NEDAN Foundation s Initiative to End Violence against Women and Children Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Assam, North East, India

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1 Volume 1 August 2014 NEDAN Foundation s Initiative to End Violence against Women and Children Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC) Assam, North East, India NEDAN S Newsletter In this Issue Page 1 Human Trafficking in North Eastern Region, India Page 2 Combating Cross Border Human Trafficking between North East India with South Asia Nominated as a member of SAIEVAC Page 3 Imparted Training to State Anti Human Trafficking Police Officers Imparted Training to Stakeholders Page 4 North East Trafficked Survivors Network Forum Initiative Page 5 Rescue and Repatriation Page 6 Prevention of Human Trafficking by Empowering Adolescents Promoting Higher Education IT Empowerment for girls Page 7 Protecting Girl Child through the Campaign SAVE GIRL CHILD Child Friendly Campaign Page 8 Youth Against Human Trafficking Page 9 Page10 Re-integration/ Livelihood Programmes Page 11 Weaving Destination Livelihood Campus Human Trafficking in North Eastern Region, India Human Trafficking is growing because it is the easiest source of earning huge sum of money. Human Trafficking violates the very fundamental right of a person to live with dignity. Women and children are sold, kidnapped, forced to work as bonded labour, sex trade which is in huge rise in the entire North East Region. The UN defines, human trafficking as an act of recruiting, transporting, harboring or receiving a person through use of force, coercion or other means, for the purpose of exploiting them. This definition clearly states there are false promises, lies or an act of force involved in human trafficking. According to UNDP Report to people are trafficked within Asia each year, of which more than half take place in South Asia. Women and children, particularly girls are trafficked within country boundaries to other countries within region and across region beyond South Asia. The following data shows the rising crime against women in Assam, North East Region by National Crime Record Bureau: Missing from Assam 2014) (2009-May Girls: 5023 Boys:2765 Traced: Girls(2305):Boys(1264) Arrested (July 2011-April2014): (Source: CID, Assam) Human trafficking in Assam or say the entire North East is alarming. It has been in existence since the early day but gradually the human trafficking is increasing with great speed. Assam is being ranked as one of the eight Indian states with regard to child trafficking (UNODC, REPORT 2013). The Bodoland Territorial Council, (BTC) Assam has various problems like huge IDP, poverty, unemployment, forced migration, ethnic conflict and natural disasters. Ethnic conflict related to IDP is one of the important factors contributing to underdevelopment, aggravated vulnerability, and rise of human trafficking in the North East region as a whole.

2 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 2- Combating Cross Border Human Trafficking between North East, India with South Asia NEDAN Foundation has been the pioneer in combating cross border human trafficking between North East India with South Asia. North East India share porous borders with South Asian Countries such as Bhutan in North, Bangladesh in South, Myanmar in East and Nepal in West. NEDAN Foundation work in North Eastern Region and the SAARC Nation through network partnering. As North East India share longest porous border with other South Asian countries, NEDAN since its inception has been trying to build regional collaboration with SAARC countries in order to build a strong network to fight the case of trafficking. NEDAN has established strong networking with Bhutan, Bangladesh, Nepal and Myanmar in combating cross border human trafficking. NEDAN has also been advocating with SAARC / SAIEVAC on Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) on Rescue, Repatriation and Reintegration (RRR). NEDAN in collaboration with Bhutan drafted SOP as standard guideline to combat cross - border human trafficking on RRR principle - Rescue, Repatriation and Reintegration. Nominated as a National Board Member of NACG/SAIEVAC NEDAN has been nominated as a national board member of National Action and Co-ordinating Group of South Asia Initiative for Ending Violence Against Children (SAIEVAC) and focal for the regional reporting member on Child Trafficking to South Asia Initiative to End Violence against Children (SAIEVAC), an apex body of South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

