NE NEWS SERVICE
AHMEDABAD, APRIL 29
In Vibrant Gujarat on January 19, the main headline of the media was ‘Four of a Gujarati family frozen to death on the Canada-US border’. This was only tip of the iceberg of wild ‘American dreams’ and its pitfalls. They were the victims of so-called agents who force many a families with a million dollar dreams. To realise their dreams, the victims had sold off their life’s savings and properties to pay lakhs of rupees as commission to these Mechants of Venice – human trafficking mafia.
According to the reports,, four members of an Indian family from Gujarat were found frozen to death on the Canada-US border. The Indian authorities have identified them as Jagdish Patel, Vaishali Patel and their daughter Gopi, 10, and son Dharmik, 3, all residents of village Dingucha in Kalol taluka of Gandhinagar, Gujarat. They had got caught in a blizzard and in the words of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) spokesperson, “faced not only the cold weather but endless fields, large snowdrifts and complete darkness”.
The International Labour Organization estimates that forced labor and human trafficking is a $150 billion industry worldwide with more than 40 million victims.
Human trafficking has emerged as one of the biggest challenges before governments in recent years. It is also a huge problem in India with thousands of people, especially women and children, becoming victims of human trafficking by use of force, coercion, or deception. The only way to curb human trafficking is by creating awareness and this is exactly what a group of organisations have come together for.
The collaboration was announced in the presence of Harold D’souza, President of Eyes Open International, and former member of the US Advisory Council on Human Trafficking.
Sharing his bitter experience. Harold said he along with his family was a victim of human trafficking for over 10 years. Today, Harold is a Survivor-Advocate and Public Speaker.
“We look forward to working with our partners to address the challenge of human trafficking. We will use our global experience and their domestic presence and knowledge to work on human trafficking and other important issues,” he said.
The agents used to force the ‘illegal’ migrants to work at motels and other shops run by the masters from India at cheaper labour with pitiable conditions. If you want to become a millionaire and realize the ‘American Dreams’ well, do come with valid documents. This will open the gates of heaven otherwise your life will be hellish as US laws are very stringent, said D’Souza.
Incidentally, D’souza is scheduled to address the International Human Trafficking Conference at Visage on May 6. Top CID officials from different states, heads of anti-human trafficking cells from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Orissa, Maharashtra, and Goa are participating in the conference. Representatives of the embassies of the US and the UAE will also be taking part.
D’Souza said he plans to meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and encourage the formation of a council on human trafficking like the United States has. He also will be speaking at schools and churches and in front of any community group that will host him.
Ahmedabad-based Karma Foundation, US-based Bharat Media LLC, and Alliance Française are collaborating with Eyes Open International, a US-based organisation working on curbing human trafficking.
Allaince Francaise d’Ahmedabad director Gael de Kerguenec said, “His organisation has joined hands with these bodies to create awareness on human trafficking and save many a lives.”
“A lot has been written about the immense sufferings experienced by victims of human trafficking, but somehow awareness about the issue is not as widespread. Karma Foundation, Bharat Media, Alliance Française, and Eyes Open International have entered into a collaboration and will work together on various issues, and creating awareness about human trafficking is one of them. The organisations will promote the rich culture of India around the world. The partnership will also work on other serious challenges and issues facing the people, and urge them to come together for the sake of humanity,” said Chiranjiv Patel, Founder, Karma Foundation.
As a part of the collaboration, the organisations will also undertake initiatives to protect the people who are most vulnerable to human trafficking and support them to help them realise their potential.
“Bharat Media has collaborated with many leading global NGOs to work on universal problems such as human trafficking, environment protection, and women empowerment. We are thrilled to collaborate with Karma Foundation, Alliance Française, and Eyes Open International. We will also engage the Indian diaspora in the US and elsewhere over various issues,” said Hriday Raval of Bharat Media LLC.
In case of any trouble in the USA, just call the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-888-373-7888 to: GET HELP and connect with a service provider in your area.
