'I was locked in the toilet'

One day Megraj, 11, was playing near his home, when a man asked him if he'd like to go and see a film.

When Megraj refused, he was kidnapped and taken on a train where he was tied up and locked in the toilet. He ended up in Varanasi, about 500 miles from his home.

Megraj joined about sixteen other children, who were learning to weave carpets. 'I didn't know how to weave at first and made lots of mistakes,' says Megraj. 'The loom owner beat me.'

Megraj worked in Varanasi for two years, but his story has a happy ending. His father went to an organisation that Christian Aid works with, called SACCS, and the police raided the carpet factory and rescued him. SACCS then helped Megraj get over his bad experiences and suggested that he went on a course at Mukti Ashram, a safe centre for children, where he would learn useful skills. He is much happier now.

'I can now read and write and would like to go to school. There are no doctors in my village so I would like to study to become one. Then I could heal people when they are ill.'

Christian Aid/Ramani Leathard
'Now I have fun learning and playing with my friends' says Megraj

Christian Aid/Ramani Leathard
Megraj playing a game called carrom with his friends