Crime Multi Agency Centre | 02 Sep 2022
Why in News?
A few states and one Union Territory have not uploaded a single alert on Cri-MAC (Crime Multi Agency Centre) platform.
- West Bengal, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland and Sikkim and Union Territory of Dadra, Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu have not uploaded a single alert.
- Delhi, Assam and Haryana uploaded the maximum number of alerts on the portal.
What is Cri-MAC?
- The Cri-MAC was launched in 2020 by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which is run by National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB).
- It was launched to share information on crime and criminals with various law enforcement agencies and ensure a seamless flow of information among them.
- It aims to help in early detection and prevention of crime incidents across the country.
- Cri-MAC facilitates dissemination of information about significant crimes, including human trafficking across the country on real-time basis and enables inter-State coordination.
- It can help in locating and identifying the trafficked victims as also in prevention, detection and investigation of crime.
What is Human Trafficking?
- About:
- Human trafficking involves recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of persons, by means of the threat or use of force or other forms of coercion, for the purpose of exploitation.
- Exploitation include, at a minimum, the exploitation of the prostitution of others or other forms of sexual exploitation, forced labour or services, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, or the removal of organs.
- Relevant Laws in India:
- Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 is the premier legislation to deal with this issue.
- Article 23 and 24 (Right Against Exploitation) of the Constitution of India.
- 25 sections in IPC such as 366A, 366B, 370 and 374.
- The Juvenile Justice Act and the Information Technology (IT) Act and also the Prevention of Child Labour Act, the Bonded Labour (Abolition) Act, among others.
- India’s Efforts in Combating Human Trafficking:
- In July 2021, the Ministry of Women and Child Development released Draft anti-trafficking Bill, the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021.
- India has ratified the United Nations Convention on Transnational Organised Crime (the Palermo Convention) which has a Protocol to Prevent, Suppress and Punish Trafficking in Persons, especially Women and Children.
- India has ratified the SAARC Convention on Preventing and Combating Trafficking in Women and Children for Prostitution.
- Anti-Trafficking Nodal Cell was set up in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) in 2006 to act as a focal point for communicating various decisions and follow up on action taken by the State Governments to combat the crime of Human Trafficking.
- Judicial Colloquium: In order to train and sensitize the trial court judicial officers, Judicial Colloquium on human trafficking are held at the High court level.
- Various initiatives such as “SwadharGreh Scheme”, “Sakhi”, “Universalization of Women Helpline”, provide for a supportive institutional framework and mechanism for addressing concerns of women affected by violence.
UPSC Civil Services Examination Previous Year Question (PYQ)
Q. India’s proximity to the two of the world’s biggest illicit opium-growing states has enhanced her internal security concerns. Explain the linkages between drug trafficking and other illicit activities such as gunrunning, money laundering and human trafficking. What counter-measures should be taken to prevent the same? (2018)