Apne Aap: Women Worldwide — A Grassroots Movement to End Red Light Despatch Volume V Issue 6 June 2012

―The Story of My Arrest‖ p4 Clinton Mentions Student p3 Jewelery Income Generation p7 Apne Aap staff member falsely arrested My Dream for exposing trafficking ring I want to become independent and live with dignity and full By Manish Jha respect in my society. members, though Apne Aap was A Message to Study Forbesganj, : In a series of not even aware of this operation events that began on June 1, the till their staff members were har- By Manisha Apne Aap office in Bihar came assed. under sudden and unwarranted at- Dharmpura, Najafgarh: I, Twenty-four girls were tack. Manisha*, am 17 years old and ―rescued‖ by the police on the On June 1, police arrested long- staying with my family at Perna raid,. Strangely, some were re- term project officer and chief in- Basti, Dharmpura, Najafgarh. turned to their exploiters or handed vestigator Md Kalam on false My family migrated from Kali to a shelter in a neighboring dis- charges of trafficking. In Decem- Basti, Uttam Nagar, . I trict, Purnea, rather than placed at ber, Kalam found that girls were have five siblings and I got mar- the short-stay home in Araria. being bought and sold in the Kali ried three years ago. I have Mysteriously, three and a half Mela, which comes to Forbesgunj dropped my studies since 2007. months after this police operation, every January. On the basis of his I studied up to sixth class only Sony, one of the girls sent to the findings, Apne Aap filed a com- and dropped my study when I Purnea shelter, filed a complaint plaint with the police. Within 48 was only 12 years old because I before a magistrate under Section hours the police retaliated against did not have desire to study. I 164 Cr PC. She stated that some- Apne Aap staff members by raid- copied two other girls who lived one called Kalam had arranged her ing their homes and a few around my house. They did not marriage to a man who then sold neighboring brothels on 11th Feb- study and spend their whole her to a brothel in Delhi. Based on ruary at midnight. They illegally time at home so I wanted to this complaint, the police arrested detained the 14 year old daughter spend my whole time at home Md Kalam, without verifying of an Apne Aap staff member in a like them and enjoy it with whether this was the same Kalam, police lock up all night. They also them, so I was not interested in or on what basis he was then cul- fabricated an FIR claiming that studying. pable for trafficking charges if his two Apne Aap employees Soumya When I was 14 years old, I role was that of a match-maker. Pratheek and Manish Swarnakar got married. I was not ready to (Continued on page 3) get marriage but I did so due to had accompanied them on the raid my family and I was thinking at of the homes of their own staff that time of suicide but I did not do that and tried to manage my- Students in Bihar to Receive Free self during those circumstances. After getting my marriage, I felt Computer Training that perhaps I should have stud- ied. I could have done some- Forbesganj, Bihar: The new USA, for starting the first com- thing to earn something for my computer training center in puter training center in their office family but now I cannot do any- Forbesganj, Bihar, with over 70 premises in Jagdishmills. The thing due to low education. students already enrolled, made a training will benefit girls and (Continued on page 2) splash in Indian media earlier this women from exploited and mar- month. Apne Aap Women World- ginalized communities and will wide was recognized, in collabora- ensure their right to an education. tion with the Asset Foundation, (Continued on page 8)

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 2 Me, Myself, and the RLD By Tricia Thompson

