Naseeb Trafficked

Against the backdrop of an emerging India is the plight of those caught in the snare of human trafficking into prostitution. Girls as young as 10 years old, frequently from the poorest backgrounds are being kidnapped and sold off to brothels, sometimes by their own families. This project explores the stories of a number of girls and young women who have been rescued from the brothels of Mumbai and Pune to be reintegrated into society and if appropriate to return home. In doing so it touches on the social, economic and cultural issues that affect contemporary India.

Human trafficking, trafficking, prostitution, India, flesh trade

Arati is 17 years old, separated and from Bangladesh. She was offered a job in India for RS 20,000 by an unknown lady. She was forced to cross Sunderbans by foot and ended up being raped by border police as well as her trafficker before being sold to a brothel in Pune. She has a 2-year-old child that she was forced to give up for adoption. Arati does not want to return home. She wants to be independent and remain in India.

Asha was trafficked from Madhya Pradesh. She was then rescued but went back into prostitution to provide for her family. Her father left the family when she was young and she took responsibility of looking after her mother and brother. Asha has obtained 12th grade pass at college and is well-educated. When she leaves next year she will start a job in computing and has been offered a flat in Mumbai. Her dream is to go back to her village proud of having made a success of her life.

Deepa is 17 years old, divorced and from Kolkata. She is the eldest girl in her family. She was duped into prostitution by a couple, on her way to hospital, with the promise of work in Mumbai. Deepa worked as prostitute for one year at Kamathipura Lane 13.

Kajal is 13 years old and from a poor family. Her step father ran away with the family savings. Her aunt promised her a job in a soap factory for RS 5,000 a month and then sold her to a brothel in Turbhe, Mumbai.

Moshina is from Banglore. She is illiterate and the youngest of three siblings. She was sold to a brothel in Kamathipura 2nd Lane, Mumbai where she was forced to work for 5 months.

Neelam is 17 years old. She is from Bangladesh and has eight siblings. Due to the poverty in her family she was unable to study. Her father died when she was young. She worked in Dhaka as a prostitute for one year and was then trafficked by one woman and two men across the border to Pune. Neelam was forced into prostitution in Pune. When she turns 18 she will look for a job related to English in Mumbai.

Pinky is 21 years old and from Kolkatta. She was trafficked to Mumbai by a friend who she met near her village. There she was sold off to Mahada Mira Road brothel where her brothel name was ‘Sheela’. Pinky worked for one year without pay. She is now pregnant by a client and does not want to keep the baby. It is too late for Pinky to have an abortion.

Rabia is 14 years old and from Bangladesh. Her aunt offered to take she and her sister sightseeing in Mumbai. After a few days Rabia’s sister was taken home and Rabia was told that she would stay with her aunt. Her aunt sold her to a brothel. She managed to escape.

Radha is 16 years old and from Banares. She was abandoned by her uncle at a train station. Radha’s parents died when she was younger. She self harms, often cutting her arms and also picking at the walls. Currently she is being given extra attention and counselling to overcome these habits.

Shravani is the youngest of seven children and the only girl in a well-off family. She was kidnapped on a school trip and subsequently raped by border police on the trafficking journey to Pune. In Pune she was sold to a brothel in Budwepeth. Shravani tried to commit suicide. She felt there was no point in living because she was damaged. She also feels she will not be accepted if she goes back to her family.

Soloni is 17 years old, married and from Bangladesh. She met a man called Montu who promised her work in Mumbai. She was sold to a brothel in Kaylan, Pune. She worked there for 5 months. Subsequently rescued she threatened to kill the security guard and attempted to run away from the protective home.

Sonal is 16 years old and Gujarati. She lost her father on the train to Rajkot and was later taken in by an unknown lady who transported her to Mumbai. She does not remember much but her tattoos act as a memory and mark ownership. She was not to get lost again. When she turns 18 she wants to become a chef in Mumbai.

Installation shot, solo exhibition at the Perth Centre for Photography in 2013.