Workshop on stopping immoral trafficking for officers in Shivamogga

M.S. Santhosh, member-secretary of the District Legal Services Authority, has stated that, on average, 200 POCSO cases and around 50 child marriages are reported annually in Shivamogga district of Karnataka.

Addressing the gathering after inaugurating a workshop for officers of various departments on the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act in Shivamogga on February 11, Mr. Santhosh stressed the need for efforts from all departments concerned to combat crimes against children and women. The Department of Women and Child Development has prepared a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for handling cases related to immoral trafficking and crimes against children and women.

“Officers face a jail term if they fail to report any crime against a child after it comes to their attention. Similarly, if a police officer refuses to file a case, he or she will face imprisonment,” he stated.

Mr. Santhosh said that human trafficking incidents occur for five major purposes: sexual exploitation, bonded labour, child labour or begging, and the forced removal of human organs. “Fortunately, no cases of this nature have been reported in Shivamogga district in recent years,” he said.

The workshop was jointly organized by the district administration, the District Legal Services Authority, the district police, and the Women and Child Development Department. Officers from the Women and Child Development Department, the Social Welfare Department, the Labour Department, and other agencies attended the workshop.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Babu Anjanappa, Assistant Commissioner G.H. Sathyanarayana, and Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Bharathi R. Banakar were among those who participated in the programme.