Ganga

Ganga is now 21 years old. She was originally from a small rural village in Karnataka. When she was young, her father abandoned her mother; a few years later her mother died. Following this, Ganga was sent to work on a coffee estate in the country.

When she turned 15, Ganga decided that she wanted to to go to Bangalore to look for work because she had an uncle there. At the bus-stop, two women befriended her. They said that they could get her a job in a garment factory. Ganga was suspicious but agreed to go with them and ended up with them on a night bus to Mumbai.

It was her first time in the city. They took a taxi and got to a big building with girls with various states of undress hanging around outside doors and balconies. They took her upstairs and introduced her to the woman who was in charge. They suddenly said they had to leave to make an urgent phone-call.

Feeling concerned, Ganga asked the woman if it was really a garment factory. The woman told her she had been sold for 50,000rs (approx £600) to work as a prostitute. Ganga was in a state of shock. She argued with the woman and refused to eat or drink for two days. They just left her to sit on a chair outside the woman's office.

After two days, the woman got sick of Ganga and asked another woman to come and take her away. This woman took her to a different building nearby. Ganga thought that she had had a reprieve. So, when offered food and a drink, she took it, unaware that it was drugged.

When Ganga woke up she found herself naked on a bed, with severe abdominal pain, her thighs bruised and swollen. She knew then that somebody had raped her whilst she had slept. She cried and asked the woman why she had spoilt her life.

After that, Ganga was forced into the regular business of prostitution. They would only send her men who couldn't speak her local language. She would see 8 men a day, 150rs (approx £2) for 15 minutes, or 300rs for an hour.

Ganga tried to escape a few times but never succeeded. She was permanently trapped in the building and didn't know if it was day or night, sunshine or rain. But, after five months, they mistakenly sent her somebody who could speak her language. He found out what had happened and told the police.

The brothel was raided and all of the girls were taken to the police station. Some returned to the brothel. Ganga was taken to a correctional centre for under-aged girls. She was then referred to Odanadi.

After arriving at Odanadi, it was discovered that Ganga had been infected with HIV. Although Odanadi did try to help her reintegrate with her family, when they took her back to her village she was rejected because the community suspected what had happened to her.

Unsurprisingly, since being at Odanadi Ganga has experienced severe depression. She was offered lots of counselling, but in spite of this, became so depressed and ill that they thought she might die. She stayed in bed for a year and they literally nursed her back to health.

Since she has been at Odanadi she has completed her beautician's training. When she feels well enough, she does karate three times a week. She also manufactures recycled bags, which is part of a social enterprise designed to generate income for the women. Ganga particularly loves the music lessons they have three times a week. She says that she owes her life to Odanadi and that she wouldn't be alive without them.

Ganga says:

“I didn't realise before coming to Odanadi that there were so many opportunities for girls like me to learn. I have been lucky to end up here but my heart goes out to all those women and children who are exploited until they get some disease and are outcast from society without any treatment. You cannot eradicate prostitution, but you can control it so that innocent girls from villages do not get trapped like I did. Education and awareness are the most important things. The work that Odanadi is doing should be practiced all over the country so that trafficking can be controlled and innocent girls are spared.”

Contact us

PO Box 58265, London N1P 1EX