The ministry of women and child development has invited suggestions for the draft of the Trafficking in Persons (Prevention, Care and Rehabilitation) Bill, 2021 which the centre has presented in the Parliament.
The ministry in a statement said that the motive of the bill is to prevent and counter-trafficking in persons, especially women and children.
As per the outline of the bill, a person who is found guilty of trafficking can be jailed for a minimum period of seven years which can be expanded to 10 years. The bill provisions will also apply to offences of trafficking in persons with cross-border implications.
The convict will also be subjected to a fine of Rs 1 lakh which can be increased to five lakh. The bill further suggested that properties of the convicts purchased by using the trafficking money will also be confiscated.
The bill, the ministry added, will provide care, protection, and rehabilitation to the victims of trafficking, while respecting their rights, along with establishing a supportive legal, economic and social environment for them. The law will contribute to the prosecution of offenders, the ministry stated.
Recommendations are open till July 14, after which the bill will be sent to the Union Cabinet for approval, the ministry said.
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In May, a viral assault video of a woman who was being raped and brutally tortured had drawn widespread condemnation from people. The Bengaluru Police had arrested five people, including a woman allegedly trafficking the woman victim from Bangladesh. All accused were said to be from Bangladesh and are involved in sex rackets.