Rescuing victims of human-trafficking through the first dedicated shelter home in the North Bengal

Rescuing victims of human-trafficking through the first dedicated shelter home in the North Bengal

We are the exclusive financier of a shelter project operated by Kanchenjunga Uddhar Kendra for the rescue, rehabilitation, and empowerment of human trafficking victims

18m+
ESTIMATED VICTIMS OF MODERN SLAVERY IN INDIA
0.5m+
ESTIMATED CHILDREN BEING VICTIMS OF SEX TRADE IN INDIA
50k+
ESTIMATED CHILDREN GOING MISSING IN INDIA EACH YEAR

Millions of women and children are estimated to be victims of human trafficking in India 


Over 18 million children and women are estimated to be victims of human trafficking in India. The traffickers’ network is particularly active throughout the North Bengal region of India with the rural population and tea plantation workers are among its most vulnerable targets. Traffickers use false promises of employment or arrange sham marriages but later force women and girls into prostitution, bonded labor, and domestic slavery. Poverty and a lack of education are the root causes of human trafficking, further aggravated by relatively weak law enforcement. While the number of human trafficking cases goes into the millions only very few traffickers were convicted in 2016.

We are actively supporting Kanchenjunga Uddhar Kendra 


We proudly support Kanchenjunga Uddhar Kendra (KUK), a non- governmental organisation based in North Bengal, India that works for the rescue, rehabilitation and empowerment of human trafcking victims. KUK has so far rescued over 1600 minors and children, 95% of whom are girls, and has assisted law enforcement in busting several human trafficking rackets from across the region. In recognition of her efforts in the fight against human trafficking, the organisation’s founder Rangu Souriya has been conferred with over 22 awards from various regional organizations including the prestigious Top 100 Women Award presented by the office of the President of India.

Very often, however, the survivors face non-acceptance by family and the mainstream society, causing distress, depression, and at the risk of falling back to exploitation. Hence, the establishment of a rehabilitation center for the successful reintegration of trafficking survivors back into society has been a long-term dream of Rangu Souriya. This dream is now becoming reality in form of a 20-bedded shelter home exclusively financed by the Kullmann Foundation. Up to 20 affected women and children receive here for up to 6 months temporary residence, food, basic amenities, medical care, legal aid, psychological training, as well as further education and vocational training - and most importantly, an assurance that the society has not abandoned them.