v) Mahima India, Kolkata

them. They might not like the course or face difficulty to cope up with the chosen course. In case when a girl decides to leave a course or training programme and wishes to apply for another, Baale support them to switch to different course but the girls are allowed a maximum of one course change. At the same time girls face adjustment issues in workplaces which lead to quitting jobs. There are instances where few girls dropped off from different jobs and got married, which was beyond the control of the organization.

Mahima India supports Mahima Homes in providing specialized care and rehabilitation to minor victims of sex trafficking and youth formerly in sex trade or victims of sexual abuse as well as other children in need of care and protection, referred by Child Welfare Committee (CWC), police to ensure their successful reintegration into society.

Mahima India runs three shelter homes, such as, i) Umang – the girls home for 12-18), ii) Ummeed – the girls home for 6-18 years, iii) Mahima Premanand Boys’ Home for 6-18 years age group. Apart from long term care homes, Mahima runs a drop-in center named Ashaloy for children and women in Kolkata’s biggest Red-Light Area. It is an oasis of hope for the commercial sex workers and their minor children in the heart of Kolkata’s largest red-light district, Sonagachi in Kolkata. Children at the Ashaloy center receive educational opportunities and holistic care while women receive encouragement and proper guidance on learning to start alternative employment toward embracing a new way of life. Group counselling for the community’s women is conducted once a week by a staff member from the Mahima Home. Additionally, these women also participate in awareness program organized once a month by Mahima to educate and equip them with basic knowledge of substituting their existing profession and to sensitize them about women’s rights. The organization aims to create awareness and assist in the prevention of sex trafficking and child sexual abuse in the urban and rural pockets of West Bengal to keep the children safe in source areas and also to bring about change in the people’s attitude and mindset.32 Activities in Mahima Homes include enrolling children in formal school to help them continue with their education under special guidance, provide medical facilities, provide psychological therapy and ccounselling, legal aid, provide music therapy though dance, piano and ukulele, provide vocational training, job placements, etc. focusing on adult independent leaving. In Premanand Boys’ Home, the minor boys are also given football coaching and piano classes apart from the above activities.

32 https://www.mahimaindia.net/program.php?program_id=2

P Transition preparedness and independence support Transition plan for each child under the care of Mahima India starts from the age of 14 preparing them to live better lives after moving from the organization. There is resistance from few children when they must be on their own because many of them are scared to go out of the organization’s care due to their traumatic pasts and absence of families or safe places to live outside the organization. Regular interaction, motivation and giving them variety of career opportunities since 14 years of age help them understand that they cannot stay under Mahima’s care for indefinite period of time. However, since number of girls and boys are also very less, getting 7 – 8 types of jobs in a year through different contacts and networks of the organization does not post much challenge.

As part of the transition plans, YAs are assured that Mahima would support them till receiving a suitable job. Mahima thinks education is a non-negotiable component of shelter home irrespective of their age and background. Hence, apart from formal or nonformal education, children in girls are given vocational trainings on tailoring, computer, spoken English and beautician courses partnering with other NGOs and other training institutes. YAs get stipend while trainings

from their training Institutions. In both Umang and Umeed, girls are given training on household chores including cooking from the age of 14, so that by the time they are ready for transition at age of 18, they get all their life-skills. Most of the YAs after 14 years of age get knowledge of crafting, cooking so that after transition they do not face much difficulty on being on their own.

If YAs have families, they are restored to families with continued emotional supports and guidance of Mahima staff whereas YAs without families or relatives are placed in After Care facilities till 25 years of age. Staff decide on the job placements through their network with organizations and institutions. Sometimes, girls and boys by themselves arrange some jobs and staff responsibility includes checking whether work environment would be suitable for the children or whether they can sustain those jobs or not.

P Living arrangements on attaining maturity Mahima Udaan is the adult transition homes for girls of 18 years and above, licensed as After Care Unit under ICPS to provide specialized care to minor and major survivors graduating from minor program, as well as other girls and boys who have experienced extreme forms of trauma due to sexual abuse. Children from Mahima shelter homes are transited to this adult transition home and women from outside also are taken in the adult transition home. At the time of interview, 20-25 YAs above 18 years of age group are supported in the Adult Transition Home by Mahima. Apart from that Group Homes started by Mahima for youngsters of more than 21 years age group with contribution of rent from the organization.

If YAs of more than 18 years wants to go for independent living, staff show all the living arrangement available for them, such as hostel, government’s working women hostel. Some YAs themselves search for their living arrangements and staff enquire about the places to check safety and securities. Continued support on temporary leaving arrangement provided to the YAs living in hostel arrangements during holidays in hostels or closure of working women hostel etc. Alumni of Mahima can stay for 7-15 days in the home during their holidays, if hostels are closed.

Mahima India is in the process of arranging accommodation of the girls after reaching 25 years of age in Ahona Group Home in partnership with Khushi Design, a social enterprise which is helping in training young women formerly in sex trades. In this Group Home, one of the staff of the social enterprise will live with the YAs as a support in their living, so that girls are not left alone on their own. As per the plan, YAs will contribute Rs.1000 per YA whereas dry groceries will be provided by Mahima. Another option for girls more than 25 years is the Destiny Reflection Group Home, Alphanso Bhavan where YAs can stay by paying money.

P Post care supports to YAs in different living spaces Transited YAs in different living spaces are given technical support, emotional supports, documentation support to apply for scholarships, professional courses, or jobs. The care staff also follows up of the YAs in their living spaces on how they are functioning in daily lives. The YAs who are into professional courses and part time jobs are guided to get full time jobs linking them into different companies.

Transited YAs are supported with Boarding and lodging in Mahima Udaan After Care centre till they get jobs. At the time of stay in Udaan, one side Travel allowance is given to each YA from the organization alongside other financial support for groceries, entertainment etc. but expenses on fancy things such as, clothes, cosmetics etc. are to be made by the girls from contribution of their own. YAs receiving jobs are encouraged to save money for 7-8 months staying in after care unit and then move for independent leaving of their choices of accommodation. Mahima does not provide financial assistance to transited YAs after they reach 25 years, rather gives them choices to stay with own contributions from their income in the two Group Homes, as mentioned above.

Challenges faced by the organization

Major challenge faced by the organization is the limited number of girls under Mahima’s care possessing