Mysore/Mysuru: Principal District and Sessions Judge Ravindra Hegde has said that, public cooperation is vital in the prevention of human trafficking, that has emerged as a serious issue in the  society.

Judge Ravindra Hegde was addressing the gathering after inaugurating the programme organised to observe World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, organised by the District Administration in association with District Legal Services Authority (DLSA), Department of Health and Family Welfare, District Child Protection Unit, Sakhi One Stop Centre and Department of Women and Child Development, at Zilla Panchayat auditorium in the city yesterday.

There is a need to create awareness about human trafficking among people. Some, on the pretext of facilitating job, lure the poor and also force the children into child labour. The action taken against such cases, should be publicised widely in media to make the people aware, advised the Judge.

There are instances of trafficking kids and coercing them to sell pens, stickers on the roadside and also in beggary. By buying the wares sold by such persons, the people are indirectly supporting the racket. Instead, all the Departments, with the cooperation of associations and the general public, should resort to study the background of such kids and create awareness, as one person alone cannot eradicate the gigantic threat posed by human trafficking. City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar said, the Department has taken human trafficking into serious consideration and the action is being taken in children missing cases, without showing  any negligence.

The people should be aware of the modus operandi of those indulge in human trafficking, luring in the name of job to unemployed persons, exploiting their poverty. Without falling into the trap of such dubious offerings, we should ensure personal safety.

Human trafficking has grown into a bigger malaise, threatening the security of the country. Hence, everybody should join hands to fight human trafficking, appealed Seema Latkar.

ZP Chief Executive Officer (CEO) K.M. Gayathri said, the unorganised sectors organising themselves and harassing others also amounts to human trafficking. Every Department should create awareness by organising special programmes. Moreover, we should create awareness among children at the school level about strangers.

Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikantha Reddy, administered oath against human trafficking to the gathering.

DLSA Member-Secretary B.G. Dinesh, ZP Deputy Secretary M. Krishnaraju, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr. P.C. Kumaraswamy, Deputy Director of Women and Child Development Department Manjunath, District Child Protection Officer Yogesh and others were present.