From Listener to Messenger: Devi's Journey of Courage

With VIHAAN's support, 19-year-old Devi, a visually impaired survivor of institutional abuse, found her courage and became a messenger of hope, sharing life-saving awareness with her entire shelter community.

Nineteen-year-old Devi* was born with a visual disability. She learned to navigate the world through sound: the soft footsteps of caregivers, the rustle of neem leaves outside her window, and, most of all, the warm, familiar voice of the FM radio that played every night in her dormitory.

Abandoned by her parents at a young age, Devi was placed in an institution that should have been her safe haven. Instead, she and other minor girls endured years of systematic physical and sexual abuse by the principal. For some of the girls, the abuse continued for a decade. When they first approached the police for help, their courage was met with corruption. The perpetrator bribed the officers, and the investigation was abandoned. Feeling invincible, he boasted about his impunity and escalated the abuse.

But Devi refused to give up. She met another child who told her about the Child Welfare Committee. Devi memorized the phone number of one of the members and called them herself, narrating the abuse they had endured. Her bravery led to their rescue and placement in a safe shelter home.

VIHAAN received a support person order for six girls in December 2023, the day the case was registered. From that moment, VIHAAN's team stepped in with comprehensive support: monthly counselling sessions to help the girls process trauma and reclaim their sense of safety, and legal assistance to guide them through court proceedings and ensure their voices were heard with dignity and protection.

The girls at the shelter loved listening to the radio. It played trending songs, told stories, shared news, and marked awareness days. Among all the programmes, one held a special place in Devi's heart: the National Anti Human Trafficking Day broadcast on All India Radio, created in collaboration with VIHAAN. All India Radio, also known as Akashvani, is India's national public broadcaster, reaching millions of listeners across the country, including those in the most remote areas.

The first time she heard it, the words felt heavy, unfamiliar, yet full of meaning. She sat cross-legged on her bed, fingers tracing the edge of her blanket, listening intently to every story, every warning, every message of safety and courage.

That night, after the programme ended, the younger girls gathered around her.

"What did they mean by trafficking, Didi?" one asked.

Devi, though still processing it herself, explained as gently as she could. She spoke about staying alert, about strangers, about the right to ask for help, and about organisations like VIHAAN that worked tirelessly to protect children. She thought of how VIHAAN's counselors visited them regularly, helping them understand their feelings and overcome fear. She remembered how VIHAAN guided them with legal support when they needed to testify in court. She spoke slowly, repeating the points she remembered from the radio. The girls listened with wide eyes.

From then on, it became a ritual. Every year on the same day, the girls gathered quietly after dinner, huddling around the small FM set. They waited eagerly for the programme, tuning the radio carefully until the All India Radio jingle came through clearly.

For two consecutive years, they listened, hearing not just warnings but stories of resilience, helplines they could trust, and voices reminding them that they were not alone. VIHAAN's partnership with All India Radio fascinated them.

Something profound changed. The girls no longer remained just listeners. They became messengers.

Devi began sharing what she learned with the older girls who attended vocational training during the day. Soon, they too started discussing the programme with their friends at the training centres, passing on the information like a protective chain. Before long, the entire shelter, older and younger girls alike, was talking about the show, about trafficking, about safety. The radio had become their teacher. The messages, their armour.

Today, Devi continues her journey of healing with VIHAAN's ongoing support. The legal case against her perpetrator moves forward, with Devi and the other survivors standing strong as witnesses. Through monthly counselling sessions, she processes her trauma while building resilience. And through her role as a messenger of awareness, she has transformed from a survivor into an advocate, ensuring that the knowledge she gained reaches every girl who needs it.

For Devi, the All India Radio program created with VIHAAN was more than a broadcast. It was a voice of reassurance. A reminder of dignity. A spark of courage. And, above all, a bridge that connected her, a visually impaired girl in a shelter home, to a larger world fighting for safety, freedom, and hope.

*Name has been changed to protect survivor's identity