Tribal youth combats human trafficking in northeastern India

By Frida Toppo

Guwahati: Lilymaxima Ekka, a staff member of a forum that works for development of northeastern India, is concerned mainly with checking trafficking of tribal girls from the region.

The Guwahati-based North East Diocesan Social Service Society (NEDSSS) has assigned the 25-year-old to focus on tribal women in three districts of Assam, major northeastern Indian state and a nerve center of human trafficking.

According to the young tribal woman, northeastern India witnesses frequent human trafficking as the region shares porous borders with countries such as China, Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal.

Ekka has come across several people from the region, especially from her Adivasi community, who are kept as domestic workers and child labor in other states of India. Young women, she says, are lured by agents with promise of lucrative jobs in cities. However, most end up in prostitution. She says she wants to save such women that why she has volunteered to combat human trafficking and related crimes.

She shared with Sister Friday Toppo, a Matters India Reporter, about her life and work.

MATTERS INDIA: How and when did you enter to fight against human trafficking? How do you find it now?

Lilymaxima Ekka: Human trafficking is a very serious issue for many decades in our society. I have joined the fight against human trafficking because I am a social worker and feel compelled to do something for my community. With young people from our communities, we have decided to work for the betterment of our people.

Please share some happy moments you have experienced?

As a social worker I am much happy to work for my community. In view of the lockdown, we use webinars to connect with all the Adivasi youth. The youth of Japrajan parish are ready to work together and stand for reality to fight against human trafficking.

Should the government intensify efforts to stop human traffickers and protect victims?

Definitely. The government must take preventive measures and strong action against people connected with traffickers

What are some requirements to combat human trafficking?

Combating human trafficking requires a comprehensive and multidisciplinary effort. We have to create strong public awareness against trafficking so that people do not send their people outside for jobs. We have to reach education to remote villages and conduct advocacy campaigns.

We have to rescue people trapped in trafficking, protect and assist them by providing shelter as well as healthcare and psychological support. Other ways are to give legal and vocational support to the victims and prosecute traffickers. We have to provide training and technical assistance for law enforcing officials such as police and judges.

What have you been doing?

We encourage coordinated efforts that incorporate state and local movements along with the private sector, civil society, survivors, religious communities and academia. Such an integrated response to human trafficking leverages resources and amplifies results.

Human trafficking affects society and the country of transit and destination. For preventing and combating trafficking we need state, national and international approach. We must act together to stop a crime in our midst that deprives countless victims of their liberty, dignity and human rights.

In northeastern India, especially in Assam, the Adivasi Community constitutes 20 percent of the total population according to the 2011 census. They are the most vulnerable community in Assam. Poverty, low wage and long neglect of their demands and no improvement to their socio-economic condition force many to full prey to child trafficking. Hundreds of young women and children are taken out of Assam with the promise of job and education. Many of them end up in prostitution.

Girls and women who are from poor family are highly in risk. Traffickers often trick families. Most parents have no idea what happens to their daughters after they are taken outside the state by traffickers.

I would blame economic injustice, poverty, social inequality, regional gender imbalance, corruption and the other forms crimes. Trafficking is more a social issue. Therefore, the civil society should take more serious steps to end it. Above all, it is in the constitutional duty of every Indian to combat trafficking and address related problems.

We should also make use of media to spread awareness about the evil aspects of human trafficking. Governments and NGOs are trying to curb the menace, but that is not enough. Young people should come forward to help the poor, and make people treat their domestic assistants properly. This can make a difference because a major cause of human trafficking is such people.

Human trafficking lowers the value of human life.We should work for better future and a better country. We should work for changing India to become a role model for the world.

What training have you done before taking up this work?

I have not undergone any training to fight against human trafficking. However, I have experienced in our own society that many girls and women are lured by unauthorized agency and to other states. A webinar helped me understand many other things about the crimes related to trafficking.

Do you think our society should do more to curb trafficking in India?

Yes. Trafficking vulnerabilities occurs from individual/ families/ neighbor to society to customize vulnerability and being victim from trafficking all citizen that is man and women need to be aware and prevent human trafficking before it begin.

What suggestions do you have for the church and to your community?

Anyone can become a victim of trafficking. Therefore, the community and the church should be united for collective action and mutual support to vigilance from the traffickers. They should sensitize society on consequence of trafficking.

Please say something about you.

I was born on November 14, 1995, in Mohkhuti village in the Karni Anglong district of Assam. I am the youngest of five daughters and two sons of Jibon Ekka and mother Sebastiani Minj. My father is no more.

I did her schooling at Holy Family English school Japralangso, and studied Bachelor in Education (Honors) from Eastern Karbi Anglong. I have completed Masters in Social work with the specialization in Community Development in 2019.