On March 8, 2021, ARZ (Anyay Rahit Zindagi) and the Goa Crime Branch rescued a 25-year-old woman, referred to as Ms. Nil, from commercial sexual exploitation. Initially, Ms. Nil refused to disclose her true identity or nationality, claiming to be Indian and providing a Nikah-nama and Aadhaar card as proof. She was sent to the Government State Protective Home under the Immoral Traffic Prevention Act, 1956, for her safety.

While at the protective home, lawyers from the Supreme Court visited her, promising an early release. Trusting them, she refused to cooperate with ARZ for three months. Eventually, after realizing the lawyers couldn’t help her, she confided in an ARZ counselor that she was an Uzbek national, trafficked to India under the pretext of a job opportunity.

Ms. Nil shared that she was unemployed in Uzbekistan when an agent promised her a job in India. Upon arrival in Delhi, her passport was taken, and she was forced into prostitution. She was exploited for nearly two years across various states before being rescued in Goa.

ARZ informed the magistrate about her real identity, leading to a repatriation order. However, the absence of her passport delayed the process. After legal challenges from the lawyers who sought her release in India, the High Court upheld her repatriation. With ARZ’s assistance, her passport was recovered, her visa renewed, and her fines paid. She returned to Uzbekistan to reunite with her daughter and mother.

Before leaving the protective home, she wrote:
“I never thought I’d see my daughter again. Thanks to ARZ and the magistrate for helping me return to my country.”

Today, Ms. Nil is rebuilding her life with her family. However, she left India with no savings, as all her earnings were taken by her traffickers. Her mother had to book her flight back home. Despite her struggles, she remains in contact with ARZ, grateful for their support in her rescue and rehabilitation.

Kajol (name changed), a resident of Uttar Pradesh married to a man from Goa, has three children with him. She discovered that her husband was having an affair and, eventually, he stopped supporting her and the children. Kajol filed a maintenance case in the Vasco Civil and Criminal Court through the Block Development Officer, requesting Rs. 20,000/- per month. Her husband refused to pay.

Due to unpaid electricity bills, Kajol’s power was disconnected, and she and her children lived in the dark for two years. She wanted to send her children to a hostel for better care, as she could not provide for them adequately.

After much struggle, Kajol managed to pay Rs. 20,000/- to restore her electricity. The court ruled in her favor, ordering her husband to pay Rs. 9,000/- per month as maintenance by the 10th of each month and Rs. 18,644/- towards the residential flat loan until it is fully paid off.

Caroline (name changed), a resilient survivor from Kenya, was trafficked to India under the pretense of a job opportunity. Within a week, her traffickers arranged her passport, visa, and flight. However, upon her arrival in Goa, the promised employment became a harrowing ordeal as she was coerced into commercial sexual exploitation. When Caroline resisted, the traffickers demanded she repay ₹4 lakh, using threats and violence to trap her until she was forced to comply.

After enduring months of abuse, she was moved across various states where the demand for exploitation was higher. But a glimmer of hope emerged when Caroline came across a news article detailing ARZ’s recent rescue of Kenyan victims. Inspired and determined, she seized a risky opportunity to escape her captors and sought refuge with ARZ. She was admitted to the State Protective Home (SPH) in Goa, where her transformative journey began.

At SPH, Caroline received critical psychosocial counseling to help her address the layers of trauma she had endured. ARZ’s dedicated social workers offered individual counseling sessions, supporting Caroline as she worked through emotional scars and began to restore her self-worth. Family counseling helped her process her disconnection from loved ones, while guidance sessions focused on empowering her to rebuild her life.

As part of her recovery, Caroline joined ARZ’s skill development program, which provided structured learning and income-generating skills. Though initially hesitant and uninterested in sewing, ARZ’s mentors encouraged her every step of the way, tailoring sessions to ensure she remained engaged. With time and guidance, Caroline’s confidence and technical skills grew significantly, turning her into a skilled artisan with a renewed sense of purpose. The mentorship didn’t end there; counselors provided consistent check-ins, reinforcing her self-esteem and helping her envision a stable, self-sufficient future. To bring Caroline full circle, ARZ collaborated with the Government State Protective Home to assist with her exit clearance, securing the necessary documents and funding her flight back to Kenya. With ARZ’s support, Caroline was able to reunite with her family, marking the beginning of a new chapter.

