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Surkhet:
Eve teasing, harassment and violence against girls
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| Sitting
idle inside the house as usual, Laksmi had little hope of escaping this
situation. Or the atmosphere that surrounds her entire village in Surkhet
district. Here, most of the girls are left to dwell at home and often deprived
of school- a two hours long walk-passing through the jungles, the only
fear of eve teasing, harassment and violence. This was the tragedy of being
a girl. But no more. Two years later, Laksmi has become outspoken and active.
"With the help of the formation of a core group, we have been able to identify
the unsafe environment and bring about changes within ourselves as well
as with other girls," she adds. |
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Along
with many other "Minas", the core groups were formed in the districts of
Surkhet and Tanahun. Shy, inactive and those who presumed themselves as
inferior soon turned up to be enthusiastic and outspoken. Young girls and
boys involved in a project of creating safer environment for the past two
years, have identified the unsafe areas and worked together to reduce eve
teasing, harassment and violence prevailing in their respective villages.
According to them, girls are more vulnerable to verbal and physical harassment
in schools, while walking to schools or chautari, public transport or even
misuse from police authorities. "Teachers patted us; boys often teased
us during classes or threw stones while walking to schools and even wrote
names of the girls in the classroom boards," a girl of Damauli reported.
Asking
girls "Do you like being a girl?" most of them would answer with
a "NO".
These
young girls and boys were initially mocked by the society for its transformation.
According to the girls, the village people would use derogatory words for
trying to bring about change in the society. But, now their efforts have
taken a new shape and a beginning. The problem has lessen down a lot. But
most of the male members feel that eve teasing is day to day basis behaviour
and woman have no say.
Thus,
eve teasing and harassment has a wider effect on a girl- both mentally
as well as psychologically. According to the law, punishment can
be as high as a fine of Rs. 500 or an imprisonment of up to one year or
both. Though the law is present, it is not implemented.
| Sunsari:
Dom community against child marriage |
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Dom,
an ethnic community in Sunsari district is now committed to do away with
the prevailing system of child marriage. Just a few days ago, Satiya, 12
years old, at Putali of Dharan became a widow after the death of her husband
Dhanprit Malik, 14 years old, who died of blood cancer. This very incident
inspired many from the most backward community to break away from the traditional
practice of child marriage. The tragic incident has been a lesson to around
60 Dom families here who are considered untouchables and are assigned lowly
jobs in the society.
Child
marriage is a deep rooted practice in Dom society.
Many people from this
society still believe that child marriage saves the dowry cost. The children
get married at the age of 10. As a result, people of the community are
deprived of education and most have poor health. Early marriage has deprived
the married girls of health and education. Another setback of early marriage
in this community is broken family relationship. Most of the couples married
in their early childhood develop hatred as they grow young because they
fall in love with other people. Thus, child marriage has caused disturbed
lives in many cases.
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