THE story of Swadhar begins way back in 1980s. Mrs. Meenakshitai Apte, Professor and Head Of Department (HOD) in the Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), and Mrs. Mrinaltai Gore, a noted activist, were concerned about the lack of safety of women residing in Goregaon, a suburb of Mumbai. They decided to meet the then Bombay Police Commissioner, Mr. Julio Ribeiro to put forward their ideas about how this situation could improve with the help of the police.
Mr. Ribeiro, who was a legendary police officer suggested that the two of them could start a centre to provide guidance, counselling and help to the aggrieved women. After the meeting, while returning home, the idea of starting Swadhar struck them.
So, it was a fruitful meeting and they hit upon the first idea. That was to be a Counselling Centre. It was established in Mumbai in 1983, and is functions to this day.
After retiring from TISS, Meenakshitai moved to Pune and started Swadhar Pune in 1995 along with two other dedicated workers. These included Mrs. Sulabhatai Joshi and Mrs. Suchitra Date. Family Counselling Centre was the main activity to help women in distress.
As work for the development of a woman is incomplete without considering her child, Swadhar broadened its scope to include children. Swadhar was renamed Swadhar IDWC (Institute for Development of Women & Children).
How is Swadhar doing now?
Besides other things, one of the most important things that Swadhar does is weave a safety net for the children of sex workers. The NGO strives to prevent second-generation prostitution of children living in red-light areas by providing a secure environment where they have access to shelter, nutrition, healthcare, education, and happiness. The organisation wants to provide a refuge for more children trapped in the sex-trade environment, but they cannot do it without your support.
“What will the child get whose mother is a sex worker? There is no family; there is no schooling, no medical care, and nothing for the child. Children like them are easy prey. Our only concern is the child getting into mainstream society and not continuing in the mother’s profession,” says Sanjivani Hingne, secretary, Swadhar IDWC Pune.
Before entering mainstream schools, children are home-schooled for six months by Swadhar IDWC (Institute for the Development of Women and Children). This preparation is critical, as many have never attended school before. The NGO guides them step by step. They gain the academic grounding and confidence they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond.
Sanjivani’s commitment
Sanjivani Hingde recounts a harrowing moment that crystallised her commitment to protecting children from sexual abuse and exploitation. “I saw a two-year-old child being sexually violated, a two-year-old child. She was crying and bleeding profusely from her tiny body. I carried her in my arms and rushed her to the hospital.” This devastating incident represents only one among countless others. These profoundly affected Sanjivani Hingde and strengthened her resolve. She further explains that “A child grows up in the dangerous environment of red light districts where prostitution is rampant. They are not only in danger but are deprived of what a child needs.”
Trapped in circumstances marked by both acute danger and severe deprivation, these children often have no means of escape. The NGO responds by delivering direct care and protection to these vulnerable children. It works to eliminate sources of harm while equipping them for secure and meaningful lives ahead.
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