Raid on the Raj Mahal Circus

In June 2008 activists from UK charity The Esther Benjamins Trust and ChildLine India Foundation joined a police raid on The Raj Mahal Circus which was playing in Maharashtra State, India. The aim was to free trafficked children and teenage girls from bonded labour and to take legal action against their abusers.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Esther
• Benjamins
• Trust
• ChildLine
• India
• Foundation
• charity
• children
• Nepal
• circus
• trafficking
• bonded
• labour

[mohsin153]

This is totally wrong.Where was this trust when these children didnot have food to eat, cloths to wear.They just want to highlight their trust name. I have nothing to say now.

[philipinnepal]

@mohsin153

Dear Mohsin,

It would help if you knew what you were talking about before you made such unpleasant remarks about my Trust. In fact we have been operating a community support programme in Makwanpur District (the main source of most circus children) since 2004. Currently around 300 children (circus returnees and their siblings) benefit from material educational support that allows them to attend school.

Best wishes

Philip Holmes

Founder/Director The Esther Benjamins Trust

[philipinnepal]

Hi,

Thanks for the comment. The answer is that this work certainly can go on as the determination is there on our part. We expect the next rescue to be in August once we've sorted out the releasees from this last rescue. The only limiting factor is funds. It costs a lot to mount an operation like this - for example having a barrister on the ground at the circus. People keep patting me on the back and saying well done (which is appreciated) but funds are not so forthcoming.

Best

Philip

[ibmsony101]

Circus slavery how awful ! Slavery is alive and well in every place in the world and most shocking in the developed world. Millions of men are pressed to work on plantations, mines, coal production. Millions of women and children are sex slaves. The world is a truly awful place with sporadic rays of hope from the very few who care and put themselves in danger to save suffering humanity with the rest not caring or benefiting from slavery.

[design2host]

Wrong is wrong. Who does it and for what reason is immaterial. What difference did someone make by taking those kids from poverty and putting them in agony. He did not make any difference to the children. He Made profit out of it on the other hand.

[oOoOoEToOoOo]

just ignore this mohsin guy. from looking at his profile, he owns or works for a circus in India. so that explains his nasty remarks about your organization.

[oOoOoEToOoOo]

SHOCKING NEWS!!!

[muaythaitilldeath]

wow....... i hope this kind of work can continue for a LONG time until this kind of brutality and cruelty is gone forever!