GUWAHATI Cancel the licenses of hotels and beauty parlours involved in the trafficking of minor girls, an apex women’s group in Arunachal Pradesh has said in a petition to the State government.
The suggestions of the Arunachal Pradesh Women’s Welfare Society (APWWS) followed the rescue of five minor girls from an interstate sex trafficking racket through a beauty parlour and a couple of hotels in Itanagar, the State’s capital less than a week ago.
In a petition to Shweta Nagarkoti Mehta, the Deputy Commissioner of the Itanagar Capital Region on May 13, the APWWS said the gravity of the situation necessitates immediate and decisive action to address the root causes and prevent further exploitation of vulnerable girls from poor families.
“We strongly advocate the immediate cancellation of the licenses of hotels and beauty parlours found to be involved in facilitating illegal activities, particularly those related to the trafficking of minor girls. This swift action will serve as a deterrent and signal our zero-tolerance policy towards such reprehensible practices,” APWWS president Kani Nada Maling wrote.
As stringent measures, the women’s group suggested the mandatory production of identity cards from all guests upon checking in at the hotels and the submission of a daily guest entry log to the local administration and police for thorough scrutiny and proper verification.
“These measures will enhance oversight and accountability, thereby deterring illicit activities and ensuring the safety and well-being of vulnerable individuals, particularly minor girls,” she said.
The APWWS also sought proper verification of the licenses of beauty and other parlours to ensure compliance with regulations and standards. “Parlours operating without licenses and engaging in unscrupulous activities such as prostitution must be immediately shut down,” she said.
Other measures suggested included strengthening security measures at all entry and exit points of the Itanagar Capital Region and adjoining areas.
