Prajwala

What Prajwala does

Prajwala is a non-profit anti-trafficking organization established in 1996, headquartered in Mankhal, Maheshwaram Mandal, Rangareddy District, Telangana, India. It operates a five-pillar model spanning Prevention (PTEP, CBPP, Swaraksha awareness caravan, demand reduction), Rescue (joint operations with National Investigation Agency and state police), Rehabilitation (psychological, economic, civic recovery services delivered through multiple shelter homes), Reintegration, and Advocacy (policy, legal, and media). The organization's primary beneficiaries are women and girls rescued from sex trafficking and sex crime, secondary beneficiaries include at-risk vulnerable populations (orphans, school dropouts, children of sex workers), and tertiary stakeholders include police, judicial officers, Anganwadi workers, and teachers. Cumulative impact metrics include 29,600 victims supported, 2,421 sex buyers counseled, 1 million+ people reached through Swaraksha, and operations spanning 53 districts across 3 Indian states plus 7 countries.

The organization relies on a community-based go-to-market model powered by survivor-led advocacy and peer counselors (Sakhis), with distribution through direct service delivery from shelter homes, government partnership channels (Telangana Department of Education MOU, Hyderabad City Police VAU, National Police Academy training programs), and international partnerships (US Consulate of Hyderabad, Catholic Relief Service, Misereor, UNODC, Justice & Care Bangladesh). Operating infrastructure includes shelter management systems and case tracking, but is not technology-led. Its revenue model is donation- and grant-based: domestic and international charitable contributions (FCRA-compliant), Indian government grants, and CSR partnerships. Services are provided free of cost to beneficiaries. Notable capability assets include Mobile cross-border legal infrastructure (Bangladeshi survivor testified from Dhaka via video conferencing in May 2024, leading to a landmark conviction of six traffickers), a pioneering Vikalpa demand-reduction program at Gopalapuram Police Station counseling apprehended sex buyers, and Prajwala Enterprises (in-house vocational production center for survivors).

Operationally, Prajwala has expanded its institutional footprint across 2024-2025: signing MOUs with the Government of Telangana's Department of Education, inaugurating India's first Victim Assistance Unit at Hyderabad City Police, hosting 200+ IPS officer trainees, drafting the Assam State Policy on Human Trafficking, and achieving a Landmark Supreme Court Judgment (Prajwala v. Union of India 56/2004, 2026). The Governing Board was reconstituted on 2 November 2025 with a retired IAS officer as President, marking a leadership transition. Founder Dr. Sunitha Krishnan (Padma Shri, 2016) continues as General Secretary and remains the public face and policy anchor.

Name

Prajwala

Legal name

Prajwala

Website

https://prajwalaindia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Prajwala is an Indian non-profit anti-trafficking NGO established in 1996, working across five pillars - Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Advocacy - to support survivors and at-risk populations of sex trafficking through shelter homes, community campaigns, policy advocacy, and government partnerships across India and 7 international countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Anti-Trafficking Social Services

NAICS

Individual and Family Services (6241), Community Housing Services (62422), Temporary Shelters (624221), Emergency and Other Relief Services (624230), Human Rights Organizations (813311)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Emergency Shelter, Camp Coordination & Camp Management (CCCM) (BPADADAB)

Keywords

• Anti-trafficking services
• Victim rehabilitation programs
• Human trafficking prevention
• Survivor support services
• Demand reduction counseling

Headquarters

HQ city

Hyderabad

HQ country

India

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: Prajwala relies primarily on donations from individuals, corporations, and charitable foundations both domestically and internationally. The organization maintains FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act) compliance for receiving foreign contributions.
2. Government Grants and CSR Funding: The organization receives funding through government schemes, CSR partnerships with corporations, and institutional grants for specific programs like prevention education, rescue operations, and rehabilitation services.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Prajwala is a non-profit anti-trafficking organization that delivers a comprehensive five-pillar program (Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, Advocacy) addressing sex trafficking and sex crime. It operates shelter homes, conducts community awareness campaigns, trains police and government officials, and provides psychological, economic, and civic rehabilitation services to survivors. The organization also engages in policy and legal advocacy, demand reduction through buyer counseling, and survivor-led empowerment programs.

