Girl Power, helping girls recover from abuse

Namaste to you all,

This is Priya, Rescue Project Director the centre which runs our anti child trafficking and anti-child labour and girl protection programmes. Once again, I would like to thank you so much for your help and support which has helped and is helping so many children.

Our approach is multi-pronged, prevention, legal action against traffickers and working closely with other law enforcement agencies, individual child support and rehabilitation in the local community.

Regarding the latter this often means providing and tracking missing Birth Certificates, access to government help and education and training. Helping the children get national ID all of which will help them going forward in life.

Our work with girls involves protecting and rescuing girls from every kind of abuse and exploitation. There is a very real problem here in Bihar with the recruitment of girls to dance at celebrations, (the term orchestra does not mean the same as in the west).... it means groups of travelling musicians and dancers who can be hired for entertainment purposes.

These orchestras, meant for celebratory events like weddings and religious gatherings, have become the clandestine backdrop for the exploitation and abuse of these vulnerable young souls.

On September 16, 2023, the newspapers and media outlets in Patna buzzed with a disturbing video clip that had gone viral. The video depicted a harrowing scene: an orchestra band dancer, visibly frightened and seemingly a minor, was forced to dance at gunpoint by two men. This chilling incident reportedly occurred in Shankapur village of Shahpur Diara, in the Danapur subdivision, not far from Bihar’s state capital, Patna.

The video sent shockwaves through the community, drawing attention to a grim reality that has been festering beneath the surface for years. In response, ASP Abhinav Dhiman announced that a case had been registered based on the viral video, and efforts were underway to apprehend the two culprits.

 This alarming incident is just one among countless others in Bihar, where approximately 3,500 orchestras operate. According to anti-trafficking activists, these girls are often trafficked from neighbouring states like West Bengal and Nepal.

Your support helps us identify and help girls in this, and many others exploitative situations.

Thank you so much!

I will finish this update with a comment from one from a girl at the centre,
( I have changed her name only). These
are her words,

"Before Rescue Junction was here, we were at the mercy of God. Now we have
somewhere safe to go, somewhere that protects us from harm, gives us food
and education, and that thing I thought only others received, love and
kindness ".

"Thank you to everybody who has helped us".

 With appreciation for your support,

Priya

Links:

• Our Website

Namaste everyone

I hope this report finds you all well.

We are very busy as usual here at Rescue Junction and our specialised team working with girls (who have received specific training for the role) continue to work together with your support to protect help and support the most vulnerable girls and young women in the society.

Our new centre at Gaya allows the team proper facilities including craft training and classrooms but importantly safe and comfortable areas for counselling.

There is no set time to stay with us and each case is handled carefully and with great care on an individual needs basis with each child fully involved in the process from start to finish.  

Heres what Pramila (age 14) said ( not her real name)

“I have found safety here with warm caring people who really listen to me. This I have not had pretty much all my life. I would like everyone, the staff  of People first and all of their supporters for giving me new hope and potentially great happiness from the depths of despair. The fear is going, confidence is coming, brightness is there, thank you all of you so much”.  

Thank you indeed for your kindness and compassion,

Priya