Caravan ‘Swaraksha’ to raise awareness on human trafficking in Odisha

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Mar 3:

The U.S. Consulate General-Hyderabad and Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking organization Prajwala’s community awakening caravan named ‘Swaraksha’ will reach Odisha on March 18 and will travel through all the 30 districts of Odisha to counter trafficking.

The campaign aims to awaken the communities on the dangers of human trafficking, motivating communities to protect themselves, and giving them the tools to say no to traffickers. The caravan will also address men and boys to target the demand for commercial sexual exploitation.

Launched on January 9, 2016 from Hyderabad, the caravan has been tripping through various districts of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. It intends to cover 53 districts across Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Odisha targeting 132 million people.

Government of Odisha, Catholic Relief Services and Kalinga Institute of Social Science (KISS) are the lead partners to support this unique caravan, said founder of Prajwala Sunitha Krishnan in a press meet in Bhubaneswar yesterday.

Informing about the activities going on at KISS, Founder KIIT & KISS Achyuta Samanta said that KISS has been campaigning against human trafficking and sexual harassment against children through education imparted to 25 thousand tribal students. The students of KISS also educated their community against human trafficking, when they go to their villages during vacations.

“The government of United States is deeply committed to combating all forms of human trafficking, which we regard as modern-day slavery. But no government, no NGO, no volunteer, no police officer, no judge can succeed in this fight unless we deeply collaborate together and with the public.  Every man, woman, and child of goodwill should come together and cooperate to end this horrific crime.” said Michael Mullins, Consul General, U.S. Consulate General Hyderabad.