Study reveals that Assam is fast emerging as the breeding ground for Human Trafficking and ?Love Jihad?; Muslim and Christian forces are majorly responsible

A study done by ‘Drishti, Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra’ reveals the Socio-Economic status of the women of Assam. ‘Drishti’ has completed this study in five districts (Kokrajhar, Tinsukia, Jorhat, Dima Hasao and Hailakandi), four towns (Guwahati, Golpara, Jorhat and Dhubri) and 91 villages in Assam. It has been found in the study that due to lack of educational achievement, less political and economic participation, patriarchal society, lack of reproductive knowledge and rights, lack of viable and sustainable livelihood options the Socio-Economic status of women in Assam is quite inconsolable. Women are the major victim of domestic violence, alcoholism, rape, human trafficking, ‘Love Jihad’ and HIV+ infections.

Drishti, Stree Adhyayan Prabodhan Kendra (Women Studies Centre) is information, Documentation and Research Centre related to women issues. The Centre primarily studies the conditions of women, prepares reports and recommendations. So far, Drishti has studied the living conditions of vanavasi/aadivasi migrant girls from Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Orissa. Drishti has looked into the declining sex ratio in Haryana and its impact on the “Marriage System”. In Maharashtra, Drishti has studied “The impact of Self Help Groups on the Upliftment of the women in Maharashtra”. The research experiences, reports and recommendations made by Drishti have been well received by the concerned governments and NGOs working in the field.

In North East ‘Drishti’ has started its study in Assam. The team has found that there are agents who provide the domestic workers to the placement agencies in Jalpaigudi and after that, the girls have been sent to Delhi and other metro cities. Trafficking is mainly for domestic help, hotel industry, marriage and prostitution. A senior activist of a rescue home of Assam, Dr Rajiv Sharma, told that many girls are being rescued but their families are quite reluctant to accept the rescued girls in their house, and there are more chances of re-trafficking of the girls. It has been found that trafficking is done for the marriage purpose, especially in Haryana and Rajasthan where the sex ratio is declining due to female feticide. Figures state that more than fifty per cent cases of human trafficking involved minors and nearly 90 per cent of them are girls. A graphic and sound engineer of the state, Mr Prodip Paul told the team that there is a steady increase in some women in the fields of modelling, acting, music, dance and photography. Paul also mentioned that pursuing such careers, some of the girls have to move away from their native land and unfortunately have been sexually abused by their co-workers and seniors.

The high rate of Girls Dropouts is also a big problem in Assam. It has also been found that most of these school dropout girls have been shifted to Kerala by Christian Missionaries working in the villages. Parents of these girls have been given rupees 3000/- per month. Team ‘Drishti’ met two ‘Christian Missionary’ sisters at Golpara Police Station. They have been in charge of a ‘Shelter home for poor’. Sisters told the team that once sheltered in these homes, children is forced to get converted to Christianity. Some of these children run away. In many such cases, girls become a victim of rape and human trafficking.

The team ‘Drishti’ visited Dhubri town. It is the 2nd highest ‘Muslim populated’ and 3rd highest in ‘Human Trafficking’ district in India. The team studied the census and found that there has been a hike in the Muslim population in the area. It has been found that this hike is due to the immigrants from Bangladesh, who have been provided with ‘Ration Card’, ‘Voter ID card’ and all other necessary facilities. ‘Love Jihad’ is a vast subject. Sub Inspector, Sh. Jayanta Das of Dhubri town revealed the information about the cases of ‘Love Jihad’, Rape, murder and drug trafficking. Das told that usually Muslim community had been involved in these cases. He also revealed that if the family of a Hindu victim files an FIR, the Muslims come in groups and confront the police. It has also been found at Karimganj that if a Muslim youth marries a Hindu girl, he has been presented with a cheque of rupees one or two lakh. During the Namaj at the mosque, he has also been honoured in the presence of gathering.

A case of Jalnakhede village of Hailkandi district has been found where 80 households of Riyand community and 100 households Muslims are present. One day a group of Muslim boys came to a house where a girl and her mother were present. The girl had quitted school due to poor economic conditions of the family. The Muslim boys stripped the girl and paraded her along the street, beating her on the way. They took her far away. After a lot of commotion, they released the girl. The abductors also demanded the money. They aimed to inflict terror.

A gynaecologist of Dhubri govt. Hospital, Dr Rinku Ahmed told the team that there is a very high index of rape cases, about 7-8 per week brought to the hospital. Dr Ahmed also told that the victims are usually the minors.

An ‘ICTC’ counsellor, Mr Golap Chandra Nath has given shocking statistics of HIV+ cases. According to Mr Nath, 12-13 HIV+ female cases and approximately 20 HIV+ male cases have been reported every month in the district, and these HIV+ cases are mostly from the ‘Minority’ communities.

Terrorism and Extortion have also a big problem in Assam. It has been found by interacting with the local people that members of the extortionist group visit every house once in a year. They demand money and people have to pay them. Villagers also have to arrange for their lodging and boarding. The information about the extortionist is supposed to be kept secret by the villagers. This act on the part of villagers is compulsory assistance to the terrorism. Other ways followed to create terrorism are to burn the houses, steal belongings and kidnapping of girls and so on.

A few years back, clashes erupted at Naga Dima, a town in Dima Hasao. Women security form was formed in every village and attempts were made to restore peace and prevent atrocities against women. The military was also summoned during the clashes. Alcoholism in rural areas is also in an alarming condition. Rural areas figures show that 14.98 per cent women have accepted that they are addicted to alcohol.

‘Drishti’ has recommended that in Assam the Rural Female Literacy rate is much less than the average national Female Literacy Rate. Awareness and the importance of girl’s education should be improved with free education and transport facilities. Some school and colleges should also be increased with incentives and reserved seats for girls.

Assam being the richest in looms in India. These Looms are dependent more upon women weavers. It has been recommended that advanced skills with some mechanical support should be given to them so that the production and the quality will be increased. So as the bamboos. Training camps, exhibitions and other assistance can be provided by the government agencies and NGO’s. Tourism can also be increased which can encourage the employment there for both men and women.