I was just 12 years old when my mother inducted me into prostitution. Our family situation was really bad. My father had abandoned us when I was just 7 years old. My mother was looking after me and my two siblings all alone. One day in a stove accident she was badly burnt and our miseries increased. When I reached puberty my mother told me this was our only option to survive. I did not oppose as I knew our family condition.

After one year in prostitution, when I was rescued by Prajwala after a client leaked the information, I was confused and angry and felt I had failed my family. It was only after long counselling sessions by counsellors in the home that I realised what my mother did to me was wrong. I was worried about my siblings and I requested Prajwala to rescue them too. Prajwala was able to rescue my sisters before they were forced into prostitution. It took me months to come in terms with my life situation and start healing. With the support of the counsellors and teachers I resumed my education and was able to successfully complete my school and college.

Today I am doing my internship to qualify as a Chartered Accountant and I hope to soon support my younger siblings who are still under Prajwala’s care. My siblings and I owe our lives to Team Prajwala who rescued us and gave us a future.

My own mother has been punished by the law and I have no idea about her whereabouts. For me Sunitha Mam is the only mother I know.

Maybe I would have died due to AIDS or perhaps become a sex trafficker myself if I was not saved by Prajwala in a brothel. I was cheated in the name of job and forced into prostitution. My traffickers not only changed my name they also changed my religion. I thought I had no hope when I was rescued. Even after I was admitted to the Shelter Home I continued to be suspicious about everybody around me and kept questioning their motives to rescue me.

I became nasty and aggressive. The counsellors in the home never got irritated with me and with patience continued to interact with me. As I started attending the group therapy sessions I realised for the first time what a mess I had escaped. Slowly with the support of life skill trainers, counsellors and therapist I opened myself to start life afresh. When I exited the safe home I chose to fight for the same cause and save other girls like me. Today I head the Victim Assistance Program of Prajwala and extend support to hundreds of victims who are rescued from brothels. My daily prayer is wishing for a day when we will provide assistance to the last victim.