BDOS BECOMING WATCH DOGS TO PREVENT CHILD TRAFICKKING
 
Introduction
The programme for the Block Development Officers (BDO) was planned for fifth of March 2008 in order to create awareness on child
Trafficking. The collector supported this programme by giving a circular to all the BDO offices to attend this training without
fail. The BDOs also cooperated by attending the training held on 05.03.08 at YWCA hall.
 

Facilitating agency:
Don Bosco Anbu Illam was the facilitation agency to conduct this training. It is already facilitating the Anti trafficking committee at the Corporation. In order to prevent the trafficking at the village level the BDOs have to make the village watch dog committees to function effectively. Hence Don Bosco Anbu Illam planed a training programme for the BDOs.
 
Participants:
The invitation was extended to both the BDOs and the village presidents. Since most of the BDOs were presents from all the 22 blocks it was easy to draw out the resolution which was signed by the Block development officer for Salem union and counter signed by extension officer and village development officer. The copy was send to all the blocks.
 
Objective of the training:
The major objectives of the trainings are:
1) To bring about awareness about the child trafficking to the BDOs in the 22 Blocks
2) To create watch dog committees at the block level and village level.
3) To prevent trafficking of children and women by creating a monitoring system.
 
Process of the training:
 

Fr. Xavier welcomed the gathering and spoke about the purpose of the training. He also spoke about the list of children who are missing and the services of child line as well as the web site www.missingchildsearch.net . The net work existing at the corporational level with the police and allied systems were explained as the role model for the Salem rural to adopt.

Mr. Sanchevan the probation officer from the observation home explained about the Juvenile Justice system. He briefly explained about the difference between the children in conflict with law and children in need of care and protection. He also explained about the punishment proposed in the JJAct for the trafficking, and also the role of child welfare committee.

Mrs. Kalpana the director of life line trust spoke about the child trafficking and the illegal adoption. The life line trust has the adoption unit but the children are trafficked in the name of adoption. She also explained about how the abandoned children could be given in for adoption. Though the legal procedure is strict the trafficking does take place due to transaction of money.

Mrs. Rubi Thiyagarajan the Nodel for child line spoke about the services done by the child line. The BDOs can make use of the child line to inform about the missing children as well as found children in their area. She spoke about the trafficking of girl children and also atrocities done to the girl children.

At the end of the training Mr. Arumugam the Block development officer for Salem union drew the following resolutions namely:

1) To identify the children at risk namely street children, abandoned children, child laborers, girl children, differently abled and children of sex works.
2) To form village level watch dog committees to prevent the trafficking of such vulnerable children.
3) To make use of child welfare committee, child line and the website (www.missingchildsearch.net ) for tracing the missing children.
4) To avail the rescue and rehabilitation services provided by the Don Bosco Anbu Illam for street children.
5) To make known the counseling and guidance services provided by the child guidance centre at Don Bosco Anbu Illam.
These resolutions were circulated to all the BDO offices as a result of this training.

Finally Mr. Joseph Mari the coordinator thanked the BDOs who had come for the important meeting and promised to extend the cooperation to Don Bosco Anbu Illam in fulfilling the resolution drawn.

Conclusion:

The meeting ended with lunch for all the participants. The entire meeting was very fruitful and the cooperation of the BDOs was vividly seen. The follow up of this training would be the formation and functioning of the watch dog committees in their Blocks. Thus we hope to have a better net work in preventing the trafficking of children.