Kailash Satyarthi urges Assam to adopt strategy to curb trafficking

GUWAHATI: Nobel Peace prize winner Kailash Satyarthi today urged Assam government to adopt a three-pronged approach to check trafficking of children from the state.

"I called on Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today and urged him to take proactive steps to curb child trafficking in the state and work towards upliftment of children," Satyarthi told reporters here.

He said he has suggested creation of a 'Rehabilitation and Welfare Fund' with participation from state government for immediate relief to trafficked children.

A state-level action plan for prevention of trafficking with a state-level steering committee headed by the chief minister and appointment of a nodal officer at the Assam Resident Commissioner's office in Delhi were the other two suggestions put forward by him.

"The Chief Minister has responded positively and given his full support for the cause," he said.

The Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation is willing to set up a 'Rehabilitation and Welfare Fund' for trafficked children of the state and the government can contribute matching amount of money for the fund, he said.

North-east India and Assam in particular has become a "big hub" of trafficking with hundreds of children gone missing.

He asked the government to create a state-wide action plan with a definitive role, responsibility and accountability of government departments on trafficking.

Satyarthi, who is on a three-day visit to Guwahati since yesterday, also urged the state government to take up responsibility for ensuring safe migration.

Satyarthi has been instrumental in bringing the issue of child trafficking from Assam and north-eastern parts of the country to the forefront and had also led a march in 2012 to highlight the issue.