Sunitha Krishnan

Introduction

Sunitha Krishnan is an Indian social activist who has dedicated her life to fighting sex trafficking. She is the co-founder of Prajwala, a non-governmental organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society. Krishnan has been recognized for her work with numerous awards, including the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.

Krishnan’s story is one of courage and determination in the face of adversity. Despite being gang-raped as a teenager, she refused to be silenced and instead chose to fight for the rights of other women and girls who had been victimized by sex trafficking. Her work has changed the lives of countless women and girls, and she continues to fight tirelessly against one of the most heinous crimes in the world.

Early Life and Education

Sunitha Krishnan was born in 1972 in the southern Indian state of Karnataka.

Krishnan was born in Bangalore, to Palakkad Malayali parents Raju Krishnan and Nalini Krishnan. She saw most of the country early on while traveling from one place to another with her father, who worked with the Department of Survey which makes maps for the entire country.

Krishnan’s passion for social work became manifest when, at the age of eight years, she started teaching dance to mentally challenged children. By the age of twelve, she was running schools in slums for underprivileged children. At fifteen, while working on a neo-literacy campaign for the Dalit community, Krishnan was gang raped by eight men. They did not like that a woman was interfering with what they claimed as “man’s society.” They beat her so badly that she is partially deaf in one ear. This incident served as the impetus for what she does today

Krishnan received her bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from St. Joseph’s College in Bangalore, Krishnan completed her MSW (medical & psychiatric) from Roshni Nilaya, Mangalore. After completing her studies, she co-founded Prajwala, a non-governmental organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society.

Rescue and Rehabilitation Work

Sunitha Krishnan has dedicated her life to rescuing and rehabilitating sex-trafficked victims.

Since founding Prajwala in 1996, Sunitha Krishnan has rescued over 16,000 women and girls from sex trafficking. She has also provided them with housing, food, education, and job training so that they can rebuild their lives.

Sunitha Krishnan’s work has been recognized both nationally and internationally. In 2016, she was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.

Awards and Recognition

Sunitha Krishnan is a social activist who has been fighting sex trafficking for many years. In 2016, she was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest civilian award.

This prestigious award is a testament to her dedication and hard work in helping victims of sex trafficking. She has shown that it is possible to make a difference in the world, and she inspires others to do the same.

India Times listed Krishnan as one of the 11 Human Rights Activists Whose Life Mission Is To Provide Others With A Dignified Life

Some of the Award Received by Sunitha Krishnan

• Padma Shri in the field of Social Work, 2016.
• Inaugural Sri Sathya Sai Award for Human Excellence, 2016.
• Tallberg Global Leadership Prize
• Franco-German Award For Human Rights & Rule of law

Legacy

Krishnan has learned through personal experience in numerous raids that without a strong governmental policy, no amount of micro-level social work or advocacy is sufficient to be helpful. As a result, she goes about her work establishing connections with various police agencies, particularly the Women Protection Cell and the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit.  In order to prevent sex trafficking, Krishnan found the first Crisis Counseling Center ever in the Afzalgunj Police Station. More than 150 traffickers have been convicted thanks in part to her efforts, which included convincing the Andhra Pradesh government to join her in combating this organized crime.

Conclusion

Sunitha Krishnan is a remarkable woman who has dedicated her life to helping sex-trafficked victims. She is a true inspiration, and her story should serve as an inspiration to us all.

She is an Indian social activist and chief functionary and co-founder of Prajwala, a non-governmental organization that rescues, rehabilitates, and reintegrates sex-trafficked victims into society. In 2016, she was awarded India’s fourth-highest civilian award the Padma Shri.

Krishnan’s work is focused on rescuing and rehabilitating sex-trafficked victims, as well as raising awareness about the issue of sex trafficking. She has spoken out about the need for tougher laws to combat sex trafficking and has been a vocal advocate for the rights of victims. Her work has been recognized internationally, and she has received numerous awards for her contributions to the fight against sex trafficking.