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>View discussions about this entry Country: India
Organization: Andhra Pradesh Govt.
Sector Focus - Govt
Year the initative began (yyyy) - 2005
Project URL: http://www.aasara.blogspot.com
Positioning in the Mosaic of solutions
What is your signature innovation, your new idea, in one sentence? - To prevent organised human trafficking a worst form of slavery with strategy of ' preventing the crime and to institute rehabilitation' with multi dimensioned approch and public private partnership.
Describe your innovation. What makes your idea unique and different than others doing work in the field? - Yadgirigutta a town in Nalgonda District in Andhra Pradesh had the unwanted distinction of being the major source for women and sexual exploitation. Anti-trafficking project aasara was launched in April 2005 in partnership with government and non-government agencies sought to prevent organized human trafficking using a two-pronged strategy to fight crime and institute rehabilitation. Among other measures, trafficking organizers are identified and prosecuted. Seventy-five cases were registered in one year, and Victims of Commercial and Sexual Exploitation and Trafficking received training for alternative sources of livelihood. A bridge school helped in preventing second generation trafficking, while regular health checkups and advocacy help halt
HIV/AIDS. Since implementation, prostitution has been reduced by 90 percent in a prominent temple town Yadgirigutta, and by the order of Chief of police Department of Andhra Pradesh state the project has been taken as a pilot project to be implemented in the entire state. Delivery Model: How do you implement your innovation and apply it to the challenge/problem you are addressing? - 1. Law enforcement and prevention: Traffickers were identified & stern action has been taken by prosecuting them under IPC sections and immoral Traffic Prevention Act. 225 organizers, procurers & brothel keepers arrested and being prosecuted in 75 cases registered in one year.
2. Women &Youth empowerment: With the help of the District Administration, loans were provided to the trafficking victims for self-employment and to initiate small scale production. Working in groups was also encouraged. As part of rehabilitation and to have alternative source of livelihood training was imparted to trafficking victims at Yadagirigutta under the CAP/SARIQ project with 100% Employment guarantee . 3.Education-to vulnerable children to halt 2nd generation trafficking. How do you plan to grow your innovation? - This project aimed at confidence building measures to create trust with the government, the police and the victims. Due to control of antisocial behaviour Crime rate is controlled. This Project selected as Pilot Project as per memo dated 29 August 2005 of Andhra Pradesh state the then DGP Sri Swaranjit Sen. DGP has appreciated the initiative taken by the Nalgonda district police. This Project is recipient of 2006 IACP/Motorola Webber Seavey Law Enforcement award & Civil Rights award of International Association of Chief of Police (IACP), USA. Same methodology is used for anti trafficking activities in state of Andhra Pradesh. Project aasara is institutionalised.
Do you have any existing partnerships, and if so, how do you create them? - Partnership with non government agencies like Prajwala & Ankuram of Hyderabad, Help of Prakasham, Sthree of Anantpur, Child and Police Foundation (CAP) of Hyderabad and Government department like women and child development, district Rural Development was there and its continued. This partnership was created as a part of Project aasara initialy and later on as apart of Anti Human Trafficking Unit a project of UNODC. Traditional Law enforcement was limited to rescue of victims and prosecution of traffickers but this multi partner aproach yeilded results in rehabilitation, reintegration and repatriation of victims.
Provide one sentence describing your impact/intended impact. - This project achieved result of controling 90% of sex trafficking in Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh and law enforcenment officers has developed a new vision of looking towards victims helping them for their rehabilitation and reintegration
How many people have you served or plan to serve? - More than 150 families of Dommara & other community were served in Nalgonda District in year 2005-2006 while I was S.P. While working as SP of women Protection Cell in CID and incharge of Anti Human Trafficking Unit of UNODC was serving for entire state of Andhra Pradesh.Continuing the project in Kadapa Dist. also where currently I have been posted as Superintendent of police.
Please list any other measures of the impact of your innovation? - Controling of slavery and anti social behaviour resulted in indirectly controling of law and order situation reducing crime rate.
Exactly who are the beneficiaries of your innovation? - 150 Victims of commercial and sexual exploitation and trafficking & their families in Nalgonda District, 1000 victims of Andhra Pradesh state are the direct beneficiaries.
How is your initiative financed (or how do you expect your initiative will be financed)? - This initiative was with Public Private partnership. Training and employment of victims was taken care by CAP under SARIQ project as well as District Rural Development agency of Government funded self help groups of Victims for self employment and vocational training. Andhra Pradesh government have a clear policy on rehabilitation of victims like providing immediate relief of 250 $ and sending them to shelter homes.
