Shilu

A 7 year old child sold for 5 lakhs!

In our country there are many notorious tribes that believe in intergenerational prostitution. The daughters of the Nat community are sold into prostitution at a young age. The panchayat (elders) of the community decide the fate of the girls at the time they are born. They decide if the child should study or be sold into prostitution. Once decided they cut a deal with the child’s parents- agreeing who she would be sold to and for how much. As soon as the girl comes of age, they sell her into prostitution.

What happens before they come of age? 

The father of the child would leave his daughter with someone older than her.  There she would be exposed to things that her innocent brain would be unable to process or understand. She will be exposed to pornography. That same person would take her to a room and make her secretly watch live sexual activities. 

For Shilu, the nightmare began when she turned 7

Shilu lived with her family in Gujarat. When she was 7 years old she had been sold to her aunt who ran a brothel  in MP for 5 lakhs. Little Shilu had never been out of Gujarat and knew nothing of the outside world. She was staying with her aunt in MP and from there she was forced to go to the brothel to attend to customers daily. Her family traded her body for their income. After a while, Shilu was forced to marry the brothel keeper’s son who was twice her age.

On 24th February, 2022 the police and our team conducted a raid in Dhodhar. They rescued Shilu. When they saw Shilu, draped in a sari and had makeup like an older woman they were shocked and deeply angered. A tini-tiny little being had been forced into marriage with a man twice her age. 

After her rescue she immediately shared with our social workers that she was being exploited for two years  and tutored to say that her husband had never consummated their marriage.  She was told repeatedly that this was her fate. 

Later she was placed in a children’s home. 

We collected her documents so that she could be enrolled in a school. Over the years our social workers continued to visit her- sometimes at the shelter homes and sometimes at the school. Her teachers were impressed by her focus and determination. 

During summer holidays, she was allowed to visit her family.

In the summer of 2026,  Shilu shared that she wanted to stay with her family and returned home. The Child Welfare Committee approved her return without realizing her vulnerability to re-trafficking . 

On the legal front,  Shilu’s case was no longer a priority.  The judicial system failed to grant Shilu justice. All five accused were granted bail and the case got disposed in Feb 2026. 

Today, Shilu is back with her family. They live in extreme poverty, in a small, crudely built house that does not even provide proper shelter.

We remain concerned for her safety and future. We hope that the judicial system recognizes the seriousness of her situation and takes steps to ensure that she receives the protection and justice.