Slavery is illegal in India. And so all that needs to happen to free someone from slavery is to enforce the law. That's what our partners, Volunteers for Social Justice (VSJ), have been doing for over 25 years in the north India state of Punjab. In that time they have freed more than 30,000 people from slavery. The only thing that stops them from freeing more, is a lack of money. It can cost as little as £125 / $200 to free someone from slavery. This pays for lawyer's fees, volunteers expenses, travel costs and court costs. No money is ever given to pay off a slave holder. £125/$200 may not seem like much to secure someone's freedom, but it's a large amount of money for a small organisation in India. Once freed, it's not difficult for former slaves to find paid work in Punjab, which is a relatively wealthy state in India. Slavery is not an alternative to poverty - it's a trap. Your donation will enable VSJ to enforce the law, and free someone from slavery today. Go to 'Success Stories' to read about some of the people VSJ has helped release from slavery. | The Cost of Freedom (£)Cost for Volunteers for Social Justice (VSJ) activists 20
to travel to site of suspected enslavement to verify the case Cost of preparing affidavits and other documents to 7 prosecute the case Cost of housing activists and victims* in VSJ's Transit 24 Rehabilitation Centre before a raid is carried out to free people in slavery Travel to District Magistrate's office to pursue the case 24 Loss of wages of activists** during this period 20 Cost of raid to free people in slavery 30 TOTAL £125 / $200 * VSJ is usually alerted to a case of slavery by someone who has escaped from their landlord. This victim will stay with VSJ until a raid is carried out to free everyone else who is enslaved at that site. ** VSJ's activists are mostly volunteers and so their loss of wages must be paid for the time they are absent from their regular jobs. |