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| Anuradha Koirala |
Anuradha Koirala, who has just been
conferred the Padma Shri, did not win people's appreciation overnight. Her
crusade to stop human trafficking, that has enabled her to rescue over 12,000
girls so far, began as a lonely struggle.
She was born in 1949 and schooled at
Kalimpong in present day West Bengal. Fondly referred to as Dijju, meaning
elder sister in Nepali, Koirala spent a good part of her life as a teacher in
Kathmandu.
In 1993, she set up Maiti Nepal in a
small house with her savings. Maiti Nepal, which can be translated as mother
Nepal, began as a shelter for anyone who had been dealt a bad hand. Since then,
Koirala has dedicated her life to rescuing women and children from being
exploited.
Besides rescuing over 12,000 girls from
sex trafficking, Koirala has prevented more than 45,000 women and children from
being trafficked across the India-Nepal border. Many among the rescued, who are not
accepted back by their families, find a loving home at Maiti Nepal. Koirala has
given shelter to many women who were forced into prostitution and contracted
HIV/AIDS. In addition to material help, they receive psychological counselling
as well. Along the way, Koirala has been helped in her crusade against human
trafficking by many of those who she rescued in the first place. They all go
from village to village to raise awareness and foster greater acceptance of the
victims of trafficking.
According to the Maiti Nepal website,
the organisation runs "three prevention homes, eleven transit homes, two
hospices and a formal school." Maiti Nepal not only rescues women and
children and gives them a home, but also helps add to their quality of life.
Koirala and her co-workers organise awareness campaigns, community
sensitisation programs, and rescue operations. They apprehend traffickers,
provide legal support to the needy, and organise women empowerment programs and
trainings.
For her singular efforts, Koirala has
been recognised and feted with multiple international awards including the
German UNIFEM Prize 2007, Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award 2007, The Peace Abbey,
and Courage of Conscience 2006.
With quiet persistence, Koirala is
carrying on with her mission, exemplifying this year's Padma Awards' theme of
'Unsung Heroes'.
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