What happened to Soni Vanvasi has happened to millions of others in India. Her entire family was enslaved because a child fell ill. Now that she’s free, Soni is determined to prevent human trafficking from ever touching another person’s life.
“I want to educate my kids and motivate others to do the same, so that at least the next generation does not lead a life like mine,” she says.
Her ordeal began three years ago, when her husband borrowed money from a brick kiln owner to pay medical expenses for their child. The entire family – husband, wife and three children – were forced to make bricks to repay the loan.
But the kiln owner never paid them enough to work off the debt. He barely gave them enough to buy food so they could stay alive to work another day.
“Very often, the brick kiln owner used to abuse and beat us,” Soni recalls. Working at the kiln was full of mistreatment and fear. The owner used force to extract work. The family’s movement was controlled, they were literally held hostage within the brick kiln premises.
Fortunately, residents in a nearby village that Free the Slaves has liberated from slavery became aware of the situation. The village community vigilance committee (CVC) notified our India partner organization MSEMVS, which helped Soni’s father-in-law lodge a formal complaint with the District Magistrate’s Office. Labor inspectors were called in.
It wasn’t a quick or easy rescue. At first, news of the investigation was leaked by officials to the brick kiln owner. Soni and others were beaten. But they never gave up, and eventually Soni’s entire family was rescued, along with 17 other individuals.
Now, Soni is a “torch bearer.” She has organized her own community vigilance committee (CVC) to help neighbors resist human traffickers who lure people into slavery with offers of loans. The creation of a CVC is a key pillar of the Free the Slaves Community Liberation Model.
“I could see the advantages of being a CVC member in helping me and others move toward the light,” she says. “I want to make other people aware of bonded labor so that they can reduce their vulnerabilities and help in ending slavery.”
Soni has also formed a self-help group with 11 other women. She’s teaching them about debt bondage and safe migration. The women have formed a savings club and make candles to generate income, helping them to become economically resilient.
She is also focused on protecting children from slavery, by motivating parents to get their children into school and keep them there.
“I want to educate my kids and motivate others to do the same, so that at least the next generation does not lead a life like mine,” she says.
Wherever she goes, Soni shares her story of struggle and success. She has mobilized people to demand that government officials provide better roads, sanitation and health care. Soni met political party leaders to urge passage of a new anti-trafficking bill in parliament.
And what would Soni say if she ever meets the brick kiln owner who enslaved her?
“If I meet my former employer today, I would tell him I want justice for the mistreatment meted out to me and my family,” she says.
Editor’s note: This post was reported in the field by the staff of MSEMVS. Photos by Ms. Upasana and Mr. Krishna Kumar.
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