Human Trafficking
The Republic of India is the second most populous country in the world, stretching from the Arabian Sea (W) to the Bay of Bengal (E), bordering Pakistan (W); China, Nepal, and Bhutan (N); Bangladesh (NE); and Myanmar (E). New Delhi is its capital and Bombay (Mumbai) its largest city.Internal trafficking of women, men, and children for the purposes of sexual exploitation, domestic servitude, bonded labor, and indentured servitude is widespread. Numerous studies show that the vast majority of females in the Indian commercial sex industry are currently victims of sexual servitude or were originally trafficked into the sex trade.
IMMORAL TRAFFICKING IN ANDHRAPRADESH PRESENT SCENARIO
Andhra pradesh is the 5th largest state of India. Literacy rate is 61%. AP is one of the pioneering states for ushering the economic reform policies. The trafficking, sale and prostitution of girl children have become major problem in Andhra Pradesh particularly in Coastal Andhra.
The Smoothest (although illegal) and least intervened rate of trafficking of children in prostitution is second generation prostitution i.e. the induction of children of prostitutes into sexual slavery. In fact it is considered normal to have a prostitution. The mere fact of the child’s birth limits its options severally. The abuse of the child starts from its early childhood itself.These children live in the brothels with their mothers who have no claims over the brothel. In the evening the brothels get ready to entertain the customers and the children are declared hurdles in the brothels unless they can take up some supplementary jobs such as running errands for the customers to fetch drinks, tea and paan etc., Their mothers are busy until late at night. Without access to the brothels, these children sleep on the streets at night or outside the shops in the horrendous surrounding of the prostitution localities.If they interact with the outside world, they are treated with severe condemnation. If they confine themselves to the prostitution localities, the pimps, procurers , and henchmen become their role models. A girl is invariably inducted into prostitution of her mother and the boy is forged into some such role as pimp etc., At a much younger age, the girls are subjected to sexual abuse by the customers. By the age of 13, the girl child is made to entertain customers regularly.
ROLE OF GOVERNMENT RESCUE & REHABILITATION POLICY
Andhrapradesh Government has constituted a state level coordination committee on prostitution and child trafficking. The government released policy on Rescue and Rehabilitation. The GO released by AP mentions all the issues and that HIV/AIDS is increasing in the state. The government has constituted a district level committee. The government has also elucidated what can be done to prevent prostitution. The government has also a set of anti-trafficking measures - an anti-trafficking squad comprising of an officer, social workers etc. The district committee shall, in case of rescue, arrange immediately for a shelter facility.
LAUNCHING OF PROJECT AASARA IN NALGONDA DISTRICT
The temple town Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda District of Andhrapradesh with its holy surroundings is a place of prominent pilgrimage where thousands of people visit with pious feelings to offer their prayers and get holy blessings of God. It is very painful to hear that this pious atmosphere is spoiled and feelings of pilgrims are vitiated with the presence of organized prostitution of Dommara community people. Having practically no contact with the rest of the society, they perceive the world as a place where all women sell their bodies to make a living and men earn money by procuring clients for their mothers. Those girls who attain puberty cannot evade the evil eyes of the customers who visit their mothers, and soon fall prey to them.The closest role model for a female child is her mother who is either a sex worker or a brothel keeper. Most female children by the time they have reached puberty, have had sexual experiences. Unlike other communities in India which dread the birth of a girl child and idolize sons, here is one instance where she is very much wanted. “A Daughter is an insurance policy for sex workers” is how the community looks at a birth of a girl child, who, when they become too old to attract customers, are unable to find another source of income. If she enters the sex trade, she becomes a source of security for her mother in her old age, a source of income to the brothel keeper, pimp and procurer and a pawn to the moneylender.
For the male children of sex workers, the closest role models are the pimp, the smuggler and the drug addict. Due to lack of employment opportunities, a low level of academic achievement and a lack of healthful recreational activities, male children get dragged into pimping and procuring
The History of prostitution by Dommara community It all began with the King of Mutli once known as Chitival who was known to conduct competition between gymnasts from far and near. People from various sections of castes and classes represented in the event displaying their talent and strength in return for the praise of the King. During such event, a dommara named Polerigadu participated and pleased the king who in turn gifted him a ring as well as a royal edict was passed stating that the wearer of the ring would from now should head the Dommara Class and his descendants would fall under the same caste. The ring then given is said to be the same that is now worn by the head of the Dommara clan of Chitival, which bears an inscription in Telugu declaring that the wearer is the high Priest or Guru of all the Dommara. He is the high priest and exercises supreme jurisdiction over the community both in spiritual and temporal matters.The dommara community is traditionally considered to be wanderers who engage themselves as athletic performers as a custom as well as a means of livelihood. They are called as Dommara, Dombari and Domber in various places as the form of Dom, which is the outcaste community in the Northern India. In the hierarchy of caste they fall just above Pariahs and Madigas. Traditionally, they are engaged in hunting fish, mat making, donkey and pig rearing. Their food habits include eating cats, pigs etc. They marry one person, but keep concubines for pleasure, which finally resulted in hereditary prostitution. Areas of prostitution are not only places where men go to buy sex. They are also places where all generations live together, where children play , work, study and grow up.
The girl children in the community traditionally are forced into prostitution once they attain puberty by their own parents. In a family of girl children, the eldest daughter is fully made aware that the tribal survival totally depends on her being a prostitute and hence is not permitted to marry. Whereas the younger daughters are allowed to marry, but, in all the cases, the husbands encourage their wife to enter into prostitution and she earns between Rs. 5 to Rs. 50 per customer. hence this community is economically organized around a system of child prostitution which has a traditional & cultural sanction.
Dommara Prostitutes also called as 'Venkatasanis' are spread out over the tribal region of the Telengana Districts (Warangal, Nizamabad, Medak, Karimnagar and Nalgonda) in Andhra Pradesh.Whereas the boy children are used as pimp, procurer or labourer in the flesh market. Each Dommara has an average of 4-5 children regardless of her marital status. Whereas none of the men in the tribe have work and spend most of their day idle and also acting as brokers and pimps and traffickers.
LIGHTING THE LAMP
On 21-04-2005 in a special drive at Yadagirigutta by Nalgonda Police, 15 pimps & organizers were arrested U/s 3,4,5,7 of ITPA and remaining 35 prostitutes were arrested U/s 8 of ITPA & 294 IPC. At the same time we promised to ladies in prostitution business for rehabilitation of them and their wards. We have identified around 77 Childrens of prostitutes staying at Yadagirigutta. Out of which, 21 are not going to any school and likelihood of joining same profession are there. The parents were found eager to join their wards into school.
With a mission of fight against crime and not against criminal project AASARA is launched on 19-05-2005 at Yadagirigutta. Since this is a age old menace and it is coupled with several sensitive issues the problem is being tackled with human touch.
Partners in aasara project
GOVERNMENT ORGNIZATIONS (Departments):1. Revenue 2. Police 3. DRDA & Velgu 4. Women and Child Welfare 5. Education 6. Health 7. Panchayat raj 8. Public Representatives like MLA’s, MP’s and others. 9. State Bank of Hyderabad 10. BC Corporation
NON – GOVERNMENTAL ORGNIZATIONS:1. Child & Police (CAP) /SARIQUE project 2. RED Cross Organization Nalgonda unit 3. Prajwala-Women Organization, Hyderabad 4. OthersAs the first step of this project we have admitted 21 children into the Residential Bridge School at Yadagirigutta to have a bright future. The MLA Alair, Dr.Nagesh who attended the programme on the launching day assured that he will acquire 20 acres of land to construct houses as well as to develop horticulture for the ladies in the immoral trafficking business at Yadagirigutta with buy back system in connecting with temple authorities. Red Cross Society is going to conduct health camp . B.C. Corporation is going to admit 21 school children into hostel once bridge school is over.
ACTIVITIES UNDER PROJECT AASARA
1. ENFORCEMENT & PREVENTION:
"An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure"
All the immoral trafficking organizers & women in the prostitution business are being identified in entire Nalgonda District. Organizers who are frequently indulging in immoral trafficking are being booked under Andhra Pradesh Organized Crime Act. History sheets are being prepared and opened against them. Potential areas, which supply majority of girls and women to this business being lured by immoral traffickers, are being identified and the efforts of the programme will be focused on these areas towards prevention of immoral trafficking. After the inception of the programme, in a span of 8 months, 70 cases have been booked in the district, under sections 3,4,5,7 & 8 of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, resulting in the arrest of 250 organizers, procurers, pimps, traffickers and rescued sex workers by the police. History sheets of organizers have also been prepared and opened for surveillance. Raids were also conducted on Spring land and Green View Resorts located in the project area and 240 persons were arrested for carrying out immoral activities at these resorts (public places).
Following are the results of the efforts made towards enforcement and prevention:
Enforcement of Immoral Traffic Prevention Act (from19/04/2005 to 10/03/2006)Out of 70 cases booked under section 3,4,& 7 of act against 250 organizers, procurers & pimps 68 are pending trial in a Court of Law where as 2 cases ended in acquittal. Out of 240 cases booked under section 294 of Indian Penal code for Obscene or Immoral activities at public place 211 cases ended in conviction & 29 cases are under pending trials.
Following persons have been identified as prostitution organizers.
1. Kamsani Yadagiri S/o Gangaiah, 32 years,
2. Kamsani Shankar S/o Yellaiah, 42 years.
3. Kamsani Dasaradha S/o Gandaiah, 30 years
4. Kamsani Kumari W/o Gandaiah, 37 years
5. Kamsani Yasodha W/o Nagabushanam, 40 years,
6. Kamsani Suseela W/o Satyanarayana, 40 years,
7. Kamsani Andalu W/0 Ravi, 27 years
8. Kamsani Saroja W/o Ramchender, 45 years,
9. Kamsani Sudhershan S/o Ramachander, 42 years all are Dommari by caste and R/o Yadagirigutta.
Organizers who are living on the earnings through the business of prostitution are being booked under AP organized crime act if they are found involved in two or more offences. As per the provisions under Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, Magistrates have served notices to trafficking organizers for attachment of their properties which is earned through immoral trafficking business.2 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT / REINTEGRATION:
The empowerment of women is the process by which women gain power and control over decisions and resources that determine the quality of their lives. It recognizes women not as victims or beneficiaries, but as key actors for development.
