Government Committed to Women’s Safety – Deputy Chairperson Dr. Neelam Gorhe

State Women’s Commission Organizes Workshop ‘From Sensitivity to Resolution: Fight Against Exploitation’

Mumbai : Raising awareness and initiating a people’s movement against human trafficking is essential. The state government is fully committed to ensuring the safety of women, and addressing crimes like human trafficking requires coordinated efforts and action plans involving all sectors of society, said Deputy Chairperson Dr. Neelam Gorhe.

On the occasion of World Anti-Human Trafficking Day, the Maharashtra State Commission for Women organized a workshop titled “From Sensitivity to Resolution: Fight Against Exploitation” at Sahyadri Guest House. The event was attended by Animal Husbandry and Environment Minister Pankaja Munde, Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare, State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar, Minister of State for Home (Rural) Pankaj Bhoyar, Minister of State for Women and Child Development Meghna Bordikar, and MLAs Pragya Satav, Shreejaya Chavan, Manisha Kayande, Haroon Khan, and Sana Malik. Also present were Member Secretary Nandini Awade, representatives from social organizations, Anti-Human Trafficking Police units, Legal Services Authority, and national-level experts and panelists.

Booklets providing information on legal rights, available assistance, and trafficking-related challenges were released during the program, along with an investigative report on commercial sexual exploitation in the Vidarbha region.

Dr. Neelam Gorhe: Need for Women to be Alert and Empowered

Dr. Gorhe emphasized that women must become alert and self-empowered for their own protection. She urged NGOs and police working against trafficking to coordinate with the government to effectively combat such crimes. Misuse of social media must also be curbed. She added that district-level reviews must ensure that 3% of development funds are allocated to goals related to women’s safety and empowerment.

Human Trafficking to be Included in State Policies

Women and Child Development Minister Aditi Tatkare announced that human trafficking-related concerns and solutions will be included in Maharashtra’s upcoming Women and Child Policies. The government is committed to the proper rehabilitation of victims, but societal attitudes toward survivors must also change. She stressed the need for collective awareness among women and children and highlighted ongoing rehabilitation efforts and counseling centers in police stations. Including such topics in school curricula could help raise awareness from a young age.

Need for a Strong Fight Against Human Trafficking

Minister Pankaja Munde pointed out that while women are succeeding in many fields, the struggle for gender equality continues. Society’s mindset must evolve. She called for coordinated action to ensure effective implementation of women’s safety schemes.

24 Women Rescued from Oman by the State Women’s Commission

State Women’s Commission Chairperson Rupali Chakankar noted that trailblazer Savitribai Phule began the movement for women’s liberation over a century ago, but now societal attitudes must change. Over the past three years, the Commission, in coordination with the National Commission for Women, Anti-Human Trafficking Police, and the Omani Consulate, successfully rescued 24 women from Oman and reunited them with their families. The Commission is ready to continue working actively for women’s safety in the future.

Discussions on Tech-Enabled Anti-Trafficking Strategies

In the first panel, experts shared technology-based models, tools, ideas, and solutions to combat trafficking. Participants included former NHRC member Dnyaneshwar Mulye, Atul Rai (founder of Staqu Technologies), Rashmi Taylor (Prerana), and Irfan Siddavatam (CyberPeace Foundation). They shared global insights on the use of tech in anti-trafficking initiatives.

Tackling Trafficking During Transit and Online

The second panel focused on action plans for combating trafficking during travel and across digital platforms, including railway stations, highways, bus depots, and platforms like Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and X. Representatives from the transport and legal sectors, along with NGOs, discussed detection, intervention, and coordination strategies.

The event was compered by Sharon Menezes from Prayas Foundation.