A voluntary organisation that provides free legal aid to people and works against human trafficking is using play therapy to help trafficking survivors in their psychological and physical development.

The Darjeeling District Legal Aid Forum, a Siliguri-based organisation, created a space, Khel Gaon, at a village in Naxalbari block of Siliguri subdivision in 2000-end to launch play therapy for survivors, including minors, to help them return to the mainstream.

“We created a special zone and encourage survivors to play different indoor and outdoor games as a part of play therapy, which is a psychological treatment. The therapy can be useful in treating mental health and behavioural disorders. After being trafficked, children and adults confront certain experiences which leave them traumatised. The trauma lingers even after they are rescued. The therapy helps them recover,” said Amit Sarkar, president of the forum.

The therapy started with 70 children trafficked from Siliguri subdivision who were rescued between 2018 and 2023.

“Many were depressed and traumatised. We helped some 50 of them to recover. They have returned to the mainstream in phases. Another 20 children are still in the zone. We also bring in trafficking survivors from other areas at the location so that they too can get a feel about the activities,” he added.

In 2021, 27 adult men who had earlier been trafficked to Tamil Nadu joined the therapy.

“They had gone for jobs but were trapped and faced torture. Eventually, they could escape, but many of them were depressed and lacked confidence. We made them join play therapy and now they are recovering their confidence,” said Sarkar.

Table tennis, football, indoor games apart, survivors are taught art and crafts, singing and dancing.

“Four of the survivors learned to play table tennis so well that they joined a private centre on the outskirts of Siliguri to coach children,” said a forum source.

He said that the village where Khel Gaon stands has around 200 families. Some are families of trafficking survivors too.

“We have managed to turn the entire village into a crime-free, drug-free, domestic
violence-free and liquor-free area by interacting with the villagers. They are aware of the consequences of trafficking. They are ready to prevent any attempt made by traffickers to lure residents, including children, out of the village on the pretext of jobs,” said Sarkar.