3 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 3- Imparting Training to Stakeholders Imparted Training to State Anti Human Trafficking Police Officers Nedan Foundation has substantial experience having worked over a period of time in trans-border areas and networked with various stakeholders. NEDAN has been conducting / imparting various training programme and workshops to various stakeholders in order to strengthen the capacity and building conceptual clarity on human trafficking definition. The data given below shows the number of missing children reported from27 districts from the year 2002 to 2011: Data Collected from 27 districts of Assam, North East, India Heads M i s s i n g Male Child M i s s i n g F e m a l e Child T o t a l C h i l d re n Missing T r a c e d Male Child T r a c e d F e m a l e Child T o t a l T r a c e d Children NENFATH Capacity Building With the history of rescuing and repatriating survivors in different states of North East and metro cities of India, since its inception NEDAN has rescued and repatriated 545 women and girls in the region. The year 2010 NEDAN Foundation has been the member of Anti Human Trafficking in Assam. NEDAN Foundation joined hand together with the state government to work closely in combating inter state trafficking as well as inter districts trafficking. NEDAN is also co-ordinating with the state govt. for rescue and repatriating children from different states of India. Assam State Government and NEDAN Foundation has imparted training to State Anti Human Trafficking Police Unit at CID Head Quarter Assam, where police unit of different ranks comprising of both the gender are trained periodically. Besides, NE- DAN is also providing various data on missing children to the CID headquarter of Assam. NEDAN have been working in the North East region and established -North East Network Forum Against Trafficking and HIV (NENFATH) within the eight states of North East. The periodical workshop and seminars are conducted in order to build the capacity and clarity to NENFATH in countering cross border trafficking. NEDAN is also building the capacity of North East Network Forum members by providing consultation workshops focusing on cross-border trafficking and discrimination against survivors of trafficking. NEDAN S effort is to combat trafficking in the cross-border areas in North-East along with NENFATH partners since region shares long porous borders with South Asia.

4 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 4- North East Trafficked Survivors Network Forum Initiative Since the inception of the NEDAN Foundation it was a felt need to set up a forum for the human trafficking survivor s network to decentralize network activities and raise the voices by the survivors collectively in the region. The survivors themselves who have witnessed and went through the difficulties can raise their voice and work to support the other fellow members in the region in a better mode than any other individuals. NE- DAN has supported the survivors in setting up the network forum in Bodoland level first and slowly build a larger network in the region and has helped the survivors in gaining support from the other stakeholders in the dire of need. In BTC level all the members associated with NEDAN and their name for entitlement rights has been submitted to respective district social welfare department govt. of Assam. NEDAN Foundation undertook an exposure visit cum caravan campaign on World Against Trafficking in Person from Kokrajhar to Guwahati on 30 th July A total number of 16 girls were taken to Accoland, Guwahati as an exposure visit. Discussion was done on the existing scenario of trafficking cases in Kokrajhar district and ensured the girls to prevent themselves from falling prey in the hands of traffickers. The girls were encouraged to raise awareness in their own respective places on issue of human trafficking and to take action against this heinous crime if such cases occur in their places. The messages shared with the girls will be passing on among their peers / friends circle and communities residing in the interior areas and thus such small act will be helpful in preventing vulnerable girls being trafficked for various purposes. It was a wonderful journey, initiated first time by NEDAN Foundation and which will be undertaken every year on 30 th of July respectively to mark the occasion.

5 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 5- Rescue and Repatriation Direct Intervention by NEDAN from : NEDAN carry out direct rescue operation along with various students union, police officials and civil society organizations. NEDAN also conduct random checking in the rail line which connects North East with rest of India. Many traffickers are caught from Bongaigaon and Kokrajhar railway station with the help of government railway police. As many as 110 young girls are untraceable from the IDP of Bodoland Territorial Council. From NEDAN FOUNDATION along with Police has arrested 21 traffickers and put them in the prison and rescued and repatriated 545 trafficked women and girls in the region. Year Total Rescued Minor Adult After rescue, the survivors are given counseling or taken to a psychiatrist according to the need and repatriated to respective home. After being repatriated also NEDAN keep continuous touch with the survivor and create livelihood opportunities in order to make them economically empowered and save them from being retrafficked. In case of children we hand them over to the CWC for the care and protection need of the children. The recent Assam state govt. report published on Trafficking of women and Children highlights Assam as source destination state of the entire North East region and six districts of the state are identified as child trafficking hub in the state.

