Mumbai: Heads of two Christian denominations in Mumbai have released a sports calendar to create awareness on human trafficking.
Cardinal Oswald Gracias of Bombay Catholic archdiocese and Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Orthodox Metropolitan Bishop of Bombay on November 14 released Sport Mission 2017 calendar at a function in the western Indian city.
Cardinal Gracias described human trafficking as the world’s biggest criminal industry and added that Pope Francis will sign along with other religious leaders a universal declaration at the Vatican to end the global tragedy by 2020.
Anson Thomas, a former Customs Hockey goalkeeper and now an activist against human trafficking, created the calendar, reports The Times of India.
The illustrated calendar has quotes from scriptures, quotes of great personalities on slavery and also about what the Constitution, the laws as well as the Supreme Court judgments on Human Trafficking.
Thomas, who had taken voluntary retirement from Customs, has worked in Mumbai’s red street for the past 25 years. He has used sports and sports personalities to reach out to the children and women from India’s red light areas.
Thomas has taken high profile sports personalities such as Steve Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Andrew Hudson Nicky Bjoye, Joel Garner, Ian Bishop , Abbey Kuruvilla, Harbajan Singh, Murli Kartik, actor Suneil Shetty to red streets as positive role models for the children and women.
The activist has so far rescued more than 800 victims from red light areas across India.