Development - Alert

Jharkhand

Relief for sex workers

In a major relief to sex workers, a parliamentary committee has decided to recommend the deletion of a section in the Immoral Trafficking (Amendment) Bill, 2006 that allows the prosecution of any person found to be exploiting a trafficked person. A number of NGOs representing sex workers, especially those from West Bengal, had observed to the section claming that it was against their basic rights. The section allowed the prosecution agency to book anyone, including clients found to be harassing sex workers. The committee was flooded with representations from NGOs, who said the police can misuse the section to book clients, even NGO workers.

The committee has decided that inspector level officials should be allowed to conduct raids and carry out investigations under Immoral Trafficking Act. The Bill had entrusted the job to officers of the sub inspector level.

The committee did not agree with the ministry that trafficked women should be kept on a remand home for seven years as part of the rehabilitation package. The committee wanted the period to be reduced to five years, or even lowered, and stressed on providing employment and compensation.

(Source: HT)

 Child Labour: Rebab-Bound

 The state labour department is considering a rehabilitation policy for rescued children under the revamped law on child labour.

It is decided to open special schools across the state keeping in mind the needs of such children. The first round of 32 such schools would be opened in the state capital. The labour department would be coordinating with welfare department so that parents of such children are benefited from various welfare schemes run by the state government.

Parent of such children would be motivated for going for the work under National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) and going for self employment.

(Source: HT)

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