“There is now overwhelming evidence that women’s empowerment through schooling, employment opportunities, etc., has the most far-reaching effects on the lives of all – men, women and children.”-- Amartya Sen
Victims of human trafficking face major problems in being reintegrated into their parent communities when they are freed from the situations into which they were trafficked. Social stigma and mental and emotional scars need to be overcome during the process of reintegration. Victimized women, in most of the cases, are treated by law enforcement authorities as criminals, either for prostitution or illegal migration, and thus face additional problems in getting employment or in being initiated into other forms of reintegration. In such circumstances, assisting the victims to resettle and enable them to start a new life is a daunting challenge. These communities do not own agricultural land for cultivation. As a result, they have to depend on agricultural labor for earning. Working as coolies/laborers fetches them only about Rs. 20/- to Rs.30/- per day, whereas a sex worker earns about Rs. 250/- on an average per day.
Different organizations were therefore approached and requested to help us in the endeavor. We were immensely happy to see that many organizations–both Government and non Government-came forward to complement our efforts.
The Govt. of Andhra Pradesh and World Bank sponsored Velgu project facilitated organizing four Self Help Groups consisting of 26 women members from Dommara community. The District Collector also launched a training programme organized under Indira Kranti Pathakam scheme and the District Rural Development Agency. The members were given training for two months to make agarbattis (incense sticks), plates and bowls of dry leaves, baskets and were also imparted training to learn tailoring at Yadgirigutta in order to provide them with the alternative sources of livelihood. District collector made Rs. 3.5 lakhs available as microfinance to these groups to start their activities.The process is now on to help they explore the market for their products to make the economic activities of the said Self Help Groups sustainable.
The State Bank of Hyderabad also provided a grant of Rs. 1.5 lakhs for the women groups to purchase machinery to manufacture various products.
District administration has also sanctioned 40 houses for the people of Dommara community to complement our efforts to reduce the prostitution.
Two girls namely Kamsani Uma and Kamsani Manjula have been appointed as Home Guards with Police Department otherwise they could have been dragged into hereditary profession of prostitution.
One young girl student, namely, Kamsani Rekha D/o Gandaiah, 17 yrs., is studying in the intermediate at Bhongir town with Police as mentor. She wants to become first lady Doctor from her community & to serve them.
Under “Vimukthi” programme that was organized by the Police Department, two girls were rescued from the clutches of the organizers of the brothel houses. They have been rehabilitated in Hyderabad.
The Mandal Revenue Officer, Yadagirigutta has issued 50 cards to the families of the Dommara community under Antyodaya (AAY) Scheme on request of the Police Department.
One month training was imparted to 12 youth from Dommara community, who are the children of sex workers. These young men have now been employed as security guards for the security of Yadgirigutta temple. But for this intervention, these men would have been indulging in organizing trafficking activities acting as pimps, procurers etc.
As a part of rehabilitation and providing alternative sources of livelihood to sex workers, training was imparted to candidates at Yadagirigutta (v) under Child and Police (CAP) / SARIQUE project, with 100% employment guarantee. Training was imparted in different vocational fields like white goods servicing, Information Technology, customer relations & marketing and automobile. About 70 persons have got jobs in Hyderabad & surrounding areas with salaries, ranging from Rs.1500-4500.They have undergone training in following trades.
01. AM = Automobile Mechanic (2/3 Wheeler)
02. M SW = Multi skilled Worker (Electrician)
03. HCNA = Home care Nursing Assistance (Nursing)
04. CRS = Customer Relations & Sales (Marketing)Thousand miles of journey started with a single, scintillating, successful step…
CHILD AND POLICE PROJECT - SARIQ
Completion Report of First Batch
YADAGIRI GUTTA
EMPOWERMENT TRAINING PROGRAM OF CAP - SARIQ
INTRODUCTION
In August – 2005 CAP - SARIQ and the Empowerment of Migrants Project.
CHILD AND POLICE PROJECT - SARIQ is a unique collaboration between Director of SARIQ and CAP. The CAP - SARIQ aims to provide a change in the lives of young adults from economically weak backgrounds and an opportunity to assimilate into the competitive job market. CAP will help them acquire the required livelihood and social skills in an environment of learning and mentoring that is responsive to the individuals emotional and development needs.
ABOUT CAP:
The Child And Police Project – Sari/Q attempts to bridge the ever-widening divide between those who have access to opportunities and those who are increasingly being marginalized from the new jobs in the new economy. On one hand is the ever growing and constantly changing need of the various sectors in the new market economy for a skilled workforce. On the other is the very serious problems businesses and industry face in terms of turnover rates, leading to escalating investments on human resources. The secret to “Higher Retention rates” (with an aim to a positive ROI) has been long eluding the HR Professionals.
CAP attempts in a very simple and systematic manner, match this very demand of the industry to the potential of the beneficiaries’ i.e., CAP trainees and potential employees. CAP through its path breaking training course started offering job oriented training to youth who have barely reached high school levels of formal education and prepares them for entry level jobs
in the emerging industry sectors. The only prerequisites considered in the selection process are that the student should
Belong to the last 15% income strata and have a demonstrated aptitude for the chosen course of training.
Selected students are then put through a training course of 6 months, 3 months of classroom training and 3 months of on-the-job-training in the form of apprenticeship. While the classroom training covering academic inputs, theoretical concepts and subject knowledge, other relevant inputs in Spoken English and work readiness skills equip students to seek appropriate entry-level positions with future potential. Practical training in turn gives them a chance to hone their untapped potential and skills.
Students, who have till 3 months back, never have seen computers are now pitted against intermediate pass candidates and graduates, only to emerge victorious. So what is it that gives them the edge? In simple words, first their attitude and secondly the intensive individual training structure of the CAP computer program.
At the very base, is their background of abject poverty, which has taught to them practically that “only the fittest survive”. The opportunity to prove themselves, so far lacking, once made available to them, brings to the fore, the willingness and the ability to work hard to ensure their success. Secondly, they are more adaptable to change than a candidate from a cloistered background.
The feather in the CAP, making the CAP candidates prized possession in the businesses they are employed, is the higher rate of retention, and the sense of belonging that they develop for their organisations (employing high school graduates with a longer career span ahead of them as opposed to university graduates with a higher probability of switching to more lucrative and easily available jobs.}
Finally, the success of these students lies in the constant mentoring by the faculty as well as industry professionals, inculcating in them the belief that “they too can make a Difference”. The teaching style in adaptation to the student’s background follows the interactive method, preparing a confidant, assertive and job ready, workforce of individuals.
ROAD SHOWS AT A GLANCE
The road shows were conducted for two time’s in Yadagiri Gutta, Nalgonda District with the support of Police Department. Around 89 candidates were present for the Road shows and 80 candidates have shown their interests were selected for three courses mentioned earlier. The selection is based on their attitude/aptitude assessed through interest inventory test and the consequent Counseling/Interview. Strict scrutiny was given to make sure that the beneficiary is one among the ‘poorest of the poor’ category.
The number of selected candidates at CAP – SARI/Q, YADAGIRI GUTTA is 86 out of that 80 are continuing the programs. The details of the same can be viewed in the Annexure.
Presently 80 students are regularly attending and the program commenced on 2ND AUGUST 2005.
EOGRAPHICAL AREA COVERED FOR THE PROGRAM
Yadagiri Gutta 55%
Datharapally 18%
Motakondur 12%
Other Areas 15%
CAP – SARIQ, YADAGIRI GUTTA
SOCIO ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE TRAINEES
Gender of the Trainees
Males 61.5%
Females 38.5%
Age of the Trainees
18 – 20 Yrs 49%
21 – 23 Yrs 23%
23 – 25 Yrs 09%
25 – 30 Yrs 11%
30 – 35 Yrs 08%
Education of the trainees
Below 10th class 52%
SSC Pass 15%
Inter Discontinued 12%
Inter pass 21%
Geographical Area covered for the program
Yadagiri Gutta 55%
Datharapally 18%
Motakondur 12%
Other Areas 15%
Family size of the trainees
3 Members 14%
4 Members 31%
5 Members 27%
6 Members 20%
7 and above 08%
Income of the families
5000 – 10000 13%
10001 – 15000 49%
15001 – 20000 38%
PROGRESS SCAN
After the selections and admissions were completed, the class room training was started on 4th August, 2005. In the first week, Induction classes were conducted for seven days. During this period, different modules on life skills were taught to the trainees.
The trainees’ learnt the importance of managing time. They were given a typical day wherein they have to plan and prioritize issues and make complete use of the given time that enables them to organize the day.
The trainees’ were given some typical complex situations and were asked to take decisions. They were suggested to first identify the problem, identify the possible solutions, evaluate each solution and finally take a decision that have most positive outcomes. This helps them to think and analyze the issues rationally rather than being just emotional and impulsive.
The trainees’ were made into teams and were asked to participate in the activities through which they have learnt to work in teams and how teamwork affects the efficiency, productivity and achieving goals. They realized the advantages of teamwork along with individual performance and that teamwork is situational leadership.
The trainees also learnt about family, values and perceptions through stories and case studies so that they can relate them to their personal life. They were also told some tricky tales for which they have to answer that enabled them to find creative solutions.
The induction module was an interactive session wherein all the trainees had to participate that enabled them to have exposure to different situations, mingle with others and made them understand the program and comfortable to continue the program.
A typical day at CAP - SARIQ starts with Pledge. Then Newspaper reading in assembly follows. Initially the trainees’ used to come either late or at the time of their convenience. But they understood the privilege of being punctual and changed. 80 trainees’ are being attended the program regularly and punctually. They kept their classrooms and premises clean. They decorated their classrooms with charts that carry the topics they learnt. They changed their dress code. They were coming in formals that give them a sense of discipline and dignity.
Skills of Spoken English All the trainees have been taught about the importance of communication skills and the role of English Language in due course of their career progression. After one month of training, the trainees’ were able to identify different parts of speech, sentence formation, expressing their daily activities in simple sentences and introducing themselves in English. They are able to read English newspaper regularly. Now they are able to understand, comprehend and respond to the faculty members when they speak in English. They are putting efforts to speak in English even within themselves so that it becomes a habit to them. This was done by participate
Method with role plays and pair works that makes them actively involve in the activities in stead of passive listening.