I never anticipated a relationship of such profundity this within two weeks, or two months, or even – one frequented by hesitant expectations, the typical longer. Then I paused a moment, typed ―Apne Aap challenges, the general ups and downs, as well as an application‖ into my search bar, and pulled my own unusual multidimensionality – when I first set eyes up on the screen. I skimmed. ―Positive contribu- upon the Red Light Despatch. That said, our court- tion… personal growth… open my eyes… chal- ship has not been a tenuous one, and throughout its lenges ahead… significant impact… invaluable in- nascent development, we have kept open lines of sight.‖ I sat up from the screen. There wasn’t a lick communication. I first saw it from afar, and from of difference between me and every other name in that initial moment, each day only brought our even- that binder. It was a moment of lucid sobriety. tual union closer and closer. Now, at the end of my Yet, since my arrival, I can’t help but timidly first month with Apne Aap, the RLD posit that, (and going against the grain and I have grown more intimate than I Column of my Scrooge-like skepticism,) all of could ever have expected – or these things have, in fact, happened, dreamed of. In another month, when I Volunteer Journal even if only in the most Lilliputian of head back to the New England coun- ways. And while things move in differ- tryside I call home, I will be quite af- ent manners and at different speeds for fected by the impending separation. But I prefer not everyone, my experience with Apne Aap has been to brand our break-up with a definitive stamp of clo- formed by my relationship with the RLD. sure; rather, I will continue to keep up with the RLD I first grimaced at its shoddy formatting and poor from afar, knowing it is only a laptop and a few journalism when I accessed it online many months clicks away. ago. When I was offered an internship position in Before arriving at Apne Aap, I was the typical ig- Delhi, I endeavored to take the bird under my wing norantly idealistic do-gooder, eager to come to India and nurse it back to health. Looking recently through and broaden my understanding of the current reali- several years’ worth of past issues, I noted that the ties of the sex trade. I realized how truly unoriginal appearance and quality of the publication have ex- my intentions and motivations had been as I leafed perienced a rollercoaster of changes as it passed be- through past intern and volunteer applications earlier tween shifting sets of hands. this month, all singing the same songs to the tune of: Equipped only with Microsoft Publisher, a prehis- ―seek insight into issues and culture… participate in toric piece of software that makes programs like humanitarian work… provide help… prevent prosti- Quark look simply futuristic, and my new hand-me- tution and trafficking… fight for women… gain ex- down Apne Aap intern email address, I settled into perience… make a difference.‖ At the time, I the Delhi office to see what I could do. smirked at these lines of sugarcoated naïveté, cynical (Continued on page 6) as to how someone expected to accomplish any of

(Continued from page 1 “My Dream”) After some time, I learned about Apne Aap Women Worldwide through its team. And I associated with the organization to learn computer skills and spoken English. Right now I am learning both things from the organization and now I want to get admission to the National Open School to get further education so that I can study and make myself capable. I never thought that I would run a computer, but I did so after my first time with Apne Aap. I was just amazed as I completed my dream. Now I can speak in English little. When I was not associated with the organization, I felt nervous to talk to other people but now I can talk easily because I always attend aware- ness sessions on effective communication, leadership, good behavior, etc. I learned many things and got a lot of confidence by attending awareness sessions, and now I can think about my betterment. After completing 10th, I want to get job. I learnt dance from Apne Aap and now I want to become a dancer/dance teacher. I want to become independent and live with dignity and full respect in my society. I want to give a message to other girls, that girls should be studying and never do difficult work in pros- titution; they must become themselves capable people. And they should not face violence against them- selves. *name changed

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 3 Clinton Mentions Poonam at 2012 GTIP Report Conference

By Lindsey Sedgwick

Hillary Clinton's opening remarks to the 2012 priority for the United States. In that fight, we Global Trafficking in Persons (GTIP) Report high- partner with governments around the world to lights our own Poonam Khatoon, who attends Apne improve and increase the prosecution of this Aap karate classes in Bihar, as a source of inspira- crime, to prevent the crime from spreading, tion. and to protect those individuals who are vic- timized by it.” The report's official release on June 19 was at- tended by members of the US Department of State Later, Clinton took the podium and shared that an and leaders and activists of the anti-trafficking estimated 27 million people are victims of modern movement, as well as celebrity figures Will and Jada slavery today. During her speech, she spoke of her Pinkett Smith, who have shown deep interest in the experience meeting victims and activists in Kolkata, issues around modern day slavery and trafficking. referring to the conference attended by several local The report reviews the current state of global efforts representatives including members of Apne Aap. to fight trafficking and places countries in different But one particular young girl received special men- tiers (one, two, or three) based on their commitment tion, and though her name is not included, it is clear to the issue. that Clinton is speaking of Poonam:

