Traffickers move online to prey, victims still await meaningful rehabilitation

BIRENDRA SHANDILYA

There has been a noticeable change in human trafficking trends and methods when it comes to the activities of pimps and their supply of the flesh trade. Indo-Nepal cross-border trafficking is on a decline, supplemented instead by a steady increase in trafficking from the North East Region and from Darjeeling. Traffickers are also using technology and preying on the gullibility of first-time users of apps and services which have now inundated these parts as mobile phones get cheaper, their features more advanced with no noticeable improvements in the understanding of people here on the nefarious abuse of technology by the criminally inclined.

“The trend is changing. Traffickers are making use of technology including online social sites to lure the girls. Dingy brothels are now being replaced by highend hotels, lodges, massage parlours and discos. A recent study by us has revealed that though Indo-Nepal cross border trafficking is on the decline, the demand for women with Mongoloid features with fair complexion has increased and is being serviced with more rampant trafficking from the Darjeeling Hills and North East Region. They are being passed off as girls from Thailand in massage parlors in places like Goa,” claimed Arun Pandey of Anyay Rahit Zindagi [ARZ], a Goa-based NGO working on rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked victims.

Mr. Pandey remarked that the biggest challenge faced by victims from Darjeeling following their rescue is rehabilitation.

“There have been incidents in which girls from Darjeeling have been rescued from massage parlors in Goa where they were being sexually exploited. Following the rescue, the challenge we face is rehabilitation. Though there is a rehabilitation programme of the Government of Goa, the victims prefer to return. However there is no rehabilitation home in Darjeeling and there is no rehabilitation scheme of the West Bengal Government for trafficked victims,” details Mr. Pandey.

“As per a Supreme Court ruling, the State Government has to compensate victims of trafficking, acid attack and rape. However I am not aware of any such compensation by the West Bengal Government to rescued victims,” he adds.

The girls are usually lured to the massage parlours with promises of lavish salaries. Once they start working in the parlours, they are forced into the sex trade. Mr. Pandey further states that an amendment of Section 370 of the Immoral Trafficking (Prevention) Act criminalises anyone who recruits, transports, harbours, transfers or receives a person using certain means (including threats, force, coercion, fraud, deception, abduction, abuse of power, or inducement) for purposes of exploitation.

“Owing to this it is a crime to buy sex and customers can be arrested. In recent years the Government has strated sealing brothels and massage parlors where such crime has been committed,” added Mr. Pandey.

Traffickers are now recruiting local women to work as Managers from the source location. The job of the “manager” is to lure girls for which they get good money. “In order to stop this, criminal cases have to be initiated and perpetrators need to be booked from the source point to send a strong message to the predators,” stresses Mr. Pandey.

Meanwhile, guarding the open border with Nepal against traffickers presents another challenge.

“The open border is a boon for both Indians and Nepalese. However, the security agencies have to remain highly vigilant against traffickers. Those who commit crime taking advantage of this great facility (open border) should be punished. There should be stringent legislation against border crimes specially relating to trafficking,” insists Charimaya Tamang of Shakti Samuha, an NGO from Nepal.

Ms. Tamang, herself a victim of trafficking, started the Shakti Samuha in 1996 along with 14 others like her who had been rescued from the brothels of Mumbai. While Ms. Tamang is a recipient of “Hero Acting to End Modern-Day Slavery Award 2011” of the USA, Shakti Samuha was awarded the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for 2013 for its contribution to rooting out human trafficking and improving the lives of trafficking survivors. 

Ms. Tamang feels that more emphasis should be given to “prevention” than “rescue”. She appealed to Government departments, NGOs and Society to work in close coordination to prevent trafficking along with need for protection of rights and privacy of the rescued. She further appealed to society and family members of victims to be more receptive to their rehabilitation.

Charimaya was trafficked when she was barely 16. In 1994, she was abducted from the Shivapur jungles near her village in Sindupal Chowk of Nepal when she had gone to collect fodder. From there she was taken to Gorakhpur and then landed up in a brothel in Mumbai.