Today, Caroline’s journey exemplifies the power of compassionate social work and comprehensive rehabilitation support. Her resilience, combined with ARZ’s psychosocial interventions, skill-building programs, and commitment to her recovery, enabled her to transform a life of exploitation into one of dignity, hope, and empowerment.

On December 17th,2023 Shakti Samuha, a Nepal-based NGO, received an urgent plea from a Nepali girl in Goa, who, along with five others, including one minor, had been trafficked for commercial sexual exploitation.

Shakti Samuha quickly contacted ARZ to arrange a rescue. ARZ, with Goa Police, swiftly located and rescued the five girls, who were then admitted to the Government Protective Home for care and protection. Over the next two months, they received care, support, and skills training to rebuild their lives.

By February 22nd, all five girls were safely repatriated to Nepal, thanks to the coordinated efforts of Shakti Samuha, ARZ, local authorities, and the Protective Home staff.

This case underscores the importance of source-destination collaboration in combatting sex trafficking.

Sandeepa, (name changed) a 45-year-old woman from Baina’s former red-light district, has a life story shaped by unimaginable hardships yet underscored by remarkable resilience. Raised in an environment where she witnessed her mother’s exploitation, Sandeepa grew up in the shadows of trauma. Following a marriage supported by her family, she became trapped in a life marred by domestic violence and her husband’s neglect and abuse. Struggling with alcoholism, her husband’s violent behaviour only worsened, leading Sandeepa herself to be coerced into trafficking and ultimately sold to a red-light district in Pune. There, she endured relentless verbal, physical, and emotional abuse, compounding her deep-seated trauma. The repercussions of this environment extended to her two children, who, despite having completed their 10th standard exams, found themselves unemployed and affected by behavioural issues that further weighed on Sandeepa’s heart. The toxic household and her accumulated trauma led her to feelings of despair and hopelessness. When Sandeepa connected with WISH, her journey toward healing and transformation began. Social workers immediately recognized the depth of her struggles and provided intensive counselling to address her depression, support her mental health, and help her process her past. Individual counselling sessions focused on helping her reclaim self-worth and build resilience, while continuous mental health support, including medication, ensured that she had the resources needed to stabilize emotionally.
Family counselling sessions also played a crucial role, targeting the children’s behavioural issues and fostering a healthier, more supportive home environment. Social workers facilitated her husband’s referral to a de-addiction program, offering him consistent counselling support and guiding him toward sobriety. Couples counselling further strengthened their relationship, helping them develop respectful communication and reduce conflicts. Counselling extended to her children, offering them guidance in seeking employment and establishing a supportive role within the family. Through AVANI’s vocational training program, Sandeepa gained skills that enabled her to achieve financial independence. This economic stability was a pivotal step, empowering her to envision a life beyond mere survival and giving her the confidence to make informed, autonomous decisions about her future. The support allowed her to not only achieve self-reliance but also to secure a stable future for herself and her family. Today, Sandeepa is a symbol of resilience and empowerment, standing as a testament to the power of holistic social work, counseling, and psychosocial interventions. Her journey underscores the impact of compassionate support, proving that with the right resources, individuals can break free from cycles of trauma and build lives marked by dignity and independence.

Bharti, a wife and mother of two, wanted to support her family since her husband didn’t have regular work. Hoping to earn a better income, she decided to go to the Middle East as a domestic worker. Trusting a local agent, she believed she would get a good job in Muscat. However, when she arrived, she was shocked to find herself trapped. Bharti was locked in a flat with other women, given little food, and told she had to provide sexual services. When she refused, she was threatened and asked to pay a large sum to return home. Showing incredible courage, Bharti managed to contact her husband, who borrowed money to secure her safe return to India.

After coming back, Bharti didn’t stay silent. She filed a case against the agents who tricked her. With ARZ’s support, two traffickers were arrested, and further investigation has begun to rescue the other women still trapped in Muscat. Bharti also started a new chapter in her life by joining the WISH livelihood unit, where she found a safe and respectful job. Her bravery and resilience were honored when she received the first-ever WISH Bravery Award from Smt. Vijaya Rahatkar, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women.

Bharti’s story is a powerful example of strength and hope. She not only rebuilt her life but also took a stand to fight trafficking and help others. Her courage inspires everyone to believe that even in the darkest times, there is a way forward.