Chhattisgarh: Once trafficked, these woman commandos will now fight social evil

RAIPUR: Once trafficked and subjected to humiliation, eight girls from Balod district are getting ready to fight against social evils as woman commandos. Recently, 32 girls from Chhattisgarh were rescued from the clutches of sex traders from Uttar Pradesh. Eight of them now boldly don commando’s cap, leaving behind the memories of scarf and hood they were once forced to wear.Their determination to ensure that no other girl meets their fate could be gauged from the voice when they pronounce their name with supreme confidence.
For the first time in the history of Chhattisgarh, a district police has come forward for rehabilitation of trafficked girls. Services of a Delhi-based NGO Shakti Vahini have also been roped in for monitoring the rehabilitation works. The NGO had also assisted police rescue the girls and is now given the charge as nodal agency for their rehabilitation monitoring.
Efforts are on to ensure that the girls are well-equipped and well-trained to fight against social evils, one of which they were victims themselves. Help is also pouring from different corners of the society.
While Dena bank has given a initial loan of Rs 10,000 for their training, Balod superintendent of police Arif Sheikh himself signed the papers as guarantor. The cheques were distributed to eight girls, including two minors for training in stitching and beauty parlour course or any other professional course of their choice. The financial aid would be extended to Rs two lakh once the girls decide to become self-dependent and aim to establish a small-time business of their own.
These girls were rescued in early July and as per the Supreme Court order, any trafficked victim is supposed to be given Rs 50,000 as initial amount of compensation soon after an FIR has been lodged after their rescue.
While Balod district administration failed to provide any compensation, the girls remained still vulnerable to be caught by traffickers amid poverty and in absence of any kind of professional pursuit.
Balod SP Arif Sheikh told TOI, “We took the initiative and contacted Padmasree Shamshad Begum, who strives for women empowerment. Concept of women commandos was conceived by her in two blocks, which district police have implemented. And now, the ‘trafficked victims’ are woman commandos.
While they would undergo training for their respective careers, the girls would join other girls and women in meetings, patrolling and social work towards women empowerment. Within a span of one year, Balod now has 7,000 woman commandos fighting for their own and social rights.
“It wasn’t so easy to recover from the trauma we faced. But we see a ray of hope when we don that commandos’ uniform. We will first make ourselves self-reliant and then strive to work against trafficking of children in our respective regions. We will also fight a battle against substance abuse and de-addiction,” said one of the girls undergoing training in Balod.