Page 19 - Tehelka Issue 15 August 2018

human trafficking

rights and freedom of the sex workers, transgenders
and working migrants or labourers.
There is no denying to the fact that class and caste
discrimination in the society has a major role to play
in trafficking of persons. Most of the source destina-
tions from where trafficking takes place are under-
privileged belts of the country. Besides the socio-
economic disparity, geographical and demographic
factors, caste and class system that dominates the
Indian society have plagued the humanity further.
Unless discriminations at all levels are uprooted,
combating trafficking would always remain a hitch
and marginalised communities will be at the receiv-
ing end. Tripti Tandon
“The Bill is directly targeting and criminalising the
sex workers, be it transgenders, be it people migrat- Lawyers Collective
ing from home for work and a new identity, the gov-

The consultation on the Bill has been of a
hormones and chemicals selective, even partisan nature. Only a select
few were privy to the drafts and giving inputs.
are mainly administered On what basis were these individuals and NGOs
‘chosen’ is anyone’s guess. It is unsurprising
by transgenders for that those who were involved in the drafting,
stand to benefit most from the Bill’s provisions.
And they are the ones lobbying for its hasty and
non-illegal purpose like undiluted passage in Parliament.
As was evident from the discussion in the
sex-change. making this Lok Sabha, there are serious errors and
fundamental problems in the Bill. The Minister
as punishable offence said that they will be ‘taken care of in the Rules.’
This is deceptive as structural problems can’t
would hinder their rights be addressed through delegated legislation.
Besides, the Bill is substantially complete and
there is hardly any scope for Rule-making.
to live with dignity. Therefore, concerned groups like ours are
looking towards the Rajya Sabha to subject the
Bill to a thorough scrutiny, which it badly needs.

ernment infringes upon their privacy and puts the
coerced and voluntary sex workers in the same net,”
concluded Akkai.
The rehabilitation homes stipulated under the Bill life would do a lot to help the hapless community
also do little to address the issues faced by victims from coming out of this abyss, but unfortunately, no
after they are rescued, and it fails to provide them such provision exists.
with necessary solutions to live a dignified living. The A sex worker in Delhi said the rehabilitation options
Supreme Court-appointed panel had stated that the provided by the government are absurd and prepos-
type of vocational training provided in rehabilita- terous. “Netas are asking us to rear cows instead of do-
tion homes fails to provide skills necessary for ba- ing sex work. earlier, I was feeding myself with one
sic sustenance. The research done by some leading time sex work in a day but now, I have to double my
NGOs has revealed that 77 per cent of women who sex work to support myself and the two cows that add
were released from rehabilitation homes returned to up to the burden. The option provided by the govern-
sex work. The system badly fails at providing better ment means I will just end up doing it more sex work,”
options for a dignified living after they shun the sex she said.
trade. A promise of socially and economically secure letters@tehelka.com

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