CORRESPONDENCE

Correspondence

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