Being an active member of the child parliament group at Sonagachi under our project for Providing Education and Protection to Vulnerable Children, like the other members of the group, Ritama (name changed), is responsible for keeping a close eye on her friends outside the group without their knowledge. She has been trained under the project to report to the project staff in case she identifies any problem or threat.
Ritama’s’ mother is a sex worker. Her friend, Purnima Bali (Name Changed), whom she was tracking, is also a daughter of a sex worker as well. Purmina no longer lives in Sonagachi, hence whenever she visited the area with her mother, her friends made sure to meet her in person and be in contact over phone or through social media platforms.
Purnima informed Ritama that she has developed a romantic relationship with her stepfather who is also the pimp of her mother. Being from the same community, Ritama could understand and relate to the emotional vulnerability of her friend and the threats she will fall into, thus she tried to reason with her, but in vain. After a few days Purnima informed Ritama that she has eloped with Rajesh (named changed) and is planning to get married.
With quick thinking, Ritama was able to pursue Purnima to share the images of the wedding as she knew it will be of evidence as her friend is under legal age of marriage and the case will be treated as a child marriage, which is a criminal offence. Ritama then quickly informed our project staff and Purnima’s mother about her daughter’s actions as everyone thought she was in school. KMWSC team quickly connected with CHILDLINE, WBCPCR, CWC, Local police in both the district (girl’s location and boy’s location). Ritama then helped Purnimas’ mother in collecting age proof, call recording conversation to strengthen the case and an FIR was filled.
Ritama still was in contact with Purnima and was sharing relevant information with the KMWSC team to track her whereabouts. During such conversation Purnima told that Rajesh (name changed) is planning to take her to Mumbai. On cross-checking information with Purnima’s mother it came to light that Rajesh is also involved in trafficking chain and he sells girls in Kamartipura- Red Light area in Mumbai. Thus the threat level on Purnima had increased with this information.
Purnima was later rescued with support from the Local Police and Local Administration and is currently living in a government home though Rajesh is untraceable.
Thus timely intervention of Ritama saved her friend’s life from the hands of a human trafficker.
On 20th November 2022, Ritama was ceremoniously bestowed with the Birangana Award by West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights.
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