Peace Walk Against Human Trafficking Held in Pune’s Budhwar Peth

Pune, 28th July 2025: In a powerful show of solidarity and awareness, Asha Care Trust (Pune), in collaboration with Manobal Foundation (New Delhi), organized a Peace Walk against Human Trafficking on Saturday, July 27. The walk commenced at 11:00 a.m. from Faraskhana Police Station and concluded at the Rameshwar Market Building in Budhwar Peth — one of Pune’s most vulnerable red-light areas.

Marking the first such Peace Walk in Pune during Trafficking in Persons Month, the event aimed to raise public awareness about the urgent and persistent issue of human trafficking. The initiative received significant support from the Pune Police, with Police Inspector (Crime), Uttam Rajabai Vittalrao Namwade of Faraskhana Police Station joining the walk and addressing the participants.

“Human trafficking is not just a crime — it is a brutal violation of human dignity, targeting the most vulnerable sections of society. As a police force, our duty is to identify this crime in time, rescue the victims, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice. A human being is not a thing. Respect them. Stop exploiting people,” said PI Namwade.

The Peace Walk began with a stark reminder of national statistics — thousands of women and children across India are trafficked annually for sexual exploitation and forced labour. The event also highlighted two recent rescue operations:
A District Legal Services Authority (DLSA)-led mission that rescued multiple trafficking victims.
A spa raid in Viman Nagar, where trafficked women were being exploited under the guise of wellness services.
Dressed in white, around 30 participants marched silently alongside the police, holding placards with messages against human trafficking. Onlookers along the route showed curiosity and support, with many pausing to read the messages and some offering words of encouragement.

Sheela Shetty, Founder and President of Asha Care Trust, said:
“Police support was our greatest strength in this walk. They are the guardians of law and order, and having them walk beside us was a privilege. Though our numbers were small, the public’s response was heartening — people paused, read our placards, and even praised our efforts. That gave us strength and reminded us of our mission.”

Satyajit Desai, Trustee of Asha Care Trust and coordinator for event permissions, added: “This is a crucial cause. We hope to make this walk an annual awareness initiative. Without widespread understanding of what human trafficking truly is, we can’t expect meaningful change. Awareness is the foundation.”

The walk was further supported by local NGOs, including veteran activist Bhola Wankhade, Yadav from Devdasi Trust, and several community members who work for the welfare of women and children in the area.

While these organizations focus on providing healthcare, education, and economic support, Asha Care Trust and Manobal Foundation continue to lead focused efforts on rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration of trafficking survivors.