Farida* came to Mumbai with her husband, full of hope for a better future. But that dream was soon crushed. Her husband left her for another woman, abandoning her and their young son. With nowhere to turn, Farida asked her brother for help. He promised to find her work through someone his wife knew, but instead, he betrayed her. He took her to Grant Road, left her with a stranger, and never returned. Farida had been sold into the red-light trade without her knowledge.
She was not willing to accept this life. For three months, she was beaten by the brothel keeper for refusing to work. Her heart was broken—betrayed by her husband and now by her brother. She stayed there for eight months until a customer took pity on her. He helped her escape and left her at her brother’s house in Nerul. But her brother refused to take her in. A friend then introduced her to Ashfaq, who convinced her family to let him marry her by promising to take care of her. But soon after the marriage, he too forced her into the trade—this time in the Turbhe red-light area. Two years later, Farida gave birth to a baby girl, her second child.
As years passed, Ashfaq became abusive, often beating her and even mistreating her son. That’s when Farida found Sahaara’s Project Parivartan during a field visit in Turbhe. She opened up to the team about her situation, and with their support, she filed a police complaint against her husband. This was a turning point.
Sahaara stepped in to support her in every way. Her daughter was admitted to a safe hostel for children. Farida completed Sahaara’s adult literacy programme and began attending life skills and social skills sessions. She received personal counselling that helped her express her pain and start healing. She then joined Sahaara’s vocational training centre and successfully completed a tailoring course. Seeing her dedication, Sahaara gifted her a sewing machine and supported her relocation by covering part of her housing deposit. She now lives outside the red-light area and is preparing to start her own nightgown business.
Sahaara also continues to counsel her husband Ashfaq, who has started working as a carpenter and is taking more responsibility for the family. Farida’s children are now safe, happy, and studying well.
“For years I wanted to leave the trade but didn’t know how. Sahaara didn’t just show me the way—they held my hand through it,” Farida shared. “I’ve learned to read, to sew, and most importantly, to believe in a better life.”
Her dream is to grow her business, educate her children well, and live a peaceful, independent life with her family.
(Names changed to protect identities.)