I, along with Ruth, Leah and Rebecca were able to visit Rachel (Khusboo) yesterday afternoon in the slums of the second largest red-light area of Calcutta. And immediately brought to our tears...such pathetic condition...and the reason why the relatives and male family members are so against her is not just because they are die-hard Muslims, but because of all the threats and psychological pressure the Child Welfare Committee in Calcutta had put on them, especially on the mother (they first refused to accept that she was indeed Khusboo's mother, in spite of providing all the documents). In all of this, Rachel lost one school year (she used to stand first in her class) and her dance training at Tanusree Shankar's Dance Academy. Would the social welfare people explain who would pay for this loss or how would they 'make it up'...would they do this to their own sons and daughters...making them lose one school year for no fault of their own?

The good news is that the family would probably allow her to attend our school from later this week. Keep praying please...