Daily English News Paper Reading
IT Enables Services Trainees’ didn’t know what a computer is and where it is used and how it is used at the beginning of the first month. Most of the trainees’ did not know accounts. They were explained the IT fundamentals, Computer Parts, the basic concepts of hardware and software. They have even been explained Ms-Dos and Ms-Windows and advantages of documentation in Ms-Word and practical have been done based on the same. They have concentrated on keyboard practice; accuracy and speed etc., most of the students have been done very well so far.
Apart from that we have explained the basics of accounts like types of accounts, Debit-Credit Principles and the preparation of accounting books like journals and Ledgers. The statements like Trial Balance, Trading, Profit & Loss A/c and Balance sheet etc.,
We have observed that of the students are doing well with whole concentration and sincerely. Initially they have been introduced to computer by relating it to other machines like typewriter, calculator with which the trainees’ were very much familiar. Then they have been explained the advantages of computer over them like memory, saving time and retrieving whenever necessary etc., then they have been taught about how a computer works, input and output devices, processor and display units and their functioning in detail. They have been explained what are the things that can be done with computer like documentation, accounts and designing etc. Later they started operating the computer practically and understood what an operating system is. Now they are able to initiate the machine, create their own folders, files, to save and to retrieve them. Initially they are asked to play simple games in order to make it easy to operate the machine. After they have become comfortable with the process, they learnt to create their own folders and files, saving and retrieving them. They have learnt documentation, entering data, organizing the data in a proper manner using options like setting margins, aligning and changing fonts etc. Now they are able to design different formats of documents like application forms and Bio-Data. They are also learning to fix up and assemble the processor. Major concentration being the speed of typing. They are asked to learn typewriting which helps them improving the speed. They have been given keyboards for practicing to acquaint themselves with the keys. As a result, there is substantial improvement in their speed. Individual attention is being paid to ensure equal progress among all trainees’ in all respects.
ITES – Group Photo
In the second month, the ITES trainees’ have learnt preparing spreadsheets using MS-Excel. And they have also learnt to represent data with different kinds of graphical diagrams using the application. They have also learnt to prepare presentations and slideshow using MS-PowerPoint. They were given different kinds of exercises to enable them to use the applications for a wide variety of purposes and to use their creativity. The trainees have also experimented some works of their own to get perfection. Then they have learnt desktop Publishing using Adobe PageMaker. They have learnt and practiced different kinds of publications like Letterheads, Pamphlets, Brochures, Wedding cards and Business Cards etc., They were given ample time for practical session and their performance was monitored regularly to ensure improvement in their skills.
During Practical
In the third month, ITES trainees’ have learnt Image Editing by using Adobe PhotoShop. They have learnt where the application is mostly used and they have also learnt about different file formats and their differences in usage. They also learnt about image compression and different tools used for photo re-touching and drawing. Then they have learnt about Internet and its origin, technology- how it works and what Networking is. They have learnt about e-mail and created their own e-mail IDs. They understood the importance and widespread benefits of online communication. They also learnt about browsing and surfing various useful web sites those provides valuable information. The same time they didn’t ignore the practice for improving typing speed. After the completion the training, they are very much confident of their speed and skills in different areas like Data Entry and DTP.
CRS Trainees’ Have been initially taught about fundamentals of Economics such as needs, wants, resources, production factors that open up their mind and makes them think about the nature of human wants and needs and availability and scarcity of resources. Giving real life examples and asking some simple questions on their personal experiences and common observations did this.
CRS Group Photo
Then they were introduced to Marketing Concepts and Variables of Marketing Mix like Product in detail. They understood how Marketing has evolved, its historical background, the changes that took place during industrial revolution, its impact on human life and on global economy by giving illustrations and examples. They understood what marketing is actually and the process of it. They understood how marketing helps the firm to achieve its organizational goals, how it benefits the consumers by offering quality products etc., and how marketing performs as change agent and value adder in the society. They were introduced to the Customer Relation skills, Good things in customer Relation and How to maintain customer for life long these concepts are learnt with the help of Slide Shows.
While Playing Games
Besides these they were given some imaginary situations on handling different types of Customers and were asked to give their solutions and suggestions to make them enable to relate the theories they learnt to the practical issues in business.
They have been given practical assignments on the topics they learnt in the classroom sessions so that they can learn the application of them in their career. They were asked to give demos on some products randomly chosen to make them comfortable with product presentation, which is one of the most important parts of Sales. The trainees have put their efforts sincerely and seriously and have given nice reports on the work they have done and display their progress and the enthusiasm that is growing up in them which is encouraging.
Market Orientation is an important for the CRS trainees. Because a good Sales man should know the Market dynamics. Practical Knowledge is Important then the theoretical for this field that’s why we are giving Practical approach through the Market survey, Role Plays, and On-the-Job training in both the Out door and Indoor Marketing.
WGS students, Most of the trainees were doesn’t understand the word WGS, So initially taught about course of WGS & importance of that course. Then introduced about Television, Tape Recorded, CD player, Speakers etc. After that explained the parts of Television & its working function. Right now they are able to explain every component of Television.
In the second month WGS trainees are introduced to different components of motherboard like Transistors, Conductors, Semiconductors, Resistors, Capacitors etc., have been demonstrated with diagrams and their functioning has been discussed in detail. They are now able to explain different components and their functioning of which they didn’t even heard about a month ago. Now they have got enough exposure to basic electronics and confidence to proceed to further sessions that include Servicing of Different Electronic Goods. All this has been delivered through relevant diagrams wherever
Necessary and students are also asked to present the previous day’s topic again to ensure that the content is reaching to all the students equally and everyone understands it. They were asked to do some simple practical assignments so that they can learn by experience. They have finished the job successfully with lots of enthusiasm and interest. Their confidence is growing up and they are able to cope up with the delivery of contents of both theory and practical sessions.
The trainees have put their efforts sincerely and seriously and have given nice reports on the Market Survey they done and displays their progress and the enthusiasm that is growing up in them which is encouraging. This made the trainees to think about the Industry, importance of their course, how they should be at the job place.
In the Third month WGS trainees are placed, there are few students left over for them. Life skills and job readiness module has been taken and they have been imparted computer fundamentals also. Their confidence is growing up and they are able to cope up with the delivery of contents of both theory and practical sessions.
LIFE SKILLS:
Apart from these life skills were taught in Induction classes and on Saturdays. We have explained about the life skill topics like gender, Goals, Interpersonal skills, Aids Awareness, Decision-Making, Time Management, Money Management, the importance of Punctuality etc.,
Work Readiness:
The Major difference between CAP trainee and other graduates is Productivity, Less Labour turnover and Employability Skills. With the help of Mr.Venkateswaralu (Circle Inspector of Police, Yadagiri Gutta) and Mr.Venu Gopal Swamy (Sub – Inspector of Police) they have been given work life dynamics. Besides these they have been given Interview Skills, communication techniques, Employability skills and Resume Preparation.
(Mr.Venkateswaralu, Circle Inspector of Police, Yadagiri Gutta is explaining the Interview Skills with CRS Trainees)
Mr.Venugopala Swamy, Sub –Inspector of Police, Yadagiri Gutta is explaining the Employability Skills while sending for interviews tof Trainees to Interviews
SUCCESS STORIESAbout 70 candidates received jobs in Hyderabad & surrounding areas with salary ranging from Rs.1500-4500
“My name is Rani .I was born on 6th of June 1985. My father’s name is Mr.Raju. He is a daily laborer. My mother is a housewife. I have three sisters and two brothers. I studied till SSC in Z.P.H.S at Yadagiri Gutta. I passed SSC with 61% marks, but couldn’t join Junior College because of financial problems, although I was very much interested to continue my further studies. As the eldest daughter I became bread earner of my family. Suddenly my father met with an accident and was not able to walk. As I belong to Dommara Community, which is in prostitution business since ages, the community leader wanted me also to enter into prostitution, taking advantage of my circumstances. One day, I reluctantly entered the prostitution business, that day I will never forget. There was no other alternative for me. Fortunately I heard about CAP – SARI/Q program organized by Nalgonda Police & immediately I joined this program. There in 90 days of training I learned about punctuality, communication skills and importance of time management, which gave me a lot of confidence. After joining this program, I completely left the prostitution field. Right now, I am working in Andhra Pradesh Police Department as a “Home Guard” and am earning a salary of Rs.2300/- per month. CAP – SARI/Q under Aasara programme has given new birth to me with a life with dignity & self respect protecting my rights.”
There are many victims like Rani who have been benefited through the Aasara programme and leading a life of self-respect and dignity.RAJA LINGAM
3. SOCIAL AWARENESS:
WHITE GOOD SERVICES
My name is G.Raja Lingam. I was born in Datharapally. My father name is Mr.Satyanarayana. I bought up in Dhatarapally. I have two sisters and two brothers. My father is a farmer, My mother is housewife. I had completed intermediate with first class, but I didn’t join in college for Degree because of financial problems. Being an eldest son of my family and became the bread feeder to my family. That’s why I came to Yadagiri Gutta from my native village and joined in Hotel on daily basis worked there for 4 months, but I didn’t satisfy the my family with what I am earning, So I decided to quit this job and joined in another company for more salary. I worked there for 6 months, even though I didn’t satisfy the family with that money. So I decided to go HYDERABAD to get good job in any well-known company for huge salary. I got job there for Rs.2000/- I am very satisfied with that job. After two months my family called me back to my home village for some serious problems, so I came back and solved those problems. After that my parents didn’t permit me to go to Hyderabad, so I decided to work in Yadagiri Gutta.
At that time one of my friends came to me and advised to join in CAP – SARI/Q. Then I went to Centre of Yadagiri Gutta and enquiry about this program and wrote the ability test and get selected in WGS course and joined in it. After that my life is go on changing day by day with the help of our faculties. Here I learnt so many skills i.e., Dress Code, Time management, Money Management, Computer skills and English, and of course I learnt lot of WGS skills, which is very important for Jobs.
I am very thankful to CAP – SARI/Q for giving this great opportunity to develop my self. To be frank I knew here what life is and how to develop my self and my family. Right now I am very confident self and to live on my own and earn something my self after I will getting job I will work with 100% confidence and enjoy my job I am going to help and share problems of my family members.
I joined in M/s.Dynawin Associates as a Customer Relation Executive, I am getting Rs.2500/- + Traveling Expenses & Accommodation. I satisfied a lot with this an opportunity, I always remembering CAP is my father and SARIQ is my father.
Again I am thankful to CAP – SARI/Q.
