Patterns and dynamics of bonded labour, child labour and child marriage in the Nepali Eastern Terai: Findings from life story analysis

Abstract

Life stories provide evidence, which allows peer researchers to build a comprehensive picture of how people perceive their lives and the options they have had in the context of slavery and child labour in the Eastern Terai of Nepal. They do not depict every aspect of a person’s life, but rather important episodes and transitions in their lives that they want to talk about. This is a report of the analysis of multiple life stories collected across the Freedom Fund slavery and bonded labour hotspot in the Eastern Terai of Nepal. Life stories were analysed by NGO fieldwork staff and community representatives at the Collective Story Analysis workshop held 5-9th March 2017. Where appropriate the authors add reinforcing material from the scoping study, which took place in February 2016. They outline the major findings and key system dynamics that emerged. The life story collection and analysis process is the first of three research components in the IDS research on the Freedom Fund slavery and bonded labour hotspots. Alongside the life story work a parallel participatory statistics process has been carried out. These two components will generate action research groups, which will collect further data, generate solutions and test these in community, NGO and policy domains.