3.5a  Knowledge of Signs Indicative of Trafficking While Traveling 

Adolescent Group 

Compared with the baseline survey responses, a higher percentage of the adolescent girls 

in the endline survey are able to cite different signs indicative of trafficking while 

traveling. Among the different signs indicative of trafficking while traveling, the 

commonly cited responses were  Insisting girl wear 

sindur pote

 (Sindur is a vermillion 

powder applied on the parting of the hair by married woman, and pote is a bead strung 

together usually green or red in color worn round the neck by married woman. Using 

these symbols ensure that the woman accompanying the man is her husband and would 

not have any suspicion while crossing security checkpoints.) (85% in endline survey vs. 

4% in baseline survey), persuading to imitate like a sick person (64% vs.  10%), sudden 

change in the behaviour of the person accompanying (58% vs. 31%), persistently 

insisting to change the dress (53% vs. 6%), requesting to lie about the relationship (52% 

vs. 22%), maintaining certain distance while traveling (46% vs. 10%), not to interact with 

others while traveling (27%).  If a train journey begins (37% vs. 3%), if being taken 

towards the border (17%), and if journey lasts for more than two days (11%) were some 

of the other signs cited by the respondants.  

It is obvious from the above percentages (endline survey vs. baseline survey) that there is 

a significant increase in the knowledge of signs indicative of trafficking while traveling 

among the adolescent girls (Table 3.5a.1). 

Table 3.5a.1  

Percentage Distribution of Adolescent Respondents According to the Signs 

Indicative of Trafficking While Traveling 

Signs Indicative of Trafficking While Traveling 

Baseline 

Endline 

Insists girl wear 

sindur pote

  4.5 

85.2 

Persuades to imitate like a sick person 

  9.8 

63.6 

Sudden change in behaviour of accompanying person 

31.3 

58.0 

Insists on change of dress 

  6.3 

53.4 

Asks to lie about relationship during traveling 

22.3 

51.7 

Keeps certain distance while traveling 

  9.8 

46.0 

Journey begins on train/Being taken towards the border 

  2.7 

36.9 

Ask not to interact while traveling 

  8.9 

27.3 

Being taken towards the border  

17.6 

Journey is taking more than two days 

  5.4 

11.4 

Asks to stay with mature persons 

  1.7 

Made unconscious by drug 

  1.1 

No sign of mountains (means heading So uth to border) 

  0.6 

Asks to take to one place but instead takes to another place 

  1.8 

Don t know 

30.4 

N 

112 

176 

Percentage totals may exceed 100 due to multiple responses. 

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