NHRC Seeks Report From Odisha Govt, Police On Plight Of Bhubaneswar Sex Workers

Bhubaneswar: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought detailed reports from the Odisha government and state police on the preventive, punitive, reformative and rehabilitation measures taken on issues related to sex workers in Bhubaneswar.

The Commission directed the chief secretary and DGP to submit detailed reports after hearing a petition filed by human rights activist and lawyer Radhakanta Tripathy claiming that girls and women working as sex workers in Master Canteen and Mali Sahi areas of the city are victims of human trafficking.

The petitioner alleged that the police have not taken sincere steps to prohibit recurrence of sex trade  and functioning of the state-level coordination committee to combat trafficking is not satisfactory.

Similarly, statutory institutions set up under the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956, are not functional, he said. It was further alleged that the victims are deprived of benefits under various social welfare schemes like Anganwadi and Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).

After taking cognisance of the matter, the NHRC had on December 25 last year directed the state government to submit reports and reply to the allegations made by the petitioner. The state police have submitted a report before the Commission this year on the matter.

The Commission has considered the police report wherein the fact of indulgence of few women of Mali Sahi slum area in sex trade activity was admitted. Police mentioned that they conduct regular raids, patrolling and keep close watch to check and prevent immoral activities including human trafficking and forced sex trade.

The government report said there are six Anganwadi centres in Mali Sahi area wherein benefits related to ICDS are provided to all beneficiaries. This apart, there are two primary schools in the area to provide education to children. Several NGOs and four self-help groups are also working constantly to uplift the people of the area and bring them in the mainstream of the society, it reportedly said.

However, the police report has not furnished response to some of the queries raised in the petition, including details of the advisory body for the area as mandated under section 13 of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956. Therefore, direction was issued to the DGP to submit the details regarding observations made by the Commission and action taken by the police in last three years.

Observing that no report was received from the women and child development department, the Commission issued direction to the chief secretary to provide detailed response to the queries raised in the complaint, along with action taken by the state and the district administration for uplift of victims, as mandated under Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act, 1956 and other welfare laws. The NHRC has sought the response within eight weeks, sources said.