The Centre has suggested to the States to set up a separate nodal agency and a court to tackle the cases of human trafficking. Addressing the 25th Southern Zonal Council Meeting in Bangalore today, the Home Minister, Mr.Sushil Kumar Shinde emphasised that special measures need to be taken for protection of women and children. He said, the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development is developing a national portal for tracking of missing and found children in consultation with Ministry of Home Affairs.

The Minister also added that the Planning Commission has asked the Government to review the formula for allocation of Central funds under poverty alleviation and rural development programme, after a few states expressed their reservations over this issue. Speaking about coastal security, the Minister disclosed that licensing, registration and regulation of fishing vessels is important with national security point of view and asked States in coastal region to find an effective mechanism to regulate this activity.

Chief Ministers of Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Puducherry and Finance Ministers of Kerala and Tamil Nadu participated in the meeting.