Dr. Trupti Jhaveri Panchal
Chairperson, RACE Lab and Samvedna
Research, Advocacy, and Capacity Building against Exploitation – RACE Lab is India’s first anti-human trafficking lab, established with the mandate to combat human trafficking. We are the country’s leading think tank producing evidence-based research, advocating for policy and systemic changes, and building capacities of stakeholders to create an enabling ecosystem equipped to prevent and counter human trafficking effectively. Our approach towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 8.7 of ending human trafficking by 2030 is informed by addressing issues of vulnerability and facilitating the rehabilitation of victims by focusing on the goals set under SDGs 4, 5, 8, 10, and 16.
Research, Advocacy, and Capacity Building against Exploitation – RACE Lab is India’s first anti-human trafficking lab, established with the mandate to combat human trafficking. We are the country’s leading think tank producing evidence-based research, advocating for policy and systemic changes, and building capacities of stakeholders to create an enabling ecosystem equipped to prevent and counter human trafficking effectively. Our approach towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal (UN SDG) 8.7 of ending human trafficking by 2030 is informed by addressing issues of vulnerability and facilitating the rehabilitation of victims by focusing on the goals set under SDGs 4, 5, 8, 10, and 16.
Samvedna collaborates closely with both government departments and non-governmental organizations to uphold the rights and dignity of the Bedia community in Madhya Pradesh.
Samvedna partnered with the Department of Women and Child Development, Government of Madhya Pradesh government to conduct an impact assessment of the Jawali Scheme, specifically designed for the communities involved in intergenerational prostitution in Madhya Pradesh.
Samvedna aided the Department of Denotified Nomadic and Semi-nomadic Welfare to redesign various social security and welfare schemes by submitting memoranda and reports.
Samvedna also partnered with the state Department of Education to run “य से Eureka” in 35 schools located in DNT-populated villages, aimed at increasing retention in these schools.
Samvedna, in partnership with the National Institution for Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India, conducted an evidence based research study on the prevalence of substance abuse among the Bedia community in 10 districts of Madhya Pradesh to highlight the pattern of narcotic drugs, alcohol, and tobacco consumption; explore the reasons for initiation and progression of substance use among both Bedia men and women; study the factors leading to alcohol and tobacco use by the men and women of the Bedia community who are forced into intergenerational prostitution; and assess the expenditure on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco relative to their household income.
Capacity building of stakeholders, both government and non-government, has been the cornerstone of RACE Lab’s efforts to strengthen the prevention and response capacities of the system against human trafficking.
Our Director, Dr. Veerendra Mishra, IPS is recognized as an international expert on human trafficking. He is continually invited to train MLAs, IPS and other police officers, government officials, civil society organizations (CSOs), academicians, media personnel, and students on human trafficking.
Dr. Mishra was invited to speak on Police Commitment in Combating Human Trafficking’ at North East Hill University (NEHU), Shillong, Meghalaya at a two-day national seminar organized by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and NEHU on 1st April 2023 where he addressed students, faculty, media personnel, and members of the Commission.
RACE LAB is established in Samvedna, a Bhopal-based non-profit organization, which has been working for the prevention and rehabilitation of the survivors of human trafficking and exploitation of the Bedia community in rural Madhya Pradesh for over 15 years. It is a one-of-a-kind organization in the country with the knowledge, technical know-how, and patterns of trafficking in the Bedia community. Samvedna is currently working in 60 villages in the six districts of Bhopal, Rajgarh, Guna, Raisen, Vidisha, and Sagar for the prevention of human trafficking and rehabilitation of women, adolescents and children survivors. In its prevention approach, Samvedna uses education and life skills as means of transformation while it simultaneously works with adult men and women for skill building and promotion of alternative forms of livelihood for their effective rehabilitation.
RACE Lab was officially launched on 19th October 2022 at the RCVP Noronha Academy of Administration, Bhopal in an august ceremony graced by dignitaries and distinguished personalities in the field of human rights, law, academia, and law enforcement. Ms. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, National Commission for Women (NCW) was the Chief Guest while Mr. Viresh Kumar Bhawra, IPS, Chairman, Punjab Police Housing Corporation delivered the key note address. Ms. Anuradha Shankar Singh, IPS, ADG Training, Madhya Pradesh Police attended the event at the Guest of Honor. Prof. (Dr.) Himanshu Pandya, Vice Chancellor, Gujarat University graced the evening as an Eminent Guest. Over 180 participants comprising NGOs, educationists, government officials, police officers, and students attended the launch event to extend their overwhelming support to the cause of anti-human trafficking.
RACE LAB is being launched in Samvedna. Samvedna is a Bhopal-based non-profit organisation, which is steadily engaged with the issue of exploitation and Human Trafficking for the last 15 years, ReadMore…
IPS officer Veerendra Mishra has worked exclusively with the Bedia community for years to help the newer generations escape the cycle of intergenerational sex work ReadMore…
MADHYA PRADESH: The Bedia community in Madhya Pradesh has forced its daughters to engage in prostitution for decades, while its boys have served as pimps or agents for the same girls ReadMore…
Listen to Veerender Mishra, who is an IPS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre. Virender Ji is a good writer and successful administrative officer who has done very important and meaningful work during his tenure.. ReadMore…
Chairperson National Commission for Women launched Samvednas RACE Lab as signed an MoU with the NGO and Gujarat University Ahmedabad to establish a framework for collaboration and cooperation for research advocacy and capacity building on Anti Human Trafficking on 19th October 2022 ReadMore…
