Victim compensation is a profound recognition of harm and a vital mechanism by the State to restore a survivor’s dignity and reparation. However, for too long, survivors have faced a fragmented justice pipeline, navigating systemic barriers, complex documentation, and arbitrary rejections alone. Over Sanjog’s 14 years of practice, we have recognised a fundamental truth: transforming these deeply entrenched systems cannot be achieved by any single organisation working in isolation. Systemic change of this magnitude can never be accomplished alone.
Building a connected ecosystem
Sanjog has consistently driven to work through consortium initiatives, embracing our role in cultivating and nurturing a broader, interconnected ecosystem rather than acting as a solitary agent. Through our journey, we have understood that to truly realise justice and make access to justice equitable, we need to weave a community.
This has led to the formation of the Raahat Consortium, which currently brings together 11 organisations across 8 states and union territories (Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Maharashtra, Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal) including the Integrated Leadership Forum Against Trafficking- ILFAT. Bound by shared values of deep mutual respect and a commitment to survivor-centric justice, this consortium has been nurtured into existence to change how the public approaches compensation – moving away from pity to demanding true accountability and rights.
Grounding our work in shared learning
Our journey so far has been deeply intentional, grounded in what has actually happened through the consortium’s work to date. Sanjog has played an active role in convening and nurturing this space through regular consultations, peer learning exchanges, and ongoing engagement. Rather than rushing into purely task-driven objectives, we have rooted our early steps in understanding each other’s local contexts and building strong, trusting relationships. Through digital gatherings and open dialogues, we have cultivated a space for authentic peer learning.
As partners, we have been actively learning from one another by sharing concrete, localised realities. These include practical experiences such as:
- Navigating complex compensation schemes and overcoming documentation challenges.
- Improving active engagement with authorities and enhancing survivor accompaniment.
- Addressing the systemic friction of obtaining FIRs in trafficking and gender based violence cases.
- Implementing promising practices such as engaging community paralegals and social workers.
By listening deeply to each other’s milestones and challenges in securing rightful awards, we are trying to ensure that our collective wisdom becomes far greater than the sum of its parts.
Looking ahead: The 2026 visioning meet
Sustained engagement within the consortium is helping us cultivate a stronger, more responsive support ecosystem for survivors. By amplifying survivor leadership rather than simply empowering them, we move to create a framework where survivors no longer have to navigate the justice system alone. We have started seeing beautiful, emerging opportunities to cross-pollinate this knowledge, co-create survivor-centered policy briefs, and engage in long-term systems strengthening that transforms institutional accountability from the district level up.
As we look to deepen our shared purpose, the upcoming Raahat Consortium Visioning & Planning Meet scheduled for August 2026 will be a vital milestone. Moving beyond our digital screens, this in-person gathering will be a space to ground ourselves in the work we have done so far. The purpose of this meet has been defined with two clear goals: to strengthen the relational web of our partnerships and to collectively develop a shared, long-term vision. It is here that we will plan the next phase of our collective action, transitioning our shared values into unified, systemic advocacy.
The path to justice has always been a generational journey, not a sprint. Looking ahead, our commitment remains clear: to weave a vibrant movement across India where access to justice and victim compensation is an unequivocal, accessible right. As we often remind ourselves in this collective space: if we want to go fast, we might go alone. But to go far, we have to go together.
** Keep an eye out for updates of the Consortium Meet in our upcoming monthly newsletters and social media!
