Rinku, 15 year old girl

Stories about children’s days

Nepal

Children denied an education

Children in sexualised environments Children supporting their families

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Rinku, 15 year old girl

children’s real names are protected

Rinku, 15, has worked in a dance bar since she was 12. Her employer has provided her with an ID that states her age to be four years older than she actually is. Rinku drinks heavily at work and fends off the forcible touch of customers. She owes money to her employer, which she borrowed to pay for surgery that her mother needed.

About Rinku’s life

Rinku lives in Kathmandu with her mother. Rinku’s father abandoned the family after his second marriage and Rinku does not know where he is. Her mother used to work as a cook at a dance bar but after she broke her hand, and then developed other health issues she stopped working. Rinku started to work at the same dance bar where her mother had formerly worked, as a dancer, when she was just 12 years old.

Rinku was unable to continue with school because she did not have the birth certificate required to undertake the examinations that Nepalese students take in grade eight.

Continuing school is impossible without a birth certificate

The customers try to touch us. We don’t want them to, but they forcibly touch us, and we can’t do anything. We have to sit and drink wine with them

I really don’t enjoy dancing. But I don’t have any other skills, so I have to work here

Rinku does not enjoy working in the dance bar. The owner is OK, but the customers behave badly. They touch her forcibly, on her breasts and thighs, although she refuses the intention of their advances.

The customers say that they have come to enjoy themselves.

Rinku loves reading books. She wants to become a “thulo manchhe” (a big personality) in the future. She doesn’t like her current profession. If she were provided with any training opportunities, such as cooking or beauty she would leave her job.

In November 2022 Rinku documented her daily experiences, working from 5pm until 3am and travelling between work and home. Mostly Rinku walks to work but the return journey is made in a taxi provided by the dance bar, or in the company of friends.

Outside the dance bar

Rinku in her workplace

Rinku’s actual age is 15 but the owner has made an ID card saying she is 19.

Rinku earns NPR 12,000 (US $92) a month. She also gets around NPR 600 (US $7) a day in tips. She spends NPR 5,000 (US $38) a month on rent and also pays for her mother’s medicine and other household expenses. Rinku is also in debt. She took out a loan of NPR 60,000 (US $458) for health treatment for her mother. Her mother’s surgery cost NPR 80,000 (US $610).

The owner of the dance bar apprehends Rinku if she is late for her work. He provides her with supplements and medicines to enlarge her breasts, in order to attract customers.

Rinku drinks alcohol with the customers in the dance bar. Once she gets drunk, she doesn’t care about anything, and she does whatever it takes to satisfy a customer. Rinku does not like dancing or wearing short revealing clothes but this is what the customers demand.

Rinku’s fake ID

Rinku’s day

3pm

At home

Rinku’s experience

I wake up at 3 pm. I wash my clothes, eat lunch, do the dishes and get ready to leave for work.

I don’t have to do many household chores as my mother does them. I just sleep and rest at home, so I feel happy.

4:30pm

Visiting an NGO office

Rinku’s experience

I go to the offices of an NGO working with children in the adult entertainment sector). I feel safe here. Everyone in the office speaks with me. I like to come to this office. Today I am here to fill out a form. I also have my lunch here.

Inside the dance bar

5:30pm

Journey to work

Rinku’s experience

The dance bar where I work is just 20 minutes’ walk from my home. Therefore I prefer to get to work by walking.

Female staff sitting with customers

6pm

At work at the dance bar

Rinku’s experience

I reach work at 6 pm and I get ready (putting on clothes and make up). Then I go on the stage and dance. After this, I use my mobile. Sometimes I feel lazy.

I go to a liquor shop with one of my colleagues. The shop is owned by the dance bar owner’s friend. The owner has told me to go and pick up wine.

Today I am feeling lazy. No guests have arrived yet. There is no one to speak with. Everyone is busy with their work so no one is speaking to each other.

One brother who used to work here has come. He was a cashier at the dance bar. He used to tell us to sit with the guests when the owner was on leave.

Researcher’s experience

When she gets to work Rinku puts on makeup. A group dance starts at 7pm. There are colourful lights everywhere. Rinku dances, she is wearing a short and very revealing dress.

Dinner is at 10 pm and the staff take it in turns to eat their meal.

As well as dancing, Rinku sits and drinks alcohol with customers to increase their bar tab. The guests are typically between 30 and 50 years, although some men as old as 80 years come here. Some customers are well-mannered, but the majority behave badly. The dance bar owner and also the higher-ranking staff (the cashier and the manager) encourage her to drink, do drugs, smoke and undertake sexual acts.

The business owner has lent Rinku money for her mother’s treatment. This makes her indebted to the dance bar.