KEY POINTS:
One of the world's most persecuted indigenous tribes will receive New Zealand clothing for Christmas.
For more than 80 years under British rule in India, the Pardhi tribe was classified as "criminal". The British felt that branding tribes criminal was the only way to guarantee public peace and by acting against them the state could maintain the pretence of law enforcement.
And while the criminal label was removed in the 1950s, the widespread discrimination and harassment of the Pardhi have outlived the colonial administration to the present day.
Of the 60,000 Pardhi living on the streets in Mumbai, fewer than 2 per cent are literate and nearly one in five of the children are beggars.
"They give birth on polluted pavements and after a lifetime of begging and struggling, most of them die on the streets," said Sister Rosamma of the Tejaswi Trust in Mumbai.
Sister Rosamma started the trust five years ago to raise money for street-schools for the Pardhi children. It began informal, street-based classes near Pardhi communities and children there responded with enthusiasm.
"It gives them a chance to learn the alphabet, sing songs, draw and paint but also gives them a chance to be listened to, which in a harsh environment is very important," said Sister Rosamma.
The founder of JK Kids Clothing in Epsom, Ben Sproat, was delighted to help Sister Rosamma by donating nearly $15,000 worth of clothing to take back to India.
"Every year we donate hundreds of pieces of clothing to local organisations but this was the first time we'd had a request from an international charity," said Mr Sproat. "We were just in the process of clearing out our stockrooms so it was perfect timing."
Sister Rosamma says the clothing from Auckland will go to the missions that she persuades to house her Pardhi street kids.
"It's hard enough finding places for the children to live, let alone money to feed them, so to receive such beautiful clothing for the children is truly amazing. This Christmas present will mean so much to the families and orphans that have nothing."
