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Current
Programs
in Africa and Asia
The
Society's primary function is to relieve the suffering of
children and adults in various forms of servitude and,
consequently, its overseas programs form a central part of its
work. Its overseas projects vary from year to year.
The following outline only applies to programs for the fiscal
year ended 30 June 2003.
The Society believes in the empowerment of local people.
For this reason, its programs are run and operated by local
people in the communities which the programs serve, although the
Society, where appropriate, offers guidance and maintains
ultimate responsibility for the operation and supervision of the
programs it funds.
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Child
slavery in India
The Society is continuing to fund a program for the
rescue and rehabilitation of child slaves in northern
India. Funding has been provided for several years,
including the last fiscal year. Funding is
expected to continue this fiscal year. On of the
right is a photograph of
one of
these children, Titakashwar Sada, a 14 year former
slave, from Patori, a village in
the State of Bihar, the poorest State in India.
THIS IS THE SOCIETY IN
ACTION
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Bonded child labor in India
The Society is continuing to provide
funding for schooling for bonded child laborers and
child laborers in several taluks in rural areas in the
State of Karnataka, which is in southern India.
Funding was provided in the last fiscal year, as in
previous years.
On the right is a photograph of one of the many children
released from bondage who have been assisted by this
program.
THIS
IS THE SOCIETY IN ACTION
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Hierodulic
child prostitution
The Society has still not finalized a program to provide a shelter for young girls
who have been dedicated in a temple for cult
prostitution. Depending on the cult and the region,
they are known variously as aradhinis, basavis, bhavanis,
bhogam-vandhis, devadasis, jjgateens, jogins (or jogatis),
kalavanthulas, kudikars, maharis, muralis, natis or
thevardiyars.
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Trafficking
of women and children
The Society published its Second
Report On Trafficking of Women and Children.
It did not operate a program last year.
THIS
IS THE SOCIETY IN ACTION
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Slavery
in West Africa
The Society is reviewing is its programs in West
Africa, which it formerly funded.
THIS
IS THE SOCIETY IN ACTION
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The
Society has funded overseas programs every year since
1996. Programs have included undercover Missions
investigating bonded children in the carpet-weaving
industry in Pakistan, rescue programs in North India,
bonded children in Karnataka in southern India, and slaves
in West Africa.
This information was updated on March 7, 2007.
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