Odisha Unveils 'Nutan Sakala' Policy to Combat Human Trafficking After Four Years as Top Source State
The Odisha government has proposed a new state policy, 'Nutan Sakala' (New Dawn), to curb trafficking of women and girls, following four consecutive years of recording the highest number of human trafficking victims in India. The draft policy, prepared by the Women and Child Development Department, has been circulated to top police officials for feedback.
The policy framework is built on four pillars: prevention, protection, prosecution, and partnership. It aims to address trafficking through community-based prevention, survivor support, and legal measures including confiscation of assets linked to trafficking networks.
According to National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, the total number of individuals trafficked from Odisha was 1,475 in 2021, 1,120 in 2022, 1,305 in 2023, and 1,039 in 2024, compared to an annual national average of 6,158 during this period. The state admits that despite maintaining 36 Anti-Human Trafficking Units (AHTUs), conviction rates have been near zero in certain years, revealing a gap between rescue and justice.
Key vulnerable factors include a 83.3% rural population, 22.85% Scheduled Tribe population disproportionately affected, female literacy at 64% versus 82% for males, and over 20 lakh seasonal migrant workers annually. Chronic source districts include Balangir, Bargarh, Kalahandi, Nuapada, Subarnapur, Sundergarh, Khorda, Ganjam, Puri, Gajapati, Kendrapada, Rayagada, Koraput, and Nabarangpur.
The policy proposes prevention at the source through life-skills education, safe migration measures, and community tools like village migration registers. For survivors, it plans integrated victim support centres at state and district levels offering medical care, legal aid, psychosocial counselling, and referral services. Rehabilitation will cover livelihood, healthcare, education, housing, foster care, and restoration or repatriation.
To improve prosecution, the policy recommends fast-track courts and invoking the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to trace and forfeit financial assets of trafficking networks. It also suggests amendments to the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act for stricter penalties.
