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05 March 2007, 2:30 PM - The day started with a very good news from Siliguri that as a direct impact of the march, 12 trafficked victims have been rescued.
After a rally on a Bandh (closed) effected day, the rally moved through the markets of Biratnagar. The meeting was addressed by Gauri Pradhan, President CWIN, Nepal who appealed to the masses of Nepal to be aware againt the evil of trafficking. He also emphasised the need for regional cooperation at all levels, especially at the mass level.
Kailash Satyarthi addressed the need for more awareness and said that these streets have witnessed the plight of thousands of young childrenbeing trafficked to India. He made the traders pledge against traffickers and trafficking.
The March was also welcome by the children of Purvanchal Anath Ashram (an orphanage) before crossing over the border. The marchers were welcomed in a traditional Nepalese manner by putting colour on the foreheads.
The march moved to the Indian border and at the border at Jogbani, the march took the shape of a massive rally that moved through the streets raising awareness and sensitizing the masses.
The rally in Forbesganj started at Apne Aap Womens World Wide office marching through the market and eventually culminating at the railway station where it took the form of a public meeting. The small border town of Forbesganj had never witnessed such a rally and immediately more than 500 people gathered. The meeting was started by the performance of the play on child trafficking – Where are the Children?? – performed by former child labourers turned activists of BBA’s Mukti (Liberation) Caravan.
While the speeches were going on, BBA Activist Neeraj noticed a person at the railway station with two children in suspicious circumstances. He immediately called BBA National Secretary, Vinay Singh and together they followed the children and stopped the man accompanying them. While Neeraj engaged the man in conversation, Vinay Singh called the railway protection force and Bhuwan – BBA National Secretary and lawyer.
Upon inquiry it was found that the children were being trafficked from Forbesganj to Ludhiyana (Punjab). To the dismay of BBA team the children had been told that they were going to Kurukshetra in Haryana but when Bhuwan checked their tickets, it was found that their train tickets had been purchase for another state Punjab.
It has become a growing trend in the recent past the children from poor families in Bihar are trafficked for bondage in Punjab. After the parents of the two children had been called - one of the leader of the March, Rakesh, 12, who had been trafficked under similar condition and was rescued after more than 6 years of bondage by BBA, explained the reality to the children and their parents.
Bhuwan Ribhu, Advocate and BBA National Secretary immediately filed a former complaint and the traffickers were booked under the relevant laws of trafficking.
The children were taken to the RPF headquarter at Jogbani before they could be handed over to their parents.
05 March 2007, 6:30 PM, Araria: The March was received at the district border by the activists of Nehru Yuva Kendra with garlands, shouting slogans and banners all over the ground.
While entering Araria, the March entered one of the poorest areas in the country - the districts of Araria, Madhepura, Saharsa, Purnia, etc. Thousands of child labourers from these areas have been rescued by BBA belonging to these districts. Thus, it is very important to involve the community in these areas against child trafficking.
After marching through the street of Araria, the March reached Shubhash Chand Stadium where a public meeting was held. The meeting was started with the facilitation of Nehru Yuva Kendra, Patliputra Vikas Parishad and welcome of the child core marchers lead by Rakesh, Devli, Purshottam etc. The chief guest of the meeting was the Head of Jila Parishad (District Welfare Committee) Shagufta who welcome the marchers with great exuberance and said that thousands of children are trafficked from Araria for domestic labour and other forms of slavery. She pledged all support to the march.
District Coordinator of the Nehru Yuva Kendra, explained the various activity of NYK with the special emphasis on the anti-trafficking and HIV/ADIS prevention programmes. He said that more than 500 people have been trained village level in this program and more than 20 people have been trained in anti child labour laws and preventive mechanism.
Ramakant Rai, Coordinator, Corporate Social Responsibility, BBA thanked the organizers and explained trafficking and sale of children in simplified terms. He also urged the people present to pledge to never use the goods made and services rendered by children.
R. S. Chaurasia explain the inter linkages between poverty, child trafficking and child labour and how child labour a cause of poverty. |
