“My hands hurt so much.” Nandu’s open palms revealed cracks and dark spots that didn’t seem to go away. He remembered how his mother used to put coconut oil on them at night during winter and the roughness would go away the next morning. As this thought flashed across Nandu’s mind, he was soon jolted back to reality by harsh words from his employer.
One morning, as 9-year-old Nandu was getting ready for school, his parents told him that his uncle would take him to a nearby city for a job. He looked down at his books for a minute and then looked up to his parents as if asking, “What about my exams?” His parents told him that he would be leaving his education and friends to work in the city to support his family. Nandu, who had witnessed his family’s dwindling finances, was not shocked as he knew of many boys and girls from his village who had dropped out of school to join the growing force of children in cities to support their poor families.
With this in mind, he packed his few clothes in a plastic bag, touched his parents’ feet to receive final blessings, and left with his uncle. When he arrived at his new home, the hardware workshop, he was handed a wrench to check the nuts and bolts on a motorbike. Little did he know that in the coming days he would be forced to take up bigger and riskier tasks and be deprived of sleep and meals. He was constantly at risk, working as a child in a workshop with dangerous tools and equipment. He longed for his family and old life, but as time went on, he began to accept his new reality, losing hope for schooling and a future.
However, hope was on the way. JVI team members became aware of Nandu’s situation, started an investigation, and began to prepare for his rescue with local partners. In October of 2022, JVI and its local partner, together with the local police and the labor department of Bihar, rescued Nandu and four minor boys from child labor.
After the rescue, the boys were placed in a shelter home and family members were contacted. JVI filed an official complaint against the perpetrators. While the case is ongoing, JVI aftercare team members prioritize the restoration of the boys, especially in the weeks and months to come.
Thanks to the JVI team and partners, Nandu’s wounded little hands will now heal, and he has hope for a bright future again.
*The child’s name has been changed in this story to protect confidentiality.
