects of human trafficking, its prevention, and necessary measures. In the program, Supreme Court Judge Justice A. Amanullah, Patna High Court Judge Justice Rajiv Ranjan Prasad, Advocate General Bihar S.D. Sanjay, Chairperson of the Standard Operating Procedure Committee constituted by the Supreme Court, and Additional Solicitor General of the Central Government Archana Pathak Dua, former Judge of the Delhi High Court Mukta Gupta, among others, expressed their views.

On this occasion, Patna High Court Judge Justice Mohit Jay Shah, Chief Secretary Prity Amrit, DGP Vineet Kumar, former DGP P.M. Nair, members of the Standard Operating Procedure Committee, and several senior lawyers and officers were also present. The government's clear message: it is not enough to just rescue the victims with strict action against human trafficking; it is also the responsibility of the state to provide them with skills, employment, protection, and dignity.