Eight-seconds to be trafficked or find freedom: on arriving at Mumbai’s railway stations, this is the fate awaiting runaway, homeless women.
Naina (name changed), now 20 years old, used to be a state-level kabaddi player in Haryana (kabaddi is a popular contact team sport with roots in ancient India). This was a great honor and achievement. But her family refused to support her in going further with kabaddi. Instead, they married her off at 17 and stopped her education. After constant requests, her in-laws agreed to let her continue with her education but did not agree to let her play her beloved kabaddi. To make matters worse, her husband was verbally and sexually abusive. When she reached out to the college authorities and even her own family, they refused to get involved.
8seconds
to be trafficked or find freedom
Seeing no other options, she decided to leave her husband and like many young women crossed hundreds of miles for the bright lights of Mumbai. Little did Naina know that homeless women arriving in Mumbai have eight seconds before they get picked up by traffickers who could sell her into domestic labor or worse, or by the Railway Police. Fortunately, due to the efforts of Karuna USA’s project partner, Urja, the Railway Police have been trained to spot and respond to young women like Naina, and it was them who led her to the protective shelter run by Urja upon her arrival.
With Urja’s help, Naina is currently attending an MSc IT computer class to increase her job prospects.
With Urja’s help, Naina is currently attending an MSc IT computer class to increase her job prospects. She also participated in the Navi Mumbai Mayor Marathon and Tata Mumbai Marathon. And best of all, she has found a kabaddi class and is participating in district-level matches. Naina is now working and living in the group home, getting herself ready to become fully independent. She is one of the lucky ones who can pursue her dreams without fear and create her own destiny.
SAFETY AND PROTECTION FOR YOUNG WOMEN
Every year, thousands of girls run away from home to escape forced labour, forced marriage, violence and denial to education. Desperate and alone, they travel to Mumbai in the hope of a better life in the city. Highly organised traffickers prey on these girls as they arrive at the Dadar train station, one of Mumbai’s largest - it is estimated that there is a mere 8 second window between arrival and being approached by a trafficker for these girls.
This project funds specialist workers to identify and intercept homeless young women who arrive at Dadar train station in Mumbai before they can be targeted by traffickers. They are taken to a shelter, receiving practical and psychological support, as well as vocational training and the opportunity to enroll in education courses to prepare them to move towards financial independence and a more stable future.
