India Country Report - United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime

CHAPTER
3
STATE GOVERNMENTS’ INITIATIVES
The State Governments have been undertaking pro-active steps to
prevent and combat trafficking of women and children in commercial
sexual exploitation. Initiatives being undertaken by some of the State
Governments are given below:
ANDHRA PRADESH
The Women Development Child Welfare and Disabled Welfare Department
(WDCW&DW Department), Government of Andhra Pradesh has undertaken a
number of pro-active steps to prevent and combat trafficking.
These include:
Law Enforcement – A number of anti-trafficking measures have been undertaken
by the Police Department to prevent and combat trafficking. Advisory boards in
all districts of the States have been formed. Since 2003-04, 1573 cases have
been registered, around 4721 persons including traffickers, brothel owners,
pimps, clients/customers were arrested, more than 600 victims were rescued and
110 cases have ended in conviction and 1996 persons were convicted.
Support to Victims of Trafficking and Vulnerable Children – The WDCW&DW
Department has established 29 ‘Swadhar’ homes for women in distress.
Furthermore, with support from UNDP, ten ‘Swadhar’ homes in nine districts were
provided funds to develop infrastructure facilities and skill-development training
facilities.
Ten ‘Swadhar’ homes
in nine districts were
provided funds to
develop infrastructure
facilities and skilldevelopment
training
facilities.
The WDCW&DW Department also provides immediate relief to the rescued victims
of trafficking by providing Rs.10,000/- to each victim.
“AASARA” is a project launched by the police in coordination with
Government and other NGOs in Nalgonda District to prevent second
generation trafficking. Seventy-seven girls were identified and prevented
from being trafficked, forty children were provided care and support, and
361 school dropout girls were identified and supported to join residential
bridge schools. Three family counselling centres were established in
Anantapur District.
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