Dr. Asangba Tzüdir
Human trafficking is not a new phenomenon. The trading of human beings is thousands of years old and runs like a red thread through human history. It has become a serious global problem today. On a global dimension, people are often sold from developing regions to developed ones, as well as within a country’s borders.
Human Trafficking is a global crisis that finds linked to the current move of globalization in the sex industry involving women and children. As a result the rate of human trafficking increases with the growth of urbanization and industrialization. It is considered as the fastest growing criminal industry in the world. It is the third largest organized crime after drugs and arms trade across the globe. According to the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crimes, approximately 510 distinct human trafficking routes are identified. Further, the International Labour Organisation estimates that around 20.9 million people are trapped in forced labour or human trafficking circumstances with the resulting profit amounting to 150 billion USD annually. Today, the selling of people is considered one of the highest sources of organized criminal income alongside drugs, arms trading, illegal wildlife trade and cybercrime.
Human Trafficking is the third most registered international crime worldwide after drug and weapon trafficking. It is the major crime in India also. In India, poverty, lack of education, urbanization, low valuation of girls etc. are identified as the main causes of human trafficking. The government of India and several NGOs are actively engaged in trying to combat human trafficking but sadly it continues to exist. There is need for the efforts to be backed by a strong legal system, and which is one reason why the legal fight against human trafficking in India is inadequate.
Besides the human trafficking, attention may be drawn towards the people especially innocent children victimized by human trafficking. A scene from the Hollywood Blockbuster, “Slumdog Millionaire” portrays the harsh life’s realities of children forced into labour, specifically begging, and to ‘qualify’ for which the eyes are mutilated in order to draw the emotional attention of the ‘targeted givers.’
The reasons for human trafficking includes poverty, political condition, war, social and cultural practices, demand for cheap labour, child marriage, mutilation, sex-tourism, child labour, migration, and other reasons like economic cause, social exclusion, gender discrimination. On the whole, poverty lies at the heart human trafficking and it has taken away the ‘right to life’ of many especially children.
Human trafficking is a social crime and creating awareness is extremely necessary. Alongside, proper education is required which can act as a preventive measure to combat this crime.
Closer home, taking the case of Naga children from the ‘margins’ who are ‘forced’ made to labour in the homes of the ‘advanced’ or ‘forward’ Nagas. Give a thought about the many Naga children ‘trafficked’ and made to labour, and also the conditions under which they are made to work. While there are the lucky ones being well-treated and considered as one of their own giving proper school education, there are many unlucky ones who are ill treated in many ways, as well as physically abused. They are enduring a painful childhood unable to speak out their rights and none to speak on their behalf, and each day is a painful story that is sure to stay forever etched in their hearts.
Beyond the theory called human trafficking, there is a kind of reality in practice where human trafficking is happening and the ‘victims’ being sheltered in Naga homes. The question being whether it is a ‘home away from home.’
Today, the culture of keeping ‘trafficked’ domestic help has become almost synonymous with the Naga way of life. Whatever the situation or circumstances be, the question still remains – Is it about giving a ‘life’ or wanting to be served, and whether to put an end to this crime or give a better ‘home’ so also a life away from their homes?
(Dr. Asangba Tzudir contributes a weekly guest editorial to The Morung Express. Comments can be mailed to asangtz@gmail.com)
