Sudheesh was among a group of 10 boys (2 of whom were minors) trafficked from the village of Paliyana in Wayanad district of Kerala and forced into bondage. A trusted member of their community assured them each of Rs. 500 per day, a promising sum for the group of youngsters.

“I was abandoned by my parents when I was just a boy and since then I have lived with my aunt’s family and my grandmother,” says Sudheesh. “Being taken away from my village and cheated in so many ways, made me decide never to leave again,” he says. Since their rescue, Sudheesh and the other boys have looked for alternative employment opportunities closer home. The Self Help Group (SHG) they have formed together has enabled them to lease a small plot of land for three months, on which they have decided to grow various vegetables. The FSD team supported them with the seeds they asked for. “We expect the crops we grow to bring us Rs.15,000 -20,000 and that will help us all,” says Sudheesh. Through the SHG, Sudheesh and the group have begun to understand the importance of savings. Each member has agreed to invest an amount of Rs. 50 per week into the SHG account, which works as a sum of money available to the members as required. The FSD team continues to work with the group to explore new ways of overall growth and rehabilitation.