K.Naveen
ITES
I am K.Naveen and 19 years old. I was born at in Dhatarapally. This village is one of the back word areas in Nalgonda district. I had two brothers and one sister; I am middle person and first person SSC completed in my family. My father name is Mr. Pandu. He is a working as a daily wage labor. My mother is a housewife. My family livelihood depends on my parents.
I had completed primary education at primary school in my village. After that I attempt the residential school entrance test. I got the seat in 8th class I spent the 3 years here with enjoy and friendly. In the school I awarded with mathematics Olympiad certificate. I have done my 10th class with 62% at residential school. That time I had an ambition is a do an engineering course.
My father right leg is a facture in the rice mill when I was studying 10th class so, our family going in crisis. Mother is support of my family.
In the summer holidays I had worked as a labor and earned some money. I hope that time my life is ruined and relinquish my ambition.
That time my cousin told me you have confident, sincere, ability and hard worker. He was advised me you immediately apply the residential Jr. College. So, I apply the residential Jr. College I got the MPC group in the first list. First time I participated the inter Jr. College tournament. I got a second place carom in that tournament. Here I know the about NSS (National service scheme). So, I admitted in the NSS. I had completed 10+2 with 70%at residential Jr. College.
After that I attempt the EAMCET but I didn’t get the seat. So I don’t despair, alternatives I took the admission in BA Telugu Medium group once day think a lonely about life. What is life, how will you get the success in the life? I have an ambition that is completed the further studies after that earn some money and opened the charity organization. I had one thought how will you reached the goal. That time CAP – SARI/Q volunteer came here and informed the about CAP – SARI/Q training programmed I hope this is a golden opportunity and Ultimate chance in my life. That way I wrote the aptitude test I select the aptitude test in ITES group.
I learn in the CAP – SARI/Q what is life, what is job and how did you confidence others and developed my friend ship net working.
Also I learnt in the CAP-SARI/Q computer knowledge. This way my ambition is settled in the computer field. This computer knowledge very useful to me. Also how to write in English, how to speak in English. The CAP – SARI/Q faith remove the stage fear. That way I perfect teach a lesson and I much confidence speaks in a public. I never forget CAP – SARI/Q. This program gives a turning point to my life.
FREE MEDICAL CHECK UP
Free Medical Check Up Conducted on 1st December, 2005 for Trainees & BPL Families in YADAGIRI GUTTAThe police also conducted awareness camps in collaboration with the other Government and Voluntary Organizations. As an example, personality development camps involving behavioral training were organized with the help of Red Cross and other voluntary organizations. A Police picket is posted near the houses of Dommaras in Ganesh Nagar locality of Yadagirigutta (v) and persisted with, in order to provide protection to Dommara ladies from pimps and teasers. One day excursion tour of sex workers & children at risk was organized to Hyderabad in which they have been given exposure to outside world. Further their interaction with rehabilitated sex workers was organized at Prajwala Rehabilitation centre in Hyderabad.
4. SHELTER:Providing land at a particular place to all such women and constructing houses for them at that place and to providing certain land for their livelihood at that particular place. Horticulture with buy back system tied up with the temple authorities will be viable alternative proposed in Yadagirigutta by MLA Alair. 21 acres of land in Pedda kandkur village is identified for it.
5. EDUCATION:
ALAIR MLA DR. NAGESH IS ADMINISTERING THE OATH TO CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK ADMITED IN BRIDGE SCHOOL FOR PREVENTION OF 2ND GENERATION TRAFFICKING
ADMITING CHILDREN AT HIGH RISK IN BRIDGE SCHOOL
The various aspects of the lives of sex workers children include living conditions and surrounding environment, health conditions, school experiences and psychological conditions. Areas of prostitution are not only places where men go to buy sex. They are also places where all generations live together, where children play , work, study and grow up. The problems of sex worker’s children need to be studied and understood, so that these children can be given the care and attention needed for them to enjoy the human rights which they are entitled to. The efforts are being made to list out children of these groups and provide free education to them by making them join schools so that at least next generation comes out of this menace. They have been enrolled in a Bridge School, established under the programme Aasara, at Yadagirigutta, which is up to 3rd standard. As per their performance they are being enrolled in a regular school. Backward Class Corporation has also made provisions to admit 21 school children into their hostel once the children are through with the bridge school. One library is also being opened in Bridge school premises. Second generation trafficking is prevented through this initiative. There is also a plan of opening dropping center for siblings of sex workers.
6. HEALTH
Health is no longer considered only the absence of disease or infirmity. Today it is described a state of well being of body, mind and soul. The circumstances of these children, where they have no where else to go except their mother’s place of business or the streets, are not conducive to their mental or physical good health. The health of children born to mothers, suffering from sexually transmitted diseases during pregnancy or are HIV positive, is even more vulnerable. Most of the children suffer from infectious diseases and few of them can escape venereal diseases, due to sexual abuse. Despite the desire to look after them, mothers find it difficult to take them to hospitals when required. Regular health camps are being conducted at Yadgirigutta & other part of Nalgonda District for health check up of trafficked victims with the help of medical and health departments and private organizations like Red Cross and Indian Medical Association
FIRST STEP BY DISTRICT ADMINISTRATION
Collector Vijayanand,IAS addressing victims of trafficking
The District Administration has come out with a slew measures under AASARA project to eradicate prostitution from the temple of Yadagirigutta. Accordingly, on 3rd June, 2005 a programme was conducted by District Collector, Nalgonda Sri K.Vijayanand, IAS wherein he said that the allocation of 20 acres of land for construction of pucca houses for the families who involved in the flesh trade and imparting trainings in various courses for the adolescent girls hailing from the Dommara caste have taken up. He disbursed cheques worth Rs. 3.5 lakhs to the four self-help groups formed by Dommara women, who have decided to start their life a fresh. He also launched a training programme organized under Indira Kranti Pathakam and the District Rural Development Agency performed bhoomi puja on the outskirts of the town where the women would be rehabilitated. On the same day, the State Bank of Hyderabad gave away a grant of Rs. 1.5 lakhs for the womens group to purchase machinery to manufacture various products.
Further, the District Collector announced to form a District Level Committee consisting of officials to monitor the progress in the rehabilitation exercise and the committee will meet once a month to review the works.Attack on crime but not the criminals is the theory behind project AASRA and it will go long way in prevention of immoral trafficking in Nalgonda District. This project is aimed at confidence building measures to create trust in Government in general & Police in particular among trafficked women.
Two prong strategy of coming down heavily against organizers and pimps at the same time giving alternative to sex workers for their livelihood is adopted by Nalgonda Police. In future we are going to take-up activities in entire district in coordination with other partners.
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Outcomes/Changes resulting from the Project / Initiative
By implementing AASARA Project the Nalgonda district Police have achieved department’s image has gone up in public eye. As per the study conducted, the prostitution has been reduced by about 80 % in the temple town Yadagirigutta, by providing opportunities of dignified life to the prostitutes. Second generation trafficking is also being targeted by starting a bridge school for the children of sex workers. Children of sex workers are now regularly attending school. Awareness about AIDS has been generated amongst the sex worker community due to awareness programmes & the health camps. Out of 70 sex workers, rescued under the project so far, 15 have got employed with the corporate sector while others have got self-employed in small-scale production. The families are now coming forward to eschew this crime and join the mainstream of society. Twelve male members who were earlier working as pimps, procurers & organizers in trafficking are trained as security guards by Police and they are employed at Yadgirigutta temple by a private security agency. We could convince the people that sex workers are also capable of leading a normal life under favorable conditions.
The change in attitudes of general people in society is surprising. The public even began to help group members. Now people treat the sex workers like human beings. They are no longer hostile towards them.
Crime rate has been controlled because of control of antisocial behavior through community policing. Scuffles in the streets have come down considerably. Now the town is calm in that respect.----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sustainability
Aasara means shelter and that was what we attempted to provide to victims of trafficking so that they could live a descent life with dignity without selling their bodies and not to have harassment from pimps and others. Fighting hard battles is in progress. A failure or two should not be seen as reasons for not continuing these efforts. Due to descent means of livelihood and are being accepted in society they will not get relapsed at the place where even thinking of any other profession besides prostitution was considered as sin. Today their smiling faces radiate with hope and expectations of better future. Attack on crime but not the criminals is the theory behind project AASRA and this project with Nalgonda District police as a mentor will go a long way in prevention of organized human trafficking.---------------------------------------------------------------------
Attachment Press Clippings & Photos.
THE HINDU
May 20,2005
A much – needed ‘Aasara’ for them
Police launch integrated approach to wipe out prostitution in the temple town
*21 children admitted to bridge school
*Fight is against the crime, says sp
*Police keen to provide jobs too
*Red Cross health camp for women
In an attempt to wipe out organized prostitution form the temple town, the police have initiated an integrated approach, ‘Aasara’.
Aasara was launched at a function held in the premises of police station here on Thursday. As a first step, 21 children, aged between 9 and 12 years, were admitted into a bridge school, M.M. Bhagwat, SP, the brain behind the project, said.
They would be admitted in Government hostels after a month’s stay in the bridge school, “Our fight will be against the crime, but not against criminals,” the SP said, adding that his department would not relent till women in flesh trade were properly accommodated.
The Alair MLA, K. Nagesh, the Yadagirigutta MPP president, G. Sunita, the Project Director, Women and Child Welfare, Sarada, the District Education Office , Laxma Reddy, the Assistant Project Director, DRDA, m. Mallaiah, The Bhongir RDO, Kistappa, and others were present.
Dr. Nagesh advised the SP to use his good offices to get jobs for the women in various factories. He said that 116 women of Dommara caste, aged between 15 and 30 years, and another 39 youngsters needed to be rehabilitated.
The MLA said he was trying to acquire 10 acres of land to construct houses as well as to develop horticulture for them.
Health camp soon
A Red Cross representative agreed to organize a health camp here for the benefit of the women.
