Anuradha Koirala


Anuradha Koirala is a Nepalese social activist and the founder of Maiti Nepal – a non-profit organization in Nepal, dedicated to helping victims of sex trafficking. She was appointed as 1st Governor of Bagmati Pradesh from by Government of Nepal.
Currently, Maiti Nepal operates a rehabilitation home in Kathmandu, as well as transit homes at the Indo-Nepal border towns, preventive homes in the countryside, and an academy in Kathmandu. As the name suggests, Maiti Nepal has been a refuge for women rescued from the brothels in India. The women can stay in the homes run by Maiti Nepal until they are able to return to their homes, or if not accepted by their parents and society, they may stay until they become able to live on their own.
Between 1993 and 2011, she and her organization have helped rescue and rehabilitate more than 12,000 women and girls.
Maiti Nepal also works on reuniting the rescued women with their families, patrolling Indo-Nepal border with police and other law enforcement authorities and also rescuing trafficked women from the brothels in India with the help of Indian authorities.
Koirala received the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey in Sherborn, Massachusetts on 25 August 2006. She won the CNN Hero of the Year award in 2010. She has been called the "Mother Teresa" of Nepal for her work.
The United States government gave a two-year grant of $500,000 to Maiti Nepal in April 2010.
In November 2017, Koirala joined Nepali Congress party.

Awards & Recognition

Anuradha Koirala received the Best Social Worker of the Year Award in 1998, Prabal Gorkha Dakshin Bahu Medal in 1999, Trishaktipatta Award in 2002, the Courage of Conscience Award from The Peace Abbey Foundation in 2006, German UNIFEM Prize in 2007 and Queen Sofia Silver Medal Award in 2007.
Anuradha was presented with the CNN Heroes Award 2010 in Los Angeles, California. She was introduced by Demi Moore and Ashton Kutcher on the stage. She received USD 100,000 to continue her work with Maiti Nepal, in addition to USD 25,000 as a token of appreciation from CNN.
She received the Mother Teresa Awards in 2014.
Anuradha Koirala was also honoured with Acharya Tulsi Kartritva Puraskar by Akhil Bhartiya Terapanth Mahila Mandal in the year 2014.
Anuradha Koirala was conferred India's fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri in April 2017 by president Pranab Mukherjee. 2018 Koirala received G. O. D. Award