Desperate Girls

The Badi Girls

Between 7,000 and 12,000 young girls, aged 9-16, are trafficked each year from Nepal; mainly to India. According to Nepal Monitor/On line journal, 2007, there are more than 200,000 Nepali girls in Indian brothels.

The Dalits(untouchables) are the lowest level in Hindu society, and the Badi community, in Western Nepal, are the lowest of the low. As a displaced hungry people group the Badi community has made sexual subservience a way of life. Young girls from this group “serve” other groups. This has become a tradition and means of livelihood. Many girls, even when they are unwilling, are forced to serve as sex slaves. Family members knowingly sell their daughters to traffickers.

Though prostitution is illegal in Nepal, the industry reportedly has links with highly ranked officials and political leaders. Large groups of girls are taken across the border with many police and government officials being in collusion with traffickers and brothel owners.

Traffickers and related criminals are often protected by political parties, and if arrested, are freed using political power. As a result, there is an underlying distrust of police that has led people not to file cases against traffickers.

Domestic action involves activities of NGO’s and other volunteer groups. These groups are playing a major role to address girl-trafficking and sex slaves issues. Some NGO’s are playing a very important role to improve the situation. From creating social awareness to rescuing and rehabilitation, they are providing services (and relief) to those that need it the most – the likely victims as well as the rescued ones. The Lighthouse foundation is one of these.

*See Chandra Kala’s story on this blog site.

Friday 30 March 2012

Oh!Ye of little faith

As I returned from the cyber cafe, guess what, the internet was up and running.

lWe were invited  to Raju's house for dinner the night before Margo left. They always cook a beautiful meal for us and are very careful not to cook anything with gluten in it.  But this time, something went wrong and I had a very bad night and next day from something I ate. We caught a clapped out old bus on the way home, a first for us.  We usually go by taxi. They are so cheap.,  Everyone on the bus wanted to talk to us and Agnes took photos of them all , as usual.  We had a very merry ride home.  Agnes, Margo and myself were invited for tea at the home of the young woman we bought material from.  We followed her down narrow little alleys , up a flight of stairs, and entered one little humble room with two beds and a TV. with a little alcove at the side for the kitchen.  The hospitality here is wonderful.  She rushed about making tea, then the sister in law arrived to get a look at the westeners.  We all had a great time together, took photos, with promises to return in the near future for her special ginger,pepper and cardamon tea.

LRobyn
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