Chetanalaya has been implementing in partnership with Delhi Domestic Workers Forum and Justice & Peace Commission the project “Prevention of Trafficking and Promotion of Human Rights of Domestic Workers”. Our intervention has created a sudden awakening on the issue of trafficking of tribal girls under the guise of domestic work, not only in our operational areas but even at national level. We are happy to note that the issue is being discussed at several levels of socio-political circles and consequently Governments, political systems and society at large are positively responding to the issue. Our rescue operations and the real state of affairs of domestic workers were covered several times by national television channels and print media creating a spur in the conscience of Society. With this, several organizations and governments are poised for major interventions –legislative and administrative and social – for the prevention of human trafficking under the guise of domestic labour.

At present we facilitating nine centres for domestic workers at –St. Columba’s, Indian Institute of Social service, Punjabi Bagh, South extension, Civil lines, Vasant Vihar, Maharani Bagh, Shakarpur, and Defence Colony. On every Sunday girls come together in this centres. Different empowerment/conscientization programmes like-legal awareness, counselling, literacy etc,. are organized. About 750 girls benefit from this programme. Our animators made access to some 300 placement agencies during the project period and discussed about trafficking and human rights issues.

We organized more than 20 meetings with placement agencies in order to improve the welfare/working conditions of domestic workers. We made networking with placement agencies and NGOs under which there are placement agencies. Twenty one placement agencies and three NGOs have consented to work together for prevention of human trafficking.

Through capacity building and leadership training 200 domestic workers are trained during the year. Inclusion of the name of Domestic Workers is indeed a major achievement for us. However, most of our demands are not included in the bill. Many of the provisions made for the unorganized sector is not applicable to the specific conditions of domestic workers and therefore Chetanalaya and Domestic Workers Forum are now demanding amendments in the draft bill.

During the year some180 girls who were trafficked were rescued and they were either rehabilitated or repatriated. The grass-root level work, networking with other agencies in different states and the necessary legislations are expected to reduce the number of trafficking from tribal areas.