Our target group
Children in slavery is our main target group. However to understand why we have chosen them, Dr. K.L. from our local Indian partner organisation Sharing Hands Trust (SHT), wrote the following report.
Rajasthan is known as a very hot place with a big desert, known for its draught condition. Two years back, around 2008/2009 Rajasthan was hit by a severe famine due to a prolonged period of draught lasting almost for two years – there was no rain, crops died, cattle died, all the fields got dried up and there was no vegetation and life was hard for people to survive. Even the rather good places became useless. The price of food went up, as they had all to be imported from the nearby states. Farmers lost their work and most of the people couldn’t afford to buy food and since all the wells had dried up there was no drinking water too.
Many people died due to dehydration and improper food and innocent little children died due to starvation. On the other hand many people migrated to other states in search for food and water. As they were moving out in big numbers to earn a living, people started abusing them for money.
They were not paid properly for their hard work. Young girls were harassed and abused in front of their parents and young women were raped by several men. Now they lost their dignity and suffered instead of making some money. Young children were forced to work in rubber factories and in harbors. Many were not able to cope with the heavy work and received medical care in times of need and so many children eventually died. The loss of lives increased when many young girls and women committed suicide as a way to escape this misery when they did not see another way-out. Railway stations became a dwelling place for people, they tried to get their hands on any job, ate the leftover food in the dustbins, and on the rail tracks due to hunger. Young children were been fed with these unhygienic foods and so there were many diseases among them. The people who left because of drought, suffered ultimately all the more.
However many people remained in their village believing the false reports given by the steel mines, marble mines and precious stone mines. These mining companies promised them food and shelter if they would work for them. So they began to recruit cheap laborers from among these people. Unknowingly of the trap, these illiterate people signed documents that made them bonded ‘slaves’ for the next 10 to 15 years. Thinking that their labor would be valued and they would be given a reasonable reward, they gave their lives to work. Unfortunately however they got slave-labor, stress, pain and agony in return.
The accommodation given to them was far too small, as they forced over a hundred families to live in such a small place. Of course these poor people, who were starving otherwise, were given food and water and shelter. But at the same time they were robbed of their freedom. Their children, who were also with them, were not allowed to go to school. Although these children were not forced to work initially, eventually they ended up working with their parents. Once a week a doctor checked their health to discover there were many sick among them. Due to the fact they lived so closely together, it caused many to contract the same disease quickly when one of them fell sick.
Women were not allowed to become pregnant. But in case they became pregnant they were not given nutritious food and the hygienic conditions are extremely poor as they have just one or two toilets for a hundred families. In such critical circumstances women were not given any sanitary napkins for their monthly period. Since there is no proper clothing they prefer to stand or always stay seated in toilets because that’s the only way out for them. Such is the torture that was tormenting these poor women. Besides during the time of delivery these woman have no proper medical assistance so many died during the time of childbirth, even infants die if they are born with any complication. The doctor who visited once a week is in no way considered responsible for these tragedies. In spite of the devastating conditions, these poor people are not willing to leave. The reason is that their long slogged labor goes in vain, since they will not be paid according to the assignment until they have completed to work the whole term of the contract of ten to fifteen years, until they will get the money at hand. Till then they only get food and shelter. In fact they are not even allowed to leave the premises of the mines.
Rajasthan is known as a very hot place with a big desert, known for its draught condition. Two years back, around 2008/2009 Rajasthan was hit by a severe famine due to a prolonged period of draught lasting almost for two years – there was no rain, crops died, cattle died, all the fields got dried up and there was no vegetation and life was hard for people to survive. Even the rather good places became useless. The price of food went up, as they had all to be imported from the nearby states. Farmers lost their work and most of the people couldn’t afford to buy food and since all the wells had dried up there was no drinking water too.
Many people died due to dehydration and improper food and innocent little children died due to starvation. On the other hand many people migrated to other states in search for food and water. As they were moving out in big numbers to earn a living, people started abusing them for money.
They were not paid properly for their hard work. Young girls were harassed and abused in front of their parents and young women were raped by several men. Now they lost their dignity and suffered instead of making some money. Young children were forced to work in rubber factories and in harbors. Many were not able to cope with the heavy work and received medical care in times of need and so many children eventually died. The loss of lives increased when many young girls and women committed suicide as a way to escape this misery when they did not see another way-out. Railway stations became a dwelling place for people, they tried to get their hands on any job, ate the leftover food in the dustbins, and on the rail tracks due to hunger. Young children were been fed with these unhygienic foods and so there were many diseases among them. The people who left because of drought, suffered ultimately all the more.
However many people remained in their village believing the false reports given by the steel mines, marble mines and precious stone mines. These mining companies promised them food and shelter if they would work for them. So they began to recruit cheap laborers from among these people. Unknowingly of the trap, these illiterate people signed documents that made them bonded ‘slaves’ for the next 10 to 15 years. Thinking that their labor would be valued and they would be given a reasonable reward, they gave their lives to work. Unfortunately however they got slave-labor, stress, pain and agony in return.
