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.

Monday 12 January 2015

Monday 12th January. The poor, wretched, lame and blind

Yesterday, as I walked down the street, the beggars, once again, were slumped in little  ragged heaps along the footpaths, begging for anything someone would give.  With hopeless eyes, they extend severed limbs and pleading calls; all they see are legs busily rushing by; people on their way to spend money on other things.  We are not supposed to give money to beggars, but how can one pass by and feel no sorrow and compassion.  " whatever you do for the least of these , you do for Me".  One old man had part of his arm missing, and was blind in one eye.  Another lady, skin and bone, in the most filthy state, her hair matted, calling out to passers by.  I gave her some money, and was startled as she looked at me with violet eyes.  Once, she would have been a beautiful young Nepali  woman.  My heart was breaking for them.  I went and brought some fruit and took it back to some.  But it is such a band aid thing.  As I was snuggled up in bed, so warm and cosy, last night, I wondered were they all were . It was freezing outside.  Even giving them money etc., doesn't tell them about Jesus, who they need so desperately.  It's an enormous problem, how could we start with even one.  I know there are so many lives being changed by TTN here in this country, and we are so grateful to God for being a part of all that, with very exciting possibilities in Myanmar and a new venture into India.  But it is so hard to walk the street each day, to see the human misery,and know they also face a lost eternity.  A good friend of ours says"Poverty is just a word, it means nothing to us really, until you are face to face  with it, and then it is indescribable to anyone who is not seeing it with their own eyes."  Please pray, though the problem is enormous.  I heard a quote recently " To succumb to the enormity of the problem, is to fail the one."
We leave for India early tomorrow morning, and I don't know what wifi will be like, so may not be blogging.  We return on 17th to Kathmandu.
Robyn
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