Badis protesting at Maitighar Mandala demanding employment, food, shelter and rehabilitation. They have also demanded fundamental rights and equality in society, Monday, Aug 20 07. nepalnews.com/ANA
People from the Badi community organize a sit-in demanding an end to Deuki, Badi and Jhuma traditions prevalent in western Nepal at the Maitighar Mandala in Kathmandu on Monday.
(Photo: TAPAS THAPA
(Photo: TAPAS THAPA
Badis demand 2 seats in CA, alternative livelihood
BY BABURAM KHAREL
KATHMANDU, Aug 20 - As sex workers, they always had to struggle to make ends meet every day until quite recently. Now they want to turn their backs to a sordid past.
About 400 members of the Badi community are now in the capital for a different struggle - a struggle for social respect and an alternative source of livelihood.
Demanding at least two seats for the Badi community in the Constituent Assembly and farm lands for alternative means of livelihood, the Badi people have launched a series of protest programs. The latest being picketing the Prime Minister's residence Saturday and rallying around Singh Durbar Sunday.
"We are no more sex-slaves and objects of entertainment for other people, we want equal rights to live freely without any interference from those higher in the society," says Durga Badi, a 30-year-old lady from Bardia. "The way society treats us is no more acceptable to us. We are no more untouchable and we want to live as human beings."
Durga is one among the Badi people who traveled to Kathmandu from the south western plains to exert pressure on the government to heed to their 12-point demand, passed recently by a national meeting of the National Badi Struggle Committee. Based on the conclusion that alternative source of income would eventually reinstate the Badi community, the meeting decided to press for land, along with their representation in the constitution-making body to be elected in November.
"As we have a low status in society and don't own any land, we should be provided alternative employment to survive," says Rukmani Badi, 40, from Kailali.
Every Badi has a terrible tale to tell, according to Nirmal Nepali, a 23-year-old male member of the community from Kailali. "Most Badi people live miserable lives along the banks of rivers and can survive only by resorting to the sex-trade and other humiliating professions."
"Now their patience has snapped as all successive governments have been neglecting their misery," he adds.
It is for the first time the neglected Badi community has launched an organized struggle for their right to self respect and alternative livelihood. And, they want to make it last too. "We won't go home until we are guaranteed social respect and alternative means of livelihood," said Nepali. "We are also from this land, we too deserve a right to take part in the process to shape our country's future," Nepali adds.
Posted on: 2007-08-19
About 400 members of the Badi community are now in the capital for a different struggle - a struggle for social respect and an alternative source of livelihood.
Demanding at least two seats for the Badi community in the Constituent Assembly and farm lands for alternative means of livelihood, the Badi people have launched a series of protest programs. The latest being picketing the Prime Minister's residence Saturday and rallying around Singh Durbar Sunday.
"We are no more sex-slaves and objects of entertainment for other people, we want equal rights to live freely without any interference from those higher in the society," says Durga Badi, a 30-year-old lady from Bardia. "The way society treats us is no more acceptable to us. We are no more untouchable and we want to live as human beings."
Durga is one among the Badi people who traveled to Kathmandu from the south western plains to exert pressure on the government to heed to their 12-point demand, passed recently by a national meeting of the National Badi Struggle Committee. Based on the conclusion that alternative source of income would eventually reinstate the Badi community, the meeting decided to press for land, along with their representation in the constitution-making body to be elected in November.
"As we have a low status in society and don't own any land, we should be provided alternative employment to survive," says Rukmani Badi, 40, from Kailali.
Every Badi has a terrible tale to tell, according to Nirmal Nepali, a 23-year-old male member of the community from Kailali. "Most Badi people live miserable lives along the banks of rivers and can survive only by resorting to the sex-trade and other humiliating professions."
"Now their patience has snapped as all successive governments have been neglecting their misery," he adds.
It is for the first time the neglected Badi community has launched an organized struggle for their right to self respect and alternative livelihood. And, they want to make it last too. "We won't go home until we are guaranteed social respect and alternative means of livelihood," said Nepali. "We are also from this land, we too deserve a right to take part in the process to shape our country's future," Nepali adds.
Posted on: 2007-08-19
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