Shillong, March 31: Meghalaya police, in collaboration with the Ministry of Home Affairs, organized a one-day state-level conference on anti-human trafficking at the State Convention Centre in Shillong on Friday. Several prominent figures attended the conference, including Director General of Police (DGP) LR Bishnoi, Chairperson of Meghalaya State Commission for Protection of Child Rights Iamonlang Syiem, and Director of Meghalaya State Judicial Academy KML Nongbri.

During the conference, DGP Bishnoi highlighted the challenges of investigating human trafficking cases and the low conviction rate. Over the past six years, only 19 cases have been registered in Meghalaya, and out of these cases, only three or four have resulted in successful convictions. Bishnoi emphasized that this task is quite challenging and difficult compared to other cases.

He also discussed the push and pull factors of human trafficking. Under the push factor, socio-economic and political issues can be the root cause of human trafficking. For example, economic crises such as poverty, unemployment, lack of job opportunities, backwardness of the area, and lack of development in particular areas can be considered push factors. Bishnoi added that in Meghalaya, broken families and single motherhood are prevalent social factors that put young boys and girls under tremendous strain and make them vulnerable to child trafficking.

Under the pull factor, job opportunities that lure people into leaving one part of India to find work in other parts can be considered as some of the factors. DGP Bishnoi also mentioned the problem of rehabilitating rescued adults, as there are no specific homes for them in Meghalaya.

To curtail the issue of human trafficking, Bishnoi stressed the need for awareness among citizens and individuals, coordination among all stakeholders, and the prominent role of the media.

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