His family was enslaved at a rock quarry in India for 24 years, and Madhesh started working beside them at only 5 years old. He remembers long days of no food, no proper clothes and no place to live; the entire family had to live in one small shed. They were never allowed to leave the quarry.
Often Madhesh and his family faced abuse from the quarry owner. “But the physical torture was not as unbearable as the mental torture we experienced, wondering if dying inside the rock quarry was our destiny,” said Madhesh.
Thousands of children like Madhesh are forced to work in dangerous conditions, enduring exploitation and abuse. Help rescue children like Madhesh.
Then one day — thanks to the support of people like you — an IJM rescue team and local authorities arrived and Madhesh, his parents and three siblings were finally freed from the rock quarry.
The accused quarry owner was arrested that same day and taken into custody, where he remained for 110 days — a huge milestone for addressing child labor in South Asia.
IJM is actively working to rescue families like Madhesh's from modern-day slavery around the world. As we prepare to send more teams, please give now to help rescue more victims.
In freedom, Madhesh says simply, “The difference between my life since the rescue is the difference between hell and heaven. I had nothing before, but now I have a life. My sister and younger brother are able to study... and we can all make our own decisions.”
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