Vijayawada: Survivors of human trafficking are calling on the state government to take stringent measures to prevent trafficking and ensure adequate compensation and support for victims. At a press conference held at the Press Club on World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, Mrs. Apoorva and Mrs. Pushpa Kumari, president and secretary of VIMUKTHI—a collective of survivors of human trafficking and sex workers—urged Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Home Minister Anita to focus on their plight.
They emphasized the need for all government welfare schemes to be accessible to trafficking survivors and proposed the creation of a “Community-Based Rehabilitation” scheme. Despite the establishment of 13 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs) across the state, these units have not independently registered any FIRs, leading to weak investigations and low conviction rates. VIMUKTHI leaders demanded immediate staffing and strengthening of AHTUs and the implementation of a robust action plan to combat human trafficking.
According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), 1,432 women and girls were rescued from brothels in Andhra Pradesh between 2019 and 2022, yet many did not receive the government schemes and rehabilitation services they were entitled to. Under the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA) scheme of 2015, each rescued individual should receive compensation ranging from ₹1 lakh to ₹8 lakh, and immediate financial assistance of ₹20,000 as per G.O. MS No. 28. However, only 5% have received such aid.
