By Jorge de Ory Murga | Chief Operating Officer
Prabha (ficticious name) was born and brought up in West Bengal. Abandoned by her first husband with a little boy, her parents got her married again to another man from her village who used to work in Mumbai selling fish, and was also divorced. They had a daughter soon after the marriage.
The problem begun when he fell deeply into debts, so he convinced Prabha to join him in Mumbai, where he would find a good job for her. Trusting him, she agreed and moved to Mumbai, to Bhiwandi red light area.
Her husband then forced her into sex trade. She felt betrayed and desperate, but the constant threats and her vulnerable situation kept her trapped. He completely controlled the money she earned, 10 to 12 thousand rupees (114 to 136 USD) per day.
At some point, she managed to go her native place along with her son, although leaving the daughter behind with her husband. Her family in her native place did not welcome her, and her husband kept threatening to harm her daughter to force her to come back.
She returned, but had made up her mind to exit sex trade and gain a decent life for her and her children. She tried to join a tailoring course, but was not able to complete it due to her husband’s constant interference.
She then came to know about our project, and approached us asking to join Udaan house. She expected to continue her training, and be able to get a job that would make her financially independent and capable enough to take the responsibility of her two children.
On July 11, whereas her husband was in the fish market place, we took her secretly from her husband's house in Bhiwandi's red light area and took her to our Udaan home shelter. Since then, Prabha has been sharing life in this safe haven with other women who want to break the chains of trafficking. During these weeks, she has worked tirelessly on her recovery.
The hardest part is over, but the path to independence will not be easy. Prabha wants to resume her sewing studies, find a decent job, and raise her two children in freedom.
Thousands of women remain trapped in similar situations, and each story of liberation is possible thanks to the support of people like you.
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