Prisoners Assistance Nepal
Kathmandu

PA Nepal's mission is to rid prisons of unnecessary suffering and hardship, in particular the suffering experienced by innocent children and prisoners who are poor and disadvantaged. It wants to help transform prisons into places that work to help prisoners build worthwhile and rewarding futures.

After a decade of armed strife in Nepal, humanitarian needs have greatly increased. Whilst the country moves towards a new constitution making process, the government is struggling to meet the needs of the public. As a result, socio-economic problems have become evident in every sphere of Nepali life. Hard times such have these often lead individuals to become involved in criminal activities in order to survive. The result is that prisons within Nepal are now dramatically over-crowded.
The combination of these difficulties has meant that the government has struggled to meet basic needs and protect the human rights of these prisoners. But perhaps more importantly, it has also been unable to care for the children of such prisoners. In Nepal, the state has no legal responsibility for the welfare of prisoner's dependent children. As such, the children of prisoners are amongst the most vulnerable and socially excluded individuals within Nepal. PA Nepal was established in 2000 to provide basic human needs, rights and compassion to all of these families during a time that few others do.

About Us PA Nepal is a grass roots organisation that seeks to provide basic needs and human rights to prisoners and their children; one of the most vulnerable groups in Nepal. In particular, we work within poor rural communities where our support creates new opportunities for women who have been released from prison. Within this role, one of our greatest responsibilities is the complete care of children whose parents have been imprisoned.

We currently employ 31 local staff members and also encourage past beneficiaries of our programs to become peer educators and volunteers. Indira Ranamagar
In 2000 Indira set up an organization to work with prisoners and their family, Prisoners Assistance Nepal. Like many Nepalese, Indira Ranamagar was born into a poor landless family. Growing up in Eastern Nepal she faced gender discrimination in many forms. As was often the case for women, Indira’s brothers were given the opportunity to study whereas she was given the responsibility of housework. However, during her youth Indira became greatly inspired by the works of renowned Nepalese writer and human rights activist, Parijat (also known as Bishnu Kumari Waiba). Indira joined Parijat’s ‘Prisoners Assistance Mission’ and worked with her until her death in 1993.

At this time, most organisations, including Parijat’s, were focused on the plight of political prisoners in Nepal. Indira, however, was drawn more to the poor and vulnerable prisoner for whom no one advocated. As eager and determined as she was during the days of her youth when she first learned the alphabet on the dusty floors of her home; Indira devoted herself to understanding the problems and needs of the poor and forgotten prisoners. She came to recognise that these “anonymous” prisoners, along with their families, actually became victims of the Nepalese penal system. In 2000 Indira set up an organization to work with prisoners and their family, Prisoners Assistance Nepal.