Kathmandu:

The Ashoka Fellow is given to an individual with very new creative entrepreneurial idea that can have a huge social impact. It should have an ethical fibre too. The vision should be able to change the system, should be something that can change not only a community, but be an idea that can be replicated globally,” said Sadhana Shrestha outlining the criteria needed for one to be an Ashoka Fellow. Shrestha is the Country Representative of Ashoka Nepal.

Ashoka is a global organisation established in 1980 with the intention of helping social entrepreneurs to fulfil their efforts to bring about a positive change in society. Ashoka was started in Nepal in 1987, and has 39 members here.

This year three individuals have been selected as Ashoka Fellows — Man Bahadur Chhetri for his efforts to eradicate bonded labour, Mohamaddi Sidiqqui for her work in ensuring the rights of Muslim women by involving ma-ulanas for their cause, and Madan Kumar Rai who is working to establish a rural cash market economy ba-sed on Nepal’s resources.

To become an Ashoka Fellow is not easy. “There are intense interviews. I visit sites and checks references. And if their ideas and efforts are worth it, I forward them to the Second Opinion Reviewer,” says Shrestha.

The ideas are checked whether these would be globally fit and extensive interviews are conducted with the candidates. Then Selection Panelists interview the candidates individually, and then the Ashoka Board reviews the proposals, and finalises the ones to be welcomed into the Ashoka Family.

An Ashoka Fellow is given a minimum stipend for personal expenses so that they are not financially burdened on the homefront. The stipend is given on a monthly basis for a period of three years.

Brotherhood of man

Man Bahadur Chhetri, whose efforts in eradication of the Kamlari system has made him an Ashoka Fellow, is working as Project Manager of Indenture Daughter Program, an initiative he undertook while working for Friends of Needy Children (FNC).

“I worked as a volunteer/ advisor of Snehi Mahila Jagarn Kendra Baitadi in 1992,” he said. His proposal for the establishment of a maternity home (with community participation) was successful in establishing one in 1993. It is still providing safe and modern maternity service to thousands of rural women.

“I also worked as assistant in UNV/ DDS project with help from a local NGO called Tripura Sundra Village Development and launched the Dueki Abolition Campaign in 1992,” he said. He liberated not only the Duekis, but their children also. The children of Duekis now go to schools in Kathmandu, and some are studying in colleges.

It is difficult to imagine but it is true: In remote areas of western Nepal, young girls are still sent off to work far from their homes as servants in strangers’ homes, hotels and restaurants. These girls are known as Kamlaris. And Chhetri is bent on ending this cruel tradition.

“The chances of abuse are usually high. Some of them never return, and some are trafficked to neighbouring countries. The parents make an agreement with a labour contractor or middle man for a year of their daughters’ services for an average of $25-50 a year, which is paid to the father. The girls get nothing of this amount,” said Chhetri.

The FNC with help from Nepalese Youth Opportunity Foundation (NYOF) has been working for the welfare of these girls by providing them education, creating awareness against this system, and involving these girls’ parents in income generation activities since 2000. “We provide for the rescued girls enrolled in schools. The family is involved in income generation activities — by them providing a piglet. The families can raise and sell it, which generate the same amount as their daughters would have earned. Some families prefer goats. The fa-mily also receive a kerosene lamp (there is no electricity here), one litre of kerosene a month and a few other items,” said Chhetri of his anti-bonded labour efforts.

When FNC started the programme six years ago, they had trouble convincing even 30 families to bring their daughters. However, as of this year more than 1,800 girls have joined this programme, said Chhetri. They’ve also published a book Don’t sell your daughter – educate them.

To protect the girls’ rights, FNC has filed cases in district courts against employers for the last three years. Till now, 25 high-risk bonded girls have been legally rescued by FNC from different cities.Though it has not be an easy journey, their efforts have not gone unnoticed. Now almost all families wish to sign up for their programme, and Chhetri added “sometimes the number even exceeds the capacity”.

He proudly said, “A number of girls sent back to work, ran away from their jobs, returned home and demanded that they be sent to school.”

Taking pride in being recognised by the prestigious Ashoka Foundation, Chhetri said, “I will be sponsoring the education of three rescued Kamlari girls, and also develop Internet Corner for rescued Kamlaris and FNC child club members in Dang. I will spend the money according to my planning, and will personally be supervising and monitoring its use to make sure it is not being misutilised. I will develop global networks with Ashoka fellows, the Ashoka family and use the Fellow exchange opportunity which will give me more exposure.” Chhetri has has plans to expand the Kamlari programme in other districts — Banke, Bardiya, Kailali and Kanchanpur.