Sowing seeds of Sanskars
Evil such as prostitution is still prevalent in the Indian society. Everybody is quite aware about the exploitation of women engaged in this practice. However an important aspect of this problem is often ignored and that is the children of these women. Nobody enters this profession by will; some critical circumstances force women in this well of darkness. The path for exit is permanently closed for them; however their innocent children are also unnecessarily forced to take a dip into the same well without any cause. In spite of having the feelings of a mother, these women cannot do anything for the upliftment of their children.
The night life of any redlight area is filled with traumatizing experiences for the children who are born and grow there, Being victims of the flesh trade, the space within the brothel does not belong to the victim of commercial sexual exploitation, the mothers of these children. As the peak business hours begin the children have nowhere to go. Children of women who are forced in the darkness of prostitution have to suffer unnecessarily and watching the exploitation of their mothers makes them adopt the path of crime and intoxication.
Quick Take
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Inspiration
As soon as the evening approaches, these children have to face a lot of hardships. Night grows more darker for them after witnessing the exploitation of their mothers. When they need their mother’s lap for sleeping, they are forced to sleep in the open. Some of them often develop bad habits and are addicted towards intoxication. This causes an adverse effect on the minds of these children and they are treated as downtrodden in the society.
Initiative
IIn order to pull these children out of this vicious circle and to earn a respectable position for them in the society, Chaitanya Mahila Mandal in Maharashtra’s Pune city has started a night crèche near the Red Light Area. The mandal is doing a commendable work of sowing the seeds of sanskars among these children and showing them the path of enlightenment.
Moved by this plight, Chaitanya Mahila Mandal visited Red Light Area in Pune to take the account of their problems and decided to start a night crèche for the children of these women. This exemplary work of pulling these children out of this morass and enlightening their lives was accomplished by Jyoti Pathaniya. While managing a huge business firm in Chakan Industrial Area near Pune, she decided to stand firm behind these downtrodden children from the society. She initiated the work with some like minded women and thus was laid the foundation for Chaitanya Mahila Mandal.
Chaitanya Mahila Mandal situated near Bhosri in Pune initiated various welfare projects for the upliftment of such women and their children. The project was started in the name Utkarsh Prakalp. Karyakartas started rendering their service regularly from 6 pm to 9 am. They started visiting Red Light Area and convinced women to send their children to the crèche. Everyday, karyakartas go there and bring these children along with them. After bringing them to crèche, they are given a nutritious diet. Various motivational stories are told and games are also taught. They get the motherly love here and hence they have now developed an emotional attachment with the karyakartas.
| Jyoti Pathaniya realised the need to do something concrete for the welfare of underprivileged women in the society. She felt that the exploitation of such women must end and they should earn a position of respect in the society. However mere sympathy doesn’t bake any bread; practical implementation of the efforts is also important. Hence, she decided to stand firmly behind these women. Along with the active co-operation of some like minded women from the society, the foundation for Chaitanya Mahila Mandal was laid. In Bhosri region near Pune, various activities were initiated for the welfare of women and children. In our male-dominated society, a petty issue is sufficient for the husband to leave his wife. Some women are even raped. However, for all these evils, woman only is held responsible, not the man. She is out casted and forced to leave the house. Many a times, parents are also not ready to keep them at the house. In such situation, where shall such women go ? Also, the anti-social elements are always in a prank to take undue advantage of the situation. Chaitanya Mahila Mandal discovered the solution to this problem and thus evolved the concept of ‘Aashray’, a temporary residential home where such women not only get shelter but efforts are also made to earn a respectable position for them in the society. Admission is given to each and every woman only after a detailed interview. |
Impact
Good sanskars are given to children for their all round development by keeping them away from the reach of Red Light Area. Mandal karyakartas are always eager to make efforts so that these children can also lead a normal life like the other ones.
Even if the problems of these children have been solved, karyakartas want that such women should permanently get rid of this evil. Hence the mandal plans to impart self employment industrial training to such women in near future. Thus they will get economic strength and a respectable position in the society. Plans are also in the offing for opening a day crèche for the children of such women and also for the kids of underprivileged women who have to work hard for earning bread for their families.
—Courtesy : Sewa Bharati
