HCWS in partnership with HOPE implemented a project in the West Bengal Districts of South 24 Parganas and North 24 Parganas in 2006 to combat trafficking, particularly of women and children in the area; a result of abject poverty and a serious threat to local communities. Together the organizations generate awareness in local communities, schools and local government departments about the root causes, consequences and solutions to trafficking, a now rampant concern in the area. The campaigns target adolescent girls between 12-16 years of age, alongside their families and wider community.
- 9 trafficked victims were rescued and reintegrated with their families.
- 55 ICDS (Integrated Child Development Scheme) mothers’ meetings were conducted and attended by 1,028 participants where they were informed about both the ICDS schemes and child protection issues with special focus on child trafficking and child abuse within the family and in the wider community.
- 66 community meetings were conducted raising awareness and how trafficking is organised which was attended by 1,303 people.
- 18 school campaigns were conducted for 5,539 schools students including boys and girls.
- 24 impactful audio visual campaigns were conducted for the community people and school students in different villages.
- 44 Sansad level watch group meetings were conducted for 268 watch group members to discuss their roles and responsibilities in preventing trafficking and child marriage.
- 14 Gram Panchayet level capacity building programs were conducted for 229 watch group members.
CASE STUDY
Abha Bar and her daughter Rani went to Brindaban on a pilgrimage with a guru on the 27th of April 2016. Abha was a loyal follower of the guru and fully trusted him as they embarked on their pilgrimage. In Brindaban they stayed with a man called Gopal Munna.
However, Gopal and the guru pressurized Abha to agree to the forced marriage of Gopal and her 16 year old daughter Rani. Abha refused to agree but Gopal and other men threatened Abha and Rani was forced to marry Gopal. Abha managed to escape and immediately rang her husband to inform him about what happened who went to Brindaban along with relatives to rescue Abha and Rani. They lodged an FIR but the police did not rescue Rani. Anxious to rescue their daughter, HCWS were informed about the need to rescue Rani. HCWS contacted an NGO called Justice Ventures International in Bihar and representative went to Delhi and rescued Rani on the 31st of May 2016 and Child Welfare Committee placed her in a protection home in Mathura, Uttar Pradesh. Rani’s family, HCWS team and CWC visited Rani and a home visit was conducted as requested by the CWC. Following a home visit report, Rani moved into a protection home in Kolkata where she is receiving counselling, medical, education and nutritional support to help her overcome her trauma.