AMART MEET AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING
held at
Ursuline Provincialate, Kanke Road, Ranchi, Jharkhand
on
4-5 February 2013
Introducation
Asian
Movement of Women Religious Against Human Trafficking (AMRAT), organized its
VIII Meeting at Ursuline Provincialate,
Kanke Road, Ranchi on 4 and 5, February 2013
on the theme: Scenario of Human
Trafficking in the State of Jharkhand and Collaborative Intervention for Prevention and Rescue through Networking.
27 women religious, belonging to 11 religious
congregations from the States of
Delhi-NCR, Haryana, West Bengal, Orissa, Maharastra and Jharkhand
participated in the meeting.
4
Feb 2013: Two
days programme commenced with a short and meaningful prayer conducted by Sr.
Arpan BS. The theme of the prayer was
“How beautiful are the feet of those carrying the good news of the Lord”. The resource persons, organizers and
participants lighted the Diya, symbol of God’s presence to enlighten and guide
us on this challenging journey.
Fr Lourduraj SJ, President
CRI and Director, Lievens’ Institute of Film & Electronic media (LIFE) attended the inaugural session and gave a
short inspiring message to the participants.
Sr Suchita osu, Provincial Councillor conveyed the greetings to Sr Eva
osu, who was away on an official visit and Sr Julia osu accorded a cordial
welcome.
Welcoming the gathering Sr Julia osu said,
“This is an important meeting and we are happy that religious from metropolitan
cities of Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai have come to Ranchi to interact with the
very challenging issue of Human Trafficking.
We need to work together to stop this crime.”
Sr.
Jyoti BS, President, AMRAT in her opening message said that the causes Both the
causes and phenomenon of trafficking are rooted in poverty, illiteracy, lack of opportunities, gender discrimination, social and political
violence and demand for services that trafficking victims are forced to provide.
Presently, about 55 religious of 22 congregations are members of
AMRAT. AMRAT has entered into the State of Jharkhand where millions of children,
youth and women are trafficked,
and where thousands of religious women and men
are working hard for the uplift of the children and people of vulnerable
sections. Expressing her hope that these two days of interaction among the religious working in source and destination
areas would help for better coordination for preventive, rescue and rehabilitation
activities.
Sr. Sahaya FMM, the
Secretary of AMRAT introduced the theme to the participants and urged everyone
present to be God’s mouthpiece to speak for the victims of a new form of
slavery. Sr Resi RGS, Vice president,
AMRAT and Sr Grace FDCC, coordinator from Mumbai guided the programme.
Scenario
of Human Trafficking in Jharkhand State
Shri Snajay Kumar Misra, State Coordinator of
Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and Member of
State Commission for Protection of Child Rights, Jharkhand
was
welcomed and introduced by Sr Julia osu, who works closely with the
organization together with Sr Gemma osu, in the rescue and rehabilitation of
the children trafficked or enslaved in domestic work and other purposes.
Through a powerful documentary film Shri Sanjay Misra introduced
the subject of Human Trafficking and through power point presentation explained
the current scenario of human trafficking in different areas of Jharkhand
State. He appealed to all the members to
work together to protect the children,
very specially the girls and women from being the victims of unscrupulous
traffickers who buy and sell them for a little money.
•
Using
the outcome of the survey results, on human trafficking he gave a profile of the trafficked people
outlined the trafficking process in rural areas. An Estimated 30,000 girls are
trafficked each year from Jharkhand which gives the state a top ranking in
India.
•
Vulnerable
to Human Trafficking are women and children from socio – economic poor families
that are likely to migrate to search livelihood in the metros
•
Most
victims of Human Trafficking & exploitation are below 18 & illiterate
or semi – literate.
•
Traffickers
recruit vulnerable people with
misleading jobs promises
•
Trafficked
women & children are forced to work in household, brothels, restaurants and
factories.
