Special Initiative for Girls No Abuse for Life

Hello Everyone

It’s time for another update from Rescue Junction here in Bihar.

I don’t know how the weather is where you are, but my goodness me it’s hot here!  We have been keeping the children cool and have arranged extra water as temperatures have already reached over 45C (that’s 113F) in the shade.

As you know our centre is open 24 hours a day and of course it is open for all children, boys and girls, and no child is ever turned away.

Our skilled and trained counsellors know when maybe something is not quite right and gently help and support children in the often painful process of disclosure.

I want to tell you the story of a girl called Nirmala (name changed, and her picture is not in this report) who was brought to the centre by a railway child as we call them, (children with no permanent home and before Rescue Junction used to live full time on the station). He knew that she was in trouble and we often find that the other children who come to the centre are always looking out for other children in need.

Nirmala told the story she had gone to her local station to “look at the trains” and went on one, which then started, however she did not get off at the next station but travelled over 50Km until the train reached Gaya .

Gaya is a big station and there is not CCTV coverage on all platforms and if there is its usually not working but crucially we have the porters (coolies) railway police, the general public and platform children all looking out for trafficked or children who are alone. Unfortunately, there are always those on the station who are not interested in a child’s best welfare, far from it and we have a very limited time to get to that child before they do.

Your donations have paid for craft teachers and support workers to work with the girls and take their mind off their circumstances and help them with a skill at the same time, and I want you to know that is often in these classes run very informally, that girls feel able to speak about their ordeal.

So it was with Nirmala who disclosed to our worker that she had been in fact sexually abused by her father for many years and was running away from home. I am sorry to tell you that Nirmala is just ten years old.

She is now under our full care and protection and we are working with the child welfare committee in planning for her future. Police enquires as Nirmala is unsure of her exact address are very much underway.

I want to thank you all as always for your kindness, and  I wish you all well,

Riya

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