Draft:RAJU NEPALI
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Raju Nepali
Raju Nepali is an Indian anti-human trafficking campaigner and social activist known for his extensive work rescuing trafficked children and raising awareness against human trafficking across Nepal and the northeastern region of India, particularly in North Bengal. He is the founder of *Duars Express Mail*, a grassroots NGO that combats human trafficking through community mobilization, rescue operations, and cross-border collaborations.
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- Early Life and Background
Raju Nepali was born and raised in the Dooars region of North Bengal, India. Originally working in religious and missionary services, he first became aware of human trafficking issues in 1992, when he encountered a young girl who had been trafficked. This incident sparked a lifelong commitment to anti-trafficking efforts.
A pivotal moment in his activism came after rescuing a trafficked woman named Maya in Pune. Maya’s subsequent re-trafficking and death due to AIDS deeply affected Raju, reinforcing his determination to fight trafficking and protect vulnerable women and children.
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- Duars Express Mail
In 2007, Raju founded **Duars Express Mail**, a non-governmental organization operating in the eight districts of North Bengal and in parts of Nepal. The organization’s primary mission is to prevent human trafficking through awareness, community engagement, and direct intervention.
The NGO has played a crucial role in tracking, rescuing, and rehabilitating trafficked children and women, often working in coordination with local police, the Border Security Force (BSF), Nepalese authorities, and fellow activists.
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- “Stop If You Can” WhatsApp Network
In 2015, Raju launched the **"Stop If You Can"** campaign — a WhatsApp-based emergency network comprising over 250 members, including social workers, journalists, law enforcement officials, and community leaders. The network facilitates rapid information sharing and mobilization during trafficking incidents.
As of 2024, the campaign has helped in the rescue of over **1,500 trafficked children** and has reached more than **100,000 people** through awareness programs in schools, tea estates, border villages, and townships.
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- Work and Methodology
Raju Nepali’s activism combines **grassroots awareness**, **rapid rescue operations**, and **community-based reintegration**. His method includes:
- **Conducting awareness sessions** in tea gardens, villages, and border towns.
- **Alerting and collaborating with authorities** using digital networks like WhatsApp.
- **Counseling survivors and their families** for reintegration and education.
- **Tracking traffickers** and working across borders, especially in trafficking routes between India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.
He is noted for saying, *“Awareness is the vaccine,”* drawing a comparison between the spread of human trafficking and a social virus.
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- Impact
- **Rescued over 1,500 children** from trafficking and unsafe migration.
- **Prevented trafficking** in over 100,000 cases through education and vigilance campaigns.
- Helped reintegrate dozens of rescued children with their families, providing counseling and follow-up support.
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- Recognition
Though Raju Nepali has largely remained outside the limelight, he has been featured in several national and international media outlets including *Vice*, *The Better India*, *GetBengal*, and *Plan International*. His efforts have been lauded for their effectiveness in high-risk, under-resourced regions.
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- Legacy and Philosophy
Raju’s unique contribution lies in his use of **low-cost, high-impact networks**, blending technology with community vigilance. His model of grassroots activism has inspired other anti-trafficking campaigns in South Asia.
He continues to travel across vulnerable zones, engage with youth and parents, and strengthen collaborative frameworks that resist trafficking at the source.
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- See Also
- Human trafficking in South Asia
- Child protection in India
- Border Security Force (India)
- NGOs against human trafficking
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- References
1. [The Better India – Raju Nepali’s Anti-Trafficking Mission (2024)](https://thebetterindia.com/344518/find-missing-children-raju-nepali-duars-express-mail-ngo-rescues-trafficked-children-counselling/) 2. [Get Bengal – When Marriage and Job Promises Are Used as Baits](https://www.getbengal.com/details/when-marriage-and-job-promises-are-used-as-baits) 3. [Vice – Meet the Pastor Who Became an Anti-Trafficking Activist](https://www.vice.com/en/article/meet-the-pastor-who-became-an-anti-trafficking-activist) 4. [Anuradha Sharma – Reporting on Anti-Trafficking in North Bengal](https://anuradhasharma.in/portfolio/meet-the-pastor-who-became-an-anti-trafficking-activist/)