kathmandu presentation nabesh
TRANSCRIPT
Mobile populations – From Nepal
Understanding mobile populations
• Routes• Who are they?• What do they do?• What are their vulnerabilities?• Legal awareness/status• Awareness about HIV/Access to services• Locations and numbers
The Routes
Mid-western
Tulsipur Gorahi Khiri Agra Delhi
Gorahi Dhangadhi Bareilly Delhi
Who is mobile?
• Mobile population from the Mid-western districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Mostly single mobile men• Highly mobile across cities as well as within cities• Set up tents and stay in one area• Go back home at least once in three/four months• Generally do not mix with others/local population
What do they do?
• Mostly artisans/traders• Sell two major items (shoes and
bedsheets)• They get shoes/leather from Agra and
cloth/sheets from pilkhawa from UP• Sell in various parts of destination sites
Vulnerabilities
• Reported exploitation by police• Some reported going to SWs at
destination
The Routes
Western
Tamghar Butwal Parasi Palpa
Sidharthnagar
Sunoli
Delhi
The Routes
Far Western
Achham Dhangarhi Baitarhi Dadeldhura
Banbasa Tanakpur Pilibhit
Delhi
Who is mobile?
• Mobile population from the western districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Initially single males come to destination sites• Some get their families and some marry here• Approximately 40% are single/male• Oldest inhabitants-8 years Newest inhabitants-
2 months• Average number of years in destination – 3/4
What do they do?
• Stay near industrial areas• Work as security guards• Work as semi-skilled workers in
factories• Women work as house maids• Small proportion work as Sex workers
Vulnerabilities
• Females as house maids reported having sex in houses worked for (extra money/forced)
• Industrial area attracts a large number of people-some Nepalis act as pimps
• As security guards provide safe space for sex• Approximate average of having sex for girls is
12/13 years• Both males and females drink alcohol• Some also take drugs (Marijuana/charas)• Very few children are sent to schools-sent to
work
The Routes
Central
Gaur Kalaiya
Raxaul
Birganj
Muzzafarpur Delhi
Who is mobile?
• Mobile population from the central districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Initially single males and single females come
to destination sites• Most marry here• Approx. Average age – 25-30• Average number of years in destination – 7/8• Go back home at least once in three/four
months
What do they do?
• Stay near industrial/residential areas• Work in shops/dhabas/ restaurants• Some women work as house maids/sex
workers
Vulnerabilities
• Both men and women reported exploitation be supervisors.
• All women are seen as sex workers• Men are paid less than other workers
The Routes
East
Rajbiraj Supaul Barauni Patna Delhi
Janakpur Madhepura Barauni Patna Delhi
Who is mobile?
• Mobile population from the Eastern districts• Not distinguishable from other Biharis/• Mostly mobile with families• Average number of years in destination – 8/9• Go back home at once a year• Population increased since unrest in Nepal• Known as Biharis in destination –Speak Maithili• Call themselves as Nepalis-Madheshis
What do they do?
• Stay near industrial areas• Work as security guards• Work as semi-skilled workers in
factories• Women work as house maids• Some women as sex workers
Vulnerabilities
• Reported less vulnerabilities• Access the government services-School,
health, and ration cards• Some ready to go back to Nepal as
situation improves
The Routes
East
Jhampa Kankarmita Jalpaiguri Katihar Delhi
What do they do?
• Work as traders• Sell tea and hing
Mobile population in Kolkata
• Nepali males work in shops/restaurents• Single males• Single females ( mostly sex workers)• Some are trafficked• Approximate number in three Nepali
specific brothels/areas - 600
Some general observations
How do they move across borders?
• Through a relative or someone from their own village
• There is no agent system• Relatives and friends provide them with
shelter at the destination sites• Visit at least once a year. Could be more
for people on daily wages
How do they get work?
• People from Nepal are highly regarded for their honesty and hard work
• Usually supervisors ask existing Nepali people to get other Nepalis
• Supervisors can make them work for long hours for less pay
• Supervisors can throw the out of job whenever they want to
Legal status
• Some (leaders) are aware of the Indo-Nepal Treaty.
• They felt that India is not following the terms of the treaty.
• “Nepali people in India are not getting healthcare, security, employment, Education…as mandated, whereas Indians in Nepal are getting all that.”
• At least half had Indian ration cards • None of the cards have been renewed in the last
6-8 months
Awareness/access to services
• In general, awareness about HIV is low, Among women even lower.
• In general, mobile Nepali do not access the government health services (have to stand in lines, get no respect, not treated well..)
• Access private practitioners. Some always consult the traditional healer within their community. Some consult private MBBS practiioners
• Generally exploited for health care. A person with TB had to spend more than 20,000 rupees before DOTS
• Do not access anganwadi services or school for children
Resources/Support
• Family and village networks (for jobs, money transfer, support)
• Nepali associations– Nepali Ekta Samaj – Bharat– Nepali Migrants Association
• Transfer of money– Informal transfer system– Transfer through banks
Mobile populations – From Bangladesh
The Routes
Transit points
• Benapole - Petrapole
• Ghoja Danga
• Long open borders/villages/rivers
The Routes
Where do they go?
• 24 Parganas• Howrah (smaller proportion in Kolkata)• Other districts in WB
Other parts of India - Delhi
Who is mobile?
• Mostly with families• Few single males• Few single females
What do they do?
• In armeniam colony (females work as sex workers)
• Manual labour - Unskilled labour• Semi-skilled (masons)• Traders (big) bring in goods from
Bangladesh• Traders (small) sell in other parts of
India
Vulnerabilities
• Reported exploitation by police/civil society
• Sex workers (bangladesh) reported not being paid by clients
• Some are IDUs• Sex workers in Kolkata refuse to
acknowledge origins• Recent crackdowns (2/3 years)• Newspaper reports
Gaps
• Validated data on numbers in each location for Nepali mobile population
• Information on Bangladeshi mobile population
• Vulnerabilities and risk among sub-populations of mobile men and women.
THANK YOU