The lights and decorations indeed look fascinating, though only till you come across girls with pain in their eyes who, unfortunately, are the very reason why Thamel continues to remain abuzz even in the night when the rest of the city prepares to call it a day.[break]
Hundreds of girls work in the dance bars and massage parlors in Thamel.
Constant struggles weaken them every hour even as they clamber to shield their privacy and dignity every night in front of customers who are aware that throwing away a few bucks can easily satisfy their lusts.
Ninety girls working in the dance bars and massage parlors in Thamel recently said that they are not treated like human beings in their workplaces. Yet, they continue to work there. And the society says, "you are there because you wanted to be there."
The women literally burst into tears in the 10-day long counseling session run by an organization CAP-Nepal that has been working for the women who perform at dance bars.
According to advocacy officer and project manager Binu Lama, one thing is common among the girls working at dance bars and massage centers: “They feel that they have sold themselves. Some might show off that they have no qualms but deep inside everyone feels the same pain. They know they are not respected creatures.”
Agrees Urmila (name changed). “When people view you as an object or treat like one, how can you still feel that you are something different than that? If we refuse to act as the customer wills, the owner harasses us. We have to please the customers at all cost,” said the 18-year-old. “I have been working here for the last one year. In the course of time, I have stopped respecting myself and all the people around. The society is equally cruel. Money can buy anything. Nobody values humanity,” she added.
Urmila was 16 when she came to Kathmandu all the way from Sindhupalchowk district in search of job. After she did not get a job even in months, a friend of hers introduced her to this field. “I was good at dancing. She told me that I can make good money if I work in dance bars. I had thought the only thing I needed to do was dance, so I agreed,” said Sharma.
“The beginning every thing was good. I was not mistreated by anyone. Gradually, it dawned to me that I was expected to go with customers and please them as they wanted. But I never had an idea about how the customers and the people in the society view us for working in the bars. That broke my heart.”
Counselor Sanam Poudel told that Urmaila is further distressed as she is in a live-in relationship with a partner who is actually interested only in her money. “Her boyfriend takes away all the money she earns. She shared everything with me during the counseling. She feels that he will remain with her till she provides him the money.”
Poudel revealed that around 50 percent of girls have similar problems. Another common issue with the girls is that they do not reveal what they are into to their families either. Their family members know nothing about their professional or private life. "So they suffer from low self esteem, have anxiety problems and, most commonly, they have health problems.”
President of CAP - Nepal Hira Dahal said that there are numerous issues related to the girls. “They come from poor background. Many of them are married off while they are still very young. Most of them do not have citizenship or marriage certificate. Many of them have very young kids to look after,” said Dahal. “It is a common experience of those working in the sector that they are underpaid. They have to work extra for tips and commissions. Whenever the police raid the businesses, they suffer even more.”
Urmila was recently booked by the police for being in an "unnatural condition" in a "public place." She was asked to furnish Rs 10000 for her release which she did not have. “The owner paid it for me and I came back. But I had to pay the money to the owner, which meant I did not get my salary for 3 months,” Urmila shared.
Dahal said that booking the girls under Public Offence Act is not fair. The girls are not at all there due to their choice. “However, neither the society nor the state is serious about their issue. This has resulted into extreme exploitation of the girls,” she remarked. CAP - Nepal has been providing counseling, vocational training and shelter home services to the girls working in the sector in Kathmandu. “Given due support, the women are willing to abandon the trade. They need an option which matches their skills.”
She states that since there is no regular or national study on the number and status of such girls, a handbook prepared by Terres des homes Foundation in 2010 has been used as a reliable source by organizations and activists.
According to the handbook "Trafficking and exploitation in the entertainment and sex industries in Nepal," in Kathmandu alone there are an estimated 11,000 to 13,000 girls and women in the business.
“In lack of legislative attention, these girls continue to suffer and suffer severely,” added counselor Poudel.
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