In the first introduction by Maria Otero, Under “This was a child who’d been born in a brothel Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Hu- to a young mother who had been forced and man Rights, she said, sold into prostitution. But when her mother finally escaped and took her daughter with “Trafficking challenges are one of the problems her, they were out of harm’s way and finally that we have. And it is also the one area that able to make choices for themselves. Now I deals with one of our most fundamental values. don’t know what’s going to happen to that That is the basic freedom and dignity of every young girl, whose image I see in my mind’s individual. Trafficking also tears at the very eye, in the years and decades ahead. But I do fabric of society. It rips families apart. It dev- know that with a little help, her life can be so astates communities. It holds people back from much better than her mother’s. And that’s becoming full participants in their own politi- what we need to be focused on, and it’s what cal processes in their own economies. And it we need to try to do for all victims and survi- challenges the ability of countries to build vors. That’s why in this year’s report, we are strong justice systems and transparent govern- especially focused on that third P, victim pro- ments. That’s why fighting modern slavery is a tection.”

(Continued from page 1 “Apne Aap staff He holds an LLB degree, was lawyers, has been working on member falsely accused for exposing named The Week Magazine's Anti bringing his case to trial. trafficking ring”) -Trafficking Hero in 2004 and was While Kalam's arrest has been a The police also did not arrest any nominated for the US Interna- terrible act of injustice, it also al- other of the men mentioned by tional Visitor's Programme in lows Apne Aap and all those in- Sony, leading one to speculate that 2011. volved in the anti-trafficking ef- this was an attempt by the police Following Kalam's arrest, he fort to see the movement's grow- to arrest Kalam falsely - to punish was paraded in handcuffs before ing influence. His arrest has not him for exposing the trafficking the media in blatant violation of only exposed the collusion be- ring run by Kali Mela contractors. the law and put in judicial cus- tween traffickers and police offi- Md Kalam has worked in anti- tody. He was granted bail, and cers, but has also revealed that trafficking for eight years in hon- since his arrest, the entire Apne Apne Aap has begun to threaten our of his mother and two sisters Aap team, with the help of several these corrupt communities. who were pushed into prostitution.