On 05 February 1996, the Government launched a first-ever major raid in the red light district of Kamathipura, Mumbai. 500 girls below the age of 18 were rescued. They were from India, Nepal and Bangladesh. Out of the 500, more than 200 girls were from Nepal. With the Nepal Government reluctant to facilitate their return, NGOs and Human Rights organizations of Nepal facilitated the return of the victims. Finally after six months in halfway homes, 128 trafficked victims, including Ms. Tamang, returned to Nepal.

Darj bridges Hills-Plains divide with Durga Puja

NO BETTER TIME THAN A CENTENARY YEAR TO MAKE DURGA PUJA EVEN MORE SPECIAL
Birendra Shandilya

Durga Puja is all set for a unique experience this time in Darjeeling. While the Nripendra Narayan Bengali Hindu Hall (NNBHH) commemorates the centenary year of Durga Puja in Darjeeling which will be marked by the idol being taken to Bangla Khola (a spring 16km away from town) for emersion in the Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, a unique project, “Paharer Chokhe Samataler Pujo” (Pujas of the plains in the eyes of the Hills) will also be flagged off this Puja.
Nine children from economically underprivileged families will be taken to Kolkata to witness Durga Puja celebrations there. Not only will they witness the pujas, they will be judging and awarding the three best pujas along with the best idol in Kolkata!
This programme is being organized by “Concern for Human Welfare”, an  NGO backed by the Ramakrishna Mission Nivedita Educational and Cultural Centre (RKMNECC), Darjeeling. “This will be for the first time ever in the history of West Bengal that the Hills and Plains will share a common platform and judge pujas of Kolkata. Through this unique programme we have tried to build a bridge between the hills and the plains and bring smiles to the less privileged,” stated Amlan Biswas, General Secretary, CHW.
Most of the children come from the Kanchenview Tea Garden located on the edge of Darjeeling town. “All the nine attend the Gadadhar Avudhaya Prakalpa (GAP) at the RKMNECC. Under the GAP programme we impart regular education, physical activities and nutrition along with extracurricular activities to children from the economically backward strata of the society. From the 122 children attending GAP, the 9 were chosen based on attendance, performance and economic condition,” informs Swami Parananda, in-charge of GAP.
The nine are Ananya Chettri (11 years), Bilashna Tamang (11), Sharmila Dewan (12), Rishika Thapa (13), Nikita Tamang (14), Sarju Rai (9), Sahil Balmiki (10), Shailesh Rai (11) and Nitesh Tamang (13). Except Nikita and Nitesh, the others have never been out of Darjeeling town.
After a night halt at Siliguri, the nine will catch an early morning train to Kolkata on 28 September. They will visit different pandals on the 29th and 30th and judge the pujas. They will also hand out trophies to the three best pujas and the best idol on 30 September. On 01 October, they will visit Belur Math, Dakshineshwar Temple and  Belghoria Ramakrishna Mission Centre and return to Darjeeling on 02 October.
The children will be visiting Saltlake FD Block Sarbajanin Durga Puja; Sreebhumi Sporting Club, Baghbazar Sarbajanin Durga Puja, Md. Ali Park in North Kolkata and Bhawanipore Swadin Sangha; Tridhara Sammilani, Singhi Park, Ekdalia Evergreen; Naktala Udayan Sangha and Chetla Agrani Club in South Kolkata. “It is a dream come true for me. I have heard so much about Kolkata,” stated Sharmila Dewan.
The puja revelry has already begun in Darjeeling with the centenary celebration of the NNBHH commencing from September 23 with musical programmes at Chowrasta. The Chowrasta programme will continue till 28 September. On 29 September, the main puja will be inaugurated at the NNBHH premises, Chandmari, Darjeeling by Darjeeling MP SS Ahluwalia.
The Hall has a rich history. It was built in 1890, located in Chandmari the then “Indian” portion of the town below the Market Square. It was a two storied stone structure and contained a spacious hall in which public meetings of the Hindu community were held. The Mandir located on the premises of NNBHH was constructed in 1891.
Initially, the money required to build the Hall came through contributions made by the Maharaja of Coochbehar. The hall was later named “Nripendra Narayan Hall” in his memory.
Way back in 1915, the Bengali population of the Hill town first started celebrating the Durga Puja at the NNBHH. Great names like Swami Vivekananada, Sister Nivedita, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Acharya J. C. Bose have all paid visits to this hall. Elders claim that even KL Saigal, the legendary singer had once offered Pushpanjali (floral offerings) during Durga Puja here.
Though the puja is organized by the Bengali community, all other communities of the Hills, take active part in it.
The puja is a large attraction amongst the tourists, especially Bengali tourists who visit to offer Pushpanjali, watch the Aarati and eat Bhog. On the three days of puja, cultural shows are staged in the evening at the NNBHH auditorium. This year musical and dance troupes from Kolkata will be performing.
Before independence the image used to arrive from Krisnanagar, first to Siliguri, and then up to Darjeeling in the Toy Train having two engines one in the front and the other in the rear.
Since the early Fifties, the image is being brought from Siliguri, originally made by the Late Umesh Pal and, after his death, being commissioned to Debesh Pal and this year by Ashok Pal of Kumortuli, Siliguri.
The Bisarjan (emersion) is also unique. In the olden days the image used to be carried on a bamboo structure by the youngsters and taken all over town and immersed in Kakjhora, a spring in the outskirts of the town. Now, with Kakjhora crowded in by illegal constructions, the  image is carried on the shoulder and taken all over town and then by truck to a spring called Bangla Khola near Sonada.
“This time, the idol will be taken from Railway Station to Bangla Khola in a chartered DHR. The emersion procession will commence from the NNBHH at 10am on October 4,” informs Saibal Chakroborty, Secretary, Centenary Celebration Committee.

