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“These women were either trafficked across the borders or they migrated for work and eventually got trapped into the flesh trade. A majority of them are not into sex work by choice. Most of them were either forced into prostitution by someone they knew like a relative, friend or even their husbands. And the saddest part is that they feel like they’ll never be able to escape it.”- Dr. Swati Singh, founder, Shree Sai Seva Sanstha
Dr. Swati Singh, the founder of the ‘Shree Sai Seva Sanstha’, has been working tirelessly to better the lives of sex workers and their children in the red light area of Bhiwandi, Thane, since 2016.
A glimmer of hope amid suffering
“Rani, a single mother and HIV positive, was able to leave behind sex work and take up making incense sticks and diyas. She said she wants to completely leave the commercial sex business and take up a job with which she was able to support her parents and her child who are in the village.” - Dr. Swati Singh
Note - Rani Khan is a brave survivor, she wanted to come out and tell her story to the world and help Dr. Swati in her efforts.
‘They were physically and financially abused…we knew we had to save them’
The NGO conducted a study on the sex workers in the area and started working on their welfare. They trained the sex workers in various skill-based programmes to provide a dignified source of income.“We found that sex workers in Hanuman Tekdi in Bhiwandi had taken loans from friends in the neighbourhood, shopkeepers, local money lenders and their own brothel managers. They were not able to repay the loan and the lenders were abusing them. They could not even pay their rents, and most of them did not have their paperwork in place and thus did not get loans from banks.” - Dr. Swati Singh
Dr. Swati and her team approached the women provided them with food and medical aids and gained their trust.They opened bank accounts for every one of the sex workers who had agreed to cooperate. Not everyone was interested in tailoring. Some were interested in education, a few in dance, some in packing agarbatti, making papad and many in social working.
“We have even created a safe and positive daycare centre for the children of sex workers in Bhiwandi, focusing on the child’s health, upbringing, education and future career. We even have programs to help the mothers, from tailoring and diya-making classes, to helping them get their Aadhaar cards made and ensuring they get regular health checkups.” - Dr Swati
We want to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation in red light areas, support us
"The children face significant risks to their physical, mental, and social well-being. Our primary objective is to ensure these children receive a proper education, offering them a pathway to a brighter future.” - Dr. Swati
They want to build a forever home for these children and change their fate, but lack of funds is stopping them
To achieve this goal, the organisation aims to establish day and night care shelter that will offer them nutritious meals, and all the love and support they need. By educating them they aspire to break the cycle of poverty and exploitation. But they cannot do this on their own.
“The shelters will require cooks, helpers, teachers, supervisors and other personnel. This will cost a lot of money, apart from upkeep costs. We are looking at ration costs also as we want to provide wholesome meals four times a day - breakfast, lunch, evening snack and dinner. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of these children and contribute to positive social change."- Dr Swati.
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