Anju grew up in a small village in West Bengal, helping her mother with chores and playing with her siblings. Life took a turn when their finances began to crumble, and her mother remarried to support her three children. Sick of constant quarreling with her stepfather, Anju, now seventeen, decided to flee her village to seek shelter with her relative in the city. What came afterward was an abyss of hopelessness.
At her relative’s place, she was assured that her needs would be met and that she was safe. She slowly began to settle and feel comfortable in her new home. But this comfort was short lived as her relative began to manipulate and groom her to enter prostitution.
Alone and miles away from home, Anju was forced to survive in a brothel and entertain up to six customers a day. She became pregnant with her relative’s son and was trapped in this situation for seven months before she was rescued by JVI’s Justice Hub partner and the anti-human trafficking unit of Kolkata.
Upon rescue, as an aftercare specialist comforted her and held her hand, Anju said, “No one has ever held my hand like you.”
The aftercare team’s assistance became even more critical when she had to terminate her pregnancy, and doctors revealed that she suffers from an intellectual disability. She was admitted into a shelter home for long-term care and rehabilitation.
She was encouraged to give her testimony to the police and receive legal support. As a result, three suspects were arrested while one is still absconding. All three suspects posted bail and the lawyers are working with authorities to bring justice in this case.
Anju has begun to dream again, expressing her desire to pursue a tailoring course. Through continuous encouragement, visits, and phone calls, Anju is enthusiastically learning and even supporting her family with the monthly stipend she receives. Her stammering has also subsided, which the team believes is due to the stable environment in which she has been restored.
* Names have been changed to protect privacy
