West Bengal religious back anti-trafficking efforts

(May 09,2011) Several Religious congregations in Eastern India’s West Bengal state have decided to lend support to organizations and individuals in their effort to fight the scourge of sexual trafficking of women. Their endeavours were highlighted on Saturday at a meeting on migration and trafficking in Kolkata, the state capital. Some 60 members of the Conference of Religious India attended. Father Jose Pullissery, secretary of the local conference, says it is unable to set up “safe homes” for girls at risk, but can encourage congregations to help those already involved with such projects. The Salesian priest commended the work of the Sisters Adorers among sex workers in the city. They visit a centre and teach sex workers knitting, sewing and bag-making. Religious congregations in the city buy the items the women produce as a way to support them. One of the nuns, Sister Mariette Sebastian, said they also offer counselling to help them lead normal lives. They also help mothers to prevent their daughters being dragged into the sex trade. Father Irudaya Jothi, who directs the Udayani (awakening) Social Action Forum, lauded a special project of the Loreto nuns in Kolkata who send buses to red-light areas in the city to take the daughters of sex workers to government schools some distance away where they are not easily identified. The Jesuit priest wants Religious congregations to make better use of their institutions such as schools and colleges.