Shelter for Women Escaping Trafficking & Abuse

Minati’s* case reached MissingLink team from the government hospital when she gave birth to her baby boy in February 2019. Like every other case that reaches the doorstep of the shelter her plight was no less. The biggest of all was giving birth out of wedlock. Her orthodox native village didn’t allow her to live at her mom’s with her newborn as they outcasted Minati and felt she would be bad influence to other young girls in the village. Minati’s mother lives in constant fear for her life and her frail mud house that was her only shelter in life. MissingLink is equipped to serve up to five women at a time in the shelter and unfortunately it was full when Minati’s case came in. Looking at the severity of the case and life-threatening situation we channelized extra fund towards adding a new bed for Minati and her new born in the shelter. New born in the shelter is always a dilemma and we felt torn at the situation. Currently MissingLink is taking care of Minati’s postnatal nutritional necessities and the infant is receiving care through the government hospital.

Her story began few years ago when a trusted neighbor promised her a better paying job in the city. She was in her early 20s. Minati’s father passed away long back. The poor mother had no choice than letting Minati go with the hope that Minati’s earning would provide a better future for all of them. They hardly imagined what waited for them in the future- they just thought about saving the roof over their head and food to survive. Once she reached the city she started working as a labor in construction site where she was also sexually exploited by the men. After two years of painful living condition she could get a small sigh of relief or so it seemed. She met Sanju, an acquaintance from her village. She fell for Sanju and somehow managed to escape the construction work. She got job as maid in the city households. Sanju promised to marry her although he was already married and was father of a child. His family lived in the village.   Mianti was unaware of it. As these happened after she left the village. Sanju and Minati started staying together until Minati got pregnant. Later Sanju denied marrying Minati and taking responsibility of the child.

Minati is under tremendous stress and trauma and not ready to file a case against Sanju yet. We are providing her counseling. We respect her decision and our main focus is to provide her a safe and peaceful environment and building support around her.  She said she would like to learn a skill to earn living for herself. MissingLink team is currently working with her on her future goals and supporting her journey towards independent empowered life.

Other than handling Minati’s case the shelter was full during the period with other five cases. It is humbling to see how important the service is. All residents are receiving their respective case support, nutritional meals and shelter. The support team made several home visits to the homes of other potential victims of domestic abuse and trafficking. Legal team helped 12 other cases of domestic violence, 13 women received vocational training through our network, 15 beneficiaries of the project formed a support group to help new cases and six children from the homes of domestic violence were restored for shelter home and cottage home for schooling, counseling and trauma management under the legal guidance of Child Welfare Committee.

Unfortunately the need is greater than what the team can provide at this moment. Hence, your support is more important now than ever before. Help us to spread the word on MissingLink so that we can reach out to more Minatis. Support us find more MissingLinks like you who would be happy to lend their hands for more Minatis.

*Name changed to maintain confidentiality

*Photo is just the representation of the cases we receive and not of the same victim/beneficiary mentioned in the report. Used with permission.