Kathmandu, April 5:

Conflict-triggered migration of girls and women within Nepal and outside to India has heightened the risk of trafficking.

Speaking on the 13th annual day of Maiti Nepal, Anuradha Koirala, chairperson of the organisation, said, “The need of the hour is a safe migration programme, not an anti-trafficking programme.” The government should testablish shelters and transit homes where arrangement for giving skills-training exists.

“Maiti Nepal’s experience in checking trafficking in women and girls is increasing,” said Santona Devkota, safe-migration officer of Maiti Nepal. She added the rate of the cross-border labour migration has gone up, with workers in increasing numbers leaving the country in search of jobs.

“Traffickers lure women and girls with promises of getting them various kinds of lucrative businesses. The girls employed in restaurants and bars are paid in advance and taken out in groups as artistes travelling for various programmes. “Devkota said despite efforts of the governmental and non-governmental organisations to control trafficking, the traffickers have managed to stay one step ahead.