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 4 The Story of My Arrest

By Mohammad Kalam I was very happy on 1st June 2012 i.e. on Friday he would know that what the girl had said was not because that was the day when I got my salary for true because I was the one who gave information to the month of June. I took the money and went to the my organization about the girls being trafficked and construction contractor because I had to reconstruct that’s how the girl was rescued. But he was not my house, which needed maintenance. I couldn’t ready to listen to anything and was saying that he even go to the mosque for “jumma”. When I was had pressure from his senior officer. I asked for legal getting off from the office, I got a call from Soumya assistance also but I was denied and he was continu- ji who told me that she has got a call from Forbes- ously saying the same thing - that he had pressure ganj police station and they are seeking help from us from his senior officer and so he can’t help me. He to keep a rescued girl at KGBV for some days and if then arrested me. the CWC doesn’t take action we need to take cus- The world around me went still. I couldn’t say tody of the girl. I went home after that, got fresh and anything or feel anything. The face of my family then went out to a friend’s place and was sitting members came in front of me. My sister who gave there chatting with him when I got a call from one of her whole life to educate me and made me capable my colleagues named Raju. He said that an ASI enough to fight against the traffickers who were my (Asst. Sub Inspector) from the relatives, my wife who being from a Forbesganj police station was inquir- “The world around me Hindu religion left her family and ing about me with him and was ask- relatives and married me thinking ing my address and my father’s went still. I couldn’t that I will take care of her and name. I told Raju that maybe they say anything or feel moreover I am the one who being are inquiring about me to seek help anything” from Nat community, not indulging for the rescued girl. I asked Raju to in trafficking and moreover fighting inquire with the policeman who contacted him about against it. I started thinking about the feeling they the reason for which he was asking about me. But are going to have about me. unfortunately I couldn’t get through to Raju, who When my mind was overwhelmed with all these was in a bus and the network was getting discon- thoughts, a policeman came to me and took me in nected. their custody. They asked me to give my wallet, my Then I called up Manish ji and told the whole mobile and all personal belongings to Manish ji and story and mentioned my worry. He consoled me by I told him not to inform my family about it. But any- saying that it won’t be anything other than the res- way my family came to know about the whole thing. cued girl’s issue and still we can go to the police sta- The room inside in which I was kept was a very tion together and will find out what is the actual fact. small room, which had a dirty bed mat in it and a I was nervous and went to Manish ji’s house but toilet attached which I think hadn’t been cleaned for since I was nervous I couldn’t find his house; finally months and a fan that was not working. The room I met him at the street near his house. Together we smelled awful and there were rats and small worms went to the police station but there was no official running around. There were lots of mosquitoes in there except the clerk. I told Manish ji if he can call the room and I requested a policeman to light a mos- the SI who was enquiring about me. Manish ji called quito coil but he refused. Meanwhile my wife and up the SI and then he said that SDPO, Forbesganj, daughter came to meet me and I felt like crying but I was searching for me and wanted to talk to me. Then held myself since I didn’t want them to panic. I told I called SDPO over the phone and asked him what my wife to take care of my sister and daughter and was the matter and why he was searching for me. He to be strong. Somehow I convinced my wife and asked me to wait at Forbesganj police station, where sent her back home. My colleague Jamshed came up he would reach within half an hour. to me and gave me two packets of biscuits and a bot- When SDPO came, he asked me and Manish ji to tle of water thinking that I was hungry but I wasn’t come to his room and then he said that there was an and I couldn’t eat anything. I tried to sleep on the arrest warrant against me. I was shocked to hear that dirty mat where I was not even thinking of sitting. a recently rescued girl from the RLA had given a As soon as I close my eyes, rats and cockroaches ran statement that I had got her married into the Red around me and I woke up suddenly. I was really Light Area and that’s how she was prostituted. I scared. I did not understand why this was happening asked the SDPO to investigate this first so that then to me. (Continued on page 5)

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 5 The Story of My Arrest (cont.)

