All Bengal Women's Union

The All Bengal Women's Union was started in the 1932, when a group of women in West Bengal formed a cadre of like-minded women to help their helpless, exploited and victimized fellow women.

The genesis of the group lay in the fact that trafficking in women and children had increased to an unprecedented extent in West Bengal and the Calcutta area and this NGO was an attempt to address the problem.

In between the two World Wars, the number of sailors and soldiers had considerably increased and the flesh trade found a ready and expanding market in Calcutta. The Calcutta Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act and the Children Act were passed in order to enable the
police to rescue women and children from the brothels. A new bill entitled The Bengal Suppression of Immoral Traffic Bill was placed before the Bengal Legislative Assembly in 1932 by Mr. J. N. Basu, an eminent lawyer and social worker. The Bengal Presidency Council of Women and the All Bengal Women's Conference decided to form an independent organization for the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Bengal. This society came into being with the name of All Bengal Women's Union and registered under Act XXI of 1860. The All Bengal Women's Union is  affiliated to the International Abolitionist Federation, Geneva. On 1 April 1933, the bill was passed. Romola Sinha, the founder member was the first chairperson of Central Social Welfare Board in West Bengal.

Among the other notable ladies who had made significant contributions to the institution were Smt Maneck Modi, Smt Sheila Davar and Mrs Bela Sen.
The visit of Princess Anne (in January 2007) was an important event in the history of the Institution.
Mrs Davar became the president of the club on the death of Mrs Sinha. She also founded the Bustee Welfare Society located at Lovelock Place. Mrs Bela Sen was the chairman of the production department for a long time.

The All Bengal Women's Union is assisted in their work by several NGOs such as Save the Children Fund.

Projects

The major projects of the organization have been:
 Creating homes for the housing of old aged women
 Creating children's welfare homes (Primary Schools)
 Providing vocational training
 Developing rehabilitation centers
 The Refill Project for those with learning disabilities
 The Bakery Project that provides employment to rehabilitated women
 Research and documentation into the sex trade of children and women
 Counselling services for mentally and psychologically traumatised women (sponsored by the Hope Kolkata Foundation)
 Sponsorship programs for health and education needs (in conjunction with ASHA and Save the Children)
 Free legal aid to women who are living below the poverty line to those who need it for any purpose
 The Sahayika Project, which trains girls who are victims of various atrocities and violence as ayahs and nursing assistants.
 The Shikshalaya Prakalpo Project, supported by UNICEF, aims to provide primary school education to the dropouts
 The Swadhar Project, intended to work with 25 girls from the red light district is in its genesis

See also
 Prostitution in India
 Prostitution in Asia
 Prostitution in Kolkata
 Prostitution in Mumbai
 World Charter for Prostitutes' Rights
 Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee
 Kamathipura
 Garstin Bastion Road, New Delhi
 Budhwar Peth, Pune
 Male prostitution

References

External links
 All Bengal Women's Union

1932 establishments in India
Sex worker organisations based in India
Medical and health organisations based in India
Organisations based in Kolkata
Sexuality in India
Organizations established in 1932
HIV/AIDS prevention organizations
Organizations that combat human trafficking
HIV/AIDS organizations in India
Prostitution in India
Women's rights organisations based in India
Women's organisations based in India
Human trafficking in India