“As part of the integrated approach, we will try to empower women, create social awareness, provide employment opportunities and organize health camps apart form imparting education for their children,” the SP said. He said Father Rajulu of Divyabalanagar would involve himself in the project on his retrun from Germany.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HINDU
Online edition of India's National NewspaperSaturday, May 21, 2005
Andhra Pradesh Police done new role for a noble cause
Help children of sex workers live with dignity as part of Aasara
YADAGIRIGUTTA (NALGONDA DT.): Kamsani Laxmi (name changed) doesn't want to take up the profession that her grandmother and mother took up for their livelihood. She wants to become a doctor instead.When the Superintendent of Police, M. M. Bhagwat, was holding an informal meeting with the District Education Officer, Laxma Reddy, the Revenue Divisional Officer, Kistappa, the Project Director of the Woman and Child Welfare, Sarada, the Yadagirigutta MPP president, G. Sunita and the Indian Red Cross district secretary, P. Rammohan Rao, in the Yadagirigutta police station on Thursday, Laxmi politely came in with an application. The meeting was intended to help the children of sex workers to lead a dignified life by studying under a newly launched integrated approach, Aasara.Desire to studyGoing by the application, the girl had studied up to tenth class, that too in English medium, in a private school and had secured a first class, something rare in the Dommara caste. Now, she wants the Government to help her pursue Intermediate with Botany, Zoology and Chemistry as optionals. "I want to become a doctor," Laxmi told the police officers.Plea to DEOAppreciating her interest, the SP requested the DEO to ensure her a seat in good college. "Certainly we will join her in a good college," the DEO said. Later, at a public meeting, the BC Welfare Officer, Madan Mohan, assured the Alair MLA, K. Nagesh, that he would take up her case with the higher ups to ensure that she gets good education.EradicationAs part of Aasara, the Police Department has decided to take up the issue seriously to eradicate prostitution from the temple town of Yadagirigutta. A good number of children of prostitutes attended the inaugural session and took a pledge to avail the Government schemes to become good citizens.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HINDU
Online edition of India's National NewspaperSaturday, Jun 04, 2005
- Others Welfare steps for sex workersStaff ReporterNalgonda District Collector promises land, houses
YADAGIRIGUTTA (NALGONDA DT.): Giving a fillip to the `Aasara' programme launched by the Police Department, the district administration has come out with a slew of measures to eradicate prostitution from the temple town of Yadagirigutta.Allocation of 20 acres of land, construction of pucca houses for families involved in the flesh trade and imparting training in various courses for the adolescent girls hailing from the Dommara caste are some of the measures announced by the Collector, Kaveti Vijayanand.Mr. Vijayanand gave away cheques worth Rs.3.5 lakhs to the four groups formed by Dommara women, who have decided to start life afresh. He also launched a training programme organised under Indira Kranti Patham and the District Rural Development Agency and performed bhoomi puja on the outskirts of the town where the women would be rehabilitated.Bank's gestureThe State Bank of Hyderabad gave away a grant of Rs.1.5 lakhs for the women's groups to purchase machinery to manufacture various products. Reacting to the Alair MLA, K. Nagesh's request, Mr. Vijayanand announced a district level committee consisting of officials to monitor the progress in the rehabilitation exercise. The committee will meet once a month to review the works. Earlier, Mr. Nagesh asked the Collector to appoint a committee to monitor the developmental works to be taken up for the Dommara women for 10 years. He asked the administration to find employment opportunities for women in various factories in the district.Bridge schoolThe Collector said that a bridge school for children from Dommara families was on cards. The Indian Red Cross Society would be asked to run the school.The Superintendent of Police, M.M.Bhagwat, the brain behind `Aasara', said his department would adopt a two-pronged strategy to solve the problem. "We will enforce law by cracking down on brothels on one hand and initiate measure for the rehabilitation of the women on the other," he said. The DRDA Project Director, Champa Lal, the Bhongir RDO and DSP, Kistappa and Malhal Rao and the Secretary of the Red Cross, P.Rammohan Rao, also spoke .
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THE HINDU
Online edition of India's National NewspaperMonday, Jul 11,2005
Nalgonda Sex racket busted, ten arrested
NALGONDA: On the basis of information received on telephone by the Superintendent of Police, M.M. Bhagwat, the Bhongir police on Sunday busted a sex racket and arrested ten persons involved in it.According to Mr. Bhagwat, two concerned citizens called up him on Saturday night and gave him specific information about the nefarious activities of a resort situated at Vadaigudem under Bhongir rural police station limits.The SP, who is on leave till Sunday, immediately alerted the Bhongir police. Led by the Circle Inspector, N. Venkataswamy, a police team swung into action.During the raid police found five youngsters along with four women hailing from Gunutur, Rajahmundry and Hyderabad. They were arrested under various acts and remanded to judicial custody. The police also booked the resort owner, for renting rooms to run illegal activities.The CI said that the girls had been engaged in the business for the last one year. "Some youngsters contact the girls in Hyderabad and brought them to the temple town in the guise of tourists," he maintained.Mr. Bhagwat, who introduced a special programme, Aasara, to wipe out prostitution from the temple town, warned the resort owners against involving in such illegal activities. Printer friendly page Send this article to Friends by E-MailAndhra Pradesh
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------THE MAHARASHTRA HERALD
PUNEYadagirigutta looks for a break from tradition
By Madhav Gokhale
“Actions are sometimes performed in a masterly and most cunning way, while the direction of the actions is deranged and dependent on various morbid impressions - it’s like a dream.” That is what Fyodor Dostoevsky wrote in Crime and Punishment, an 1866 classic recognised as an amazingly convincing study in morbid psychology. I never asked Mahesh Bhagwat at what point of his career he read Dostoevsky. But what he said the other day was very close to the Russian novelist’s point of view. Consider not action but the spirit of the action. Merit lies in the intention, not the deed. Currently heading the police administration in neighbouring Andhra’s Nalgonda district, this COEP alumni has launched a mission to dissuade the Dommaras from following the community tradition of prostitution. Mahesh’s theory is attack the crime, not the criminals. Mahesh’s story is from Yadagirigutta, the abode of Narasimha. Legend has it that Yadava, the son of sage Rishyashrunga, undertook penance at a cave on this hill. Lord Narasimha - the fourth incarnation of Lord Vishnu - appeared before him in different forms. All these forms are known as swayambhu - self-formed. The Lord granted the junior sage’s wish that the place where the Lord appeared be known by his name - Yadagiri. Gutta must be a later-day suffix to the name, which in Telugu means a hillock. Locals believe that worshipping here for a period of 40 days would relieve devotees of incurable diseases. Now Mahesh, along with the district administration and others like the State Bank of Hyderabad, has launched another attempt to weed out the tradition of prostitution in this temple town. The Dommara tribe looks at sex as its only means of livelihood. Descriptions of this tribe indicate that it resembles the Dombari nomad clan of Maharashtra. Sociologists say that the tribe follows the system of child prostitution. As it generally happens, a conservative mindset along with the “other commercial” considerations of a few, might be stopping the community from considering other options. Ignorance and the lack of other opportunities probably make change seem even tougher. In April this year, Mahesh’s men undertook a drive against organised prostitution in Yadagirigutta. Pimps and some women were booked under various sections of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act and the Indian Penal Code. The truly vulnerable lot in this situation are the children of the CSWs. Mahesh found 77 children related to the women and men he booked for flesh trade. Mahesh told me that twenty-one of these had never seen schools and there was every chance that they would end up joining the family trade. The children and their parents told him that, given a chance, they would like to attend school and do something else in life. Another incident made Mahesh think of setting up a new project, Aasara (support). At a meeting with a few senior officers from other government departments, he came across a young convent-educated girl from the Dommara community who did not want to follow her grandmother’s and mother’s profession. This was something rare among the Dommaras. The girl was seeking government help to continue her studies. She wanted to be a doctor. Mahesh put in a word with the District Education Officer to help her get admission to a good college. Others attending the meeting also assured her of help. Project Aasara was formally launched about three-weeks ago. The twenty-one children Mahesh found have been admitted to a bridge school. As assured by the local MLA, some land has already been allotted for homes for these children. A horticulture project, with a buy-back agreement with temple authorities, has also been floated. Some money has also been made available for CSWs’ self-help groups. The police will continue to enforce the law, but it will also help those who wish to break the vicious circle they are caught in, Mahesh said. Prostitution today is a well-organised industry. Remember the debate on bar dancers? The moral police might wish to battle these “social ills”, but the vexed issue of rehabilitation cannot be ignored. Once a CSW attending a health seminar had told a group of journalists that she had clients from every section and strata of society. Some of us had found this information “shocking”. I was told about a CSW refusing to attend a routine NGO workshop in one western Maharashtra city because the government officer listed as the chief guest was her client. An NGO volunteer had once asked me if I could contemplate a situation where the child sleeps under the bed while the mother entertains a client. I confess this is beyond my imagination. A lady doctor working in a dispensary in the red-light area told me another shocking fact - there are gallis in this very city where a seven or eight-year-old child pimps for his mother. Mahesh and his project Aasara are not isolated attempts. Our own Pune has made attempts like this. I remember my first visit to Vanchit Vikas’ residential school for children of CSWs many years ago. Behind the iron gate was a world full of joy, love and care. The social worker accompanying me suggested subtly that I avoid discussing their mothers in front of the children. Mahesh, Vilas Chaphekar’s Vanchit Vikas and others are fighting hard battles. A failure or two should not be seen as reasons for not continuing these efforts. I’m sure they will get to their destination soon. _________________________________________________ ONE EARTH CARE & SHARE _________________________________________________ Madhav Gokhale Assistant Editor, The Maharashtra Herald, Pune. 91-020-56035788 91-09823318399 madhavgg@rediffmail.com madhavg@sakalherald.com
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From: "M.Ravi Reddy" mailto:maramreddy@thehindu.co.inDate">Date: Sat, 30 Jul 2005 15:09:52 Subject: reply
Dear Sir, Congratulations for launching yet another innovative programme for theuplift of the Dommara Community in Yadagirigutta of Nalgonda district.Having been closely associated with you during your successful stint as theSuperintendent of Police in naxal affected Adilabad district, it would nosurprise that you would accomplish your task. Your pathbreaking approach towean away the hardcore naxalites of the Maoists was such a success that youwill not find it difficult to reform the Dommara community women whose onlysource of livelihood is prostitution. As a journalist, who had wide ranginginteraction with you for over two years, I sincerely hope that your projectAasara would certainly provide the much needed shelter to the Commercial SexWorkers, who wish to come out of the wretched profession.I would also like to inform you that a similar settlement of Dommaracommunity women reside in Japtishivanur village under Chegunta mandal ofMedak district on NH - 7. The houses are located on the NH- 7 as one driveson the Hyderabad-Nizamabad-Adilabad road. A study into their working mightgive you some more insight into how best similar sex workers could bereformed. An Nizamabad based NGO, Samskar, has come forward to admit thechildren of Dommara sex workers. More than 20 such girls and boys are nowstudying in the Samskar Ashrama vidyalaya in Varni mandal. Interestingly, acouple of girls, who are now in hostel would have turned into CSW had notthe NGO intervened and taken them away with the help of the Medak districtadministration.You might also contact the said NGO, to see if the girls and boys are keenon pursuing education. You can contact, one Dr. K. H. S. S. Sundar, ProjectDirector, Samskar Plan International, Varni mandal headquarters, Nizamabad.Phone - 08467-281136, cell - 98484-97570.All best for your present endeavour With regards Ravi Reddy Special correspodent The Hindu Hyderabad040-23408848 (O), 040-55443534 (R)cell - 98491-69189-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HINDU
Online edition of India's National NewspaperTuesday, Aug 23, 2005
Minister lauds district police
Stone laid for model hospital, human resource buildingNALGONDA: The Home Minister, K. Jana Reddy, congratulated the district police for its multi-pronged strategies to win the hearts of the people as well as to wean away youngsters from naxalites.Addressing a meeting after laying foundation stones to the model hospital and a human resource building to be constructed at a cost of Rs. 16 lakhs at the police headquarters, he said that as the head of the department he was happy with the measures initiated by the police under the leadership of the Superintendent of Police, M.M. Bhagwat.Reacting to the Police Officers' Association president, Ananta Ramulu's request, Mr. Jana Reddy asked the Collector, K. Vijayanand, to allocate house plots to policemen. He also said efforts would be made for uninterrupted Krishna water supply to their quarters.Mr. Ananta Ramulu asked the constabulary and the officers to contribute Rs.50 each to buy books for the library to be set up in the human resources building. The SP said a heart check-up camp would be organised for the police in the next fortnight.Thanking the Government for releasing Rs. 17 lakhs to erect police barracks at Pulichintala project, Mr. Bhagwat asked the Home Minister and the Collector to start the road laying works as early as possible. The ZP chairperson, K. Laxmamma, and the local MLA, K.Venkat Reddy,also took part in the programme---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HINDU
21ST AUGUST,2005 ANDHRAPRADESHNALGONDA
Sale of girl child: five held,Two-month-old baby girl sold for Rs. 3,500 through a mediator
INHUMAN ACT: The tribal who allegedly sold his infant daughter to a woman being produced before the media by the Superintendent of Police, M.M. Bhagwat, in Nalgonda on Saturday.
