New Delhi (NVI): Waking up to ever increasing incidence of human trafficking along the vastly porous 1,624-km Indo-Myanmar borders, Government has decided to come down heavily on the smugglers in coordination with Myanmar Government.
Towards this effect, the Union Cabinet today approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between India and Myanmar on bilateral cooperation and Prevention of Human Trafficking.
Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh share the borders with Myanmar, vast stretch of which is still unfenced. This has helped the cross-border criminals such as human traffickers and those smuggling drugs, arms, gold and wildlife parts.
According to recent reports, India’s border with Myanmar is new route for Nepalese people being illegally taken to the Gulf. The Assam Rifles has been guarding the 1,624-km long Indo-Myanmar borders.
The Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, gave approval for the MoU to “strengthen the bonds of friendship between the two countries and to increase bilateral cooperation on the issues of prevention, rescue, recovery and repatriation related to human trafficking,” an official statement said.
The aim of an MoU is to strengthen cooperation to prevent all forms of human trafficking and to protect and assist the victims of trafficking besides ensuring speedy investigation and prosecution of traffickers and organized crime syndicates in either country. The MoU also involved Formulation and adoption of Standard Operating Procedures for Rescue, Recovery, Repatriation and Integration of the victims of trafficking.
The MoU also aims to strengthen immigration and border controls cooperation and implementation of strategies with relevant Ministries and Organizations to prevent trafficking in persons and set up Working Groups and Task Force for the purpose.
Strengthening cooperation between border control agencies and establishment of direct channels of communication between India and Myanmar can be an effective tool in countering trafficking in persons and promoting cross-border and regional cooperation, an official statement said.
-sb
