Mangalore: Deputy Speaker and MLA Yogish Bhat inaugurated a nationwide campaign against immoral trafficking of women and children at the Town Hall in Mangalore on November 20, Monday. The programme was organized as part of ‘Childline Se Dosti’ week under the joint auspices of the DK District Administration, Zilla Panchayat and the Department of Women and Child Development. A rally was taken out from Jyothi Circle to Town Hall prior to the function.

In his address Bhat while raising concern over the issue of children being pushed to flesh trade, also said that there have been many cases of missing of young boys and girls.

Ash Nayak, CWC Chairperson , Rameela Shekhar, Member of DK Juvenile Justice Board and Premanand Kalmady presented statistics on human trafficking racket.

Rameela Shekhar in her address emphasized the need for parents to prevent gender discrimination at home.

Zilla Panchayat Chief Planning Officer Mohammed Nazeer, Mangalore MLA U T Khader, District-level Committee for Prevention of Women and Children Trafficking vice-president Dhanalakshmi Janardhan, Mangalore Mayor Gulzar Banu, and others were present.