NALGONDA: The police on Saturday arrested five persons, including a tribal couple, on the charge of selling a girl child 20 days ago.Superintendent of Police Mahesh Muralidhar Bhagwat told reporters that the couple - Lavudya Kanya and Swapna - of Lavudya thanda in Dindi mandal allegedly sold their two-month-old fourth baby (Swetha) for Rs. 3,500 through a mediator Paltya Rangamma of Premnagar in Hyderabad. One Kadari Pushpaleela of Gummadivelli of Thungaturty mandal in Nalgonda district allegedly bought the baby with the help of Marisetti Nagamma of Premnagar. A sum of Rs.1,800 was paid as advance. The couple made the issue public because Rangamma failed to pay the remaining amount. The Dindi police booked a case on August 17 and made a detailed inquiry. Finally, they arrested all the five persons under Section 370 of the IPC. The undernourished baby, which was recovered from Pushpaleela, was handed over to Sishu Vihar, Nalgonda.Pushpaleela told the police that she had bought the girl with a good intention. "Since I have no child, I asked Nagamma to find a baby, she reportedly told the police. "We are not going to spare those who sell and buy girl children. The girls would be used for slavery, begging and prostitution," the SP said.
SPRINGLAND RESORT
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THE HINDU
On line edition 9th October,2005
19 held in flesh trade
Staff Reporter
NALGONDA: The police arrested 10 sex workers, two brokers and seven organisers of flesh trade in three cases in Bhongir division in the district on Saturday. A police party raided a house at Tatanagar and arrested four organisers on the charge of running flesh trade. A group of five women confessed that they had been engaged by the organisers.
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Newindpress on Sunday
August 21, 2005
Development
Rehabilitation of sex workers for Dignity and Respect
Thursday August 18 2005
Sandhya Mary
Women clad in brown churidars and green jackets collecting garbage is a common sight in Muvattupuzha, a town in Kerala. They look happy and confident. They display amazing enthusiasm for their work. After a while you can see the same women on the shores of the Muvattupuzha river washing bed linen with the same happy countenance. You may wonder why there should be such joy over waste removal and laundry-work. In order to understand their delight, one has to know their background. The people who chat with them now are the same ones who used to ostracise them because they were sex workers. Though numerous attempts have been made to rehabilitate sex workers across India, not many have succeeded. This success story comes from the Resource Centre for Training and Counseling (RCTC) in Muvattupuzha. The group, headed by Shafeena Vinovin, is successfully engaged in the rehabilitation of town’s sex workers with active support from the local administration. Now RCTC successfully runs a laundry unit and a waste removal unit with former sex workers as its members. But it was not at all easy for Shafeena and her associates. As elsewhere, she had to face the wrath of the society from the beginning. After completing her masters in social work, Shafeena started RCTC under the guidance of the state AIDS Control Society. The main objective of the project was the prevention of AIDS. Naturally the target groups were sex workers, their clients and homosexuals. Distribution of condoms (among clients through sex workers) and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) were the main activities of the group. In 1999, when Shafeena decided to find alternative employment for the sex workers, conservative Muvattupuzha raised its collective eyebrows. They turned against Shafeena thinking that she was promoting sex work. Some treated her with contempt for working among sex workers. Another major problem was that the sex workers of the locality didn’t show any interest in the project. Shafeena was not one of them. A project initiated by an outsider couldn’t evoke any interest in them. “Though we started the project in 1999, it remained inactive for almost two years. The sex workers — for whom the project was meant — didn’t pay much attention to our AIDS prevention campaigns. The condom distribution programme became a total failure. It was difficult for the sex workers to force clients to use condoms. They were afraid such insistence would harm them, their clients and ultimately their livelihood. Though these women were often affected with STDs, they didn’t have any say in the matter. As nothing positive was happening, I even thought of withdrawing from the project. But as the local municipal authorities began to support us, the picture slowly changed,” says Shafeena. She approached the municipal authorities with her project and luckily the chairman and councillors understood the positive changes that RCTC could bring about in the town. Shafeena then organised many meetings with sex workers of the locality. Representatives of the local town administration and health department were also present. Support from the authorities was a major motivating force for sex workers. For them it was a new experience. Now they could talk and even argue face to face with the authorities. Doctors too began to treat them as human beings. Says Aswathi, an active member of the group: “Earlier doctors used to scold us. Hospital staff too got irritated by the sight of us. Many times when we went to doctors with STDs, they refused to treat us. They would say, ‘you stop this trade, only then will you get cured.’ But there is a drastic change in their approach now. They treat us like any other patient.” The project was back on the rails. There were many interactive sessions. Sex workers began raising many relevant issues in such meetings. “We want to get out of this profession. But nobody is ready to give us another job. If anybody provides us with the means to earn our livelihood, we will happily stop this way of living,” says a worker. RCTC submitted a proposal to the municipality to rehabilitate sex workers. The Taluk hospital was in need of hands to wash and clean used bed linen and other clothes. The authorities entrusted this task to those women who had quit sex work to lead a normal life. Thus the rehabilitation process became the second stream of RCTC’s functioning. In 2002, the group was registered under Kudumbasree with the name ‘Swaruma’ (Kudumbasree is a Kerala government scheme meant for grassroot level development. The scheme aims to make each family self sufficient mainly through women.) “As we became a Kudumbasree unit, we got more social recognition. We received a subsidy of Rs 50,000 from Kudumbasree and Bank of India gave us a loan of Rs 50,000, despite the fact that these women didn’t possess any supporting documents,” adds Shafeena. But income from the laundry unit was meagre in comparison to what they used to earn earlier. It became difficult for them to make both ends meet. Says Shafeena, “They used to earn Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per day. But now they couldn’t even secure enough money to eat. We had to tackle this problem. It was not easy for us to start any self-employment scheme that needed investment. That would have become a burden on the group. So we thought of something other than laundry unit that required only labour. At that time the waste management system of the municipality was not functioning properly. Thus the idea of waste removal from the town area emerged.” Launching garbage collection was not as easy as the laundry unit. In order to start the laundry unit, they had to talk only to the hospital authorities. But to implement the waste removal scheme, they had to convince the entire town. Here too assistance from the municipal authorities was of great value to the RCTC. They jointly organised an awareness campaign among the shop owners and town folk. Says municipal chairman M A Saheer: “The successful implementation of laundry unit gave us confidence. We entered every shop and establishment to seek people’s support. The campaign was a real success. Now everybody in the town genuinely supports this project”. The effect of the campaign was quite amazing. People, who used to treat these women as untouchables, now began to accept them as part of society. Shafeena says: “We could convince the people that sex workers are also capable of leading a normal life under favourable conditions. The change in attitudes is surprising. The public even began to help group members. Vegetable vendors give away excess vegetable to them, hoteliers give them left-over food….” Says a jubilant Khadeeja; “Now people treat us like human beings. They are no longer hostile towards us. When I fell ill, my neighbours took me to hospital. Earlier they wouldn’t even touch the gate of my house.” An improvement in the social status is indeed a major achievement for these women. But they have gained something else too through RCTC. A place of their own…a place where they can provide solace to each other, a meeting place for those who have had to face society’s wrath. Shafeena elaborates: “What they need most is someone to hear and comfort them. They are frustrated most of the time due to various factors such as isolation from society, ill treatment by authorities and ill health. They are always tense, ready to explode any time. But when they came here, we made them feel that they are not alone and later they began to support each other. Now there is a notable change in their attitude and behaviour. A shoulder to lean on can always work wonders”. The municipal chairman, Saheer agrees, “Scuffles in the streets have come down considerably. Now the town is calm in that respect.” Though limited to a single town, the success story of RCTC can be taken as a model for any group, functioning for the welfare of marginalised people. RCTC realised its goals through teamwork and grassroot level functioning. But what made it succeed was the support of local administrative and social system. For Shafeena, the Swaruma group is a dream-come true. — The Quest Features & Footage, Kochi------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
THE HINDU
Sunday 09/07/2006
Changing the landscape of their lives
MADHU GURUNG
The story of how Bedia and Bacchara women in Madhya Pradesh have joined together to fight caste-based commercial sexual exploitation and trafficking in their communities.