6 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 6- Prevention of Human Trafficking by Empowering Adolescents Promoting Higher Education to adolescent and drop out girls to Prevent Trafficking NEDAN has 350 adolescents and promoted Higher Education to the survivors and drop out potential tribal girls from targeted vulnerable location. We identify school drop- out girls and ongoing school girls through school visit and parents meet. Till date 150 girls are enrolled in different schools and colleges. The girls were provided with text books, uniform and other study materials. The fulfillment of girls right to education is first and foremost obligation and moral imperative and therefore, NEDAN is immensely happy for being able to reach out economic empowerment of girls and re-enrollment of vulnerable tribal school drop out girls. This initiative of promoting higher education for highly potential vulnerable girls, rescued trafficked survivors and returnee girls from the source districts of Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), has not only provided education avenue but also make collectivization of voices for their rights and education. IT Empowerment for Adolescents Girls Build skills on IT (Information and Technology) in order to make the tribal adolescent girls equip in modern technology as in today's world it is a need of an hour. With that aim in mind, NEDAN initiated imparting IT skills to identified school and college drop out girls. Recently on 5 th of July we launched Free Summer IT training for adolescent s girls from all location including rescued girls who are residents at Weaving Destination Livelihood Campus. Total 20 adolescent girls were shortlisted who completed their one month free course at the NEDAN Secretariat Training Hall and received their certificate. NEDAN Foundation has been imparting IT empowerment to the school and college drop out girls, trafficked survivors and highly potential girls. Certificate in Diploma Technology Application as 3 months course, Diploma in Information Application for 1 year course is designed to equip the tribal youth in IT.

7 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 7 Protecting Girl Child through the Campaign SAVE GIRL CHILD NEDAN being an active organization in protecting children and women always initiate new ideas and innovation to spread the message for the need to prevent and stop exploitation of children. More than 100 girls of Kokrajhar joined hands in launching the campaign of NEDAN SAVE GIRLS CAMPAIGN at Kokrajhar, to mark the occasion of International Day of Girl Child. A BIG CAKE with the message SAVE GIRLS and PROUD TO BE GIRL written on the cake had been prepared. The celebration of International Day of Girl child was held at NEDAN FOUNDATION s office lounge and girls were also joined by mothers to be part of the campaign SAVE GIRLS CAMPAIGN Kokrajhar. The program schedule was prepared in such a way with lots of games, music and dance. The aim of the program initiative is to build the skills and education to the girls not to fall prey in the hands of unscrupulous agents/ traffickers. CHILD FRIENDLY CAMPAIGN Assam is known for child trafficking and missing children hub state in entire North East, India. Assam is also second rank in child trafficking according to the national report It has reported cases of 4234 children missing and 14 districts of Assam are declared child trafficking source districts. NEDAN being active in countering trafficking in the region took the opportunity of bringing all the concern stakeholders on- Children s Day- a day dedicated to children was observed as an event in order to celebrate childhood and promote awareness about children s rights including right to education particularly Child Trafficking. On this auspicious day NEDAN Foundation launched a campaign Child Friendly Kokrajhar as to create a safe environment where children can grow without fear and exploitation as a responsible citizen of the country.

8 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 8- YOUTH AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING NEDAN Foundation work with youth in order to disseminate information, bring positive growth and role of youth in both rural and urban in fighting against trafficking. Human Trafficking is the worst form of violence. And youth has a very important role to play in curbing the rising evil. Every year NEDAN Foundation brings youth on International Youth Day in order to make the youths aware about trafficking. This year on 12th August NEDAN celebrated International Youth Day focusing on three thematic areas: Youth Against Human Trafficking, Youth in Entrepreneurship & Peace and Youth and IT Empowerment. Youths from various schools, colleges and university from Kokrajhar district has taken active participation. Through this NEDAN envisage to impart youth education on human trafficking. Campus Talks in Schools/ College/University Reach out to Internally Displaced Population NEDAN carry out campus level talk program in order to make the children and youth aware of the serious issue of human trafficking and to remain alert and make others alert too. NEDAN reach out various schools, colleges, universities and RSTC centres in order to make the children and youth aware about the rising crime. We reached out approximately youths till date. Peace building and reconciliation has been one of NE- DAN s ongoing programs in IDP. NEDAN S motive is to bring unification among different communities and motivate them to join hands in peace building within communities. NEDAN reach out entirely displaced/ conflict area and sensitize the entire population. Recently NEDAN took the initiative of organizing a peace caravan from 12 th May -14 th May 2014 in the conflict torn area of Kokrajhar, Dhubri and Chirang in order to bring normalcy, peace and unity among the communities. Along with the Peace Caravan NEDAN has also distributed poster and pamphlets on the message of Trafficking ALERT in the displaced areas of the Peace Caravan covered areas.