By Mohammad Kalam

(Continued from page 4) Next morning I wanted to go to that I have married a Hindu girl and I am a bad guy. the toilet but they were not ready to take me and af- Somehow I reached the court with an expectation ter lots of requests they handcuffed me and tied a that maybe the judge would give a releasing order. A rope to the handcuff and a guard was holding one policeman had handcuffed me and tied me to a rope. end of the rope as if I were a dangerous criminal. A policeman held one end of the rope and he pre- I heard that Ruchira di has tried a lot to convince sented me in front of the judge. the police but they are not ready to listen. I was It was a very miserable feeling to stand in front of praying to God for my release from the jail and from the judge as a trafficker, where many times I have this fabricated case. My sister and my brother-in-law stood as an advocate for the girls who were being came to meet me and got breakfast for me. Some of trafficked and where I had given statements against the cops in the police station were shocked to see me traffickers that led to the conviction of many traf- there and asked me how I had become involved in fickers. this case and that they had seen me rescuing girls The people who were around were looking at me and saving their lives. In between I heard that as if I was a criminal. I stood there for almost half an Ruchira di has threatened the DySP and so the SP hour as the judge attended each case. At the end, my has asked to file a case against her. name was being called. The Judge asked me if I I was feeling very bad and was feeling - how can have murdered Chanda’s father and I was shocked. I people who are fighting against the traffickers and said ―Sir, I am Kalam and I have helped these girls working for a noble cause can be troubled like this? get out of the hell of forced prostitution and I have Manish ji made me talk to Ruchira di and she con- worked hard against these traffickers and pimps to soled me and said that after every hardship truth is put them behind bars.‖ The judge then said that he going to win. Meanwhile someone said that SP is remember me and asked if I belong to the same or- going to arrive at the station and so anything regard- ganization which works against traffickers and who ing this case was going to be decided by him. Some- have given witness in many of such cases and I said times I felt that I would be released but at the same yes. time I would feel that I may not be released and He asked me how had I become involved in this would be sent to the prison. case and I told him that it’s all part of conspiring When SP came he scolded Manishji and my wife against me and my organization to stop us from who went up to him and said that the case is being working against these traffickers. The Judge then fabricated and I haven’t done anything as per the consoled me and asked me to wait, he called up the statement of the girl. When SP scolded Manishji, he DySP and told me to wait in the office. My sister went away and my wife stayed there. When I was and brother-in-law had come by the court carrying presented in front of the SP, I said hello to him but food for me. The policeman and the guard who were he abused me in very bad language. I tried to con- with me also took money from my family and had vince him and said that he might have probably mis- their lunch. By evening all those who were with me understood me but he seemed to be very reluctant left me and I was standing in front of the Sub-Jail. and didn’t listen to me and moreover said very sar- I was searched by the guard and then wrote my ad- castically that he knows what our organization does. dress and phone number on a register and then a I realized that he had made up his mind and he was guard took me in. part of this whole planning to detain me. When I went inside the jail, the prisoners there SP called all the media people and handcuffed me started asking me as if for what case was I detained. and presented before them as a trafficker. Camera I was quiet and then a criminal named Kare Mandal lights were flashing on me and the reporters were took me to his ward and said that there is no space looking at me as if they had very exclusive news to for you to sit in the other ward. When I went there I sell. A policeman came along with me and we all was not allowed by the other prisoners to even sit or went to Araria to the court in our Apne Aap car. share their bed mat. I was standing there and when While going the policeman asked me if I have mar- Kare Mandal, who I guessed was the leader of the ried a Hindu girl and I said yes. Then the policeman ward, asked them to give some space for me to sit, said that one of the news reporters was telling the SP then they did. (Continued on page 6)

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 6 The Story of My Arrest (cont.)

By Mohammad Kalam

(Continued from page 5) By the time, it was time for the I took a book from the jail library and started evening ―bhajan‖ and all the prisoners went for it reading it, trying to deviate myself from all these. and I was sitting there. The ―bhajan‖ continued for One ward in the jail has a capacity to keep 35 to 40 almost two hours. After the ―bhajan‖ all of them prisoners, but there were 150 to 200 people in a started for their dinner and I didn’t have my dinner ward. When my family used to come there to visit as I wasn’t feeling like it. When I was searching for me and when I see my daughter and when I feel that a place to sleep, the leader of the ward came to me I couldn’t even pamper her I used to cry and could- and said that I have to pay to sleep there. And when n’t control myself. I was breaking from inside but at I accepted the deal, only then I was given a space of the same time I wasn’t losing hope. I tried to con- six by two feet to sleep. Somehow I spent the night vince myself that I have always worked for the truth and then the next morning, I went out to the toilet and so I will win in the end. and there was a long line of people waiting for their turn fighting with each other for the toilet usage. I I got bail on the fifth day after my detention. came back and then a guy named Manjur took me When I came out of the jail, Tinku di, Faizul and my with him and explained me about the ―so-called family members hugged me and I started crying. I rules‖ of the jail. He said that he was also convicted did not know why I was crying but I think it was a for a false case as his uncle married a Hindu girls ventilation of all the pains I went through when I and her family took revenge this way. By now I was was in the jail. I returned home and I started getting habituated by the nastiness of the jail. I used to hang many phone calls and I was tired of answering to the around with Manjur mostly and some of the prison- calls and explaining the truth. There were many eyes ers were telling me that I will get a bail only after around me that looked sarcastically towards me even six months. My heart was pained when I hear such after I came out of the jail. And whenever I see a comments because I couldn’t think of staying there police van my heart would start beating so quickly. for so long and moreover I was also thinking about But after all this, I would console myself and con- my family. vince myself by thinking that justice will be done at the end; the actual traffickers will be punished and I

