Mobile populations – From Nepal

Understanding mobile populations

• Routes• Who are they?• What do they do?• What are their vulnerabilities?• Legal awareness/status• Awareness about HIV/Access to services• Locations and numbers

The Routes

Mid-western

Tulsipur Gorahi Khiri Agra Delhi

Gorahi Dhangadhi Bareilly Delhi

Who is mobile?

• Mobile population from the Mid-western districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Mostly single mobile men• Highly mobile across cities as well as within cities• Set up tents and stay in one area• Go back home at least once in three/four months• Generally do not mix with others/local population

What do they do?

• Mostly artisans/traders• Sell two major items (shoes and

bedsheets)• They get shoes/leather from Agra and

cloth/sheets from pilkhawa from UP• Sell in various parts of destination sites

Vulnerabilities

• Reported exploitation by police• Some reported going to SWs at

destination

The Routes

Western

Tamghar Butwal Parasi Palpa

Sidharthnagar

Sunoli

Delhi

The Routes

Far Western

Achham Dhangarhi Baitarhi Dadeldhura

Banbasa Tanakpur Pilibhit

Delhi

Who is mobile?

• Mobile population from the western districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Initially single males come to destination sites• Some get their families and some marry here• Approximately 40% are single/male• Oldest inhabitants-8 years Newest inhabitants-

2 months• Average number of years in destination – 3/4

What do they do?

• Stay near industrial areas• Work as security guards• Work as semi-skilled workers in

factories• Women work as house maids• Small proportion work as Sex workers

Vulnerabilities

• Females as house maids reported having sex in houses worked for (extra money/forced)

• Industrial area attracts a large number of people-some Nepalis act as pimps

• As security guards provide safe space for sex• Approximate average of having sex for girls is

12/13 years• Both males and females drink alcohol• Some also take drugs (Marijuana/charas)• Very few children are sent to schools-sent to

work

The Routes

Central

Gaur Kalaiya

Raxaul

Birganj

Muzzafarpur Delhi

Who is mobile?

• Mobile population from the central districts• Easily distinguishable-Fair Mongoloid features• Initially single males and single females come

to destination sites• Most marry here• Approx. Average age – 25-30• Average number of years in destination – 7/8• Go back home at least once in three/four

months

What do they do?

• Stay near industrial/residential areas• Work in shops/dhabas/ restaurants• Some women work as house maids/sex

workers

Vulnerabilities

• Both men and women reported exploitation be supervisors.

• All women are seen as sex workers• Men are paid less than other workers

The Routes

East

Rajbiraj Supaul Barauni Patna Delhi

Janakpur Madhepura Barauni Patna Delhi

Who is mobile?

• Mobile population from the Eastern districts• Not distinguishable from other Biharis/• Mostly mobile with families• Average number of years in destination – 8/9• Go back home at once a year• Population increased since unrest in Nepal• Known as Biharis in destination –Speak Maithili• Call themselves as Nepalis-Madheshis

What do they do?

• Stay near industrial areas• Work as security guards• Work as semi-skilled workers in

factories• Women work as house maids• Some women as sex workers

Vulnerabilities

• Reported less vulnerabilities• Access the government services-School,

health, and ration cards• Some ready to go back to Nepal as

situation improves

The Routes

East

Jhampa Kankarmita Jalpaiguri Katihar Delhi

What do they do?

• Work as traders• Sell tea and hing

Mobile population in Kolkata

• Nepali males work in shops/restaurents• Single males• Single females ( mostly sex workers)• Some are trafficked• Approximate number in three Nepali

specific brothels/areas - 600

Some general observations

How do they move across borders?

• Through a relative or someone from their own village

• There is no agent system• Relatives and friends provide them with

shelter at the destination sites• Visit at least once a year. Could be more

for people on daily wages

How do they get work?

• People from Nepal are highly regarded for their honesty and hard work

• Usually supervisors ask existing Nepali people to get other Nepalis

• Supervisors can make them work for long hours for less pay

• Supervisors can throw the out of job whenever they want to

Legal status

• Some (leaders) are aware of the Indo-Nepal Treaty.

• They felt that India is not following the terms of the treaty.

• “Nepali people in India are not getting healthcare, security, employment, Education…as mandated, whereas Indians in Nepal are getting all that.”

• At least half had Indian ration cards • None of the cards have been renewed in the last

6-8 months

Awareness/access to services

• In general, awareness about HIV is low, Among women even lower.

• In general, mobile Nepali do not access the government health services (have to stand in lines, get no respect, not treated well..)

• Access private practitioners. Some always consult the traditional healer within their community. Some consult private MBBS practiioners

• Generally exploited for health care. A person with TB had to spend more than 20,000 rupees before DOTS

• Do not access anganwadi services or school for children

Resources/Support

• Family and village networks (for jobs, money transfer, support)

• Nepali associations– Nepali Ekta Samaj – Bharat– Nepali Migrants Association

• Transfer of money– Informal transfer system– Transfer through banks

Mobile populations – From Bangladesh

The Routes

Transit points

• Benapole - Petrapole

• Ghoja Danga

• Long open borders/villages/rivers

The Routes

Where do they go?

• 24 Parganas• Howrah (smaller proportion in Kolkata)• Other districts in WB

Other parts of India - Delhi

Who is mobile?

• Mostly with families• Few single males• Few single females

What do they do?

• In armeniam colony (females work as sex workers)

• Manual labour - Unskilled labour• Semi-skilled (masons)• Traders (big) bring in goods from

Bangladesh• Traders (small) sell in other parts of

India

Vulnerabilities

• Reported exploitation by police/civil society

• Sex workers (bangladesh) reported not being paid by clients

• Some are IDUs• Sex workers in Kolkata refuse to

acknowledge origins• Recent crackdowns (2/3 years)• Newspaper reports

Gaps

• Validated data on numbers in each location for Nepali mobile population

• Information on Bangladeshi mobile population

• Vulnerabilities and risk among sub-populations of mobile men and women.

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