British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr Andrew Fleming, Monday engaged with local stakeholders including elected representatives, police, community leaders and women and girls’ groups to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons at Taki in Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, one of the most vulnerable areas.

The interaction was part of the British Deputy High Commission supported project ‘Naya Savera' implemented by ASHA NGO in South and North 24 Parganas districts to make vulnerable communities self-sufficient through sustainable livelihood opportunities and linkages to government schemes catering to food security, access to health care, stipend and pensions for girls and women and those supporting women entrepreneurship.

The project aims to reduce school dropout rates, child marriages and child labour all of which are drivers of trafficking.

Beneficiaries including adolescent girls and women shared their experiences and insights gained under the project on combating trafficking in persons.

Speaking on the occasion in Taki, Fleming said it was invaluable to gain insights from stakeholders involved in working towards combating trafficking in persons in Taki and its environs.

Photo courtesy: PR

He highlighted this year's theme for World Day Against Trafficking - "Leave no child behind" and underlined the power of educating children, their parents and the wider community to prevent exploitation, abuse and trafficking of persons.

"I have worked to combat trafficking in West Africa, Iraq and Afghanistan. I understand the particular complexities involved in border areas. As such I appreciate the presence of different stakeholders here today and also heard directly from the young people about their experiences and am hopeful that the challenges will be addressed with community support in a holistic manner," he said.

Sanjeev Kumar Singh, Secretary, ASHA NGO said, "It's my privilege that the British Deputy High Commission has continued the partnership with ASHA by sanctioning the anti - trafficking project Naya Savera.

"Under the project we are sensitising the community on the issues of child marriage, unsafe migration, school dropout, online sexual abuse that often culminate in trafficking, a prevalent issue in the Sundarbans bordering Bangladesh. We also provide support to the Self Help Group women for their petty business so that they can enhance their income."

Photo courtesy: PR

Present on the occasion were the Chairman of Taki Municipality, Somnath Mukherjee, Panchayat Pradhan of Barunhat, Abul Kalam and Chaitali Gram Panchayat Pradhan, Subrata Patra, Inspector in Charge, Hasnabad Police Station, Samir Das and other police and government officials, besides community leaders and beneficiaries women and adolescents.

The volunteers of the project also enacted a skit on the occasion to raise awareness on the dangers of human trafficking.