PHOTO: PARTH SANYAL LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL: Empowering women to stand on their own feet.
"JAI Bhim," says Ganga Bai, her hand rolled into a fist. Around her in Bhopal's Academy of Administration, over 200 women, dressed in colourful saris, with red vermilion on their foreheads and lining the parting of their hair, raise their voices to echo her. The women, from over 23 districts of Madhya Pradesh, are setting up a common platform to support a whole range of grassroots women's issues. Ganga Bai is a Dalit and her greeting is a salutation to the man whom the Dalit community sees as their liberator, Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
Ordinary women like Ganga Bai are stirring, feeling the need to change the landscape of their lives. Many have never been to school. Yet they are finding a voice to protest against oppression and demand rights, be it the right to dignity, or the tribals' rights to the forests on which their lives depend, the right to live free of violence and even the right to a voice in governance through the panchayats. Organisations that raise such issues are finding a ready response from these marginalised women.
Right to dignity
Prem (not her real name), 35, sits with a group discussing the right to dignity. She belongs to the Bacchara community from Banikherdi village in Mandsaur district. Prem is different from the colourfully dressed women. Her hair is severely pulled back and her forehead is bereft of a bindi. But it is her eyes that draw attention, opaque, still and shuttered like a still lake whose depth you will never know.
Quiet-looking Prem hardly seems like a crusader. But she is an active participant of Bhor (new dawn), an initiative funded by Action Aid, which addresses the issue of caste-based Commercial Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking in the Bedia and the Bacchara communities.
Prem was 16 when her family, in an age-old tradition called the "nath utarai", sold her to the highest bidder. Her Bacchara community has long survived by putting their young women into prostitution.
Prem was installed in a separate room in the family home and forced to service the clients that the family solicited for her. Prem says that each day she felt defaced and broken.
Many other girls of her age worked as prostitutes on the National Highway 15 that connects their village to Delhi. The girls negotiated with drivers and were driven off in trucks. Dropped off at some point on the highway they "bargained" their way back on yet another truck.
Some worked from the roadside dhabas that line the highway, with their brothers and fathers acting as their pimps. "Only pretty girls are pushed into the dhanda. Those who are not good looking are married off. My aunt insisted that I had to follow the path of our forefathers so the family could eat."
Prem's clients came from the village and nearby city. Her eyes are downcast as she recalls, "I was in this dhanda for over seven years and there wasn't a single day when I did not pray to God to let some man love me and make me his own." She got pregnant twice, as her clients refused to use contraception. She had two children, a son and a daughter, who were raised by her parents. "I knew who their father was but he refused to acknowledge me or his children."
Prem was a hardened 23-year-old when she met Raj, a farmer from the same village. Raj returned to her every day and the two fell in love. "My family got angry with me. They would often tell him to leave. I knew I would never be allowed to marry him, so I ran away."
They fled to Bombay. "I know it sounds like a film story," says Prem, "but I was too much in love and I wanted to live my life with him, not as a convenience for men." They married and had three children. To make ends meet, Raj began plying a rickshaw. He earned Rs. 100-200 a day, refusing to let Prem work and she happily raised their children.
But fate had other plans. Raj developed tuberculosis. Years of pulling the rickshaw and a poor diet caused his lungs to collapse. Desperate to save him, Prem returned with Raj and the children to her in-laws in Mandsor. Raj was beyond medical help and died soon after.
The in-laws ran a general merchant store in the village and had a tiny farm but they treated Prem and the children as a burden. Prem persuaded them to give her some money to buy a plot of land. Prem toils hard to raise maize and soyabean. She holds out her calloused hands and smiles, "I do everything myself. It is wonderful to see the maize and soyabean grow. I sell them in the market. I also get Rs. 900 rupees every month for my work with Bhor."
Prem was determined that although she did not have an education she would not push her daughters into prostitution. Instead she enrolled all her three children in school. Today her eldest daughter is in Std. XI, the two younger ones in Std. VII and VI respectively.
"I never had a choice, there was no one to take a stand for me, but my children have me. I love them very much. I will never let anything happen to them. Each time my children do well in school it's a reward for me."
As for the two children born during her days in prostitution, Prem ensured that the girl was married and the boy is working. "Life isn't easy but I have found that if you take a road, God gives you the strength to walk it."
Challenging work
Her work with Bhor is challenging. "It is difficult to go and talk to families about getting their daughters to do some work other than prostitution. They are aggressive and angry and ask who will feed them. The girls too feel there is no alternative. They also feel that they are more empowered and enjoy more freedom than those who are married and have always to stay in ghunghat. But the truth is that they are exploited in every way. Pregnancies and abortions are frequent and severe STD and related health problems are common."
Although Prem continues to cite her own example of breaking free, she admits that unless a girl is lucky enough to find a "regular client" who is willing to look after her it is difficult to get out of prostitution.
In 2002, when Action Aid began working in Madhya Pradesh, they chalked out the three sub-regions where the Bedia and Bacchara community is concentrated.
Says Shibani Sharma who works with Bhor; "There are three regions in Madhya Pradesh where the Bedia and Bacchara community are concentrated. Sagar-Raisen-Damoh is the area where the Raee dance of the Bedia community is still prevalent.
Morena-Guna-Shivpuri also has a Bedia community and it is from here that girls are trafficked to Mumbai. Mandsor-Ratlam-Neemuch has a Bacchara community. The proximity to National Highway 15 has resulted in `street walking'. It is also the area where opium cultivation and smuggling exist."
Bright-eyed and confident, Aarti is the antithesis of Prem. She is among the first graduates from the Bedia community in her native place Sagar. Her grandmother was a willowy beauty who could do the Raee dance all night long, as was the tradition. However she was determined that none of her daughters would become a dancer.
Braving family wrath, she stopped dancing, began working as a labourer and sent her children to school. "I am very proud of her. I am lucky," says Aarti. "My grandmother's stand ensured that we have a future. I want to become a teacher and use my education to better my community. I want more girls to study and get out of a profession where there is no hope."
Guddi is yet another example. Her eyes never meet yours when she talks about how she was pushed into prostitution. After she came in contact with Bhor, she stood up to family pressure and became a militant crusader. She stopped her two younger sisters from being pushed into the trade. "I now know what a life of dignity means. No one can look at you or touch you without your permission and it is powerful."
As far back as 1990, a Gwalior High Court Bench directed the Madhya Pradesh Government to take specific steps to eliminate traditional prostitution. The Government formulated the six-phase Jubali Yojana but even the first phase of the scheme has not been implemented.
The government campaign Nirmal Abhiyan was carried out on a large scale in Mandsor. Many young girls were forcibly married off on the premise that marriage was the only way to end prostitution.
The results were disastrous. Many of the "husbands" were traffickers who sold the women and absconded with the money.
Building bridges
Sarika Sinha, Programme Officer of Action Aid, says, "On a scale of one to 10, we are at level three. It took us three years to build bridges to get to the community. Our strategy is multi-pronged. We work with women who come out of prostitution and are rehabilitated like Prem, to strengthen and enable them assert their rights. These women are part of the vigilance group who inform us when underage girls are in danger of being trafficked. Many times we are tipped off by friends of young girls and negotiate with the families or file an FIR. In the Mandsaur-Ratlam-Neemuch belt, 80 per cent of those in prostitution are below 18. Our emphasis is on education as the way of getting out of the mindset that they need to continue with the traditional practice. The community treats it as a way of earning a livelihood. The 1991 Census showed the Bedia and Bacchara community as roughly 19,000 but we believe that they must be around 25,000 odd in Madhya Pradesh."
Much of the immediate problem is an alternative source of income. The lack of any government scheme for income generation leaves families with little choice.
Says Aarti, "If we take away prostitution we are like any other backward community in India, disempowered, without education, poor, with no jobs or future. Education may be the key to our future but before that we need our dignity. We need acceptance. We don't want to be labelled `Bedia' and `Bacchara' which is an abuse for prostitute."
The legends behind the tradition
PHOTO: MADHU GURUNG Power to change: Women at the Bhopal meet.
FOLKLORE surrounds the traditional prostitution of the Bedia and Bacchara communities who live in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and the border districts of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
Some say the practice of prostituting daughters dates back to Mughal times when these communities earned a living as Nats or acrobats, performing from hamlet to hamlet.
Legend has it that in one such village a Mughal chieftain was enamoured by a beautiful daughter-in-law and demanded that she become his concubine. It scandalised the community who hid the daughter-in-law behind a veil and sent a daughter to the chieftain instead.
Since then the tradition has continued. Women married within the community remain veiled while daughters end up as the family breadwinners.
Another tale that is told is about a rich king who abducted a kanjar girl. The girl, it is said, extracted her revenge by putting the king's daughter into prostitution.
Yet others believe that the tradition dates back to the time when marauding invaders like Mahmood Ghazni and Mohammad Ghori attacked India. A group of Hindus escaped to the forests and made a living as thieves.
For centuries these people, by then divided into 12 sub-castes, continued to live by theft. The British outlawed them as criminal tribes and often imprisoned them. The women of the tribe would go to the police, who would extract sexual favours for the release of their men. That trend has continued.==========================================================
INDIA TOGETHER
Sun 16 Jul 2006 The news in proportion
Erecting a stop sign for trafficking
Rescue operations carried out with tactful involvement of media and the police can offer victims protection from further trauma, and also begin to sensitise a number of people on the complex issues involved. Kirti Mishra reports on the experiences and learning of Odanadi Seva Samsthe. 13 July 2006 - Karnataka has been identified by an annual publication of the U.S Department of State - the "Trafficking in Persons Report" (2003) as one of the major supply states for human trafficking in India. According to V.S Malimath, member of the National Human Rights Commission, about 80 percent of those prostituted in Mumbai and Goa come from Karnataka. Within the state, it is the rural population, particularly poor dalits, over whom the traffickers' network has its stronghold. The dalits of Tumkur, the tribals of H D Kote, Hunsur and those from Coorg's tribal belts have been identified as particularly vulnerable.
