Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has asked the state home department to set up special women police battalion to curb increasing crimes against women.
Sonowal on March 17 directed the home department to constitute a high level committee with it as the nodal agency to carry out anti-trafficking drives as well as collect data related to human trafficking. The Labour and Social Welfare Department was also directed to intensify the surveillance and monitoring of human trafficking in the state.
To tackle the problem at the grassroots, Sonowal asked the concerned departments to instruct village headmen to prepare an extensive database of all human resources available in their villages. The Home Department was asked to keep a tab on youths who are in search for job opportunities outside the state.
A Draft Act citing severe punishment for perpetrators was asked to be drafted by the Additional Chief Secretary (Labour) in order to heighten vigilance and also reduce trafficking cases. The draft would include compulsory disclosure of information regarding details of house maid, validity of placement agencies etc. so that they can come handy at times.
Expressing grave concern over rising number of human trafficking cases, the chief minister advocated a strong and effective law enforcement mechanism to control such cases adding that there is a need to amend certain portions of the existing act to make it more effective.
(Source: thenortheasttoday.com)