India's Circus Owners Banned From Using Children Performers
A young Nepalese girl trains on the trapeze using poor safety equipment as rain leaks through the roof, in one of India's traveling circuses, in Dehradun, India, July 2011Ivan Broadhead Dehradun, India
July 11, 2011
India’s traditional traveling circuses remain widely popular across the country, although attendance has been falling in recent years. Despite their popularity, there have long been concerns about their treatment of child circus performers, many of whom are trafficked from NepalStarting this month, India's Supreme Court banned circus owners from using child performers and demanded that youngsters already working under the big top should be released. This correspondent recently traveled with a child welfare group that rescues minors from the circus life.
The circus has come to Dehradun, the state capital of Uttarakhand here in northern India. It is a big event in the town’s social calendar. Hundreds of families have turned out to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Child welfare organizations also are here. They believe that 23 children, some as young as seven, are being held against their will and being forced to perform five times a day.
Philip Holmes is director of the Esther Benjamins Trust. His team has rescued more than 400 abused and underage performers from Indian circuses since 2004.read morehttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Indias-Circus-Owners-Banned-From-Using-Children-Performers-125363818.html
The circus has come to Dehradun, the state capital of Uttarakhand here in northern India. It is a big event in the town’s social calendar. Hundreds of families have turned out to enjoy the festive atmosphere.
Child welfare organizations also are here. They believe that 23 children, some as young as seven, are being held against their will and being forced to perform five times a day.
Philip Holmes is director of the Esther Benjamins Trust. His team has rescued more than 400 abused and underage performers from Indian circuses since 2004.read morehttp://www.voanews.com/english/news/asia/Indias-Circus-Owners-Banned-From-Using-Children-Performers-125363818.html
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