“I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”– John 10:10
.JPG "School bags distribution")
“My child pleaded to go to school, however I had no option but to take him to work. Our walk everyday to the fields with my child broke my heart. However, when a few days ago the government officials came and announced that our children have been admitted in the village school, I cried tears of joy. Now I watch my son run to school.”
– A Madubani Bonded Labor Survivor
Additionally, the following restoration efforts have been accomplished to date:
- February 7, 2015: Release Certificates issued to survivors by Madhubani District Administration;
- February 14, 2015: State compensation checks in the amount of 10,000 Rupees (~$160.00 U.S.) issued to 64 survivors (and checks for remaining survivors under process);
- February 16, 2015: Job Cards under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MNREGA) were issued, and sixty-two survivors were also registered to receive Voter ID cards. Additionally, two self-help groups by Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotional Society (BRLPS) for female survivors were formed.
- March 16, 2015: Compensation checks under the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe [SC/ST] welfare scheme in the amount of 22,500 Rupees (`$361.00 U.S) were distributed to ninety-nine survivors.
JVI and its local justice partner continue to engage with the Bihar government in order to connect the survivors with other benefits such as housing, land and job opportunities. (see photo above of a local government official speaking with survivors).
“We quickly realized that to speak with the authorities as one voice would benefit us more. Today, we have job cards, voter ID cards, bank accounts and compensation from the state government and also under the SC/ST welfare scheme. We continue to live in the same village and now watch our children going to school every day. Ours is now a life of dignity and freedom from bondage.”
– A Madhubani Bonded Labor Survivor
| Best wishes to you for a blessed Easter from JVI. |
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