ROLPA, June 10: Former Maoist combatant Nirmala BK, who had been unresponsive for the past three years due to mental illness, has shown signs of improvement after her medical treatment was started last Thursday.

Eight years ago, Nirmala who hails from Tribeni-5 of Rolpa got bed-ridden due to epilepsy. However, her situation only worsened in that last three years. Despite her deteriorating health, her family could not take her to a hospital for treatment due to the lack of money. Last Tuesday, Republica published a news story titled 'Once a Maoist combatant, now a mental case'.

After the story was published, an organization named Manav Sewa Ashram in coordination with Bir Bahadur Rai, under-secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare have assured the victim of financial help for her treatment. The team has already taken Nirmala to Butwal for treatment.

According to Saru Adhikari, a member of the organization, Nirmala's health has started improving following the start of the treatment. "Doctors are regularly examining her health. She has now started eating and sitting on her own," said Adhikari, adding, "She now responds when we ask her about having food or going to toilet."

Doctors have also begun treating her burnt leg. Nirmala will be sent back to her family after the treatment. A team of Manav Sewa Ashram led by coordinator Rupa KC had rescued Nirmala 48 hours after reading the news.

In the past couple of years, Nirmala's family had made her sleep in a cowshed due to the stench of her critically burnt wound. Her husband Puban BK also known as 'Prabhakar' is currently in India with his second wife.

 
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