Panaji: Arz (Anyay Rahit Zindagi), an anti-sex trafficking NGO, has submitted a proposal to the Goa government seeking financial support to construct a unit for setting up a ‘Model Economic Rehabilitation Unit’ in the state. The proposed unit aims to provide alternative livelihood opportunities to girls and women engaged in commercial sexual activity and exploitation, enabling them to exit such exploitation.
ARZ has requested the government to make a budgetary provision in the Goa Budget (2026–27) during the Goa Assembly session starting March 6.
“Through its 27 years of intervention on sex trafficking, ARZ has strongly believed that preventing entry of new girls in the market, action against the traffickers and providing alternative livelihood to the girls and women engaged in commercial sexual activities in Goa, can surely reduce the number of victims of sex trafficking in Goa”, said Arun Pandey, director and founder of Arz.
Goa is both a major destination and source state for sex trafficking, the organisation said, adding that as per data from the Goa State AIDS Control Society, there are around 6,500 girls and women engaged in commercial sexual activities in Goa, while unofficial estimates place the number at approximately 12,000. These women are residents of Goa.
“Let no girl and women in Goa continue in commercial sexual activity/exploitation, due to lack of alternative livelihood and rehabilitation services,” said ARZ. Pandey said that the organisation plans to construct a shed and install machines to generate employment opportunities.
The proposed livelihood unit would provide employment to 50 victims with a consolidated salary of Rs 15,000 per month, along with psycho-social and legal services.
The NGO has received support from the US Department of State’s Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, in collaboration with ECPAT Luxembourg, for the purchase of machines required for the livelihood initiative.
Pandey said that in 2006, following the demolition of the Baina red-light area, Arz had established the Swift Wash laundry unit and WISH (Women’s Initiative for Self Help), both of which played a key role in the economic rehabilitation of victims of sex trafficking and reform of perpetrators.
“Swift Wash and WISH have contributed substantially in preventing the resumption of commercial sexual activities in the red-light area of Baina, Goa. Today, most of the beneficiaries of Swift Wash and WISH are well settled in life, some married, some pursued higher studies, and some sought employment in different sectors with the help of ARZ,” said Pandey.
He said that Arz has received national and international appreciation for its model of economic rehabilitation and has rehabilitated around 3,500 victims of sex trafficking to date.