Free Tibet to Secure Border BIRENDRA SHANDILYA

Tibetan hunger strike at Chowrasta on Thrusday.
The Tibetan Youth Congress has requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene and mediate on the Tibet issue. The appeal comes in the wake of the Chinese President’s three-day visit to India which commenced on 17 September.
TYC is the largest NGO of Tibetans in exile with over 35,000 members the world over working for Tibetan freedom. While the boundary dispute and transgressions by Chinese troops occupied centre stage of the New Delhi-Beijing bilateral talks, the TYC has stressed that only a free Tibet can ensure lasting peace and security for India.
The TYC letter to Modi states, “We believe that a lasting peace and security for India along her Himalayan borders lies only in a Free Tibet. A Tibet without China’s military presence is the best guarantee for an India free from constant Chinese incursions, threats and ludicrous claims of the Indian land.”
The TYC has blamed the Chinese Premiere and his hardliner regime for the unrest in Tibet.
“Chinese President Xi Jinping and his regime are responsible for the current spate of tragic events unraveling inside Tibet. More than 130 Tibetans have self immolated leading to 102 deaths in Tibet,” argued Diki Dolkar, the TYC Darjeeling Chapter president.
The TYC states that protests are taking place all over Tibet demanding the return of His Holiness the Dalai Lama along with freedom for Tibet from Chinese occupation. “Beijing’s response- violent crackdowns, shooting, arrests resulting in death and disappearance of protestors. Tibet is literally blacked out with a ban on media along with foreign tourists,” TYC alleges.
“On behalf of all the Tibetans all over the world and in exile, we urge you to kindly speak up for Tibet. When you speak for Tibet you stand on the right side of history and humanity. Today you have the opportunity to make things right. Tibet needs you now,” stated the TYC letter to Prime Minister Modi.
There were widespread protests by the Tibetans and Free Tibet support groups in Delhi. Protests took place outside the Hyderabad House,Chinese Embassy, Taj Palace and Dhaula Kuan. Many Tibetan protestors were detained by the Police. Protestors also demanded that President Xi must meet Dalai Lama and discuss Tibet.
In Darjeeling, Tibetans sat on a token hunger strike from 10am to 4pm at the Chowrasta on 18 September. Thursday’s protest was organized by TYC (North East chapter). In the evening, a candlelight rally was also taken out through all the major thoroughfares of the Hill town.
“The Chinese should immediately climb down from their present hardliner policy and open dialogue with HH the Dalai Lama,” demanded Dolkar.
HH the Dalai Lama, addressing media persons in Dharamsala, stated that sooner or later the Tibetan problem would have to be resolved. “This can happen only through sound understanding of this complex issue and not by force. It can be resolved only through dialogue,” remarked the spiritual head of the Tibetans.
However the HH the Dalai Lama banked a lot of hopes on Xi Jinping. “The present Chinese President is more realistic and open minded. Sino-Indian relation on the basis of mutual trust is very important,” He remarked.
During bilateral talks, a stern Modi asked Beijing to respect New Delhi's sensitivities. On the other hand the Chinese President Xi Jinping sought underplayed the incidents of frequent border transgressions describing them as "certain incidents" that could be managed by both sides.
Addressing the media jointly after a 90-minute talk, both the leaders listed out measures including emphasis on Bangladesh-Myanmar-India-China (BMIC) corridor along with the opening up of the route to Manasarovar and Mount Kailash through Nathu La near Gangtok, Sikkim.

