NATIONAL 3 -(Spotlight Weekly)

Rescue And Relief

Anuradha Koirala has shown how one's commitment and dedication can change the lives of so many others in need

By A CORRESSPONDENT

Armed with commitment and dedication, Anuradha Koirala declared war against powerful and strong groups by rescuing weak and vulnerable rural girls and children sold to brothels across the border in India. She raised the battle cry from a small rented room in Gaushala, near Pashupati Nath temple.

Over the years, Maiti Nepal has offered shelter to desperate victims of domestic violence, abandoned children and women sold to others. Although the rented houses were small and congested, Koirala never turned away anyone coming for help. As most of the girls and women rescued from Indian brothels were infected with HIV\AIDS, few parents wanted to take them back.

Prince of Wales Charles initiated efforts to raise funds by selling his paintings in response to Koirala's call to build shelters for abandoned girls and children. The Prince of Wales donated Maiti Nepal 6.86 million rupees collected from the sale of his watercolor paintings. In Dr. Winfried Kill, Maiti Nepal got a man who would fulfill its dream of providing shelter, education and health to abandoned children and girls.

Queen Komal with children at Maiti Nepal : Noble cause

"We received enormous encouragement and financial assistance from His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales, the English Daily Sun and the Heres Foundation of Spain in realizing our dream and aspiration. Dr. Kill of the Sonja Kill Foundation of Germany has done remarkable things to offer memorable contribution," said Koirala, at a function marking the inauguration of Maiti Nepal's new complex.

The Sonja Kill Foundation provided 107.1 million rupees to build the complex. Along with the offices of Maiti Nepal, the new complex consists of a women rehabilitation center with the capacity of accommodating 250 residents, a child protection home for 180 children, a primary health care center for women and children under Maiti Nepal's watch. The school constructed for Teresa Academy has a capacity for 350 students and there are plans to provide education up to the secondary level.

"While the main objective of Maiti Nepal is to protect, rescue and rehabilitate victims of trafficking, the organization is also committed to protecting, rescuing and rehabilitating women who have become victims of domestic and other violence, as well as orphans destitute children," said Bishwo Ram Khadka, general secretary of the organization. Maiti Nepal, a non-governmental organization Koirala established nine years ago, has rescued more than 400 Nepali girls and women from various cities of India and repatriated them to Nepal. Border surveillance teams of Maiti Nepal have prevented hundreds of girls from being sold to brothels. The organization runs transit homes to prevent girl and women trafficking via the main exit points in Dhangadi, Kakarbhitta, Birgunj, Sunauli, Jogbani Rani, Janakpur and Pashupatinagar.

With cooperation from local police and other groups, the organization identifies traffickers and stops them before they manage to enter India with girls and women. "The transit homes have intercepted more than 1,000 girls at the border before they crossed into India," said Khadka.

Maiti Nepal has also established a Hospice at Sattighatta in Jhapa, eastern Nepal to provide shelter and showering affection to women and children with HIV/AIDS in the process of rehabilitating them with a sense of dignity.

Maiti Nepal and Koirala have given society a powerful moral: If you show commitment and dedication for a cause, there are many people in the world who will come out to support you.