Purnata

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The NGO Purnata, established in 2015, works holistically & collaboratively using research and innovation to end human trafficking by ensuring wholeness for all, from the inside out.
Purnata will increase the knowledge and awareness on human trafficking using the arts and technology with Govt and civil society; promote/foster effective rights-based (victim-centered), multi-disciplinary collaborative community responses against human trafficking; build and develop capacity of Govt and civil society to prevent and combat this modern day slavery.

Our mission
Empower individuals and communities, creating awareness of all forms of human trafficking, and providing access to opportunities and become contributing members of society.

Objectives:
• Prevention: Reducing both the vulnerability of potential victims particularly in source areas, the demand for exploitation in all its forms in destination areas and rescue children being trafficked in transit through outreach, surveillance, ensuring safe & regulated migration, formation of Active Communities against Trafficking (ACT) Groups (vigilant groups), facilitating good education, vocational training, counselling, healthcare and, in some instances, a place to live..
• Rescue & Rehabilite: Protect and restore survivors of human trafficking to a life of dignity, purpose and economic independence – one life at a time – providing holistic, integrated livelihoods options while increasing the risk to traffickers.
• Reintegrate & Repatriate: Reintegrating survivors of human trafficking back to safe communities, both within the borders of India and abroad.
• Research: Bridge the current information gap on the situation of trafficking in persons, by providing accurate statistics and case studies, analysing and conducting research on the issue, in particular on root causes.

Our projects:
• Mumbai, Maharashtra
We began an outreach program - ASHRAY - in one of the red light area’s of Mumbai.
The Drop-In-Center, a specific unit of ASHRAY, caters to the women of the area. Most of them are victims of human trafficking. Purnata hopes that by building relationships and providing these women opportunities through trainings and various events where they can learn and enhance life skills, they will consider moving on to a better and respectable future.
Another unit of ASHRAY is the Day Care Center. This aims to provide children in the area an opportunity to restore their childhood, offering protection from their vulnerable surroundings, access to quality education, a nutritious feeding program and regular activities to promote hygiene & good health.
Critical to Purnata's work is our Prevention and Rescue efforts alongside the concerned state and law enforcement agencies covering source areas, transit routes, and destination. Our Prevention strategy aims to reduce the vulnerability of potential victims of human trafficking in source areas, increase the risk to traffickers in transit routes, and decrease the demand for goods and services in destinations.
Purnata's Rehabilitation Home initially based in Vasai on the outskirts of Mumbai, but now moved closer to the training center at Asalpha, provides safe housing, food, clothing and healthcare to victims of trafficking who desire to come out of the red light areas and equip themselves with skills to live an independent life.
Purnata's Training Center located in Asalpha, Mumbai, runs a short term (six months) formal literacy program apart from imparting life skills, literacy and livelihood trainings preparing trainees to integrate into society and live independent lives.
• Kolkata, West Bengal
Purnata research in the first year pointed us to West Bengal and particularly North 24 Parganas as the major source area from where most girls are being brought to Mumbai. We have been focusing on reducing the supply of women and children from this district. We are in the process of setting up a Hub (Rehab Home, Training Center and a Manufacturing Unit) in the district headquarters of Barasat that will help in stemming the outflow of women and children to be trafficked to bigger cities like Mumbai.
Additionally, we are zeroing down in a smaller geographical area in Basirhat district, identified to be the most vulnerable for women and children, to begin a Preventive program. This includes doing a baseline survey, general awareness, targeted awareness sessions and formation of ACT groups (Active Communities Against Trafficking – ACT). ACT groups will be extensions of Purnata whom we will train, empower, and support. With the help of the ACT groups we will address the root causes of trafficking in this district so that we can help women and children who are looking for better opportunities elsewhere.

Aaboo Varghese is the Founder of Purnata.

For other net participants we can offer an expert guidance through trained staff, give an expert opinion, procure expert information and establish new contacts in the field of our work.