Street children who live in train stations rescued by a Catholic priest

ASIA/INDIA -

Lucknow (Agenzia Fides) - More than fifty poor children of the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, and victims of drug abuse, have been rescued by an Indian priest who collects children in search of food and shelter in trains and railway stations. We are talking about Fr. Abhi who, along with Sister Manju , founded the organization Drug Abuse Resistance Education (Dare) . The young ones have changed their lives, they receive education and are happy with their respective families. According to information Fides Agency collected, Fr. Abhi said that hundreds of children live in railway stations in the city of Varanasi. "If one goes to these stations at dawn, - says the priest - you will meet many children collecting plastic which they sell for 40 rupees per kilo. Currently, there are a total of 26 children who live in the family home of Dare. In addition, other 53 children have already been sent back home". The priest explained that in India only 2% of the population is Christ ian and in some states of the country there is a law that prohibits the conversion to Christianity. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 27/03/2014)