Prerana works since 1986 to establish and uphold the rights of female sex workers and their children in red light areas. In Prerana responds to their issues by providing need-based solutions, e.g. the world’s first Night Care Centre for their children, and an end-to-end approach to end second generation trafficking of children, Post Rescue Operation Intervention for rescued girls and young women, After Care Programme for young women, and Pratishtha (Dignity) a residential vocational training centre for young women. Prerana has consistently provided path-breaking interventions and comprehensive protection and support services to over 7500 children facilitating their development and integration into mainstream society.

In order to de-link the child from the red light area, Prerana strives to help the mothers consider the option of shifting the child away from the red light area into a place that can provide long term residential care and development. This is done through the Institutional Placement Program (IPP).

TARGETS ACHIEVED THROUGH THE IPP PROJECT (June to September 2011)

There are now 25 institutions in and outside Maharashtra that are part of the referral network for long-term care of youth and children. A total of 32 new youth and children from both the project areas were referred to various institutions using the placement protocols developed in the previous phase. Around 200 youth and children already referred for long-term care were followed-up through regular visits to these institutions by the social workers.

The team also managed to successfully open savings accounts in State Bank of India (Mumbai Central Branch) for 4 mothers. This will help the mothers stabilize their finances as well as secure their children’s future, since children are named as nominees.

The team conducts Life Skills Education sessions for children in 2 shelter homes: BJ Home and Pratham. There were a total of 6 sessions held during the reporting period.

On 10th August 2011 a mothers’ meeting was held at the Falkland Road centre. This meeting was organized by the Institutional Placement Program team for those mothers who had placed their children in boarding homes. Some of the mothers were attending this meeting for the first time as their children were placed in institution in the last two months. There were 27 mothers who attended the meeting.

The team presented 17 cases for the Child Welfare Committee (an arbitrating body that is set up by the Government under the purview of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000). These cases pertain to children who were in need of care and protection.

To find out more about Goodwill: www.preranaantitrafficking.org/