DATA COLLECTED FROM SOCIAL WELFARE DEPARTMENT AND DEPARTMENT OF WOMEN AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, KOLKATA 

The Directorate of Social Welfare runs three Homes where the rescued trafficked victims are kept. These are:

  1. Liluah Home, Sunderbari Mulchand Mohata Home, 8 Stark Road, Howrah.
  2. Siliyam Home, Beharampur, District – Murshidabad.
  3. Sukanya, Sector – V, Block AQ 15, Salt Lake City, Kolkata – 700 091.

Table 2.1 No. of trafficked victims in the Homes

Name

2000

2001

2002

Liluah, Rescue Home

132

146

218

Silayam, After Care Home

74

75

98

Sukanya Home

142

117

114

 

Table 2.1 shows the number of trafficked victims at the various Homes meant for them since 2000. Maximum numbers of trafficked victims are staying in the Sunderbari Mulchand Mohata Home at Howrah.

 

Table 2.2 Number of Victims in the District Shelter Home

Name

2000

2001

2002

District Shelter Home, Burdwan

24

23

26

District Shelter Home, Nadia

26

23

30

District Shelter Home, Malda

26

28

42

 

The number of victims (distressed children and women) in the District Shelter Homes at Burdwan, Nadia and Malda are given in Table 2.2. The victims are provided with food and lodging facilities at the Homes. In addition the inmates are also given formal education and vocational training. Please note that trafficked victims are not kept in these Shelter Homes.

 

2.2.2 DATA FROM DISTRICT SOCIAL WELFARE OFFICER, MURSHIDABAD

The Silayam Home, Beharampur is an After Care Home run by the State Government. There are also three Juvenile Homes. The names and addresses are given below:

  1. Anand Ashram, Kadai, Beharampur, District:  Murshidabad.

Ph: 053252-22752.

  1. After Care Home for Boys, Banjetia, Beharampur, District:  Murshidabad.

Ph: 053252-50295.

  1. Destitute Home for Boys, Kadai, Beharampur, District:  Murshidabad.

Ph: 053252-52400.     

 

The statistics of trafficked victims staying in the various Homes are given in Table 2.3 and 2.4.

Table 2.3 Number of Victims  in the After Care Home and Juvenile Homes, Behrampur

Name

2000

2001

2002

After Care Home

74

75

130

Anand Ashram

112

15

95

After Care Home for Boys

41

42

46

Destitute Home for Boys

117

109

62

 

Table 2.4 Age-wise Distribution of the Rescued Trafficked Victims in Silayam

Age

1998

1999

2000

2001

2002

< 14 years

32

20

22

26

42

14 – 18 years

9

14

12

11

35

> 18 years

61

50

40

38

53

Total

102

84

74

75

130

 

Though the authorities at the Homes do not maintain any record of the social background, education level and mode of entry into prostitution of the inmates, they were able to broadly suggest categories. The following information was revealed through in-depth interviews with the concerned officials:

 

Most of the victims live below the poverty line, are illiterate and belong to the labour class.
Most of them are SCs, STs, OBCs and Muslims. The Rescue Home at Howrah also has Christian victims.   
They are brought into the profession through false promises of marriage or marriage itself. Some of them are also assured of jobs and trafficked to distant places.

 

 


2.2.3 DATA COLLECTED FROM WEST BENGAL HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION (WBHRC)

 

The Secretary of the WBHRC stated the following:

More than 49% of the women and children are compelled to take up prostitution by external agents (e.g. pimps and middlemen).
46.8% get involved due to poverty, social insecurity, etc.
Only 4.2% join the trade voluntarily.

 

They do not maintain any other data related to trafficking and women in prostitution.

 

                                                                                       

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