[© Copyright] 16 Apr 2006 Dylan O'Donnell
CATEGORY : Portraits
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Today I descended further than I have ever been into the world of India’s poor millions. The children in this photo live along disused railway lines, among donkeys and dogs, crows and human waste. The community cooks their food from the fires fueled by any railside wood or animal feces they can find. Parents of such children rely on them to beg, steal or scam aong the rail station proper, and will even hire them to others in need of similar help. Many bear skin diseases and scars fitting of older, wiser adults and have their own stories filled with pain and destitution. If not for guards we had with us today when these photos were taken, we would surely have been set upon, or bashed with sticks for filming the scene. Many were visibly upset by our intrusion. I can only hope that in time they will come to realize the benfit of the project, as the Children of Mother Earth charity sets out to give these particular children, shelter and education of which they currently have neither.
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