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.

Sunday 6 January 2013

Sunday, Inverter Heaven

What a relief.  After a week and a half we finally have an inverter operating.  It charges our computers and phones etc. during the power outs but most importantly it runs the sleep apnea machines while the power is off.  Two of our gentlemen  snore like bullock drivers and it will be great to have some silence tonight.  It has taken all this time for the "experts" to work out what was wrong and we were also very happy to find our warranty as it was going to cost at least $200 for a new battery.  My sewing class was very small today.  Only three were there at class.  The others were out  being extras in a movie that is being made about the underprivileged  in Nepal.  They were very excited.  Doll making played a very poor second to being in a movie.  Never in their wildest dreams would they have imagined they could do anything like it.  We are thrilled, as it draws attention to the situation here.

Robyn
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