The accommodation given to them was far too small, as they forced over a hundred families to live in such a small place. Of course these poor people, who were starving otherwise, were given food and water and shelter. But at the same time they were robbed of their freedom. Their children, who were also with them, were not allowed to go to school. Although these children were not forced to work initially, eventually they ended up working with their parents. Once a week a doctor checked their health to discover there were many sick among them. Due to the fact they lived so closely together, it caused many to contract the same disease quickly when one of them fell sick.
Women were not allowed to become pregnant. But in case they became pregnant they were not given nutritious food and the hygienic conditions are extremely poor as they have just one or two toilets for a hundred families. In such critical circumstances women were not given any sanitary napkins for their monthly period. Since there is no proper clothing they prefer to stand or always stay seated in toilets because that’s the only way out for them. Such is the torture that was tormenting these poor women. Besides during the time of delivery these woman have no proper medical assistance so many died during the time of childbirth, even infants die if they are born with any complication. The doctor who visited once a week is in no way considered responsible for these tragedies. In spite of the devastating conditions, these poor people are not willing to leave. The reason is that their long slogged labor goes in vain, since they will not be paid according to the assignment until they have completed to work the whole term of the contract of ten to fifteen years, until they will get the money at hand. Till then they only get food and shelter. In fact they are not even allowed to leave the premises of the mines.
Sharing Hands
Our local NGO, Sharing Hands Trust, has made a willful effort to rescue the children who are caught up in these mines. Especially with regard to the weaker children if their parents want them to have a good living, proper care and education, we have taken much effort with the help of the local health officers. Initially we were able to rescue about twenty children. Now these children’s parents don’t want them back with them in the mines, as they don’t want their children to suffer and live the rest of their life as bonded slaves. Since they cannot come out without the promised money until they have served the term of the contract, they at least don’t want their children to suffer and become slaves as well. Such is the condition of the children who were enrolled in our children home in Rajasthan. It was exactly during this draught in 2008 that Sharing Hands Trust started to act on behalf of these children.
Many of the children who were enrolled, came with lot of sicknesses like boils all over their body, stomach ulcers, rashes and whooping cough and cold. But God is working miracles and they are being healed. Our children home in Rajasthan started with these first twenty children and since then it grew to over a hundred children today. All these children are being rescued from different mines and most of them are partial orphans and some are fully orphaned. The sad part is that their parents will not be able to visit them as they cannot afford to leave the mines that they have sold themselves to. Some children always cry missing their parents. But after a while most children learnt to take life as it comes and now appreciate the new life and the new friends they had found in our home.
These children are now in one of the best schools where they will be taught in their local language and also in English. All of this is made possible through Gods providence and through our partner NGO from the Netherlands Abba Child Care International (ACC). Thanks to the efforts, interest, love and supports of Jaap Dieleman and his organization this has become possible, for without their help, many would have been perished by now. Truly it’s the desire and the ultimate vision of Jaap Dieleman and ACC to bring back smiles to these little ones. Their input has certainly given these children a new hope and a promising future.
Our local NGO, Sharing Hands Trust, has made a willful effort to rescue the children who are caught up in these mines. Especially with regard to the weaker children if their parents want them to have a good living, proper care and education, we have taken much effort with the help of the local health officers. Initially we were able to rescue about twenty children. Now these children’s parents don’t want them back with them in the mines, as they don’t want their children to suffer and live the rest of their life as bonded slaves. Since they cannot come out without the promised money until they have served the term of the contract, they at least don’t want their children to suffer and become slaves as well. Such is the condition of the children who were enrolled in our children home in Rajasthan. It was exactly during this draught in 2008 that Sharing Hands Trust started to act on behalf of these children.
Many of the children who were enrolled, came with lot of sicknesses like boils all over their body, stomach ulcers, rashes and whooping cough and cold. But God is working miracles and they are being healed. Our children home in Rajasthan started with these first twenty children and since then it grew to over a hundred children today. All these children are being rescued from different mines and most of them are partial orphans and some are fully orphaned. The sad part is that their parents will not be able to visit them as they cannot afford to leave the mines that they have sold themselves to. Some children always cry missing their parents. But after a while most children learnt to take life as it comes and now appreciate the new life and the new friends they had found in our home.
These children are now in one of the best schools where they will be taught in their local language and also in English. All of this is made possible through Gods providence and through our partner NGO from the Netherlands Abba Child Care International (ACC). Thanks to the efforts, interest, love and supports of Jaap Dieleman and his organization this has become possible, for without their help, many would have been perished by now. Truly it’s the desire and the ultimate vision of Jaap Dieleman and ACC to bring back smiles to these little ones. Their input has certainly given these children a new hope and a promising future.
Since the first start we have identified hundred of other children in need of help. We took them in by a step of faith, trusting that others will lend us a helping hand to meet their needs. Due to the lack of space, our children have been split up in different locations that we rented. As for now (2013) with the help of another partner in India we have been able to place almost 400 children within adoptive families. These poor families were provided with a job by our business partners so they have an income to provide for themselves and their adoptive child. We are so thankfull for our partner JHM for helping us to provide these children a familyhome and these families a future by providing them a job with a stable income. Please remember these little children who are in need of your love and care. God Bless You Abundantly
With Love and Prayers,
K. L. – Sharing Hands Trust, India
In cooperation with Abba Child Care International
With Love and Prayers,
K. L. – Sharing Hands Trust, India
In cooperation with Abba Child Care International