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Caution against negative fallout of tourism

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM May 29. The former Additional Chief Secretary, J. Lalithambika, has cautioned the authorities to be extremely careful while developing tourism in the State and urged the Government and society to take steps to prevent sex tourism as in Bangkok.

Speaking after releasing a report on "Trafficking in women in Kerala'' brought out by the Forum for Social Justice and the YWCA here today, Mrs. Lalithambika said tourism was a double-edged sword and Ayurvedic centres which had mushroomed in the State should not be allowed to go the Thailand and Bangkok way.

Pointing out that trafficking in women in different forms had been reported and spreading in the State over the last few years, she said it was very difficult to bring back those who enter to make quick money.

The laws such as Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act (SITA) and the Immoral Traffic in Persons Prevention Act (ITPPA) will not help and creating awareness was the only effective way, she added.

The former Additional Chief Secretary said it was a big challenge for society to bring back those who enter prostitution to make quick money. Steps should be taken to prevent them from entering the profession. It should not be made a profession and the undue respect should not be attached to it.

The principal of the NSS College, Neramankara, Santhakumari, received the copy from Mrs. Lalithambika. The forum president, Rachel Matthai, the president of the YWCA, Lizy Thomas, the secretary of forum, S. S. Jagnayak, were among those who spoke.

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