Women play a key role in rural social, economic and environmental infrastructure.

Yet, they are largely underrepresented in India rural communities. Being the most exploited and unappreciated section of rural society puts our women and girls in extremely vulnerable bracket and an easy target for sex traffickers.

Within West Bengal,
South 24 Parganas features among the top five districts in terms of trafficking.

The Ministry of Women and Child Development has reported that in 2016, 19,223 women and children were trafficked in India constituting a rise of almost 25% from the previous year, West Bengal being one of the top states for trafficked victims. Within Bengal, South 24 Parganas features among the top five districts in terms of trafficking.

Abject poverty along with remoteness of the region make it a breeding ground for sex traffickers. Most of the girls who are trafficked are lured from their homes with the false promise of an opportunity for employment. Even when girls are rescued and brought back, the biggest obstacle they face is lack of gainful occupation.

This is why we believe that to root out trafficking, it is crucial to provide not only skill but also livelihood opportunities in high trafficking areas.

Transforming lives in Kultali

The Missing Link Trust rural livelihood program, through its Women Empowerment Centre (WEC) aims to create awareness in villages of Kultali amongst rescued women and vulnerable girls, creating a base to introduce them to means of alternate
livelihood options. This programme also focuses on community awareness and health, creating a support matrix for these women, leading to a long term change in their community.

  • Over 40 women have already started their journey towards financial independence and support their families with a steady regular income. We aim to inspire 50 new women each year to start their journey to empowerment and change their lives.
  • A majority of these women are survivors of domestic violence or are the sole earning members in their families.
  • For 75% of the women, the average size of their family is 4-6 members with monthly income ranging from just Rs. 2000-4000.
  • 94% of the women with WEC are working for the first time and more than half of them are now being able to afford better education for their children.
  • 58% mentioned that it has positively changed their family dynamics with them experiencing support now.

Learning new skills for the first time has given them hope for a better life and the work with WEC has impacted their ability to educate their children and their own relationships with their families.

Why Buy A Missing Bag?

When you support and buy a Missing bag, you are not just buying a bag, but giving support to most vulnerable women to trafficking in the Sunderbans. Your contribution empowers them to dream big and hope for a better life, better education for their children and financial independence.

To know more about our bags of hope, Click here

Digital Empowerment Centre

Our Women Empowerment Centre (WEC) hosts our first media centre, built in collaboration with the Digital Empowerment Foundation (DEF). The centre works as an information and communication hub dealing with products and services that serve the needs of
the local community in health, livelihood, education, and public service delivery.

The DEC works with young girls between the ages of 16 and 25 years. The beneficiaries are first-generation learners and the exposure enables them to learn how to use technology to their advantage. They are also trained in filling applications forms and
applying for government schemes. Once the training is complete, these young girls can greatly benefit their community as well due to their skills.

Click here to know how young women in Kultali are changing their lives.