DARJEELINGMAIL By Birendra Shandilya

State and GTA in turf battle for the Hills
FROM A CMO IN DARJ TO EVEN APPROPRIATING JHORA-CLEANING RESPONSIBILITIES, THE MAMATA-DI IS CLEARLY ELBOWING FOR MORE PRESENCE IN DARJEELING

With the events and announcements surrounding the West Bengal Chief Minister’s three-day visit to Kalimpong, it is evident that she remains keen to further tighten her grip on the Darjeeling Hills. Dual administration woes that had plagued the Darjeeling Hills during the Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) days are back to haunt the Hills with the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) in a push a shove over turf with the state administration.
Even as GJM leaders point fingers at the State Govt for interfering with the functioning of the GTA, Mamata Banerjee, while speaking at Kalimpong, announced that a Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) will be set up in Darjeeling town.
Talking to media persons at Deolo Tourist Lodge above Kalimpong, Ms. Banerjee announced, “The CMO will be located adjacent to the existing District Information and Culture office in Darjeeling. A CMO staff will be posted there. Poor people from the Hills who cannot travel to either Kolkata or Uttarkanya (the CMO in Siliguri) can approach the CMO in Darjeeling for aid and relief which will be provided from the Chief Minister’s relief fund.”
This decision has been criticized by SS Ahluwalia, the BJP MP from Darjeeling.
“It is a purely political move. Even as the CMO in Siliguri has failed to address the encephalitis deaths in North Bengal and starvation deaths in the tea gardens, she plans to open a new CMO in Darjeeling. It would be more of a Trinamool Congress office than a CMO,” remarked Ahluwalia.
On 03 September, the CM went a step further and announced that a Steering Committee would be constituted with the Darjeeling District Magistrate at the helm. This committee, she said, will ensure the cleaning up and beautification of “jhoras” in order to attract tourists.
The Committee will also engage people under the MNREGA scheme. Expectedly this has sparked protest from the GTA camp as the GTA is in charge of handing out MNREGA projects and not the District Administration.
Ms. Banerjee was on a 3-day tour of the district. She arrived at Kalimpong on 01 September. The next day, a GTA delegation, led by Executive Member Roshan Giri, met her at Deolo Tourist Lodge before attending bipartite talks with the State Government at the Kalimpong Circuit House.
Despite two years having passed since the formation of the GTA, the transfer of powers and functions remains a slow process. Only 35 of the promised 59 powers and functions have been transferred to the GTA till date. The GTA has complained often of interference by the State administration in GTA’s functioning along with dilution of the transferred powers and functions by the State.
The GJM Chief Bimal Gurung had stated that 5 rounds of bipartite talks with the State have failed to deliver hence he has now pinned hopes on the Centre. The GTA has requested the Centre to intervene and hold a tripartite GTA review meeting. Mr. Gurung has made a number of trips to Delhi of late meeting Union Ministers.
Even the 6th round of bipartite talks held in Kalimpong failed to address many of the grey areas. “Out of the powers and functions which have been transferred there are numerous anomalies. We have submitted our observations regarding these anomalies. We will be sitting with individual departmental secretaries to resolve these issues,” stated Roshan Giri, Executive Member, GTA.
