BACKGROUND OF THE ESTABLISHMENT

"At the age of nine, I saw a vision of a crossroad, intersected by four wide streets, in a vivid and bustling area. Young and old, men and women, individuals and families; people of all ethnicity were crossing by at every juncture. But the most vivid image was that of a heavy burden each of them carried on their back. Each bearing the painful weight of their own burden; dragging their legs with despair written across their faces.

Growing up, this image troubled me and I never really understood what it meant; until this incident brought to light the very vision that remained so fresh in my memory.

In 1999, I had just moved to Pune with my husband and the difference in culture made me homesick. Wanting to return to my hometown, I got on a rickshaw (a form of transport in South Asian countries) with an intention to meet my friend who resided on the other side of town.

During the ride, tears streamed down my face as upsetting thoughts threatened to surface and shatter my strong will. Through my turmoil, I happened to notice the unusual behaviour of the rickshaw driver.

He kept glancing at me through the rear view mirror with a devilish grin and an eerie look in his eyes.

He took me through a narrow road towards a busy street where I came face to face with women; both young and old, dressed in revealing clothes luring men towards them.

At that moment, the image flashed in front of my eyes and right before me was the very same crossroad I had seen in my vision from the tender age of nine. I demanded to be taken back and with the threat of a police complaint, the rickshaw driver reluctantly dropped me back home.

I knew I had come close to being a victim of human trafficking that day but,  I had been brought to safety.

Later on, a mentor took me for a prayer walk at the very same crossroad. I broke down knowing very well that this was my calling- to rescue young women who were caught in the claws of human trafficking.

Over the years, I would visit the Red Light District in Pune, India (Third largest Red light District in India) and build relationships with women and children who were victims of human trafficking.

By Grace , I was able to counsel and rescue many women; and rehabilitate them back into society.

With this in mind, I established Asha Care Trust (ACT) an NGO that reaches out to dejected women and children. The objective of this NGO is to rescue and rehabilitate women and children who have been victimized by human trafficking."

Sheela Shetty, Founder and President