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"I never dreamt of a day like this in my life."
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Jayamma and her husband were enslaved in a rice mill for over thirty years. She was freed in 2005 though IJM intervention in collaboration with local authorities. When she recently visited with IJM staff and friends, she shared her own story.


Top: The machinery used to process rice in the mill.

Bottom: Jayamma celebrates freedom with IJM staff.

“My name is Jayamma. I was a slave from 1974 to 2005.

We worked from 2 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day in the rice mill. Our breakfast would consist of rice mixed with water. We would only eat lunch if there was any food left. Even on days we had food to eat, I did not have peace in my mind because I worried about the future.

The most difficult part of my job at the mill was to stay near the fire to boil the rice. We had to separate the rice grains with our feet, and our feet would get burnt, hurt and even bleed at times, but still we were expected to work. Often we got sick from being close to the heat. This was a really difficult task. Sometimes the work at the mill was slow, but we were not allowed to go elsewhere and work. The owner said if we did, he would kick us and beat us.

Initially, it was just me and my husband who worked at the mill, but later my three daughters and son were forced to quit school and work with us in the mill. My children grew up, they got married and had children who were born as slaves. I have five grandchildren. This was our heritage to them.

It was a hopeless situation. Our fate was sealed unless help turned up from somewhere, but who knows from where?

Today me and my family are free, and I am glad to share with you my story. I am not a slave anymore.

I can eat in peace and my grandchildren are going to school. I can spend time with them like you do. I have the joy of watching them grow up in freedom. I tell them to study hard.

I can eat in peace and my grandchildren are going to school. … I have the joy of watching them grow up in freedom.
I can dream of a good life in freedom, and I am living one. Initially I was afraid of this transition to freedom because we didn’t know any other work, and I was afraid the owner would beat us.

But today I am very happy and I live in peace. We are respected members of the community. We have cattle now, and we are earning money from them. We do not have a lot of possessions but it is enough because we are free.

I want to tell you this: My son is being trained by IJM Bangalore to be a tailor and is gaining a lot of other technical skills. We are proud of him.

I never dreamt of a day like this in my life.”
 
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