THIS Women’s Day, as we celebrate the progress, resilience, and power of women worldwide, we must address the foundation upon which all empowerment is built: Safety. True upliftment is impossible without a secure environment. For many, safety is a given; for others, it is a hard-fought battle. This is the story of Sanjivani Hingne and her organisation, Swadhar IDWC Pune, who are redefining what it means to be a “safeguard” for children and young girls from red-light areas.
Safety: The silent engine of empowerment
Empowerment is often measured by education, career success, or financial independence. But there is a silent prerequisite to all of these: the absence of fear. When a child or young girl is safe, she can dream. When she is secure, she can learn.
In the red-light districts of Pune, “safety” is a luxury that many children have never known. Growing up in the shadows of exploitation, young girls are often viewed as “easy prey” for traffickers or are groomed to enter the same cycle of trauma as their mothers. To break this cycle, we don’t just need to provide books; we need to provide a sanctuary.
Sanjivani Hingne: A mission born from a heartbreaking reality
Sanjivani Hingne, the Secretary of Swadhar IDWC, didn’t choose this mission—it chose her. Her resolve was forged in a moment of unimaginable horror when she witnessed a two-year-old child being sexually violated.
“She was crying and bleeding profusely from her tiny body,” Sanjivani recalls. “I carried her in my arms and rushed her to the hospital.”
That moment of trauma became a catalyst for a lifelong mission. Sanjivani realised that to save a woman’s future, you must protect her childhood. She understood that these children, living in cramped brothels where unknown men are a constant presence, are deprived of the most basic human right: a sense of security.
Weaving a safety net for the next generation
Under Sanjivani’s leadership, Swadhar IDWC (Institute for Development of Women and Children) has become a bastion of hope. Their mission is simple yet profound: Rescuing Innocence.
A 24/7 Sanctuary: Swadhar operates a round-the-clock facility that offers more than just a roof. It provides a “safety net” where children and young girls are shielded from the predators of the red-light district.
Healing Through Care: Before these girls can enter a classroom, they must heal. Sanjivani and her team provide medical care, trauma counseling, and nutritious meals, replacing fear with love.
Mainstreaming the Future: Swadhar prepares kids to enter mainstream society. They aren’t just surviving; they are being equipped to thrive as independent, empowered women.
This Women’s Day, let’s protect futures
Story of kids who witnessed the horrors of the flesh trade are in the hundreds, but through Swadhar’s intervention, they have now cleared schooling and gone on to secure lucrative jobs, and these stories are a testament to what is possible when we prioritise safety.
Sanjivani Hingne often says, “Our only concern is the child getting into mainstream society and not continuing in the mother’s profession.”
This Women’s Day, as we honor the achievements of women, let us also honor those on the front lines ensuring that every young girl has the safety she needs to become the woman she is meant to be. Safety isn’t just a factor in uplifting women—it is the very ground they stand on to reach the stars.
Join the mission
Organisations like Swadhar IDWC operate in some of the most challenging environments. Your support can help Sanjivani Hingne expand this sanctuary of hope and ensure that more young girls can trade a life of fear for a life of freedom.
Choosing to tread the proverbial road less travelled, Ramon embarked upon a career in journalism and spent over 8 years working for various media organisations. A deeper calling to create a sustainable impact in the lives of the less fortunate compelled him to join the social sector. Ramon is a minimalist at heart and an explorer in spirit.
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