By Antony A.Xavier | Program Manager
“I am Mekla, 15years old poor girl from Senapathi village in one of the North eastern state of India, Manipur. My father was a drunkard. When we three children were very small, he passed away, leaving the 3 little kids to our mother. My mother is a street vegetable vender. With the little income of my mother, we four at home could not have two full meals a day. At this family condition, I did not have any choice, other than go out to work in some houses as domestic worker.
One day while returning back from work, one of the men from our village told that he will get me a good job in the nearby state in Nagaland in a house and earn well to support the family without the knowledge of my mother.
I shared my plan to run away from home and take up a job in a house in Nagaland”.
The news about plans were informed to Manipur Domestic Workers Movement, by one of Mekla’s close friend who used to attend our various trainings on trafficking, child abuse. Our field staff found out details about the house, where the child was to go in Nagaland. It is a brothel house.
Our counsellor then visited the child’s house and discussed their family condition and the need of Mekla to earn for the family with her mother. She then asked our staff to counsel Mekla. Accordingly few suggestions were given to Mekla, to go to work in a house, which will lead to trafficking or to join some computer course or any other vocational course.
Our staff again met Melka and talked to her about the issues. She was also further told if she is smart or expert in a particular field she can join in any company or open a shop and be self employed.
As Mekla is found of learning computer, our Manipur office arranged for admission and supports her studies.
Now what Mekla says is: “If not for the intervention of NDWM’s Manipur office, I would have been a victim of trafficking. Now I am saved from trafficking and slavery. Now I can have a decent living. All this is made possible through your Support to the unknown faces like me”.
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