Sanlaap Shelter: A Chance for Real Indepedence

Today I met with the Indrani, the founder and director of Sanlaap, another counter-trafficking organization working in nine districts in West Bengal. Sanlaap, which means “dialogue,” was founded in 1987 and has taken a holistic approach to fighting trafficking. Their activities include Advocacy and Sensitization of various stakeholders to the Rescue, Rehabilitation and socio-economic Reintegration of the victims and survivors.

Sanlaap has successfully opened a large shelter home for girls rescued from sex trafficking, as well as three smaller hostels for girls who have been reintegrated into society. At the shelter home, girls are engaged in a variety of activities. Some attend formal school, others take dance therapy workshops, and many take part in the vocational skills program. The girls are trained in batik printing, fashion designing, block printing, and jute weaving. Sanlaap also owns a retail outlet in Kolkata’s lead shopping complex where the products are sold.

The manager of this program, Chan, explained his goal of removing a core group of 5-7 girls from the shelter home so that they can work on the handicraft production full-time. To do this, we need a steady purchase order. I asked the lead trainer, a survivor herself, if the girls are interested in moving outside of the home. “Very much,” she said. “But we need more orders. We need to keep the girls busy all the time with work.” On the way home, Chan explained, “Some of the girls who are restored back to their community find that they have no opportunity for a job. Without a source of income, they are re-trafficked, married off, or go back to the brothels."

With this in mind, it is imperative that we establish an independent living program that offers full-time employment. The women are ready to live independently, and in the words of Chan, "We cannot fail."