New Delhi, Dec 2 (IANS) Home Minister P. Chidambaram Wednesday urged all states in the country to set up anti-human trafficking cells in every district.

‘Only nine districts have anti-human trafficking cells. This is out of over 600 districts of the country. So, we have barely scratched the surface of the problem. I would like to urge states to set up anti-human trafficking cells in all districts, network them and coordinate with the home ministry,’ said Chidambram.

‘This would take time and money, but more than that it requires will,’ he added.

He was speaking after releasing a book ‘Human trafficking – dimensions, challenges and responses’ written by a former Central Bureau of Investigation official P.M. Nair.

Nair has handled many cases, including former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi’s assassination, international arms drop in Purulia as well as a number of human right violations and many inter-state and international organised crimes.

‘Most countries are slow to wake up to the gravity of the crime….one can’t shift blame from one country to another because women and children are bought and sold within the country.’

‘The scale of human trafficking in India is not clear, but it is a fair assumption that it is on a very large scale,’ Chidambaram said.

‘It is the most grievous and pernicious of crimes. The victims are mostly women and children. There are a variety of reasons for human trafficking but mostly it is sex trade. It is a crime against humanity,’ he added.

The home minister said: ‘He (Nair) has put together a large amount of literature (during his work). This book would prove to be a valuable reference book for people interested in the field of anti-human trafficking, law enforcement officers, NGOs and jurists.’

Priced at Rs.600, the proceeds of the sale of the book will go to the victims of human trafficking.