Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Kathmandu (Agenzia Fides) - Food insecurity in Nepal is causing serious violations to human rights and at the same time fomenting women trade. According to the Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC), about 60-70 women in Nepal migrate to the Gulf countries every day. Up to today about 240 000 women work in those countries, exploited and under paid. Often they are also forced into prostitution, either before or after their regular work. What is fomenting the problem of hunger and poverty in the country, where over 60% of the population lives on agriculture, is the inequitable access to land. In particular, the uneven distribution is damaging the Dalit community in Gandharva which is currently suffering the destruction of crops and abuse by another community. In 1993, the Gandharva, nomad community, had a piece of land by the Commission for Resolving Problem with Landless People without any legal title. In 2010, members of the nearby Tharu community, land owners of the village, destroyed the crops sown, and there was nothing left to do for the Gandharva community members, and to cope with hunger many of them emigrated to India while women towards the Middle East. The children remained there, without education, food , often suffering discrimination because of caste and poor living conditions. The members of the Gandharva community in Nepal are about 21 000, nomads, they live on music and artistic activities. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 05/18/2011)
