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, 5 September 2014

Thursday 4th reunited

Today was a great day for me as I was reunited with Bimala after she had been missing for 5 months.
She is such a shy little thing but it was wonderful to see her again, safe and sound.  We also went to see the new school campus no. 4. and spent time with the Principal, Lalima, and Robita.  We also heard an amazing story about good coming out of tragedy.  At Jhuprakhola, the village was flooded during the big wet season and some houses were washed away.  No lives were lost.  But the village relies  on gathering sand and gravel for a living, and the place where they live was running out. After the flood, there was enough sand and gravel deposited by the village to keep them working for at least two more years.  In another place, there was a landslide and three villages were swept away with 200 lives lost.   One of our ladies doing the vocational training, Tara, went home to the village and was married there and will not be returning.  We were sad about that, as the transformation in her life was remarkable and we are not sure what her future will be now.  
Five people arriving tomorrow, so Grahame will spend a good part of his  day waiting at the airport,  as the planes are arriving at different times.


Electricity is not as good as it usually is in September.  Usually, we are only 4 hours a day without, but at present it is 8 hours without.  It is strange as they had such a big wet this year and the power is hydro.


 Robyn
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2 comments:

  1. Unknown5 September 2014 at 09:57

    Hello Sept 2014 team, hello and hugs to the pre voc ladies, greetings to Netral, Namuna and little Nelson.

    Great to see the blogs again, they are off the scale in popularity on the Ed Nepal facebook page so people are appreciating and reading the updates.
    So saddened to hear about Tara she would have been a real asset in the cafe program and her life had taken a huge turn. We are praying Gods continued favour for her.
    Bimala looks so grown up now in her smart uniform. She appears well Robbie.
    The gardens are growing well, picking daily, should loose a little on this veggie diet!!
    All the best while your there.
    The Parrys

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  2. Unknown5 September 2014 at 10:27

    Love the photo of you and Bimala Robbie. It must have been so emotional to finally be able to give her a hug. She looks well. Also love the photo of Lalima and Rabita. We are reeling at the news of Tara. Unbelievable! Love that lady so much. Can't stand the thought she may be at risk again. We will be praying!! Amazing story from Jhouprakhola. Praying for you all and missing being there. Do you think you could write an hour by hour blog spot?????

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