Hyderabad, April 18 (TNT): Telangana Labour Minister Vivek Venkataswamy on Saturday called for coordinated action among government departments, civil society and the public to eradicate human trafficking and bonded labour, describing the practice as a serious violation of human dignity.
Speaking at a State-Level Convergence Workshop on combating human trafficking and bonded labour, Vivek said the government is strengthening rescue operations, rehabilitation programmes, housing support and social security measures, while stressing the need for greater awareness at the grassroots level and strict enforcement of laws.
The workshop was organised by the Women Safety Wing of Telangana Police in collaboration with the International Justice Mission (IJM), bringing together over 200 participants, including officials, police personnel, judicial representatives, legal experts, media and civil society organisations.
Director General of Police B. Shivadhar Reddy said bonded labour should be treated as a form of organised crime, and called for proactive victim identification, strong investigations and the use of modern technology to secure convictions.
Additional Director General of Police (Women Safety Wing) Charu Sinha highlighted that adult bonded labour is often overlooked and stressed the need to recognise debt bondage as a criminal offence, strengthen investigations across the chain of exploitation and adopt a survivor-centric approach.
Secretary, Women and Child Development, Anita Ramachandran said rescue efforts must be complemented by sustainable rehabilitation to prevent victims from returning to exploitative conditions.
Minister D. Anasuya Seethakka, in her keynote address, emphasised effective implementation of laws and called for coordinated action across departments, along with strengthening local livelihoods and community systems to reduce vulnerability to trafficking.
The workshop also highlighted the need for improved enforcement of labour laws, stronger prosecution mechanisms, enhanced role of Anti-Human Trafficking Units and greater community participation.
A survivor-led intervention by Shivamma of TRILINGA underscored the importance of community-based prevention and awareness.
The event concluded with a renewed commitment to a multi-stakeholder approach to eliminate trafficking and bonded labour in the state.
TNT TS
Leave a Reply