They joined thousands of others across 100 other locations in India and 500+ locations in 50 countries, on the world’s largest simultaneous Walk against modern-day slavery.
Over 500 citizens from colleges, government agencies and NGOs participated in the Walk for Freedom to raise awareness about human trafficking at Patna this morning.
Walk for freedom motive
The Walk was declared open by Shri. Chakrapani Himanshu, Hon’ble Chairperson, Child Labour Commission, Bihar. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “ Students involvement and efforts in addressing issues like human trafficking are necessary to eradicate it in the future” The special guest, Smt. Dhriti Jasleen Sharma, Joint Secretary, State Legal Service Authority, Bihar said “Let students be the voice against human trafficking”Another special guest Shri Prahlad Kumar, Secretary DLSA Patna marked his presence on the occasion. In other special guests, Reshma Prasad, transgender activist and member of National Council of Transgender Persons was also present. Sumati. Naseema Khatun, member of Advisory Committee, National Human Rights Commission along with other distinguished guests from Anti Human Trafficking Unit, Labour Resource department, social Welfare Department and district administration graced the occasion with their presence and participated in the walk in support of anti-human trafficking.
Walk doing awareness
At the start of the Walk participants in Patna and across the nation took a pledge to do everything possible within their means to help end trafficking in their lifetimes. They then walked single file holding placards with information and statistics about human trafficking starting from and returning to Sadakat Ashram, Kurji, Patna, via public roads in the vicinity. The Walk was a completely silent Walk in solidarity with voiceless victims of human trafficking.
Countering Human Trafficking
This was Patna’s first year participating in the Walk for Freedom, and was led by NGO Justice Ventures India. Participating institutions include colleges such as Chanakya National Law University, Amity Law College, Bihar Institute of Law & NGOs Justice Ventures International, Sakhi, Jan Sikshan Sansthan (JSS), Center for Countering Human Trafficking (CCST) etc.
According to the report of International Labor Organization (2022)
49.6 million people are caught in various forms of modern-day slavery globally, including exploitation for sex, labour, organs, baby selling, forced marriages and domestic servitude, reports the International Labour Organisation (2022). This means that 1 in every 150 people globally are enslaved. Here in India, 8 children were trafficked every day in 2021 according to the Crime in India Report, National Crime Records Bureau (2021). In Bihar, 59 children who were being trafficked to Maharashtra’s Sangli, were rescued in ‘Operation AAHT,’ aimed at curbing human trafficking nationwide. The rescue in May 2023 was a commendable joint undertaking involving the Railway Protection Force (RPF), the state police, and city NGOs. (NDTV, English Jagran)
It is in this context that the Walk for Freedom was hosted in Patna, Bihar. 5 other locations in Bihar – Madhepura, Raxaul, Sitamarhi, Gaya, Purnia – hosted the Walk this morning.
