Life for the residents of Ananda Kendra, a shelter for women who have been trafficked, abused or abandoned, in Bengal, was a living nightmare till before they sought refuge here. They tell Village Square how the shelter saved them.
Abira was 26 and seven months pregnant when she found herself trapped in a cycle of domestic abuse. Her husband is an alcoholic and his violent behaviour showed no signs of stopping.
Her in-laws offered no support. They often denied her food and medical care, objecting to her decision to continue working at a nearby paper factory in Magrahat village of South 24 Parganas district in West Bengal. “They didn’t want a working woman as their son’s wife,” Abira said. “Who would take care of him?”
The only solace she found was at her workplace, where her colleagues sympathised with her bruises and urged her to leave her abusive home. “They kept telling me, leave that place, otherwise your child will suffer massively,” she said.
But as an orphan, Abira had nowhere else to go. That was until a colleague told her about Ananda Kendra, a shelter home run by an NGO named Society for Equitable Voluntary Action (SEVA) in neighbouring Atghara village.
Established in 1997, Ananda Kendra provides refuge for women and girls who have been trafficked, abused, or abandoned. The home is run by Anuradha Chatterjee, a retired government employee from Bolpur, who explained that the facility is divided into two wings.
The Child Care Institute (CCI) houses girls under 18, while Shakti Sadan supports adult women escaping domestic violence or trafficking. West Bengal, with its alarming rates of missing women and human trafficking, desperately needs such havens of safety.
Abira, after visiting the home for the first time, felt an immediate sense of relief. The warmth and safety of Ananda Kendra offered her a lifeline, and she took a brave step forward, filing a police complaint for domestic violence before moving in.
She continued working until her final week of pregnancy and did not give up on her job after giving birth to her daughter Ritika. “My sisters here took care of Ritika so well that she never felt the lack of a mother,” Abira said, cradling her daughter with a smile.
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Abira’s story is not unique. Ananda Kendra is filled with such stories. Chhaya, 18, spent much of her childhood at the home after escaping early marriage, a common practice in her community.
Today, she’s pursuing a degree in fashion technology in Kolkata. “I’ve reached here only because of the supportive environment at Ananda Kendra. Many of us left our families to escape marriage at 12 or 13. We never had a home where education mattered,” she said.
At Ananda Kendra, the focus is not just on shelter but on empowerment through education and skills development. Unlike many shelters in rural Bengal, the girls of Ananda Kendra attend regular government schools, where they mingle with other children, forming friendships and building confidence.
For adult women, the emphasis is on skill training for small-scale industries, preparing them to re-enter the workforce.
Sudipa Mondal, 21, a superintendent at the home, spoke about the holistic approach they take to rehabilitation.
The girls are involved in daily chores, like cleaning their rooms, planting trees, and caring for the livestock. It prepares them for the real world and fosters a respect for nature
she said.
The centre also houses women with mental and physical disabilities who have suffered abuse, and efforts are on to bring psychologists trained to provide specialised care for these residents.
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The veneer of success conceals Ananda Kendra’s financial challenges. Though partly funded by the central and state governments, it relies heavily on charitable donations. Chatterjee acknowledged that while they’ve been able to provide a nurturing environment, more government support is crucial, especially for mental health care services.
The ripple effect of Ananda Kendra’s work extends far beyond its walls. Ananya, 17, who is preparing for her board exams, dreams of opening her own NGO with her close friend Chhaya.
Raised in Kidderpore, a Kolkata neighbourhood plagued by illiteracy, poverty, and trafficking, Ananya understands the dangers girls like her face. “I lost my mother when I was young, my father was sick, and my brother died of malnutrition. I had to endure so much just to get a plate of food,” she said.
Rescued from this life of hardship, Ananya now helps support the younger girls at the home. “I can feel their pain because it’s my own pain,” she said, explaining her desire to create change in her community.
Ananda Kendra offers more than just physical shelter — it provides a space where women and girls can rebuild their lives and dreams. Whether it’s through education, skills training, or emotional support, this sanctuary is giving them the tools to carve out their own futures, free from the cycles of abuse and oppression they’ve known.
As these women move forward, they carry with them the strength and compassion that Ananda Kendra has instilled, ensuring that the impact of this home will be felt for generations to come.
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The lead image on top depicts the residents of Ananda Kendra, in West Bengal’s Atghara village, enjoying a lighter moment. (Photo by Sukanya Roy)
Sukanya Roy is a freelance journalist based out of Kolkata, and she believes in crafting impactful stories on the themes of gender, human rights, sexuality, environment, and the lives of denotified tribes and communities in India.
