Village Infamous for “Kid Bazaar” Receives Bore Well

On 28th July 2011, a bore well was inaugurated in Bandighi village, West Bengal. Earlier in 2011, children of this village were put on sale in the local market by their own mothers, who hoped for a better life for the children. This was reported by many leading newspapers and created an uproar throughout India.

When Metropolitan Dr. K.P. Yohannan heard of the incident, he initiated the opening of a Bridge of Hope center in Bandighi. This center opened in January 2011, and provides education, nutritious food and medical attention to the very children who were almost sold by their mothers.

Believers Church Kolkata Diocese desired to continue developing this needy community. On 28th July,Bishop Dr. Juria Bardhan and a few diocese leaders went to Bandighi. As soon as the leaders reached the village, the people of Bandighi welcomed them in their traditional manner and showed gratitude toward Believers Church.

At 11:00 am, a bore well was inaugurated in the presence of Mr. Shri Aslam (the General Secretary of Minority Cell, West Bengal), the village leader, and the whole village. The villagers were facing an acute water crisis and used to walk miles to fetch water. The gift of a bore well was highly appreciated and the villagers found no words to express their gratitude.

Thousands of communities in dire need have received free bore wells through Believers Church. The church’s vision is to provide life’s most basic necessity—water—to as many struggling villages as possible.