Telling Stories of Domestic Slavery in India – The New York Times

The lush floodplains of Dooars, India, appear to go on forever. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, the green is so vibrant it is all consuming.

But beyond the riverbeds, in an area once known for its bustling tea gardens, Dooars’s dirt roads can be perilous. They are barely proper roads, and the commute to school by foot is long and dangerous, making girls easy targets for attackers and traffickers.

“They’re like fishermen waiting for the bait,” said Smita Sharma, a photojournalist documenting survivors and their families.