(Continued from page 2: Me, Myself and the RLD”) ―Under life, no longer a limp collection of text but a vessel my jurisdiction, the monthly newsletter has not, in bearing familiar voices from places now vivid in my fact, seen that much of a makeover. I added a few mind. personal flourishes and clipped and trimmed some Apne Aap’s Red Light Despatch will never come of the prose more to my taste, but I realized that my near or the Wall Street Jour- first judgment of the RLD had been far too myopic. nal, or even your local town newspaper. It has no It has taken trips to the community center at intention to. It may violate the hallowed pillars of Dharampura, the office and classrooms in Kolkata, journalism, never understand the concept of a lede and the self-empowerment groups in Bihar, to truly or nutgraf, and lack The New Yorker’s excruciat- appreciate the multifaceted sphere –– or perhaps, ingly scrupulous fact-checking process. We may not more aptly, prism –– that the RLD tries each month print Adam Gopnik, Elizabeth Kolbert or Nicholas to capture on paper. The faceless names of Apne Kristof (actually, we might be able to swing that last Aap staff members who sent in pieces that tried to one), but we do give you Sonu, Fatima, and Roshni. preserve the voices of the girls and women with What has taken me three issues and four weeks to whom they work suddenly took shape in the form of truly come to terms with is that the RLD is not, and smiles and handshakes and patient tour guides. Pre- never will be, a piece of journalism (after all, this is viously alien locations –– ―Kidderpore, Sonagachi, an NGO, not a news agency). Hopefully all of its Forbesganj‖ –– rose up around me, imbuing the readers can realize this far more quickly than did I, pages of RLDs past with clamorous sounds, distinct and recognize this modest collection of pages for smells, and unforgettable sights. In my time away what it really is: a unification of invisible voices. from the cool, quiet Delhi office, the RLD sprung to

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 7 Ruchira Featured in Documentary, to be released in October

In 2010, acclaimed journalists and Ruchira Gupta, was interviewed for the Movement Sheryl WuDunn published a best-selling book on the and a film clip is featured on the website's home- global oppression of women, Half the Sky. Since its page. The collection of short clips also includes no- release, innumerable men and women have been in- table international figures such as Secretary of State spired by the stories shared by Kristof and Wudunn , President of World Vision Richard and have sought to find a way to contribute to the Stearns, and celebrity advocate Susan Sarandon. movement to end this oppression, which they call In her clip, Ruchira discusses the dynamics of the ―the defining issue of our time.‖ sex industry. Since the book's publication, The Half the Sky Movement has taken flight, bringing together vid- "The truth of the matter is," she says, “it is not a eos, websites, games, blogs, and other educational supply-driven industry, it is a demand-driven tools to raise awareness and provide ways and op- industry. It is not that I am making a craft and portunities to empower women, for organizations then I want to make it available to the world. and businesses, but also for individuals. The girls would actually rather be doing some- The project includes a four-hour television series thing else. They would rather be going to school, to be broadcasted on the US Public Broadcasting rather be becoming doctors, scientists, lawyers - Station (PBS) and internationally. The film includes you know, anything else - but their vulnerability, footage from 10 countries, India, of course, among the fact that they're not educated, the fact that them. Accompanying Kristof in the film are a num- they don't have their own homes, they don't have ber of US celebrity advocates including America control over their own bodies… this is what Ferrera, Diane Lane, Eva Mendes, Meg Ryan, Gab- these traffickers take advantage of. And they rielle Union and Olivia Wilde. The series premieres take advantage of these girls because they see a Oct. 1, 2012 in the US, and shortly after on interna- profit at the end of this whole chain.” tional broadcast. Half the Sky includes praise of Apne Aap and To see the video clip of Ruchira and to look further lists it on its website as an organization making into the Half the Sky Movement and ways you can change and through which there are opportunities to help, go to their website at contribute. Apne Aap Founder and President, http://www.halftheskymovement.org/

