By IANS
Chandigarh : Alarmed by the increase in human trafficking cases in the state, the Punjab government Monday announced it would enact an anti-human trafficking law.
“To safeguard the legitimate interests of people, who fall in the trap of unscrupulous travel and immigration agents, who allure and induce them with false promises of sending them abroad and charge heavy amounts of money, the Punjab government is going to enact a legislation to curb such activities,” Local Government and Industries Minister Manoranjan Kalia, who also heads the cabinet sub-committee to prepare the draft law, said here.
Kalia said the draft of the Punjab Prevention of Human Trafficking Act, 2007 has been prepared and the law is likely to be enacted next year.
Every year, hundreds of youth from the state seek to migrate to countries like US, Canada, Britain, Middle East and European countries. Many of them fall into the trap of unscrupulous travel and immigration agents who promise them a safe passage to western countries but end up in central Asian or African countries.
Punjab-based Lok Bhalai Party (LBP), headed by former union minister Balwant Singh Ramoowalia, has been spearheading a movement against immigration agents and exposing their deeds.
According to LBP, travel agents have duped nearly 50,000 families in the state.