Product overview

Prajwala is an anti-trafficking NGO (not a technology product company) offering a comprehensive range of social service programs focused on five pillars: Prevention, Rescue, Rehabilitation, Reintegration, and Advocacy. The organization operates shelter homes (Emergency Shelter, Children's Shelter, Adult Shelter), provides economic empowerment through Prajwala Enterprises, conducts awareness campaigns through films and Swaraksha Caravan, publishes training manuals and research reports, and advocates for policy changes. Key programs include Prevention Through Education Programs (PTEP), Vikalpa demand reduction program, Victim Assistance Unit (VAU), and various rehabilitation services including psychological, economic, and civic rehabilitation. The organization also produces documentary films and training materials for capacity building of various stakeholders.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Shelter Homes (Emergency, Children's, and Adult Shelter) 24/7 residential care facilities providing emergency shelter, children's shelter, and adult shelter services including counseling, medical support, education, vocational training, and legal assistance to women and girls rescued from sex trafficking and sex crime.
• Prevention Through Education Programs (PTEP) Education-based prevention program that works with at-risk children in schools, hostels (KGBV), and communities to raise awareness about trafficking tactics and prevent sex trafficking at the source. Recognized with the AGFUND International Prize in 2018.
• Community Based Prevention Programs (CBPP) Community-level prevention programs engaging vulnerable populations, including children of sex workers and impoverished communities, through grassroots interventions and community vigilant group formation to prevent trafficking.
• Swaraksha Community Awakening Campaign A pioneering community awakening caravan led by survivors that reached over 1 million people across 53 districts in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Odisha over 160 days. The campaign mobilizes community members against sex trafficking and has been replicated in 7 countries and 10 Indian states.
• Rescue Operations Support Planned rescue operations assisting police in rescuing victims of sex trafficking, conducted in collaboration with law enforcement agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and state police. Notable operations include the 2019 cross-border rescue of five Bangladeshi victims in Hyderabad.
• Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) A first-of-its-kind Victim Assistance Unit located at the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate that provides comprehensive support to adult victims of sex trafficking rescued in Hyderabad, facilitating access to justice, legal aid, and civic entitlements in partnership with State Legal Services Authority and Department of Women & Child Welfare.
• Vikalpa Demand Reduction Program A demand reduction intervention providing intensive counseling to sex buyers apprehended by police, located at Gopalapuram Police Station in collaboration with Hyderabad City Police. As of 2025, 2,421 sex buyers have received counseling through this program with low recidivism rates.
• Psychological Rehabilitation Services Trauma-focused psychological rehabilitation services including counseling, peer support through survivor-counsellors (Sakhis), and mental health interventions to help survivors recover from the psychological effects of trafficking and exploitation.
• Economic Rehabilitation through Prajwala Enterprises An in-house training cum production center providing vocational skills including cloth and thread work, carpentry, welding, book binding, and organic farming for economic empowerment and rehabilitation of survivors, with placement support such as the Microsoft partnership that trained 75 survivors as female security guards.
• Civic Rehabilitation Services Civic rehabilitation services helping survivors obtain identity documents, access government entitlements, navigate legal systems, and restore their civic identity and rights following trafficking.
• Reintegration Services Social reintegration programs that support survivors in returning to society through family reunion, marriage, or independent living pathways, addressing the long-term stability and recovery needs of trafficking survivors.
• Awareness Films and Documentaries Documentary films and short films produced for mass awareness and sensitization on sex trafficking, including 'Anamika-The Nameless' (won national/international awards), 'One Life No Price' for UNODC, and feature film 'Naa Bangaaru Talli' (won three National awards and four Nandi Awards). Used for mass awakening campaigns globally.
• Training Manuals and Capacity Building Training manuals and capacity building programs developed for diverse stakeholders including Anganwadi Workers, Judicial Officers, Police Officers, School Assistants, Village Volunteers, and shelter staff on human trafficking prevention and victim-centred approaches.
• Police Training Programs Training programs for IPS officer trainees and law enforcement personnel on sex trafficking awareness and victim-centred rehabilitation approaches, delivered at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, Hyderabad. Over 200 IPS officer trainees across four batches have been trained.
• Research Publications Action research reports including India's first National Action Research on Cyber-Enabled Human Trafficking and Microstudy on Re-trafficking, contributing to evidence-based policy advocacy and the development of a Draft National Plan of Action.

