Taaras Celebration : How Often Does An Event Touch Hearts And Inspire Change?

At Swasti , my role involves working alongside marginalized communities, particularly women in sex work, through Taaras – a coalition of women in sex work and their community organizations (62 in total) spanning across 5 states, with Swasti serving as the national secretariat. The coalition, formed in 2016, embodies Swasti’s commitment to continuing support to the sex worker community and is centered on building #sustainableinstitutions, nurturing #communityleadership , and fostering a #resilientnetwork.

The coalition has reached out to over 100,000 lives, embracing them with compassion and resilience. The women leaders of Taaras have done exceptional work during the pandemic crisis, tirelessly supporting their communities, showing up every day to run relief efforts, resources, medicines, vaccinations and what not. We do have numbers for their impact created but their extraordinary efforts cannot & should not be simply quantified by numbers; their work holds a deeper meaning that transcends mere statistics.?

Last Sunday, on August 6th, we, the Taaras secretariat team, orchestrated a gathering—calling it an "event" feels almost inadequate to encapsulate its significance. The purpose was to reflect upon the incredible journey undertaken by Taaras and its women leaders over the past 6-7 years. It was a day dedicated to honoring their dedication and devising strategies for the future – discerning how we can continue supporting our communities.

Joining us were the women leaders from all five anchored states of Taaras, alongside our advisors and well-wishers from across the country. Each of them, bound by a shared thread of genuine care and compassion for the women in the sex work community, has been instrumental in guiding Taaras through its transformative journey.??

As I pen down the beauty of this day, vivid moments surface, each carrying the essence of its warmth and significance.?The sheer joy on Shiv Kumar 's face, the visionary behind this event, the moment he walked in the room, spoke volumes.?His heartfelt speech was not only reflective of many years of association with the community but also showed his genuine care for all the people in the room-the people we have stood beside, the people who were the front line heroes and the people who have immensely helped reach Taaras where it is today.?

Shama Karkal , whose involvement with these communities transcends professional boundaries, held back tears as she welcomed these leaders and reflected on the path that we have walked with them.?

Our community leaders, who took the stage as key speakers, eloquently shared their experiences and achievements, each speaking in a different language yet united by their confidence and desire to amplify their remarkable work to a larger audience. Sharing stories of their work which moved all of us in the room. The masters of ceremony were also our community leaders and champions who brilliantly facilitated the entire program.?

There came another deeply moving moment when Shama Karkal openly expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the men & transpeople in Taaras team and catalyst group who have relentlessly championed the voices and concerns of women leaders and helped break down many barriers.

Amidst all this, Hareesh B S , Jeyaganesh krishnan , and I exchanged knowing glances, affirming that everything was going as we planned.?

Throughout the various moments of the day, I sensed a surge of emotions welling up within each and everyone of us. How often does a gathering have such a profound impact on people's hearts??

When I looked at that room from a distance, all I could feel was that? we were more than just a planned gathering—it was a genuine, caring community, a truly inclusive group united in their commitment to making a difference.?

To know more about Taaras, please visit https://swasti.org/our_work/Sexual-Reproductive-Health-and-Rights-SRHR or reach out to me at [email protected]?