Dreams turned nightmares: The hidden trafficking of minors in Kathmandu’s khajaghars

Case 1

Rita (name changed) 17-year-old came to Kathmandu from Syangja. She was influenced by her neighbouring sister, Laxmi (name changed) who worked in Kathmandu. Whenever Laxmi visited her family, she used to dress well accessorising expensive jewellery. Laxmi had told Rita that in Kathmandu there were good job opportunities with attractive salaries. Hence, with a dream to own clothes and jewellery like her, Rita came to Kathmandu. Rita’s dream shattered to pieces when she realised how Laxmi was able to have such a lifestyle. Laxmi was a sex worker and she arranged a job for Rita in a khajaghar (a local eatery) in Naya Bus Park. Initially, she was offered the job of a helper in the Khajaghar, but later they made her involved in sex work.