During my stay here in Hetauda, i've been lucky enough to get out and visit some of the local villages in the region which have typically been targeted by Indian circus agents. Most of the children in the EB Trust's care come from this region around Hetauda and the obvious struggle through daily life makes it easy to see why. My first visit was to accompany a group of girls rescued very recently from India as they were re-united with their families following several years away. It was without doubt a very emotional experience for all involved and a real privilege for me to be invited along to witness both the happiness and anxieties of "coming home" after so long away, and in such unpleasant circumstances. The impossible struggle to survive some families face here is a prime contributing factor in the trafficking of children to Indian circuses, a struggle easily forgotten whilst walking amongst idyllic plains of mud huts and mango trees. Reminders are never far away however and we were soon invited into one family's home for some tea. As the sun went down and the buffalo were herded back from the jungle, I listened as the young teenage son explained his disappointment at having to return empty handed from his search for work in India. He had walked for 2 months without success. He hoped his 2 brothers were having more luck.
I've been able to spend time in other villages where there are just too many similar tales of struggle. As recently as last year this wasn't possible as a white face out in the villages would have been at risk during the ongoing Maoist activities. Since this has now calmed down, the EB Trust are hoping rapid progress can be made developing further projects to help communities sustain themselves and therefore reduce the likelihood of child trafficking. Some families are fortunate enough to own some fertile land, cultivate it and support themselves. Others face a desperate struggle and without land or a place to call home they are forced to set up camp on government land and have no way to support their inevitably large family before eventually being moved on. Stories of successful crops were always followed with others of devastating landslides and suffering, with families of 12 living in small single room huts. The common factor of course, being that every village has children rescued from Indian circuses now in the Trust's care. Walking around these places really hammers home the realities of life faced by too many people and you can only hope that organisations like The Esther Benjamins Trust continue their efforts to improve the situation.
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