Hindustan Times
written by Neelam Pandey
Sunday July 22, 2012
The Delhi government is planning to bring a new legislation to rein in trafficking of minors, especially girls, and women. The move comes close on the heels of the labour ministry refusing to incorporate the provision for trafficking under the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2012. The suggestion made by the social welfare ministry was turned down on the grounds that the existing Bill deal with the labour aspect of the working of the agencies and not with the criminal issues which includes trafficking.
"We had given many suggestions to be incorporated in the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2012. They included renewal of placement agencies' licences at regular intervals and issues pertaining to trafficking of women and minors. But we were told that these suggestions cannot be incorporated, as they don't fall under the ambit of the proposed Act," said Kiran Walia, minister of social welfare, women and child development, Delhi government.
"We are working on a separate law that will look into issues of trafficking. We are also studying the Andhra Pradesh trafficking Act," added Walia. There are around 2,300 placement agencies in Delhi, of which only 364 are registered under the Delhi shops and establishment Act. As this registration is voluntary, not many get themselves registered.
"In case of any complaints against these non-registered agencies get away by paying a paltry fine of R50," said Rakesh Sengar, an activist associated with the Bachpan Bachao Andolan, an NGO working for the welfare of children.
The draft of the Delhi Private Placement Agencies (Regulation) Bill, 2012, is ready and it would be placed before the assembly in February 2013.
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