Quantifiable outcome

• 29,600 victims of sex trafficking and sex crime supported to regain dignity and start new lives
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel National Police Academy, HyderabadcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 July 2025Training partnership where Prajwala hosts IPS officer trainees to provide insights into sex trafficking and victim-centred rehabilitation approaches. Over 200 trainees across four batches received comprehensive overview of anti-trafficking work.
• Department of Education, Government of TelanganacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 18 June 2025MOU signed for capacity building and sensitization of teachers in all schools (KGBV, Model Schools, TREIS, Government and Local Body schools) under School Education, Telangana, focusing on human trafficking as part of child protection and prevention.
• Hyderabad City PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 June 2025Partnership for pioneering Victim Assistance Unit (VAU) at police commissionerate to extend support to adult victims of sex trafficking rescued in Hyderabad and facilitate access to justice. Department of Prosecutions, State Legal Services Authority, and Department of Women & Child Welfare are collaborative partners.
• MicrosoftcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for livelihood training where 75 survivors were trained as female security guards and placed at residential schools throughout Telangana. Customized skill training conducted to suit corporate requirements.
• Justice & CarecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBangladeshi partner organization that worked closely with Prajwala to enable cross-border survivor testimony through video conferencing. instrumental in facilitating survivor participation in trial for landmark cross-border trafficking case.
• US Consulate of HyderabadcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborative partner in Swaraksha community awakening caravan to combat sex trafficking. The campaign reached 1 million people across 53 districts.
• Catholic Relief ServicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Swaraksha caravan initiative for community awakening against trafficking for commercial sexual exploitation.
• MisereorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational development partner supporting the Swaraksha campaign for anti-trafficking awareness across multiple states.
• Governments of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and OdishacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partners in Swaraksha caravan and various prevention and rehabilitation programs. Telangana government announced third Saturday of every month as Swaraksha day.
• National Investigation Agency (NIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerJoint rescue operations including 2019 operation where five Bangladeshi victims were rescued in Hyderabad. NIA worked with Prajwala for investigation and prosecution leading to landmark conviction.
• State Legal Services AuthoritiescoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerCollaborative partner in VAU units and various legal proceedings, providing legal aid and support to survivors through DLSA premises.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Free the Slaves: US-headquartered anti-slavery organization working on community-based prevention, survivor rehabilitation, and advocacy. Comparable in methodology and survivor-centered approach to Prajwala's intervention model.
• Shakti Vahini: Indian anti-trafficking NGO working on prevention, rescue, and rehabilitation across multiple states with strong policy advocacy and law-enforcement partnerships. Comparable in geographic scope and PIL-style advocacy work to Prajwala.
• Justice and Care: International anti-trafficking organization focused on aftercare, law enforcement partnership, and cross-border prosecution; already collaborates with Prajwala on the landmark cross-border Bangladesh case, making it both peer and partner.
• Apne Aap Women Worldwide: India-focused organization combating sex trafficking and sex work through community empowerment and survivor-led models. Highly comparable to Prajwala's five-pillar approach and survivor leadership strategy.
• Guria India: India-based anti-trafficking NGO working primarily in Uttar Pradesh on sex trafficking rescue and rehabilitation. Directly comparable to Prajwala in operating model and target beneficiary population.
• Sanlaap: Kolkata-based Indian anti-trafficking NGO running shelter homes, rescue operations, and rehabilitation programs for women and children. Closest domestic peer to Prajwala in operating model and target beneficiaries.
• International Justice Mission: Global anti-trafficking NGO operating rescue, rehabilitation, and justice-system partnerships. Directly comparable to Prajwala in mission, survivor aftercare model, and government-law-enforcement engagement across multiple geographies including India.
• A21: Global anti-trafficking organization with operations across multiple countries focused on prevention, survivor support, and disruption of trafficking networks. Comparable to Prajwala in international footprint and program pillars.
• Polaris Project (now part of AEquitas): Operated the US National Human Trafficking Hotline and ran shelter, prevention, and policy programs. Comparable in operating pillars (prevention, rescue/referral, policy) to Prajwala.

Others

• HAQ: Centre for Child Rights: Delhi-based child rights advocacy organization working on child protection, trafficking prevention, and juvenile justice policy. Adjacent to Prajwala in child-focused anti-trafficking advocacy and PIL-style litigation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/prajwala_india
• Facebookfacebook.com/prajwala.in
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prajwala-india

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Prajwala