Project Plan
Implementing agency background:
MSS “SEVA” has been in the development sector for the past eighteen years with foremost focus on human rights, health & nutrition, sustainable agriculture, food security, disaster management, violence against women and children & women empowerment.
The campaign against human trafficking was conceived in 2002 focuses on prevention, protection and prosecution with the objective of tackling the causes and consequences of the cross border trade from neighboring countries. The program components include research, documentation and dissemination, awareness & mobilization, networking & coordination, advocacy & lobbying, augmenting informed mobility; community based programs for high risk groups, rescue & right based repatriation of victims, and support reunification/rehabilitation.
The organization is also reinforcing its presence at the regional level (south Asia) through its initiative Cross Border Anti Trafficking Network (CBATN), a network ofNGOs from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Srilanka dedicated to curb trafficking through the border. The organization’s role in anti trafficking movement has been widely recognized by Govt. of India and Govt. of Nepal by nominating its representation in various high level committees formed by the respective government to address the issue of trafficking.
MSS in coordination with CBATN has successfully rescued 2892 girls while being trafficked under the shadow of migration. These victims of trafficking were also successfully repatriated and reintegrated within their community
MSS”SEVA” mandate within the Govt. of India and Nepal can be well judged from the fact that, we represent NGOs in various High Level Committees constituted by both governments. MSS is an active member of
– Expert Committee in women and trafficking, formed by National Commission Of Women, New Delhi
– Central Advisory Committee on Combating Child Prostitution formed by Dept. of Women and Child Development, Govt. of India, New Delhi
– Joint cross border coordination committee to combat trafficking formed by the Ministry of Women, Child & Social Welfare, Govt. of Nepal
MSS”SEVA” has also been conferred with Bronze Medal (RED & WHITE BRAVERY AWARD) for its valiant effort in rescuing trafficked victims.
The Situation:
Trafficking of women and girls under the shadow of migration from Nepal to India and Middle East countries is a major challenge faced by the civil societies, NGO’s and States as well. Vulnerable women and girls deceived with false documents in the process of labour migration and trafficking through route of India to Middle East is an area of concern. As of today 11 Nepalese girls who had left home few months ago for jobs in the Gulf countries are languishing in Tihar jail in India, due to the false document provided by their brokers. These girls were promised with domestic work in Kuwait and many other Gulf Countries, but their unfortunate fate of producing fake documents at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, Delhi, India landed them as culprits with different offence act of Indian Panel Code. All these girls were heading towards Gulf Countries or Middle East via Delhi, India, since there is a restriction for girls to fly to Gulf or Middle East Countries from Nepal.
Re-victimization of victims of trafficking is a major human rights violation of a girl or women. These vulnerable girls are ignorant and don’t have any sort of support to safe guard their rights. The situation is a perfect opportunity to bring on board all cross border anti human trafficking organizations and networks to jointly influence Government of India and Government of Nepal to ensure rights of victims are safeguarded and provided with right based repatriation and rehabilitation.
As per the reports from sources, the victims of trafficking had been in jails for quite some time. It’s alleged that jail authorities and police have not followed the procedure of filing charge sheet in the court within 90 days from the arrest after the completion of investigation. It’s also understood that even after filing the charge-sheet, the girls are not released from the jail till the finalization of the case. Given the scenario, the victims continue to suffer resulting in Re-victimization of victims of trafficking
The Action:
Manav Seva sansthan “SEVA” in close coordination with Cross Border Anti Trafficking network (CBATN) India and Nepal chapter will organize signature campaign among NGos in Nepal and Nepal to gather support for the cause of liberating trafficking victims from Tihar jail. A delegation of NGOs from India and Nepal will hand over the appeal and lobby with the concerned authorities (as detailed below) in India to ensure the rights of the victims.
1. H.E. Dr. Sheel Kant Sharma, Secretary General of SAARC
2. Shri Akhil Kumar Jain, Chief Executive Officer of the Commission, National Human Rights Commission, New Delhi
3. Smt. Renuka Chowdhury, Minister of States, Women and Child Development, Govt. of India
4. Mr. P. Chidambaram, Home Minister, Minitry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India
5. Mr. Pranab Mukerjee, External Affairs Minister, Ministry of External Affairs, Govt. of India
6. Smt. Sheila Dikshit, Chief Minister of Delhi and Minister In-charge of Prisons.
7. Shri G.S. Patnaik, IAS, The Principal Secretary, Home and Administrative Secretary of the Prison Department
8. Shri B.K. Gupta, IPS, Director General (Prisons), Head of the Prison Department
MSS”SEVA” in coordination with CBATN will compile a profile of all the trafficked Nepali victims in coordination with prison authorities. A lawyer from Human Rights Law network will be hired to lodge a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) and provide legal assistance to victims to liberate them from prison.
MSS”SEVA” and CBATN India and Nepal chapters will coordinate the repatriation of victims to Nepal and subsequent reintegration of victims into their respective families.
MSS and CBATN propose to target 11 victims languishing in Tihar jail. MSS and CBATN Nepal chapter will also initiate advocacy and lobbying with Nepal government to influence reforms in immigration policy to counter trafficking of vulnerable women and girls using fake and false documents by brokers and other recruitment agencies.
This grant will help MSS and CBATN network to visualize among the anti trafficking networks, forums and governments to need to revisit and reorganize anti trafficking actions, with quantum shift to looking at trafficking as migrant rights agenda. The grant will also facilitate us to look at trafficking within the border framework of migration.
Budget
Activity (6 month period) / Budgetin US$
Profiling and case study of trafficked victims in Tihar jail @ $50/victim/11 / 550
Legal assistance to trafficked victims in Tihar jail @ $500/victim/11 / 5,500
Right based repatriation of trafficked victims to Nepal @ $250/victim/11 / 2,750
Reintegration and rehabilitation program for repatriated victims @ $1000/victim/11 / 11,000
Moving Public Interest Litigation (PIL) in the Supreme court of India in regards to trafficked Nepalese victims in Tihar jail / 2,000
Signature campaign among NGOs in India and Nepal to influence cross border government on issue trafficking and migration / 1,000
5 member Delegation from cross border NGOs to meet Secretary General of SAARC (travel, food and lodging) / 2,000
5 members Delegation from cross border NGOs to meet Human Right organizations and Government officials in India. (travel, food and lodging) / 2,000
Local travel, communication for MSS and CBATN members / 8,000
Honorarium for campaign coordinator and heads of CBATN chapters @$425x3 x 6 months / 7,650
Sub total / 42,450
Administrative cost 8 % / 3396
Grand Total / 45,846