In a quiet village nestled in the rural heart of East Champaran, a boy named Raghu Kumar* was living with burdens that no ten-year-old should ever bear. His family was battling the weight of poverty and illness, driving Raghu to take a difficult job at a sawmill, chopping wood day after day to make plywood. Earning just Rs.80 (about one dollar) each day, he worked tirelessly for six months, sacrificing his childhood and education to keep his family afloat, with no end in sight.
Raghu’s story took a turn in February 2023, when a team from the East Champaran Justice Hub discovered Raghu’s plight as a child laborer during a community survey. The team worked with the government to rescue Raghu and change his life. Their first step was helping him secure his identification card and open a bank account, giving him access to government support. Soon, Raghu received Rs.25,000 (about USD 300) in government compensation that was safely deposited into his account – a significant amount and a glimmer of hope in his darkest days.
The Justice Hub team then uncovered a heartbreaking truth: Raghu’s entire family was living with HIV and the stigma associated with the disease. His parents were able to receive treatment at a local hospital, and the team ensured his family was enrolled in government programs that provided a monthly allowance and food supplies to ease their daily burdens.
Returning to School and Catching Up on Dreams
To position Raghu for a better future, the Justice Hub team enrolled him in a government welfare program for children, taking care of the endless paperwork that is often an obstacle preventing children like him from accessing opportunities. He was also admitted to a government school, and with private tuition support, Raghu started catching up in his studies.
To start his family on the road to self-sufficiency, the Justice Hub team provided three goats for animal husbandry, and Raghu’s family started growing potatoes and maize on their small plot of land. Every three months, Raghu’s family receives an allowance through a government program for people living with HIV, offering them a lifeline of stability.
Through the advocacy efforts of the Justice Hub in obtaining government resources intended for the vulnerable, Raghu’s world transformed and his dreams became bigger. Where he once imagined owning a small shop, he now aspires to become a doctor, driven by a newfound hope and the desire to give back to those who helped him.
His family, once crippled by illness and poverty, is now healthier, happier, and full of hope. Thanks to the dedicated work of the Justice Hub team, Raghu’s story is a reminder of the transformation that occurs when community members are given access to resources to which they are entitled – resources with the power to provide a meaningful future.
*Name changed to protect identity.*