Jewelry Income Generation Program Takes Off

By Jill Williams Forbesgunge, Bihar: An Apne Aap-run income for the bangles, necklaces, and earrings produced by generation program has started to pick up speed and the women. Each piece is also environmentally is headed down an exciting road - the final destina- friendly, made entirely from natural products. The tion being stores and boutiques in Delhi and in vari- base material is traditional Bihari papier-mâché; to ous cities in the US. make this, newspaper is soaked overnight, squeezed In Forbesganj, Bihar, Apne Aap has been graced out in the morning and then mixed with crushed me- by the aid and expertise of a volunteer artist from thi (fenugreek) and multani mitti (fullers earth). Israel. He is imparting his extensive knowledge as Mango pits are also used as a base for pendants. Af- well as artistic talent and creativity to teach the ter the pieces have been placed in the sun to dry, the women a unique and beautiful form of jewelry- women paint them using natural colors (black from making. Zeevic has traveled around the world volun- charcoal, sienna from burnt mud and green from teering and sharing his skills, and he has been with crushed leaves). A final varnish ensures each piece Apne Aap for several months, beginning in April. will last and gives it the finishing touch. Zeevic cur- Zeevic emphasizes two things in his art and jew- rently works with about ten women in the Bihar elry-making: tradition and sustainability. The work community who have been taught the skills neces- draws from traditional Indian Mahdubani painting, sary to produce high-quality products. adapting and implementing their designs and motifs (Continued on Page 8)

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 8

(Continued from page 7 “Jewelry Income Gen- Visit by ASSET India Foundation eration Program Takes Off”) Hopefully, these ten women will be able By Upasana Chakma to pass on their knowledge to more women in the community, expanding this

