The Global Slavery Index estimates that on any given day there were nearly 8 million people living in modern slavery in India.
The GSI reports an emerging trend in northeast India where organised trafficking syndicates operate along the open and unmanned international borders, duping or coercing young girls seeking employment outside their local area in to forced sexual exploitation.
Many women and girls are lured with the promise of a good job but then forced in to sex work, with a 'conditioning' period involving violence, threats, debt bondage and rape. Panshi grew up in Mumbai and lived with her mother, younger sister and younger brother. When she was 13 she was forced to drop out of school as her family could no longer afford it. She met an 18 year old boy, a friend who envisioned a better life for her. She was eventually told she could return to the city if she took up the family business.
Panshi was 14 years old when she was forced in to prostitution by her family. When her friend tried to get her out of the life, she was taken in by the state as a minor and placed in a shelter. Then out of the blue, my mother and sister took me to a mall for shopping, and then dinner.
For a change! I begged the person to let me go, to let me go meet my friend. It was a big mistake actually. Whatever happens, happens for the good. I have a goal. I want to definitely finish my graduation and then work. I want to be financially independent. What I decide in my mind, I do it. I have to rely on myself. Narrative provided by Public Radio International. Panshi Narrative date. Country India slavery location , India trafficked from Theme Sexual exploitation , Children Type Narrative Tags education , police , prostitution , shelter.