9 Reintegration/ Livelihood Programme NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 9 NEDAN support young girls and women belonging to poorest of the poor and vulnerable categories. School drop outs, trafficked victims, returnee domestic worker and those at heightened risk of being trafficked are our target beneficiaries. The organization also undertakes field visits and home visits in order to find out the beneficiaries for our project. Once we find out/ identify the targeted group, we give orientation on social entrepreneurship like setting up own tea stalls, food stalls, mushroom cultivation, pickle making, opening beauty parlour and tailoring shop. Training of Women and girls on Social Entrepreneurship programme Vocational Training Residential training on Orientation and Capacity Building on Social Entrepreneurship program was conducted at Weaving Destination Campus. NE- DAN give training on Social Entrepreneurship Development for identified vulnerable girls at the Weaving Destination Campus Training Hall located at Anthaigwlao, Kokrajhar, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). In 2014 we have completed four training sessions starting from the month of April, May and June where 100 of young girls and women are imparted training. NEDAN enroll the deprived women in 3-6 months vocational training course. After the training they will be provided sewing machine and essential material in order to run their own entrepreneurship centre. In the month of March 2014 we set up a tailoring centre in Grahampur, Gossaigaon for a group of 13 trained vulnerable drop out tribal girls. Nedan Foundation also provide support to beauty parlour course to the interested recued girls, drop out and those highly vulnerable of being trafficked. After completion they can open their own parlour shop under the aegis of NEDAN Foundation. This initiative is functional and some more identified girls will be enrolled in phase manner in order to create alternative livelihood.

10 NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 10- Livelihood through Food Processing Piggery As part of the initiative to support the interested drop out tribal girls, Nedan Foundation has established a food processing unit at Joypur IDP, Kokrajhar for 12 trained girls. We have also tied up with the department of agriculture, Kokrajhar in order to train the girls. Self-Supportive Business Initiative: NEDAN Foundation formed a group of women vegetable vendors comprising of 6 members from Runikhata, BTC, Assam, in which 20 thousand has been deposited in the joint account of their group as cash credit seed money. From that money members of the vegetable vendors group access as cash credit with limited amount of money to carry out day to day business in the local market. NEDAN have been enhancing livelihood through piggery to the most vulnerable women in distress as there is a high demand in this area. With the amount they earn after selling pigs they can purchase more numbers of pigs which will indeed help them to expand their business and increase their income and gradually overcome poverty. At present we are providing this livelihood opportunity to single women who are vulnerable from various forms of exploitation. Mushroom Resource Centre Mushroom farming requires minimal investment and has a very short growth period. Nedan Foundation has already started and demonstrated the feasibility of cultivating mushroom. Nedan Foundation has trained 50 women on mushroom cultivation out of which 18 members has already set up a training centre in Serfanguri, Kokrajhar district. They named their group Ronjali self help Group.

11 Weaving Destination Livelihood Campus NEDAN S Newsletter Volume 1, Page 11- WD fabric showcased in European Countries It is an entity in itself initiated by NEDAN in the year 2008.Weaving Destination has been till date the most successful social enterprise in the region. NEDAN empower and improve the well-being of women through the development of social enterprise and a safe working environment. This initiative was appreciated by The Melting Pot Social Innovation Incubator Award, UK for reaching out the market accessibility in Scotland, UK. Weaving Destination, Chandrapara- Kokrajhar has been successful in establishing a sustainable business model for women. The beneficiaries consist of survivors, women living with HIV together with other vulnerable women and girls. At present there are 222 women associated with WD campus. WD currently have 222 women and girls for weaving, stitching, tailoring and aims to establish itself within national and international market for their weaved patterns and various market. The products produced by weaving destination are also sold through online and offline in UK and Europe: see the link:::::

12 Volume 1 August 2014 CONFLICT HOT SPOT BTC MAP NEDAN FOUNDATION Ward No 11, Bodofa Nwgwr, Kadamtola P.O. : Titaguri, Dist: Kokrajhar Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Assam North East, India nedan_ne@yahoo.co.in, Website: Facebook: nedanfoundation@yahoo.in Phone: Let s Come Together and Eradicate the Modern Day Slavery from this World