Awards to journalists, activists contributing to control human trafficking

Kathmandu : The Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens has honoured various institutions and individuals for contributing to control human trafficking.

They were awarded at a programme organized on the occasion of 15th National Day against Human Trafficking here Wednesday. Those receiving awards are Police Inspector Shreeram Thapa from Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police Headquarters, Jyoti Katuwal, journalist with the Kantipur daily from Karnali Province, Kumar Yatru of Indigenous Televisión, Maya Tamang and Shakti Samuha, Kathmandu. Similarly, others to be awarded are Sandip Poudel associated with the Himalaya Times daily, Ajay Babu Shivakoti from hamrakura.com news portal, and Manju Gurung from Paurakhi Nepal. The award carries Rs 20,000 each.

The Ministry informed that it also distributed the awards that were decided last year but the programme could not be held due to COVID-19. Those to receive the award of the last year are Inspector of Nepal Police at Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, Kathmandu of Police Headquarters, Shova Pande, journalist from Dhakuta, SmitaNiraula, Nirmala Poudel from Shakti Samuha, Banke, Section Officer at Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Pabitra Dhaka. Moreover, award carrying the purse of Rs 10,000 were distributed to Durga Singh of Human Trafficking Investigation Burea, Kathmandu of Nepal Police Headquarters, Sanju Niraula Pande from Rupandehi and Tara Bhandari from BishwasNepal, Kathmandu.

At the programme, Ministry Secretary Yam Kumari Khatiwada said the local level governments and central government should be more responsible to curb the human trafficking. Similarly, Member at the National Planning Commission, Saloni Pradhan Singh, viewed all government bodies should be committed to reducing the social ill including human trafficking. Similarly, one among the award recipients Ajaybabu Shivakoti said human trafficking had increased in the guise of foreign employment. The youths in the entertainment sectors were vulnerable to human trafficking. So, attention should be paid to this regard.