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Rescue Foundation, a non-profit, non-governmental organisation is rescuing, rehabilitating female victims of sex-trafficking and re-integrating them into mainstream society.
Challenge
Annually, over 5000-7000 girls are trafficked into the red-light districts in Indian Cities. Many of these girls are barely 9 to 10 years old. These victims are locked up for days, starved, beaten, burned with cigarettes and mass raped until they learn to service up to 25 clients a day. Women take on the majority of responsibilities for those close to them, for children, the aged and the sick.HOW IT ALL STARTED
“One day, I had to cover a celebrity who was going to be in a red light area for an event. When I got there I saw a young girl who was only 13. When I asked her where her mom was, she said she was from Nepal and had come here to work, but was sold instead. Before I could do or say anything, I was asked to get out.
My husband and I decided to tell my contacts in the police and he went with them to rescue the girl. But when they got there, they found 15 other girls who wanted to run away. He convinced the cops to save them all.
That day, we realised we had to do something to help others in the same situation."
Rescue Foundation was established in the year 2000 by the Late Mr. Balkrishna Acharya & his wife Mrs. Triveni Acharya. The couple was often threatened through calls and letters. Fears soon turned into reality, when in 2005, Balkrishna met with an accident and lost his life when he was on his way back from a rescue mission. But that did not stop Mrs. Triveni from continuing the rescue operations.
"It’s been 12 years since I lost him. I’ve faced a lot of hardships along the way, seen the worst kind of people doing the worst kind of things. But with every girl we save & every convict we bring to justice–I can feel him by my side, holding me, telling me that we’ve got to keep fighting, no matter what.”
Till date, the organisation has rescued and rehabilitated over 5000 girls through their integrated safe housing programs for both minor and major survivors. They operate 4 well-equipped facilities in Maharashtra with one in Delhi.
WE RESCUE
Rescue Foundations investigations team works all year round, across the country. We receive missing reports from NGO partners, police departments and family members and conduct operations accordingly.
WE REHABILITATE
Survivors are entered into Holistic Rehabilitation programs that begin with Psychosocial counselling and Healthcare. During the course of their stay, they are also trained in several vocation and skills, while formal and informal education is a priority. Legal aid is provided so as to prosecute accused perpetrators.
WE REPATRIATE
Based on Court orders, and upon completion of the rehabilitation period, survivors are sent back to their homes via local NGO’s and Local Police.
Cross border repatriation is made possible by maintaining relationships with foreign governments & embassies.
We take care of the girl from the day she is rescued till the time she turns 18 and can stand on her own feet. We give a monthly update report of the girls' welfare to the court. We also have a long-stay shelter home for women and girls who have been abandoned by their family.
Charity No : 319201431163
There are 1000’s of girls still stuck in that world whom we want to help. Every rupee counts, for the upbringing of these girls.