In a shocking revelation he gave the
statistics of the trafficked - 77% ST girls, 70% females - below 20 age,
illiterates 65% and 77% are trafficked
by the relatives of the victims.
Stating that unemployment,
poverty and illiteracy are causes of trafficking, Shri Misra, called upon the participants to strengthen the Panchayati Raj and train
the members of Panchayat to prevent
unsafe migration by giving them awareness of the crime. In order to support those who will be
involved in networking in the prevention and rescue work, he offered resource
book on Trafficking and Resource Directory on Women and Child helpline to every
participant to serve as a valuable tool in their ministry.
Personal Testimony –Sr Gemma OSU
• Sr. Gemma osu from Ranchi
was the resource person for the second session. Sr Grace introduced her to the
participants. Sr Gemma shared her
involvement and experiences in the struggle of the Domestic Workers, even when
she was a student at Vidya Jyoti Theologate, Delhi. Fr. Paulus Kullu, Ranchi. Fr. Anil Tirkey, Fr.
Satya, Patna, Deepak,
Patna and Sister Gemma in 1983 began
to conduct a survey and counsel the domestic workers.
She recalled two events
which were turning points in her life.
One she was travelling in a bus in Delhi and found a abandoned dead body
on road side. From the tattoo on the forehead, she knew it was one of the
tribal lady. There was other religious priests and brothers in the bus. They got down and after doing what is
necessary as per law, took the unclaimed body and gave a burial. “The gruesome scene is etched in my heart
said Sr Gemma.
In another incident, she
said that she was called by Mother Theresa to one of her Convents at
Delhi. There were 29 young girls and
women in one small room. Mother Theresa asked
Sr Gemma to speak to those young people and left the place. They were domestic workers in Delhi and all
29 were pregnant. “It was a rude shock
to me”, Sr Gemma reminisced and that
changed the direction of her life. She studied law and with Srs Leona osu and
Sophie Maria osu she continued to work for these defenseless girls and
women. She recounted a number of cases and events where she
intervened to give new hope and life to the victims of rape and cruelty. Through the Power Point she informed the
rescue operations they had at different railway stations. She also helped us to see how people of good
will from different religions are networking to end this crime. Sr Gemma gave us a glimpse of the placement
agencies that deceive people using Christian religious symbols.
Sr Sahaya fmm, Secretary
then consulted the members on the venue and date for the next general body
meeting and the workshop. It was decided
that on 26 to 30 September 2013 in Ajmir or Jaipur, Rajasthan. Suggested topics were
·
Legal
Knowledge regarding anti human trafficking
·
Training
for documentation
As Jharkhand is a vast
state with high cases of trafficking Sr Flora Minj, dsa from Gumla was
requested to be the associate
coordinator.
5
February 2013 – Learning through Visiting Asha Kiran – Shelter Home
The participants
then went to Asha Kiran, Pudi,
Ranchi for exposure program run by the
Ursuline Sisters of Ranchi. Thanks to
the Ursuline Sisters who generously offered their school bus for this important
learning experience. Sr Gemma osu, the
pioneer of the mission along with Sr Julia George osu organized the entire
programme.
ASHA
KIRAN is a home for girls (minors) run by Ursuline
Sisters of Ranchi. The home houses children, mainly girls who are
·
Victims of
human trafficking.
·
Victims of
child labour.
·
Missing and
abandoned children.
·
Rape
victims.
A community of four Ursuline
Sisters take care of the children. Sr Ranjitha osu, who was working earlier for
Domestic Workers at Delhi is placed as the Directoress of Asha Kiran after she
completed her studies in Coady International Institute, Canada. Children who
are rescued from different areas of Jharkhand and neighbouring States, mainly
from Delhi and West Bengal are given a new life in the Home.
Sr Gemma
shared with the group how each of them under difficult and miraculous ways were
rescued and brought to new life not only by sisters but by many good hearted
people who came in contact with those children. The Sisters’ commendable
service was duly acknowledged by the Sisters.
