Indian nuns pledge to eradicate human trafficking

Dec 08, 2023

BARASAT, India: Catholic nuns working against human trafficking in various parts of India have pledged to live the values of the Indian Constitution and continue their mission with renewed vigour.

Around 170 nuns from 80 religious congregations gathered November 24-26 at Proggaloy, Barasat, West Bengal, to share their adventurous and successful moments, as well as the challenges they face while combating human trafficking.

The meeting was the 13th annual general body meeting of Amrat Talitha Kum India which is affiliated to Talitha Kum International.

Bishop Shyamal Boss of Baruipur, who led the inaugural Mass, reiterated the significance of working against human trafficking and appreciated the women Religious for their tireless and courageous efforts to check the social menace. He also hailed the nuns’ contribution in enhancing the Church’s effective presence in the country and the world at large.

PM Nair, a renowned retired police officer who was the resource person of the day, shared his personal interventions in rescuing children and his attitude of Christ-like compassion to the victims and survivors of human trafficking. He said he was “so happy to interact with so many Sisters in the divine and universal mission to work on preventing human slavery.”

Nair said his motto is No Child is for Sale, No Woman is for Sale, No Human Being is for Sale, and that we all shall work to end trafficking in persons by SPOT IT, SPEAK IT, ACT IT AND STOP IT. He had introduced the Anti Human Trafficking Cell in India.

Fr Isaac Rumao of Gujerat Jesuit Province, the director of St Xavier’s Social Service Society Ahmedabad, spoke on the importance and the strength of networking. He said that to resist, to reduce and to stop organised crime, people have to be well organised through networking.

Bethany Sr Jyoti Pinto, the founding president of Amrat Talitha Kum India, who coordinated the programme, stressed the importance of working in solidarity with a heart of passion for Christ and compassion for humanity.
Sr Meera Mathew, a member of the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd and the president of the organisation, explained to the participants the theme, Power to Care, Power to Empower and the Power to Restore.

The meeting aimed to motivate women religious across India to take up the challenging ministry. Besides this, to capacitate the sisters with different skills to address ground level realities on the issue. -- Matters India