‘Swaraksha’ campaign concludes at KISS in Odisha capital

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, May 21:

“Swaraksha”, a community awakening campaign against human trafficking organized by the U.S. Consulate General-Hyderabad and ‘Prajwala’, a Hyderabad-based anti-trafficking organization, in association with Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) concluded today on KISS premises in Odisha capital.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Achyuta Samanta, Founder, KIIT & KISS said, poverty and lack of education are the main factors behind human trafficking. Many young girls in rural areas are becoming the victims of human trafficking due to poverty and lack of education, Dr. Samanta elaborated, adding that KISS model, which has been promoting education to eradicate poverty for last 25 years, is the only solution.

Gabriel Olivier, Public Affairs Officer, US Consulate General said, US Govt. is very concerned about the issues like human trafficking. Human Right is the topmost priority of US foreign policy and US Govt. is working to end this inhuman crime, he stated, while eliciting the support of all. The “Swaraksha” campaign is just the beginning, he added.

Padmashri Dr. Sunitha Krishnan, Chief Functionary and Co-Founder, Prajwala said, “We all are responsible for human trafficking because of our silence, tolerance and lack of awareness. We need to be the intolerance to end this crime”. All of us should ensure a safe world for our daughters and sisters, she added.

“Swaraksha” campaign was launched on January 9, 2016 from Hyderabad and covered 53 districts of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. On the concluding day of the campaign, a motorcycle rally was organized from Patia square to KIIT campus in Bhubaneswar. Among others, Ahmed Ali, Programme Coordinator, Swaraksha, volunteers and officials of Prajwala were present.