The meeting was concluded with a dance in which Children and Sisters
participated, as a sign of solidarity and love.
Sisters Ruby
osu, Arpan bs and Manisha sra reported
the outcome of the group work.
1. What are the 3 important leanings we had regarding human
trafficking?
·
Got
knowledge on AMRAT and the efforts made by AMRAT to fight against human
trafficking.
·
Contemporary/
Modern day slavery, has wide networking. It is an easy way of earning money
hence difficult to tackle it.
·
Came to know
more about Jharkhand State’s activities
in combating human trafficking and the steps taken by the government through
the enlightening presentation of Mr.
Sanjay Mishra, resource person.
·
It is very
painful to know that children as young as 4-5 years -17, are referred as various forms of slavery like force trade,
flesh trade, working in hazardous situation etc thus children lose their
childhood.
·
Own
relatives are cause of trafficking, hence the children and parents are also
deceived easily.
·
Inspired by
Sr Gemma’s experience and the long journey she undertook to help the girls and
rescue them. Her life story is very
inspiring.
·
Human
Trafficking is an inhuman act and needs to be eliminated by networking with each other and by being open to learn
and work with each other.
·
Desire is
created to work for the street and children in the railway station.
·
Through Mr.
Sanjay came to know how to tackle trafficking cases and the Resource Directory
which he gave helped us to know whom to approach when in need.
·
Came to know
about Child Protection Committee & Juvenile Justice Board.
·
The sharing
of few girls at Asha Kiran was heart rending.
·
Came to know
the work undertaken by various congregations to tackle the menace of human
trafficking.
2. What will be your action plan to prevent human trafficking from
our villages at least three?
· It is important to make the
parents of the school children aware of the magnitude of the problem.
· Network with government, tap the
resources, schemes.
· Motivate the parents to send the
children to the schools so that they do not go for work.
· Strengthen AGG (Adolescents Age
Group).
· To intensify School health
program and give awareness to the teachers.
· Awareness to the teenagers on
safe migration, give training on housekeeping and other skills and schemes for
livelihood.
· Motivate our Church and religious
leaders so that they are motivated to allow many more to work for this cause,
Network with different religious congregations to achieve greater results and
better impact.
· Alternative livelihood
opportunities to be created by us and tap the government resources to stop
unsafe migration.
· Organize meetings with priests,
religious, Bishop CRI, motivate the sisters – Congregation level and Network
with other church denominations.
· Conduct awareness program to
youth, panchayat, Motivation for the Church pious association, Create awareness
among BSF in Indo-Bangladesh boarder areas
· Undertake survey and research at
the source area.
· We need to update legal
knowledge.
· Need more shelter homes to keep
the rescued children.
3. How can we network with Government, Parish, NGOs, Church
organization to stop human trafficking? Suggest at least three areas of net
work.
·
Build better rapport with the parish, Parish Pious associations,
Diocese, and other religious Congregations, by giving awareness at all levels.
·
Inter congregational meetings and share the knowledge and get
everyone involved.
·
Tap government resources as each state has lot of funds and
network with the government, PRI (Panchayati Raj Institutions).
·
Keep in the CRI meeting these issues and call resource persons
like Sanjay Mishra and Sr Gemma and others with experience to motivate the
religious.
· To create
greater awareness in the schools run by the Church Mission Schools.
· Network well
with AMRAT state, Regional, centre and international level.
Sr. Jyoti BS, President of
AMRAT and Sr Julia osu, Provincial Councillor, Ursuline Sisters arranged the
logistics for the meeting. Sr Eva osu,
Provincial Superior of Ursuline Sisters of Ranchi and Ursuline Sisters hosted
the meeting at their provincial house subsidized the costs of board and lodge
and offered a favourable atmosphere for our two days reflections and
deliberations.
Sr Jyoti bs
President, AMRAT
05.02.2013
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