If known, provide information on your finances and organization - Annual budget;
Annual revenue generated; Number of staff: Governent Department. What is the potential demand for your innovation? - This is a sustainable alternative for victims of commercial and sexual exploitation/ slavery and can be implemented any where in the world thats the reason for selection of the Project aasara for 2006 Webber Seavey law enforcement award and 2006 Civil Rights award of International Association of Chief of Police, USA (www.theiacp.org)
What are the main barriers to financial sustainability? - Psychosocial counseling to victims to prevent retrafficking and providing them with financialy viable alternative source of livihood.
What is the origin of this innovation? Tell us your story. - The temple town Yadagirigutta in Nalgonda District of Andhra Pradesh with its holy surroundings is a place of prominent pilgrimage where thousands of people visit with pious feelings to offer their prayers and receive blessings of God. On 19th April, 2005 after taking charge of Superintendent of police, Nalgonda District, I found it painful on noticing that the pious atmosphere was spoiled and feelings of pilgrims were vitiated due to organized prostitution practiced by the people of Dommara community. Almost insulated from the outside world at social levels, they seem to perceive the world as a place where the women are meant to sell their bodies to make a living and men, to earn money by procuring clients for the women in their families. On discussion with my men & officers I found traditional policing is limited to arrest of victims of slavery along with pimps & organizers of human trafficking without rescuing the victims and providing them with any alternative source of livelihood or generating any awareness about health & hygiene, which violated their Civil rights. This also resulted in the Law enforcement authority getting bad name due to their highhanded behavior without any empathy or humane approach. Suddenly, I remembered a great day in my life which was eye opener for me to change my vision towards victims of prostitution,where in a day long workshop organized by Crime Investigation Department of Andhra Pradesh Police with the help of Prajwala organization. I recalled succes story of Prajwala organization' which believes in preventing women and children from entering prostitution, which is the worst form of sexual slavery through a multi-pronged approach, as trafficking is a multi-dimensional problem. I have realized that role of the police has to be shifted from one of strictly law enforcement to an agency that fosters "rescue, rehabilitation and reintegration" into society.Traditional law enforcement techniques had failed because they hadn't worked to break the cycle of the sex trade.On 21st may, 2005 birth of Project aasara took place with two pronged strategy 'to prevent the crime and to institute rehabilitation'.A memorandum of understanding was prepared with Child & Police Foundation to provide employibility to trafficking victims under SARIQ project. To stop 2nd generation trafficking a bridge school was opened for vulnerable children by Governement & Indian Red Cross.
Please provide a personal bio. Note this may be used in Changemakers marketing material - Activist turned into bureacrat Indian Police Service(IPS) officer of 1995 batch is currently working as Superintendent of police in Kadapa Dist. of Andhra Pradesh state, India. Before joining the Civil service worked for non Governement organization C.D.S.A. and Corporate Social Responsibility project of Tata motors in Pune, Maharashtra. Anti trafficking and Community Policing are the areas of interest. Recipient of Indian President Police Medal for Gallantry and 4 International Community Policing and anti trafficking awards from IACP,USA.
Contact Information:
Mahesh Bhagwat
Superintendent of Police Andhra Pradesh Govt. (Government) Discussions about this entry |
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Webber Seavey Award 2006 to Project aasara.pdf Antitrafficking%20Project%20Aasara[1].doc Project Aasara.doc |
my frend you have done a great job for the humanity.so we welcome you in our heart.thank you.
Hello Mahesh,
Congratulations on all your great work. It is incredible that you have been able to reduce prostitution by 90% in a particular town. Wow! Could you please give more details about the financing of your work? Besides the government what other funding sources do you have?
Thank you for your response.
Dana Frasz
Ashoka's Changemakers
SARIQ/CAP was a major source of funding for training and employibility to victims of trafficking.
Yadgirigutta temple trust extended help through private security agencies by employing 14 youth as security guard who were dragged into hereditary profession of trafficking.
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Mahesh Bhagwat IPS
Superintendent of Police
Kadapa District
A.P. India
Dear Mahesh,
A very interesting entry indeed and well elaborated. It looks like you are doing a great job (thanks to) starting at a small local level, but ready to be scaled up.
I was only wondering what your ideas or proposals are to overcome the barrier of 'Matching the alternative source of livelihood to life style of victims?'. What did you already try that did not work and what will you try now?
Perhaps my entry for FairMail could be a source of inspiration for younger victims. Also see www.fairmail.info.
Good luck! Peter
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Peter den Hond
Director FairMail Cards
www.fairmail.info
peter@fairmail.info