In Madhya Pradesh, IPS officer Dr. Veerendra Mishra has led a transformative campaign to help children from the Bedia community, traditionally entrapped in intergenerational sex work, carve new paths through education and dignity. Since encountering the community in 2007, he recognised the systemic discrimination its members face—in many schools, Bedia children weren’t even permitted to drink from common water sources.

Mishra founded Samvedna in 2002—initially for urban slums—and redirected its focus by 2010 toward empowering Bedia youth. He persuaded a family to send a 14-year‑old girl to school, on condition that a dozen others also got admission. Thirteen children were enrolled at once; seven planned their boarding in government hostels during the first year.

Today, Samvedna actively supports education and vocational skills for more than 5,500 children across 60 villages in six districts—fostering engineers, lawyers, and even potential IAS candidates. One notable alumna completed her BTech and MTech and reached the final stage of UPSC selection, breaking caste-based educational barriers.

Beyond schooling, Samvedna runs the country’s first anti-trafficking lab (RACE)—Research, Advocacy, Capacity Building Against Exploitation—and promotes livelihoods through self-help groups, goat breeding, and cultural revival. This initiative prioritises trust-building rather than rescue, aiming to rebuild identity, restore agency, and inspire hope in a community long denied opportunity.