Nepal's trafficking could not be stopped unless 'Deukis' is there!

How can you expect a country like Nepal to reduce trafficking? A country whose 90% population is based on agricultural livelihood and 60% still remains below poverty line. That means 60% population is those who earn less than a dollar per day. A nation whose outlandish rituals like 'deukis' cause it to suffer at the hands of trafficking. Every year around 10,000 Nepalese girls aged between 12 to 18 are trafficked from Nepal to India. Even sometimes the figure goes above 10,000, like in 1992, 17,000 Nepalese girls were trafficked in the name of 'Deukis' and why not when poverty escorts the parents to donate the children.

As far as trafficking is concerned, 'Deukis' is the best way to sell a child. Of course who can afford children under the shelter of poverty? So, it becomes easier for Nepalese parents to get rid of their girls under 'Deukis'. In this context they not only earn some money ranging from USD 200 to USD 600 per girl, but also are entitled to be appreciated by their 'pundits' and 'panchayat system'.

These girls are entitled to serve the religious temples and houses. From their on they start their journey. After going 'through' the pundits, they are sold to various 'recruiters' who prepare their traveling documents (passport, visa etc). Sometimes they are sold to various brothels where they are hardly provided with food to survive. They are the victims of torture, rape, mental and physical abuse and are given no money despite attending 15 to 20 'clients' per day. Among such girls who are later thrust into prostitution 75% are found HIV positive.

NGOs, governmental bodies and legal institutions are playing their part but for how long would it survive. There are policies. There are punishments. But who is liable to answer those daughters who are exploited, once they are sold. The reason is obvious. For how long the parents would continue selling their hopes their daughters. Perhaps, as long as the country is living under poverty.