Delhi, Kolkata, Bihar: Dur- door-neighbor. new form of income generation so that ing the second half of June, A pizza lunch ordered by supply can meet what hopefully turns out Mr. Ray Umashankar of the Ray offered the students an to be high future demand. Asset India Foundation paid opportunity to speak one-on- Apne Aap staff members in Delhi are visits to all three of Apne one with him, and his interest currently connecting with several bou- Aap's offices in India. Mr. in their hobbies and ambitions tiques to find markets for the beautiful Ray is currently a professor of never appeared to wane. He work, and many store owners are already engineering at the University urged them not to waste time showing interest in the products. Apne of Arizona and founder of the watching television serials and Aap is very excited to see the work in philanthropic foundation, movies, and instead focus on Bihar make it into the homes of women which he began four years ago reading and learning. around the world. in collaboration with Apne From 22 to 24 June, Ray Aap. Ray began ASSET, continued to the office in Bi- which stands for Achieving har. During his stay, he at- (Continued from page 1 “Students in Bihar To Sustainable Social Equality tended computer classes at the Receive Free Computer Training”) The computer training center was inaugu- through Technology, to edu- Antyodya Centre and went out rated on Tuesday by Professor Dr. Ashok cate and provide better oppor- to the field to Basti Bijas K. Jha of Araria College. tunities for the children of Kendra, Uttari Rampur to in- On this occasion, Col Ajil Dutt, Pro- prostituted women. The foun- teract with the girls from fessor Basuki N Jha, Apne Aap state co- dation wants to see children Kishori Mandals. The Asset ordinator, Manish K Jha, Praveen Kumar, across India trained in com- Foundation has also donated Mohammed Kalam, Kalpana Basnet, Vi- puter education, a gateway to computers for the boys and nay Shankar Jha, and others were present. better employment opportuni- girls in Forbesganj and at Current reports say that this computer ties for their futures. KGBV, Simraha. In addition, center will have 30 students learning On June 16, Umashankar he has donated money for computer skills free of cost. Out of these, met with Apne Aap President sewing machines for Basti Bi- 10 will be students from KGBV. The Ruchira and other members of kas Kendra. trainer/teacher Krishna Kumar Sharma, the Delhi office before travel- Sitting down with the team was present too. On this occasion, ing to the community center at in Bihar, Ray explained his Manish K Jha stated that girls older than Dharampura, where he spent objective to set up a BPO and ten would be able to get enrolled. On the time with the girls there and HUSK Power Unit at Forbes- very first day, 70 students were enrolled. observed the activities at the ganj, to be later replicated in Apne Aap is excited to launch this new center. other states as well. computer program in Bihar with the help The following Thursday, Mr. Ray Umashankar re- and teamwork of the Asset Foundation. Ray made his way to the of- sponded positively to all three There are now computer classrooms in fice in Kolkata, which has al- of his Apne Aap visits and left Dharampura, Delhi, Kidderpore, Kolkata, ready benefited from his pre- an inspiring impression on all and Forbesganj, Bihar. As Mr. Ray vious donation of twelve desk- those to whom he spoke. He Umashankar of the Asset Foundation em- top computers that are used has expressed commitment to phasizes, technological skill is critical in daily for different classes. supporting Apne Aap's work current fields of employment. Through During this visit, he sat in on in the future through both lo- ensuring children access to computer the spoken English and com- gistics and finance. Mr. Ray training, as well as English speaking and puter classes. Ray is adept at offers a wide array of exper- basic education, Apne Aap hopes to fur- engaging an audience and en- tise and insight, and Apne Aap nish them with clear strengths that will tertained both the students and is very lucky to have him and help them find steady jobs in the future, staff; he began his conversa- the Asset Foundation, on and avoid being pulled into exploitative tion with the girls in the Eng- board. The partnership's con- work. With the new computer classroom lish class by asking them tinuation can only bring in Bihar, we continue to take more steps about their first crush. His, he greater things in the future. forward and are excited to see the pro- said, was his childhood next- gress yet to be made.

Red Light Despatch Vol. V Issue 6 June 2012 9 Traffickers Arrested by Police in Forbesganj, Bihar

2009 - 2011 Chandan Kumar Santoshkumar Md Mustafa Premshankar Kumar Md Ahsan Md Tayab Santosh Kumar Md Naushad Bibi Sulekha Umesh Kumar Mandal Md Sabir Alam Md Lalo Rajiv Singh Md Jabed Md Jabbar Sadre Alam Md Parvej Md Allaudin Indrajeet kumar Vijay Mandal Bibi Mehnaj Md Amjad Kailash Kumar Mandal Md Jabir Aash Mohamad 2012 Md Avesh Md Idrish Md Wasim raja Aman Kumar Md Mustafa Md Saddam Shivnarayan Mehta Md Afroj Tarun Kumar Himanshu Shekhar Md Ahsan Photo mandal Md najbul Bhumesh Mehta Md Jamir Md Aslam Md Shamser Chandan Kumar Md Satar Jagir Ansari Brijnandan kumar Md nasim Rajkumar Mandal Ganesh Kumar Deo Vikash Yadav Shitlal Thakur

The Red Light Despatch is a monthly newsletter published exclusively by Apne Aap Women Worldwide. It compiles articles, testimonials, speeches and interviews by women participating in Apne Aap’s Self-Empowerment Groups Join our mailing list at: (SEGs) and other initiatives, as well as by staff members, volunteers, and me- dia figures. The central objective of the RLD is to offer a space for the unique www.apneaap.org voices of our girls and women. The particular writing style has been imple- mented to best preserve the original tone of the speakers.

Red Light Despatch

Editor: Ruchira Gupta

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