Coordinated efforts by government departments and society are essential to eradicate human trafficking and bonded labour, NTR District Collector G. Lakshmisha said on Thursday.

Participating in a programme at the Collectorate to mark the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons, the Collector unveiled an awareness wall poster on prevention of human trafficking.

Later, Mr. Lakshmisha said awareness among students would play a vital role in protecting not only themselves but also their families and society from such crimes. He also expressed concern about the increasing misuse of social media platforms and cautioned youth against fraudulent job offers, educational opportunities and other false promises made by traffickers.

The Collector observed that women, children, orphans, school dropouts and economically vulnerable sections were more susceptible to trafficking. He also appealed to the public to contact the Child Helpline 1098 in case of emergencies involving children.

Vigil on bonded labour

Deputy Commissioner of Labour Guntupalli Dhanalakshmi said the district administration was maintaining constant vigilance to eliminate bonded labour. She also encouraged women to make use of safety applications such as the Shakti App for their protection.

On the occasion, Dr. Lakshmisha released ₹6.60 lakh towards immediate rehabilitation assistance for 22 rescued bonded labourers, crediting ₹30,000 each to their bank accounts.