A Disheartening Realization

For the last week I've been having an internal struggle about Odanadi. It started with the discovery, through the case histories that I was doing, and my time with the counsellors, that with the exception of one young woman, none of the current residents of Odanadi (totalling 58) are victims of trafficking, Now sure, this is something to celebrate; that these girls, many of whom I have developed a close connection with, have not had to be rescued from sex slavery.

What I am having a hard time with is that Odanadi presents itself as an organization that does just this; rescues and rehabilitates victims of trafficking. This is the reason I chose to come, given my interest in the anti-trafficking movement and desire to learn as much as possible about it in hopes of future work in the field. Now there certainly have been "rescues" over it's 22 year history. I read files where teenagers had been rescued from situations where they had been loaned out to do domestic work for a family to pay back a loan for example. Recently they've been searching for a college student that has gone missing after being befriended by an older man who they now know is a career criminal, most notably a contract killer. I had hoped to go on this rescue mission but apparently having a pasty white girl with them was a bit too risky (little hard to blend in ya know). They also do some good things such as giving presentations about trafficking in villages, and publicize the issue which is such a huge problem in this part of the world.

That work, and the focus on trafficking is not congruent with Odanadi itself though, which is essentially a refuge for anyone experiencing any kind of issue social. There are women like Renukha who left an abusive husband; orphans; children whose family cannot take care of them for various reasons; girls who have been rejected by their family because they have fallen in love with a man/married man; girls with mental health issues; and children whose families are too poor to care for them. All situations that are certainly not great, and which are worthy of providing these children and women shelter, but, they are not victims of trafficking who need to be rehabilitated from the horrors of same, as the organization presents.

Human trafficking is a hot issue these days, and one which grabs the attention and sympathy of people all over the world. So I get it; the human trafficking cause is going to garner more funding and more hands on support than say a shelter for victims of domestic violence. The current Volunteer Coordinator has told me that many volunteers will ask him to point out the trafficking victims; people are fascinated by the whole idea, and I can't criticize that interest, as I am the same way.

My favourite resident who I will just refer to as G, is the one true trafficking victim there. She is in her 20s, deaf, mute (or as they still say, deaf and dumb) and with HIV. She was rescued by police several years ago after being found involved in prostitution. Her exact age is unknown and she was named by staff upon arrival as she was of course unable to communicate. She was no doubt infected with HIV as part of her sex work. Well what can I say, G is just a joy!! She's a pretty girl with a short, "boy cut" like me (which makes me like her more as us Boy Cuts need to stick together!) and which she likes to cut often and quite unevenly, yet after a day or so, it just works! Many girls would kill for her hairstyle! She makes noises which I would describe as "googly googly goo" (an impression that I am ashamed to say I am quite good at) and is always telling stories with her gestures and actions. One day I thought I got a disclosure from her; that she had had a baby when she used to wear a saree and was perhaps married, and that a man had taken the baby away. Well it turns out she was telling me about the time that she got out of Odanadi and while AWOL was given a roti, 5 rupees and slippers from some kind people. Hahaha!! The staff and residents are really quite good at deciphering what she is saying, and communicating to her what she needs to do. Me, not so much :)  G has a beautiful smile and always wants to shake hands yet is not affectionate unlike many other girls who I'm scared I'm going to get lice from. But after returning from the Northern Karnataka tour she gave me the biggest smile and hugged me! So cute! Today I accompanied her part way to the bus stop where she was catching a bus to go to the hospital (she recently had TB plus gets regular treatment for her HIV) and is was so cute; she held my hand as we walked and then stopped to shake the hand of a village woman. I can totally see how she got all that loot when she was AWOL; you just can't help but love her..she truly brightens my day! So G is an example of who volunteers have visions of when they come to work at Odanadi.

The residents for the most part are content and well cared for. I do have some issues with their diet, which is the same everyday; rice and sambar with little protein, few vegetables, fruit and milk. Only 1500 rupees ($30) is spent per month on vegetables. Their clothes and hygiene could certainly also be better, more like the children I saw at the HIV centre in Bangalore. Odanadi certainly has a nice building which took 6 years to build but it is way bigger than what they need; and they don't have a playground or anything for the kids to do beyond be entertained by volunteers.

The current focus is on raising funds for a boys home, for which they need 1 million rupees (I'm a social worker so you do the math, divide by 50). They currently have only 9 boys but apparently there are many more out there that need Odanadi's help. Fundraising efforts are taking place all over the world. They have branches in the US, UK and Netherlands which raise money for Odanadi on top of individual volunteers who both donate while here and/or fundraise in their home country. Every year there is also a worldwide Yoga Stops Traffic event that raises money for Odanadi. And again, right now all of the donations are supposedly going to the construction of this boys home. Yet the residents no longer get eggs or bananas because there is no money. One could argue that this is about a value difference, but I'm not so sure.

My feeling is that two huge, beautiful buildings full of children give legitimacy to the organization, validating what they are doing, which again, to the world is rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking, but not the reality. The bigger the organization, no doubt the more funding, more volunteers, more notoriety which the Directors/Founders already have given the frequent publicity  of what they are doing. Apparently Odanadi's model is being replicated all over India in regards to the handling of trafficking victims.

That is what I am having difficulty with. If they presented Odanadi (the home) as a refuge for people from all kinds of disadvantaged situations, then fine. I am sure volunteers and funding will still come. But I feel that they are tricking people into believing that they are rescuing and rehabilitating victims of trafficking, leading them to donate their time and money to help. I am one of those people! And I don't feel good about letting it continue.

I should mention that during my travels to Northern Karnataka, what I had learned about Odanadi, was confirmed by other people; big wigs from other, reputable organizations. People say that 90% of NGOs in India are money making ventures, which I would argue is the same in other parts of the world as I've seen it before. So it leaves one feeling disheartened, especially when you want to help yourself, yet can't find a genuine place to do so.

I happen to be living with one of the directors, who to me, appears to have his heart in the right place. The residents love and respect him, he is very gentle and caring with them and is like a father figure to them, which includes many many others who have lived at Odanadi over the years. I don't know what the real deal is to be honest. Maybe I am naive, maybe I just don't want to believe what is going on. I live in the director's huge, beautiful house where his family lives well. Is that where the money is going? I don't know. And because I live here, and have a connection to the family, I feel like I can't raise my concerns. It just feels like a conflict. But, the word is out because of me, and others now know, who may spread the word even farther. I hope so, as it just isn't right.

I am in my final days at Odanadi, and the residents I will surely miss. In such a short time there is such a connection with many of them, and I know they will be sad to see me go. Despite what has been revealed, the girls are amazing, the experience has been lovely, and has enriched my life for sure. I can only hope that I have brought something to theirs as well, as it is them who deserve it most :)