Mumbai: The city now has its first Sanrakshan Kendra, or survivor care centre. The Shaskiya Mulinche Vishesh Punarvasan Kendra in Mankhurd will provide support to 30 minor girls who have survived human trafficking and sexual exploitation as well as been victims of sexual abuse.
The shelter home is the first point of intake of the minor victim following rescue. It was established by the Women and Child Development Office, Mumbai Suburban, in partnership with the International Justice Mission (IJM), the non-governmental organisation that works with victims of trafficking and assists the police in raids and operations. It was inaugurated on Friday by Pravin Ghuge, Chairperson of the Maharashtra State Commission for the Protection of Child Rights. Mr. Ghuge told The Hindu , “The girls will be put through rehabilitation, skill development, counselling, self-defence and other extra curricular activities at the care centre. This was made possible with the help of several NGOs and the motive is to help minor survivors recover from the difficulties they have faced, and to become independent and confident." The home will provide victims access to crisis services, health services and rehabilitation services within a timeline.
A corporate house donated around ₹30 lakh, which was utilised to refurbish the medical room, the counselling room and the office space. The office is used by the shelter home staff as well as the Child Welfare Committee.
The Sanrakshan Kendra comes at a time when the Supreme Court on April 3 ordered the Centre to ensure that all individual child care plans are implemented in “letter and spirit.”
Melissa Walavalkar, Director of Justice Solutions IJM Mumbai said, “The Sanrakshan Kendra is a necessary step in ensuring that crucial services such as trauma counselling, individual care planning and survivor progress are provided in a timely and systematic manner for all survivors of trafficking.”
