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.

Saturday 24 January 2015

Saturday, Turn of events

In the middle of the afternoon yesterday, the power came on for two hours.  I was so excited, I rushed upstairs and did the washing in our little twin tub (if you remember one of those).  I don't normally get enthusiastic about washing, but I guess we begin to appreciate what I would normally take for granted.  The electricity problem has only been in our region, everywhere else has been receiving 10-12 hours a day.  Apparently, a local.man went to the electricity office, fed up, and said if we didn't get electricity he was bringing back an angry mob.  It worked.  We even had power during the night and it is on this morning.  Grahame has gone out to Dologhat church this morning to preach and then to check up on our training centre building project.  That is at least 2hours each way.  Then late this afternoon, he has a meeting with someone regarding a coffee shop we are wanting to set up for employment for our young women.  It is a slow process getting it off the ground. Finding suitable premises we can afford.  It is a big investment, so we don't want to be hasty.  I am home alone today.  I will go off to church and sit with my lovely doll makers and then this afternoon, I am off to one of the hostels to see the girls and deliver some sponsors letters.  I might even get to do some ironing this afternoon.  !!!!!!!!!
Robyn
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