“We only have 2 choices. Nothing or do something!!” ~ Tony Kirwan, Founder, Destiny Rescue – Committed to liberating the enslaved & restoring those who have been abused.

 

Close proximity to the Bangladesh border, mounting unemployment, marginalized income that barely made ends meet, frightful accounts of domestic violence and harrowing tales of human trafficking! Sounds traumatic? Here’s Manika Sarkar, who’s lived through all this, fought back and lives to tell the world her tale!
After being married early in life and having faced severe domestic violence at a time when toys and dolls should have been her playmates, Manika didn’t fade away into the dark. She chose to be an inspiration to the millions like her. She chose to stand up for herself and became a social activist inspiring everyone around her, including her daughters to take a stand against human trafficking, child marriage and exploitation.
She has single-handedly successfully launched an awareness campaign at the grassroot level against human trafficking and child marriage. Manika adds, “I am one of the handful of victims who has survived to lead a different life. Now, I am determined to be part of a solution: to raise awareness and agitate for changes.”
At the moment Manika fiercely runs a sewing centre with some assistance from the Kutchina Foundation. The centre promotes and drives economic independence among women victims of trafficking. She trains the rescued women on sewing skills helping them become self-sustainable by eventually landing jobs either in the business or even turn entrepreneurs. Along with this, Manika also owns a small piece of land where these women can farm, spend some time talking to others and try to forget their woes even if it’s for just a while. Talk about Mother Nature and her healing power! After all the distress that these women have been through, Manika’s affection and support gets them back to normalcy.

Manika adds, “Turning social activist isn’t enough. The kind of work I do and what I aspire requires a lot of support. I’m sure the coming year is going to bring me luck in my endeavors.”

Manika persistently tries to channel her struggles and experiences into developing a solid support system for women who have been victimized by trafficking and child exploitation. With this objective and her determination at the helm, Manika runs a women trafficking case management support initiative where victims (women, children of either sex) of abuse, child marriage or trafficking can dial 1098 and get protection and reinforcement.

Currently her center provisions for over a whopping 100 survivors hailing from more than 70 affected families. As saddening it may sound, these women and children are now leading fulfilling lives. For her extraordinary accomplishments in saving women and children from the evils that prey on them, Manika has even been awarded by the West Bengal State Women’s Commission.

In 2017, Manika has a long list of desires. She wishes to get new sewing machines for her business that will help her train more women and make them self-reliant. She also wants to buy a vehicle so that she can move around faster thus saving her time and energy. Manika wants to sponsor school bags and books for 20 girls who have been pulled out of bad child marriages. Her other desires are to help the migrants who are old, in need and have moved to find work. She wants to provide shelter and support to women by solving their legal, mental and health issues while also teach them skills to help them become independent. Talk about purpose, perseverance and willpower.

A woman is like a tea bag—you never know how strong she is until she gets in hot water. —Eleanor Roosevelt

Through long cold nights when hundreds of young boys and girls try to make a living by working incessantly in call centres or crave for their mother’s food, Samim tries to ensure that they don’t go to bed on an empty stomach. She and her army of home cooks deliver tiffins or dabbas to these hungry souls.

William Shakespeare was correct when he believed that while some are born great, some achieve greatness! Samim Sultana’s tale is that of a woman who was not just born a fighter but her incredible journey proves that she’s also the ultimate survivor after being plunged into the depths of misery.

When Samim wasn’t allowed to step out of her house, she decided to break tradition. Despite coming from a conservative Manipuri Muslim family, Samim broke barriers to make something out of her life. After she graduated college, she started working at a beauty parlour to make ends meet. She wasn’t content.

When she came across Kutchina Foundation and found out about the work they do, she found her calling. Through Samim’s initiative called Lunch Box, she now helps women from marginalized families or victims of domestic violence become self-sustainable by cooking food and getting them delivered to people who are either too stressed to cook for themselves after a hard day at work or are missing home cooked comfort food.

However, Samim didn’t stop at that. With the knowledge and experience she has gained by working at the beauty parlour, Samim has started a professional beauty parlour training institute to help aspiring women become independent and thereby live with dignity in a society marred with viciousness against women. Samim adds, “I’m at the beginning of an incredible journey and I want to learn from the women I work with. They are such an inspiration. When I listen to their stories, I get all the more stubborn and determined to do something good for them. They build hope in me!”Over the next 6 months, Samim looks at expanding her business manifold and hiring more people to help her scale up. She also plans on getting more women under her guidance. She says, “I’m a small fish in a big pond. The road ahead may be bumpy, but my determination is rock solid. With the kind of support I’m getting, I’m sure I’ll be able to achieve what I desire. ”

Over the next 6 months, Samim looks at expanding her business manifold and hiring more people to help her scale up. She also plans on getting more women under her guidance. She says, “I’m a small fish in a big pond. The road ahead may be bumpy, but my determination is rock solid. With the kind of support I’m getting, I’m sure I’ll be able to achieve what I desire. ”

As the role and status of women change in the Indian society, may such unheard voices as Samim’s be heard for the good!