Utkarsh

उत्कर्ष एक महत्वपूर्ण पहल है जो सेवा भारती के कार्यकर्ताओं द्वारा संचालित की जा रही है। इसका उद्देश्य देह व्यापार की शिकार महिलाओं की सहायता करना है। यह प्रकल्प दिल्ली के जी.बी. रोड पर स्थित एक सरकारी स्कूल में चलाया जाता है।

Project Utkarsh – Restoring Dignity Through Healthcare

Improving awareness and screening for health risks among commercial sex workers has long remained a neglected area of public healthcare. The idea for Project Utkarsh emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Sewa Bharti volunteers witnessed the deplorable living conditions of women in the GB Road area of Delhi. It became clear that their health and wellbeing were being systematically overlooked.

Despite the presence of several hospitals nearby, these women face immense barriers in accessing healthcare — judgmental attitudes, stigma, mandatory registration, and breaches of privacy make visits to medical facilities deeply traumatic. Many suffer from untreated physical and mental health issues, and in some cases, even doctors hesitate to examine them.

Recognising this dire need, Sewa Bharti Delhi, in collaboration with the National Medicos Organisation (NMO), established a dedicated free health clinic under Project Utkarsh in a non-functional municipal school on GB Road. The clinic provides routine medical check-ups, consultations, counselling, and free medicines with compassion, respect, and confidentiality.

At its inauguration on January 1, 2023, around 30–40 women visited the clinic every Sunday; today, that number has grown to 150–200 regular visitors. The clinic currently serves an estimated 3,000 sex workers in the area, offering them accessible and non-judgmental medical care.

Beyond healthcare, Sewa Bharti also runs several community empowerment programs for the local children and families, including digital literacy, coaching classes, career counselling, bhajan sandhya, yoga sessions, and awareness activities, conducted from Monday to Friday.

The word Utkarsh means “awakening” and “prosperity” — a fitting reflection of the project’s mission to bring dignity, compassion, and holistic wellbeing to one of the most marginalised sections of society.

Participating doctors come from some of Delhi’s leading medical institutions, including MAMC, Lady Hardinge, Sir Ganga Ram, RML, and Safdarjung Hospitals, with many medical students volunteering their time and expertise to this noble cause.

Utkarsh is a significant initiative led by the dedicated volunteers of Sewa Bharti Delhi, aimed at supporting women who are victims of commercial sex trade. The project operates from a government school building located in the GB Road area of Delhi.

Here, a team of experienced medical professionals provides regular health check-ups and treatment, along with awareness sessions on anaemia, menstrual hygiene, and other key health concerns.

The project also focuses on skill development and vocational training, empowering women to become self-reliant and confident. For their children, tuition support and scholarship programs are organized to ensure their holistic growth and educational continuity.

Women associated with the centre actively participate in community celebrations such as Yoga Day, Diwali, and Holi, fostering a sense of belonging and emotional wellbeing.

Through this initiative, Sewa Bharti strives not only to provide medical care, but also to restore dignity, hope, and direction in the lives of these women and their families.