The issue of withdrawal of cases (as undertaken in the GTA agreement) slapped on the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha leaders and supporters during the 44-month agitation for a separate state remains unresolved with the GJM requesting the State to expedite the process and the State assuring to do so.
Regarding the waiving of electricity bill arrears accrued during the GJM’s call for a non-cooperation movement during the Gorkhaland agitation, the State has proposed that defaulters will be allow the option to pay up in 12 installments. The arrears will not however be waived.
The only success at the Kalimpong bipartite talks was that the GTA managed to get a nod from the State regarding the release of Rs. 63 crore DGHC fund that had been frozen since the GTA had replaced the DGHC.
Meanwhile, the GTA has also demanded that the State immediately end the parallel administration regime in the Hills.
“There should not be dual jurisdiction. At present the Chief Medical Officer of Health is under both the State and the GTA. The same holds true for the Child Development Project Officer. The Block Development Officers (BDO) should be brought under the GTA,” stated Mr. Giri.
Fleshing out the complication, he points out that the role of BDOs revolves around the Panchayat. While Panchayati Raj is under the GTA, the BDOs are under the District Administration.
Despite all these shortcomings, the GTA team dubbed bipartite talks a “success” and requested the State to convene tripartite talks [inviting the Centre in as well] in the second week of October. “Issues like transfer of forests to the GTA; implementation of three-tier Panchayat in the GTA area; setting up of Central University and Technical colleges the Centre has to decide. Hence tripartite talks are necessary,” argues Mr. Giri.
Meanwhile, the GJM MLA from Kalimpong, Dr. Harka Bahadur Chettri, opined that the gap between the State and the GTA should be bridged for the GTA to run smoothly.
“Everything has to be done by the State and come through the State. Even the Special Central Assistance has to come through the State. The CM is ready to reconcile. Burying past difference she has time and again visited the Hills and has assured of all cooperation. We should give this a chance and work in close tandem with the State rather than rushing to Delhi time and again,” remarked Dr. Chettri.
And the CM did not fail to shower sops during her visit either. She flagged off 28 Government buses and handed out 100 non-refusal taxi permits for the Hills.
She laid the foundation stones of Tinchulay, Takdah Home Stay along with Eco Tourism and Orchid Centre under the Darjeeling Forest Division; Home Stay at Pokhriuatar and Chimney under Kurseong Forest Division. “As Darjeeling is getting congested, Kurseong and Kalimpong have to be developed. We have to create a new Darjeeling,” she said. Also on the list is a medical college in Kurseong along with four new hydel projects (three on the Teesta and one on Rammam.)
It is a tightrope walk for Bimal Gurung and his men. On the one hand, Mr. Gurung avoided meeting the CM during her trip to Kalimpong even as he sent her a note thanking her for the bipartite talks and apologizing for not being able to meet her as he had to attend to important business in Delhi.
The CM, who made it clear that she would continue to frequent the Hills, said, “The Darjeeling Hills beckon me. I have a strong tie with the Hills and her people. I will be back again during Dusserah”.