Kidney trade goes unchecked in Kavre

(This content was developed by Chandiraj Dahal, the author of this blog, as a part of an assignment for the course fulfillment of Online Media)

Kidney trade goes unchecked in Kavre

Chandiraj Dahal

Kavre, June 26


Despite widespread problem of kidney trade in Kavre district, both victims and the authorities concerned have failed to bring the culprits to book.

“We can present the criminals before court based on a law enforced in 2007. But it is very difficult to recognise racketeers when no complaint has been filed till date”, Deputy Superintendent of Police Surendra Mainali said.

However, Govinda Bahadur Thapa, ex-IGP who is also an advisor to the Human Trafficking and Transportation Control Committee, says evidences can be found if one follows what the villages say. “The local administration should start its operation to bring the racketeers into legal retribution based on general information even when no one files a case,” he said.
Victims say kidney racketeers are assisted by one’s own neighbour or even relatives and are engaged in such a wide network that their kingpins can hardly be reached. The victims’ stories also reveal that the number of people losing their kidneys is still on the go though most of such cases belong to the time when there was no appropriate law regarding trafficking of human body and organs.   

Several organisations, including Asia Foundation, Protection of People’s Rights (PPR) Nepal, Mahila Tamang Ghedung and LACC Nepal, had once come up with a list of victims who have already sold one of their kidneys and submitted it to the District Police Office.

According to Krishna Pyari Nakarmi, district coordinator of the PPR Nepal, these organisations have been conducting several programs to raise awareness among the vulnerable communities in the district. “We also provide legal advice to the victims”, she said. However, none of the victims have helped police administration by officially registering their complaints.

Along with Hokse, which is notoriously known as kidney bank in the district, other villages like Kharelthok, Koshidekha, Panchkhal, Mahadevsthan and Jaisithok have around one hundred people to tell their rueful account of why they had to sell their important body part. These stories have a common root in poverty and are seen nurtured with different causes, which aren’t really the only alternatives.

Racketeers promise to pay up to Rs 2 lakhs for a kidney and pocket up to Rs 10 lakhs per client. At times, the victims are even thrashed and sent back empty handed.
( To explore more about this issue listen to  a radio report, watch video or read more stories)


This content was developed by Chandiraj Dahal, the author of this blog, as a part of an assignment for the course fulfillment of Online Media.