While poverty is a crucial contributing factor for the rise from supply side, socio-cultural practices specific to the region are also responsible for injustices against minors, young girls and women. Despite the strong Devadasi Prohibition Act of 1982, prostitution under the garb of religion continues to exist in Northern districts such as Bijapur and Shimoga, in the form of female offering to gods and goddesses. Trafficking related to prostitution is particularly difficult to tackle, since it is a highly organised affair, which uses the resources and networks of other organised crimes. Besides, it involves a long invisible chain of transporters and hoteliers who provide transport and accommodation during transit, brothel keepers, agents and traders who deliver the girls to the brothels.
But trafficking is not limited to prostitution alone, but also for purposes like forced labour, commercial gay and lesbian relationships, to hire wombs, and for illegal marriages, domestic slavery, organ transplantation, for begging and even for camel races.
Odanadi to the rescue
Odanadi Seva Samsthe is a Mysore-based organisation that undertakes rescue operations to free trafficked persons from the criminal clutches into which they have fallen. The major focus of its rescue operations is to prevent trafficking of minor girls and women, and to ensure the arrest of traffickers under most stringent laws so that they do not go scot-free.
Several rescue efforts take place in the presence of social workers, artists and noted personalities who are respected in society. This is done to lend credibility to the rescue operations in the eyes of the law and the public.
The organisation has a strong network at the grassroots, comprising of field activists and animators who gather detailed information on suspects and closely monitor them, after building a rapport with them. After triangulating the information, careful planning for the rescue operation is undertaken by the organisation heads. The minimum duration of one operation is 15 to 20 days (inclusive of the planning, strategising, actual rescue, followed by initial legal proceedings). The rescue team comprises mainly of the organisation heads, some field animators/activists, videographer/photographer and volunteers depending on the need. Given the uncertainties involved in rescue operation, the team innovates on its strategies and uses its best judgement to decide on a course of action.
Several of these rescue efforts take place in the presence of social workers, artists and noted personalities who are respected in society. This is done to lend credibility to the rescue operations in the eyes of the law and the public. Besides, Odanadi makes an effort to sensitize the media and draws support from like-minded people. These together contribute towards the success of its operations. According to 'Odanadi - The Soulmate', a leaflet of the organization, the group has so far 'busted 35 trafficking networks, rescued 1,230 women and rehabilitated them with alternative livelihood, freed 650 minors ... in Karnataka, and as many as 550 children have been reintegrated with their families'.
Odanadi's rescue team is strong in evidence collection methods. Often it sets up decoy customers to catch the suspect red-handed while striking a deal (this is because the onus of proving the crime lies on Odanadi). CDs, VCDs, alcohol, drugs, condoms, money collected from the site (the notes bear numbers written by the decoy customer and helps in proving that a deal was indeed struck pertaining to sale/use of children/girls) are important evidences for prosecution of the cases. A person using handicam/camera who records the proceeding of the entire rescue operation also accompanies the rescue team. This serves as important evidence in the later stage of prosecution.
There are certain non-negotiable with regard to the rescue work which include
#Ensuring that the rescue team is accompanied by a female staff-activist of Odanadi/female social worker or lawyer during rescue for moral support to the victim, particularly while she is giving her statement before the police.
#Ensuring that counseling and emotional assurance is provided to the rescued in a separate room.
Taking the rescued into confidence, as a victim and not as criminal, which helps in reducing the psychological dependency on the trafficker.
#Ensuring that a lady police staff accompanies the rescued to police station.
#Ensuring that the rescued and the accused are kept in different rooms and,
#Ensuring that no one uses abusive language for the rescued.
According to K V Stanly, the organisation's Director, "the basic minimum is to do what is in victim's best interest".
These measures are taken to help the victim in giving fair testimony. Later, wherever possible, the victim is prepared through mock trials for giving statements in the court. In several rescue cases, particularly of minors, Odanadi ensures that medical examination (for age verification) of the rescued takes place within 2-3 days as it provides substantive ground for arresting the accused. The parents of the rescued are informed soon after the rescue operation.
A rescue operation in progress
Odanadi also tactfully involves other stakeholders in the rescue work. It involves both the police and the media in different capacities. The media's engagement in the rescue operation is in the form of coverage of the rescue operation, and through wider dissemination of the stories of trafficking for generating awareness and initiating debates on the issue in the society. The police are informed when the rescue team is on its way to the site, and are needed to arrest the accused red-handed. The organisation's efforts towards building public pressure and sensitisation of law enforcement agencies on trafficking issues through its workshops and seminars have created a strong image of the organisation and contributed towards increased responsiveness.
Still, support varies from case to case and is yet to be institutionalised. A major blockade in coordination with the police exists due to absence of any legal sanction to the concept of Social Policing in India. This gives rise to the perception that the rescue work is an encroachment of the authority of police.
Physical and other threats
The rescue work is potentially dangerous as it involves dislodging the status quo in society and exposes the rescue team to threats from the accused who have money and muscle power and political connections. Several of the rescues have unearthed people in high position involved in crimes against minor girls and women. There are instances of a head constable running a brothel; a lady teacher of a reputed institution who had sold two girls to an estate owner in Coorg; a physical instructor of a renowned convent who had taken blue-films of a minor girl and later sold her into prostitution; a doctor who raped a minor girl in a brothel; and a cinema actress engaged in the flesh trade. In several cases such revelations have resulted in physical assault on Odanadi workers, threats, harassment and ill treatment of the complainant by police insisting to delete the name of the culprit, promises of donations; and other pressure tactics.
Harassment also comes in the form of false cases lodged by the accused against the organisation. At present, there are some 36 odd cases filed against them for trespassing (as the rescue work involves entering the house), kidnapping (as rescue work involves taking the trafficker from one place to another) and attempt to murder/mishandling (sometimes the victim's parents get disturbed on seeing the trafficker and beat him up). According to them, there is plenty of scope in the law for traffickers to file false cases in connivance with corrupt police staff against the rescue teams. According to Mr Parshuram, this is a severe drain of their resources and time. It requires frequent visits to the district and high courts, furnishing documents, and making the rounds of lawyers. It has also resulted in restriction on their mobility, as the passports of the directors are surrendered in the court.
Poor cooperation from law enforcement agencies makes things all the more challenging. For example, the two directors have been falsely charged in a sexual abuse case, of the very victim they had rescued. The case is one of its kinds in India as it involves a disabled minor (with slow brain functioning) who was prostituted for 7-8 years before being rescued from a brothel. The FIR did not mention the child's medical condition nor did the Public Prosecutor probe it in detail and argue the case. Getting information from the child was very difficult and she twice refused medical examination by the doctors, resulting in almost 24 hours delay for the entire examination. Odanadi has therefore approached the Disability Commission to seek support in this case.Low rate of conviction
Based on Odanadi's rescue operations, nearly 190 cases have been registered against the accused and 42 accused have been convicted over a period of time. These numbers are much smaller than the actual rescue operations themselves, but 90% of accused persons have managed to get bail, and the eventual conviction rate is quite low. There are several reasons that have led to high acquittal and low rate of conviction. These include:
Poor evidence building - in several cases the investigating officer did not collect proper evidence and due to pressure, the witness turned hostile.
Low level of interest of the Public Prosecutor in following the case. A Public Prosecutor does not usually encourage being assisted by a private lawyer engaged by Odanadi. Several times, the Public Prosecutor was bribed for destroying evidences and thus losing a case deliberately.
Delay in filing the charge sheet (sometimes it takes 90 days to file a case)
In several cases, a false guardian of the orphan victim appeared before court and furnished false document establishing their identities, and at a later stage of trial, withdrew the cases. The court never verifies the submitted documents.
Lack of sensitisation and training of the judiciary to elicit adequate information from the victim who is under trauma
It is difficult to sustain the victim's consistency in assertion of facts due to multiple diversions such as drug dependency, influence of the trafficker and threat, lack of psycho social services provided to the victim in state home and parental pressure.
The way forward
Odanadi's work has identified key challenges that must still be overcome, to tackle trafficking. Advocacy against the crimes must be stronger at the national level, in particular. Working with coalitions of pressure groups, such organisations will need to ensure that ending human trafficking gets on the agenda of the government, and there's political will to address it at policy level and through reform of existing laws.
The tactful approach of Odanadi in dealing with the police and making them accountable shows a matured understanding of the system and of the strength of civil society and its limitations. Since police are important stakeholders in actions against human trafficking, stronger initiatives have to be taken towards institutionalising support from this department. Sensitisation programmes for the police are also needed, and these must be made into practical modules such as 'how to deal with the rescued'. Such training can also ensure that evidence collected is stronger, thus making the public prosecutors' jobs easier too.Odanadi Seva Samsthe
SRS Colony Hootagally village Belawadi post
Mysore 571 186
Article by
Kirti Mishra 13 Jul 2006http://www.indiatogether.org/2006/jul/hrt-traffic.htm
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Aasara project on CHRI web
http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/new/project_aasara.pdf
http://www.humanrightsinitiative.org/new/community_policing_experiments_in_india_1.pdf-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Project Aasara
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2 comments:
Subject: Project Aasara
Date: Thu, 18 Aug 2005 15:38:18 -0400
From: "Zack Kagan Guthrie" ZackKaganguthrie@VitalVoices.org Add to Address Book
To: mmbips@yahoo.co.uk
Dear Mr. Bhagwat,
Thank you for sending the information on Project Aasara to Vital Voices Global Partnership’s Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights program. We have added your contact information to our Trafficking Alert newsletter, and hope you will keep us appraised of further developments with your organization.
Best regards,
Zachary Kagan-Guthrie
Anti-Trafficking and Human Rights Program Assistant
Vital Voices Global Partnership
1050 Connecticut Avenue NW, 10th Floor
Washington DC 20036
T: (202) 772-1881
F: (202) 772-2353
www.vitalvoices.org
zackkaganguthrie@vitalvoices.org
Dear Sir,
Please accept my apologies for the delayed response. Thank you very much for sending information about Project Aasara. I will take some time to look at your website and learn about how citizens are assisting the police in the Nalgonda District.
While my project (Citizen Involvement in Sex Offender Management) does not look at human trafficking specifically, we always appreciate learning about law enforcement programs.
Many thanks,
Alissa
Alissa Huntoon
Project Manager
Citizen Involvement in Sex Offender Management
International Association of Chiefs of Police
515 N. Washington Street
Alexandria, VA 22314
1-800-THE-IACP, Ext. 812
703-836-6767, Ext. 812
huntoon@theiacp.org
www.theiacp.org
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