SHELTER CARE FOR VIOLENCE VICTIMS

X, a 17-year-old from Kalchini, Alipurduar, is a bright student who has endured significant hardship. Her mother died at an early age, and her father remarried when X was 13. At 15, her stepmother took her to Mumbai and sold her to a brothel for sex work. A complaint was lodged, and the perpetrators were arrested after being tracked. X was handed over to the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and subsequently sent to live with her maternal uncle. Her stepmother and an accomplice were arrested and served a period of detention. After her release, X's stepmother went missing and did not return. Reena is residing at her maternal uncle's house, where she is continuing her studies with the support of Jabala Action Research Organisation. A regular and dedicated student in Class 11, she aspires to complete her education and build a life of gratitude. She has overcome significant emotional and physical trauma and is now moving forward with renewed self-interest and support, returning to a normal life.

She received the prestigious ‘Birangana’ (Brave Girl) award from the Government of West Bengal in November 2025 for her determination and courage to build a new life.

Many such i Sutvivors are awaiting support. With a little help from all of us, they can make us proud by becoming future Biranganas.

X is a resilient young woman from Nadia. She hails from a highly vulnerable background, where her mother and aunts are engaged in sex work. Nevertheless, she is determined not to return to that life and is making every effort to transform her circumstances. She continues her education and is currently residing in a hostel, away from the hostile environment of her home. With the support of Jabala and in collaboration with local stakeholders such as the Panchayat and police, measures have been taken to prevent her from being re-trafficked and to guide her towards reintegration. She has also confronted the stigma and shame associated with being a victim of gender-based violence (GBV) within her community, including at school. Additionally, she looks after her siblings, who face the same threats, by alerting Jabala and local stakeholders about their vulnerabilities. In recognition of her spirit and bravery, she was honored with the Birangana (Bravery) award by the West Bengal State Commission for Child Rights.

Jabala have engaged 9 survivors as Community volunteers who are  voicing concerns on issues similar to their own experiences. Additionally, learning from the survivors, we have found that community-based responses to violence are often more effective in certain contexts than police intervention. As a result, Jabala has started to network with grassroots stakeholders (for example, at local schools or health sub-centers) to create a support team for survivors and vulnerable children. Learned from the survivors about their future plans and have provided support towards achieving the best possible outcomes, such as through liaising with schools, arranging hostel accommodations, and offering vocational training support. It is also observed for many revealed health issues t act as barriers to their full participation and development, as well as cultural norms (within families and communities) that limit them. 

Still a long way to Go.. We need support to make the lives of the Survivors a Joyous one and full of promises of a bright future