Aarti Damai, 16, of Khadachakra-2, Dhanedi, Kalikot, is burdened with the care and upbringing of three disabled brothers and sisters. Her father Harsinghe, 43, died of asthma four years ago. Mother Jasu died two years ago. Out of their four children, apart from Mahili's daughter Aarti, one daughter, and two sons are disabled.
Aarti, who does not have enough food even for a month, is forced to raise his brothers and sisters. His 17-year-old sister Ampura is mentally retarded. His limbs do not move well. Her 13-year-old brother Gaj Damai and 7-year-old Bharika are also unable to walk. "I was devastated when my parents died," said Aarti. "I have to take care of three disabled brothers and sisters." She said that when there was no food at home, she ate a lot of food and went to bed hungry. According to him, the disabled identity card of Didi Ampura and the elder brother Gaj has been made but the identity card of the younger brother has not been made. My sister was abused two years ago.
Anita Shahi, 17, of Shubhakalika-4 has the responsibility of raising a sister and a brother. After his mother Manakala was taken to India by Manoj Sunar of the same village two years ago, his father Til Bahadur Shahi also got married for the second time. After both her parents ran away, Anita has full responsibility for the care and upbringing of her 10-year-old sister Meena and 7-year-old brother Sunil. She is studying in class 10 at Mahadev High School.
She said that her father had sold the farm as a mortgage and she was forced to work for others to support her siblings. She said that she is enrolling her sister Meena in class 4 and her brother Sunil in class 1 at the local Bhavani Basic School, Thanachautha.
She said that she was taking care of her siblings by working for the development work in the village. "Both parents have lost their minds," she said. She complained that she had to take care of her siblings at home, collect food, and provide clothes for her siblings.
Dharmaraj Neupane, 17, of Okharbhitta in Tilagufa-8 has to be the guardian of his 14-year-old brother Khemraj. Dharmaraj, who lost his parents at the age of 13, has also passed SEE while taking care of his brother. His brother Khemraj is also studying in 7th class at Naineldev Secondary School, Okharbhitta.
Similarly, three families have been separated after Manoj Sunar of Shubhakalika-4 ran away from the wife of local Til Bahadur Shahi. After he ran away from his mother, Shahi's children became restless. The mother of Til Bahadur's husband Jogiram Adhikari's two children have fled to India.
Manoj's three children are also in distress after his father took his stepmother. Amrita Adhikari, chief of the Women and Children's Branch at Shubhakali, said that eight children became victims due to the mistake of one person. According to him, Manoj's wife is also a victim. The villagers also despise her for her husband's crime. His wife Mamita is also trying to raise three minor children. "I have to raise my son by earning wages," said Mamita, 35. His 11-year-old daughter Sirjana is studying in class 6, 9-year-old Navin in class 4, and 5-year-old Gori in class 1. She complained that she had problems raising and educating her children.
