On July 29, 2024, in Taki, in the North 24 Parganas district—one of the most vulnerable areas—the British Deputy High Commissioner, Dr. Andrew Fleming, celebrated the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons by interacting with stakeholders such as elected officials, law enforcement, community leaders, and organizations that support women and girls.

Also gracing 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, community leaders and beneficiaries women and adolescents.

The conversation was a part of the “Naya Savera” project, which was funded by the British Deputy High Commission and carried out by ASHA NGO in the districts of South and North 24 Parganas, which aims to empower vulnerable communities by providing them with opportunities for sustainable livelihood and connecting them to government programs that support food security, access to healthcare, stipends, and pensions for women and girls, and women’s entrepreneurship.

The project’s goals are to lower child labor, child marriages, and school dropout rates—all of which are factors that contribute to human trafficking. Recipients of the initiative on preventing human trafficking, including teenage girls and women, expressed their experiences and learnings.

Speaking during the event in Taki, Dr. Fleming stated that learning from those active in the fight against human trafficking in Taki and its surroundings was vital. To avoid human exploitation, abuse, and trafficking, he emphasized the importance of teaching children, their parents, and the larger community about the World Day Against Trafficking theme this year, which is “Leave no child behind”.

“I have worked to combat trafficking in West Africa, Iraq, and Afghanistan. I am aware of the unique difficulties that come with living near borders. As a result, I value the participation of various stakeholders today and am encouraged that the issues will be handled holistically with community support after hearing directly from the youth about their experiences” said Dr. Fleming.

To further spread awareness of the risks associated with human trafficking, the project volunteers performed a skit on the occasion.

Priyanka Dutta