According to the International Labour Organisation (ILO), more than 40 million people are victims of slavery and human trafficking every year. Due to the great poverty, human trafficking is more common in the north-east of India than in other states. Young women, whose career are particularly affected, whose career prospects are often limited to poorly paid work in the tea plantations in Assam, are particularly affected. The Centre of Development Initiatives (CDI) of the Missionary Sisters of Mary Help of Christians, supported by missio, looks after trafficked girls and their families in the city of Guwahati.
Client
Missio
Date
March 2021
Photographer
Ranita Roy
Location
India, Guwahati
Client: Missio
Date: March 2021
Photographer: Ranita Roy
Location: India, Guwahati
Bijoya Biha (35), the mother of Elisha Biha attended school only up to the fourth grade. She works in a tea plantation in Doomni, Baksa, Assam. “The wages in the tea plantation are not enough to support a family.”
Elisha Biha (16) sits in her room in Doomni, Baksa, Assam. She regrets that “my life could have been different if I had not been trafficked”.
After Elisha Biha was freed from the hands of traffickers, she and her family were supported and advised by CDI. Her mother's income from her work in a tea plantation is not enough to pay for her family.
Client: Missio
Date: March 2021
Photographer: Ranita Roy
Location: India, Guwahati
Elisha Biha in conversation with Ranita Roy
Client: Missio
Date: March 2021
Photographer: Ranita Roy
Location: India, Guwahati
Elisha Biha (right) plays at home with her sister Sumitra (12) and her brother Sumit (8). While the mother works on the tea plantation, the eldest daughter takes care of the housework.