Rehabilitation for 600 sex trafficked victims

While the world came to a standstill and lockdowns were imposed all over, work from home became the norm for most employed. The Covid pandemic brought with it also great economic devastation effecting millions. And the most marginalized were the worst impacted pushing them to verge of starvation. This is directly impacted sex trafficking with a dramatic surge in the number of women who were sold into sex slavery by their own familiies. So while businesses, corporations, educational institutions and even development sector stepped back to protect themselves from the virus, the Protective Homes/Shelters of Prajwala stepped forward to take care of those hapless victims who were sold during the pandemic to sustain their families. As a safe shelter, the potential risk of infection to other residents was taken into consideration for the organization to set up a comprehensive quarantine facility that will take care of any newly rescued victim. All effort was made to ensure minimal contact of the existing 300 residents to outside world but the multiple health ailments of the residents compelled the team to take them to infection porne hospitals for specialized care. The consequence of the same was a few residents catching Covid infection. At the peak of the pandemic over 14 residents and 10 staff were infected with Covid19. This forced the organization to set up its own medical facility for the care and treament of Covid positive. In the meantime the residents who had a glimpse of what was happening outside felt strongly compelled to support the larger Covid relief work and proposed stiching of reusable masks as their contribution. 45,000 reusable masks were stiched by the residents and donated to the frontline workers of the Health Department. Simultaneously each staff with their own salaries decided to take care of the monthly requirement of groceries for five families. Between the residents and staff over 80,000 people were provided Covid Relief in some form or other. The Covid pandemic was a period of thanksgiving for the residents expressing their deep gratitude for all those working relentlessly to fight the pandemic and also in reaching out with compassion for those who were lesser previldged than them.

While the world at large is devastated with the onset of Covid19 pandemic, the challenges of managing a Protective Home with 600 residents, ensuring their safety, dealing with their frustrations and helping them deal with uncertainity is a herculean task. 

It is with a forebearing sense of fear that we looked at Covid19. The care-givers, the therapist and the counselors took great personal decisions to make a choice to live within the campus so that the virus has lesser possibility of entering the therapeutic community. This essentially meant that they were separated from their own families for a longer periods of time.

But the survivors(residents) defeated us with their positivity and geneosity. In the initial days of Covid pandemic they volunteered to make reusable face masks which could be distributed to frontline health workers. Over 35,000 face masks were stiched which was handed over to the health department.  

This triggered a  series of responses from mainstream staff who took the initiative to provide relief support to thousands of starving families and migrant workers.

The pandemic has changed the way we conduct ourselves even within the home. Wearing a mask, maintaining social distancing has become a norm. On a regular basis Covid tests are conducted to rule out any possible infection. 

Inspite of all the precautions, 4 staff were infected. The movement of one of them to check on her ailing husband got the virus inside. But the efforts of the team to restrict the infection only to four staff was successful with none of the children or women getting infected.

The child residents who are studying in the Learning Center or persuing education from outside are connected to online classes. The vocational courses and employability training was resumed with all Covid protocols in place.

The drop in funding support during this period will have long term implications, but for now the situation is much under control.

The new normal in managing a Protective Home also means setting up a Quarantine Facility for any new admission and diligently follow Covid suspect regimen.

The tragic part of this reality is that while Covid19 has devastated us and restricted our mobility, for the trafficking syndicate this has become another opportunity to lure and coerce many more vulnerable persons in the web of exploitation.

The number of persons rescued from exploitation continues to grow while we cope up with newer norms of managing a Protective Home!