Date:03/12/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/12/03/stories/2007120361080400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Picking up the threads of life afresh

J.S. Ifthekhar

A group of trafficking survivors has acquired skills in masonry and is busy adding to the city’s skyline

Hands-on job: Putting their skills to use.

Hyderabad: They have chosen to shut the door on the past and build on their misfortune. Adversity has the effect of eliciting talent which otherwise would remain dormant. A group of young women have acquired modern skills in masonry and are busy adding to the city’s skyline.

What’s so special about that? Well, they are all survivors of trafficking. They have decided to learn masonry a non-conventional trade, and eke out a decent living. This has come about, thanks to the bold initiative taken by Hyderabad Collector R.V. Chandravadan in association with Prajwala, an anti-trafficking organisation.

In view of the sensitivity, the whole thing has been kept confidential. The district administration which has included economic empowerment of persons affected with AIDS and survivors of trafficking in the annual district credit plan has risen to the challenge. The National Academy of Construction has been roped in to train 25 women at their place of stay. The district administration has foot the bill towards training – Rs. 4500 per head. After three months of training the women have just finished their first assignment as apprentices with a reputed construction company. Donning uniforms they are now working at a site at Kondapur. Other workers at the site are totally unaware of their background. “We don’t want the women to be stigmatised. So absolute care is taken,” says Sunitha Krishnan of Prajwala.

Skilled labourers

The women aged between 20 and 30 years are all school dropouts belonging to different parts of the State. “After getting trained at NAC they have become skilled labourers and earn about Rs. 300 per day”, said Mr. Chandravadan.

However, the issue of their placement remains a challenge. So is their security in a male dominated trade like masonry. On its part, the district administration is trying to rope in the corporate sector and placement agencies to sustain this unique initiative.