Human trafficking from riot-hit Orissa State worries Church

(April 27, 2010) Church leaders in India’s eastern Orissa State, say they are alarmed by the increased trafficking of women from Kandhamal district, the epicenter of 2008 anti-Christian violence. The Church has noticed a huge surge in trafficking of young girls from the violence-hit district, said Bishop Sarat Chandra Nayak of Berhampur. He said victims of the Hindu extremist violence experience severe poverty, since they have no jobs and are unable to cultivate their lands. Families are looking for ways to sustain lives and when security to life and food is threatened, young girls become prey to traffickers’ false promises of jobs, a good salary and shelter, the bishop said. He noted that girls dropping out of schools, as their parents are unable to pay tuition fees have added to the problem.
Archbishop Raphael Cheenath, head of the Catholic Church in the State, said, “Persecution and violence have destroyed the life and livelihoods of our people. He urged Catholics to be on the alert against false promises of traffickers. Bishop Nayak wants the Church to launch a mass campaign to make parents aware of traps and hold the state responsible for a lack of jobs.
The Church does not have the numbers to show the increase in trafficking but media reported childcare workers rescuing Kandhamal girls from railway stations last week. Media quoted government reports saying over 3,500 women remained untraced during 2000 and 2005. Of these 1,418 were between 12 and 14, and 1,342 were between 21 and 30 years.