During a district Child Welfare Committee (CWC) meeting in West Bengal in July 2021, members discussed an anonymous tip regarding trafficked minors exploited in the Cooch Behar area. Among the members was the CWC Chairperson of Murshidabad, who recalled a JVI survivor sharing similar information the year before. The CWC Chairperson brought this recollection to JVI project staff who verified the information through various local partners. Working with its local partner, JVI then contacted the Chairperson of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) for their support. With established connections in the field, JVI and its local partner held meetings with local government stakeholders and developed an intervention plan within three days.
On July 16, 2021, the JVI team worked with the District Magistrate (DM), Superintendent of Police (SP), District Child Protection Unit (DCPU) and CWC, and rescued 14 victims and apprehended 7 accused in that location. Working closely with the government, the JVI team planned another intervention later that night. At 11:00 PM, the team raided a second brothel, rescuing 7 victims and arresting 4 perpetrators.
All were escorted to the police station where the statements of survivors were recorded. With the help of JVI sponsored lawyers, a seizure list for the evidence was compiled and a police complaint against the accused was filed. The Aftercare team ensured the survivors received medical attention and then escorted them to a shelter home on orders passed by the CWC.
“Based on conversations with the survivors, it is evident that most of them are from broken and abusive homes. Others lost their jobs due to the pandemic and were vulnerable.” said a JVI project team member.
“Traffickers operate in large networks, each with a specific role. Some are strategically placed at railway and bus stations to approach victims who have run away from home. Traffickers also take advantage of victims who have elderly parents or children to support and are desperate to accept any job they can find. It is a challenging task to gain the trust of survivors, especially after the way they have been mistreated by brothel owners, customers and traffickers. But our team of trained social workers is up to the task and will do its best to ensure each survivor is provided with the space needed to open up about their past so we can help build their future.” they added.
While 8 of the 21 survivors have been declared minors by the CWC, JVI and its partners will legally represent all adult survivors in court as well, to ensure each has access to rehabilitation benefits and to enroll them into a comprehensive, two-year Aftercare program.
Survivors will receive a rehabilitation plan specific to each individual’s needs, that can include counseling, skills training, education, social skills and monetary support to aid them in their journey of dignity, freedom and most importantly, hope.
