Inspiration

Akash Chauhan, himself a member of the Banchhada community and married into the Bedia community, founded the Jan Shaurya Social Welfare and Development Society.

The Banchhada community has a deeply entrenched practice of forcing young girls, as young as 10-12 years old, into caste-based sex work. Having grown up within this community, Akash has witnessed firsthand the horrific consequences of these practices and the plight of adolescent girls involved in prostitution. Even before formally registering the organization, Akash had been working on this issue since 2019.

The impetus for starting the organization came from a personal experience. In 2016, Akash met a young girl from the Banchhada community who was infected with HIV due to her involvement in sex work. Doctors had given her little hope of survival. The girl pleaded with Akash, saying, “I have an 8-year-old daughter. My father will force her into this trade; please help her.” After her mother’s death, her father, tragically, forced the young girl into sex work, and she too contracted HIV. The girl’s suffering deeply affected Akash, and he resolved to save other young girls trapped in this vicious cycle. He approached the Superintendent of Police and brought the issue to his attention. The police took immediate action, rescuing several young girls and taking action against those involved in the sex trade. Realizing the impact of even one person’s intervention, Akash decided to dedicate himself to rescuing more girls.

Despite facing opposition from the community, Akash continued his work with the full support of the police administration. He started small-scale programs with the government and the community, and gradually, a team of volunteers joined him. In 2022, he formally registered the organization as the Jan Shaurya Social Welfare and Development Society.

Under Akash’s leadership, the Jan Shaurya team, in collaboration with the police administration, has achieved the following from 2019 to 2023 in the districts of Ratlam, Neemuch, and Mandsaur:

  • Rescued 69 minor girls from the Banchhada community from sexual exploitation, sex trafficking, and prostitution.
  • Enrolled 150 girls from the Banchhada community in classes 6-9 in Neemch district.
  • Conducted a workshop for 400 girls from the Banchhada community in collaboration with the District Legal Services Authority, Neemch, providing legal information about the POCSO Act.
  • Provided ration kits to 115 women sex workers from the Banchhada community during the COVID-19 pandemic.
 

Summary

Akash Chauhan’s Jan Shaurya Society has been instrumental in rescuing young girls from the clutches of the sex trade and providing them with a better future. His dedication and the organization’s efforts have brought about significant positive change in the lives of many.