Sanlaap, W. Bengal, India
www.sanlaapindia.org
Sanlaap is a rescue, rehabilitation and trafficking prevention program for survivors and high risk youth in West Bengal, India. 100 survivors live at Sanlaap’s Calcutta shelter and several hundred youth from the red light communities participate in Sanlaap’s drop-in prevention programs. Sanlaap also engages in legal advocacy, and works with law enforcement and government to improve services for women and children.
One of the drop-in centers is in the Bobazar red light area. The district is a warren of alleyways, squalid and terribly sad, with young girls lined up in brothels and on the streets. Neglected children run freely among the pimps and customers. But the Sanlaap drop-in center is an oasis of hope – a true sanctuary - in the middle of this broken place. Here, children laugh, play, sing, draw and study. They remain in the center from 4 to 8 pm which is when their mothers, often young victims of trafficking themselves, are busy entertaining clients. Without long term interventions such as this, all of the girls here would ultimately be trafficked alongside their mothers.
When Sanlaap founder Indrani Sinha started her crusade against trafficking, she was
criticized by the Indian government and press for shedding light on a shameful side of
Indian life. She also fought apathy and ignorance from law enforcement. But today, the government supports her work, and has even modeled their own government shelter on Sanlaap, asking Sinha for guidance. Sinha now has many friends in the government who support her efforts and are working to change Indian laws and law enforcement practice so that trafficking will no longer be tolerated.
Survivors at Sanlaap make scarves, headbands, duffel bags, casual clothing, and home
décor items. Several of the young women are highly skilled in Batik dying, blockprinting
(a highly respected and marketable art form in India), sewing, and design. They are working toward having these survivors live independently and support themselves through these small handicrafts businesses.
