I present the narratives of a select group of five children, who were victims of trafficking and sexual abuse and had come to stay at the care home "NIJOLOY" (Your Own Home) in the recent past. Incidentally, I am the "doctor uncle" who is responsible for their physical and mental wellbeing. Presently there are about 100 inmates like Aparna, Laila(Bindiya), Reshmi, Priya and Pala. I have allowed the children to narrate their own true stories and as such, these narratives not only reflect the inhuman pain, helplessness, physical and mental trauma that these young girls have been subjected to but also how with the passage of time, counseling and the utilisation of educational, health and vocational training facilities provided by Women's Interlink Foundation Kolkata, they have been successful in reconstructing their shattered identities at the care home, "NIJOLOY".
I'm Aparna Mondal (name changed), a hindu, born on 01.01.92, in the village of Jamtala, Sunderbans, 24 Parganas(S). My father Rakhahari Mondal is an agricultural labourer and my mother Kousalya works in a brick-kiln. I have an elder sister and an elder brother. We all worked in the same brick-kiln and I was a class IV student at Gangadhar Palli Sishu Siksha Kendra, when I left my studies about five years ago to start on this new life. Together we earned about Rs 250 per day and were a happy family.
My parents gave me in marriage to Monoj Naskar, an agricultural labourer an year ago in 2008, when I was about 16 years old. My two months stay with my in-laws was very traumatic. I was subjected to much mental trauma and survived four attempts of poisoning on issues related to dowry.
I ran away from my in-law's place and went back to my father. My parents did not allow me to continue my work as they feared repercussions from my in-law's family who had already lodged a false police complaint in my name. At home, I was bored with my the then way of life and was finally much relieved to accompany a neighbourhood aunty "mashi", who promised me a beautician job that would fetch me Rs 700 per month.
We crossed the river, reached Canning and then took the train to Kolkata. I enjoyed the bus-ride from Sealdah to Sovabazar, where the "mashi" put me up in a lodge. The good lady bought me some dresses and that was the last I saw of her. I expect I was sold the same day to the owner of the lodge , whom I never saw.
It was very fortunate that a police raid took place that very night and I was taken into custody with some other girls of my age and then handed over to Cini Asha (a NGO working with trafficked girls). I was later sent to SUKANYA GOVT HOME, where I stayed for two months. While staying at that home, I had the opportunity to join THE GREEN POLICE but couldn't continue the job as my in-laws were on my lookout and could physically harm me. I was then shifted to NIJOLOY on 18.11.08.
I really enjoy my stay at NIJOLOY and my loving house mother, Nilima Roy (Boro Ma) has really made things comfortable for me. I have joined the cooking and canteen training from 12.01.09 and am really looking forward in becoming an excellent cook in the near future. As I am too old to join the regular school, I will also attend the non formal classes at the home. I hope to rejoin "THE GREEN POLICE", after my case is settled and I go back to live with my parents.
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