REPUBLIC Day is a celebration of the Indian Constitution, which countries around the world admire for the rights and equalities it guarantees to all citizens of India. The Indian Constitution came into effect on January 26th, 1950 and since that day it has been celebrated and admired in India and worldwide for its remarkable detail and emphasis on the specific issues that India faces as a nation. The Constitution is the foundation upon which the structure of laws and government are formed and it also outlines the responsibilities of the government toward the people. In its Fundamental Rights, the Constitution offers 6 basic freedoms to all Indian citizens.
The 3rd Fundamental Right
It is said that one of the darkest crimes in existence is the “buying”, “selling” and forcing of human beings into doing acts against their will – exploitation. The third Fundamental Right is the right against exploitation, prohibiting all forms of forced labour, child labour and traffic in human beings and protects citizens against all forms of exploitation. The most common forms of exploitation are child labor and sex trafficking. In India, disadvantaged communities are vulnerable to these forms of exploitation and the lack of attention paid to these communities mean that traffickers continue to commit crimes unabated.
Here are 5 NGOs upholding the fundamental right against exploitation:
Youths Union For Voluntary Action
In the Ramgarh district of Jharkhand, children are often pushed into working in coal mines, which are dangerous places for children. Their bodies are too young to withstand the toxic fumes and this damages their lungs and organs and even causes stunted growth and blindness. The dangerous tasks the children need to perform in the coal mines also cause wounds and broken bones which cause severe damage. Because of poverty, these children’s families cannot afford to send them to school so they languish in coal mines. Youths Union For Voluntary Action (YUVA) is an NGO that takes these children out of the coal mines and gives them education, medical care and nutritious food to build their strength and their futures. This Republic Day, support Youths Union For Voluntary Action:
Guria
In Varanasi in the state of Uttar Pradesh, criminal traffickers operate brothels where girls and women who have been kidnapped and abducted are raped and held against their will in red light districts. The girls and women are not even considered human beings by traffickers who commit unspeakable crimes to break their spirits until they “serve” the interests of men without fighting back or trying to escape. Guria is an NGO that rescues girls and women from brothels and rehabilitates them with safe shelter, medical care, nutrition and trauma counseling to help them recover from the abuse. Guria also works with the authorities to raid brothels and prosecute traffickers to make them pay for their crimes according to the law and supports the women throughout the legal process. This Republic Day, support Guria:
Sahyog Care For You
In restaurants, factories, construction sites and other places across India, children are forced to work long hours and in dangerous conditions. In these places, they are separated from their parents or guardians. Because they are unsupervised, people often slap them, shout at them, starve them and subject them to other injustices. These children are afraid but do what is expected of them to avoid something worse happening to them. Sahyog Care For You is an NGO in New Delhi that rescues children forced into child labor and places them in a safe and loving environment. In this safe home, the children receive regular and nutritious meals, medical care, education and have the chance to enjoy their childhoods with all the things that children need and deserve. This Republic Day, support Sahyog Care For You:
Urja Trust
The natural human reaction to abuse is fight or flight. In all parts of India, there are girls who have suffered sexual abuse. For them, running away in search of a safe place to find refuge is a good decision. But hiding in the corners at bus stands and railway stations are criminals who have learned to spot stranded girls and women and lure or abduct them to red light districts. In these dark and dangerous places, the abuse that they tried so hard to run away from happens day after day without anyone to help them escape. Urja Trust is an NGO that intercepts traffickers and brings the girls to safety before criminals can snatch them. Mumbai-based Urja Trust then gives the girls shelter, education, skills training and counseling to help rebuild their lives. This Republic Day, support Urja Trust:
Missing Link Trust
In the Sundarbans region of West Bengal, there are rising cases of disappearing girls. These girls are either kidnapped or lured from their homes to empty places where men “sell” them into brothels. The cries for help of these innocent girls go unheard and they suffer in red light districts. Missing Link Trust is an NGO that is based in Kolkata and works on the prevention of sex trafficking through education awareness programs that the organization runs in schools across West Bengal. Having conducted sessions in 600 schools, Missing Link Trust has educated more than 1.75 lakh girls on how to spot traffickers, how to reach out for help, which emergency numbers to call and how to keep themselves and their friends safe. This Republic Day, to support Missing Link Trust:
Support these NGOs this Republic Day
This Republic Day, your decision to help people gain access to their constitutional rights can empower the most disadvantaged and change their lives forever. When you support these grassroots NGOs, you are helping people who are being exploited and are enabling the most downtrodden individuals and families to improve their lives through education and legal support. This Republic Day, pledge to support the most underprivileged Indians. Happy Republic Day!
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Shirley has been in the development sector for over 10 years and is passionate about making a change in the world around her, including adopting dogs and writing to make a difference.