Women heroes of Nepal
In my city, I came across another tide of migrants leaving the mountain country in search of employment. Mostly uneducated men, they may find unskilled and semi skilled jobs in another country, and send a meager sum home to sustain their family. When the men leave their homes, the women fend for their families and fireplaces. If the men do well, they will get their families to join them. With the little money or the family migration, the women and children may find a life which is a shade better. Some women are not so fortunate.
Caught in the dual dividend of gender and poverty, many women of Nepal have been swamped in the vortex of shame and subjugation;and find themselves living in the earthly hells called brothels and prisons. Smothered by this dark quagmire surrounding women and their children, two front line women heroes have arisen. Women, who felt they should not be sitting and sulking, but should start doing their own bit to make a difference.
CNN heroes of the year 2010 and 2012 have been Nepali women. These women are my heroes too.
Anuradha Koirala (CNN hero 2010) has been leading a fight in the trenches against sex trafficking. Her organization "Maiti Nepal" patrols outposts at all border transit points, conducts raids in brothels to free entrapped women and provides homes for women who need rehabilitation."Maiti" in Nepali means the maiden home of women; the home where she was cared for, protected, liberated and could be her own self. The essence of Anuradha's work has been to provide displaced and forsaken women with the "maiti" home with all its "amenities".
Pushpa Basnet (CNN hero 2012) has found means to give a new lease of life for children whose mothers have been condemned to prisons.Children who otherwise would have turned to criminals themselves, are now getting a chance of a better education and hence a better future through Pushpa's efforts.
While, these women of example inspire other women, I hope men too will rope in their efforts to save the most vulnerable, needy and deprived.
Here, as I post the following videos, is my own salute to Anuradha, Pushpa and the many women who are making a difference in difficult situations.
Caught in the dual dividend of gender and poverty, many women of Nepal have been swamped in the vortex of shame and subjugation;and find themselves living in the earthly hells called brothels and prisons. Smothered by this dark quagmire surrounding women and their children, two front line women heroes have arisen. Women, who felt they should not be sitting and sulking, but should start doing their own bit to make a difference.
CNN heroes of the year 2010 and 2012 have been Nepali women. These women are my heroes too.
Anuradha Koirala (CNN hero 2010) has been leading a fight in the trenches against sex trafficking. Her organization "Maiti Nepal" patrols outposts at all border transit points, conducts raids in brothels to free entrapped women and provides homes for women who need rehabilitation."Maiti" in Nepali means the maiden home of women; the home where she was cared for, protected, liberated and could be her own self. The essence of Anuradha's work has been to provide displaced and forsaken women with the "maiti" home with all its "amenities".
Pushpa Basnet (CNN hero 2012) has found means to give a new lease of life for children whose mothers have been condemned to prisons.Children who otherwise would have turned to criminals themselves, are now getting a chance of a better education and hence a better future through Pushpa's efforts.
While, these women of example inspire other women, I hope men too will rope in their efforts to save the most vulnerable, needy and deprived.
Here, as I post the following videos, is my own salute to Anuradha, Pushpa and the many women who are making a difference in difficult situations.
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