Lighting Hope in the Darkest Corners of Society
In the heart of Madhya Pradesh, one man’s compassion is rewriting the destiny of a community that had long been trapped in an endless cycle of exploitation. IPS Officer Veerendra Mishra, through his non-profit Samvedna, is proving that education is not just a tool — it’s a lifeline.
For decades, the Bedia community has lived under the heavy shadow of inter-generational sex work. In this community, young girls often followed the paths their mothers and grandmothers walked, with little access to education or dignity. But that changed when Mishra stepped into their village in 2007.
A Moment That Changed Everything
When Mishra met a 14-year-old girl who openly spoke about her life in sex work, he was deeply moved. Her words shattered his perception of the world and opened his eyes to a harsh reality a child robbed of her innocence, yet fearless in her acceptance of fate.
He offered to adopt her, hoping to give her a new beginning through education. But her response was heartbreaking:
“What I earn in a day, I won’t earn in ten years of schooling.”
It was at that moment that Mishra realized rescue alone is not the answer; empowerment through education is.
Planting the Seeds of Change
Determined to bring transformation, Mishra began working with the Bedia community. Slowly, he built trust where there was none. In the beginning, only a few children attended school, often registered under different community names to escape discrimination.
Within a year, more than 40 children began attending school. By 2010, Mishra took 13 children to Bhopal to give them formal education a small step that would go on to spark a movement.
Today, over 5,500 children from 60 villages across six districts of Madhya Pradesh Bhopal, Rajgarh, Guna, Raisen, Vidisha, and Sagar are receiving education and a chance at a dignified life through Samvedna.
Empowering Minds, Transforming Lives
The change is visible and inspiring. One of the first girls in Mishra’s program went on to complete her BTech and MTech and even reached the final round of the UPSC exams a shining example of what education can achieve.
“Education is making an impact,” Mishra says. “When these children move to cities, their confidence grows, their dreams expand, and their futures begin to change.”
But the journey wasn’t easy. Many children lacked records of their fathers, trust in the system was minimal, and the community carried generations of stigma. Yet, persistence, empathy, and consistent action made the difference.
From Rescue to Reinvention: The Mission Expands
Mishra’s fight against human trafficking grew beyond the Bedia community. Drawing from his experiences with the United Nations missions in Kosovo and Bosnia and his Hubert Humphrey Fellowship in the US, he launched the RACE Lab (Research, Advocacy, and Capacity Building against Exploitation) India’s first anti-human trafficking think tank.
The lab focuses on research, advocacy, and capacity building to help policymakers, NGOs, and communities work together to prevent exploitation and create lasting change.
Mishra believes in what he calls the “CCS Model”:
- Conceptual Literacy of the masses through awareness,
- Clarity among people working in this field, and
- Development of a Specific Skillset to address human trafficking effectively.
A Vision for Tomorrow
Today, Mishra continues to work tirelessly with Samvedna, creating pathways for education, employment, and empowerment. His dream is simple yet profound
“I want to see a day when no child is forced into prostitution by their own family. I want the Rai dance of the Bediyas to regain its original grace and cultural pride not be seen through the lens of exploitation.”
Through his work, IPS Officer Veerendra Mishra reminds us that true change begins when compassion meets action.
At Take Care International Foundation, we salute changemakers like him individuals who believe that every child deserves a chance to dream, to learn, and to rise above circumstances.
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