Maneka Gandhi: Hope Rajya Sabha will pass anti-trafficking bill in winter session

Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi expressed hope that the proposed anti-trafficking bill would be passed by the Rajya Sabha in the upcoming Winter Session of Parliament.

When asked about her ministry’s bills coming in the Winter Session, Minister Maneka Gandhi said, “We are waiting for the anti-trafficking bill to come. The Lok Sabha has already passed the bill, and I am hoping that the Rajya Sabha will pass it.” She further added that the parents should identify the things their children were scared of as it would enable them to deal with them.

Notably, the anti-trafficking bill provides for confidentiality of victims, witnesses and complainants, time-bound trials and repatriation of the victims. The Lok Sabha had passed The Trafficking of Persons (Prevention, Protection and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2018 during the Monsoon Session of Parliament in July.

The bill proposes to create institutional mechanisms at the district, state and central levels. It calls for punishment ranging from 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and a fine not less than Rs 1 lakh. Besides prevention, rescue and rehabilitation, it covers aggravated forms of trafficking such as forced labour, begging and marriage.

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