Poverty, illiteracy hound Chepangs

CHITWAN, June 19: With the onset of monsoon, the mercury has significantly plummeted in Lothar village of Chitwan. However, even in the chilly weather, a Chepang woman, who gave birth to a baby boy just three weeks ago, has no warm cloths to keep herself safe from cold.

Shree Maya Chepang, who already has seven children, is struggling to protect her ninth child. Covering her breasts with soiled and shabby Lungi (Sarong), Shree Maya huddles around a fireplace with her five little children, while two of her children go out to earn breads for their family. [break]

The smokes emitted from the fireplace has rendered her tearful. But the icy winds entering through the cracks in Shree Maya´s hut, made of mud and bamboos, is more intolerable.

A tribal woman from remote Laphakai of Lothar, Shree Maya actually has given birth to nine children so far. However, one of her children died at the age of two. Shree Maya has no nutritious food to feed her infant, and other children.

Her youngest child often yells out of hunger. However, the only thing she can offer is breastfeeding. Sadly, she can not even properly breastfeed her infant, as she gets very little food to eat herself.

The only proper diet Shree Maya had after delivering her ninth child was a bowl of chicken soup. She has been surviving on steamed corns and vegetables since.

“We do not deliver babies in our houses,” says Shree Maya. “Once we are about to deliver babies, we run into corn fields. Delivering babies in corn fields is a cleaner and safer process.”

“I have no other food items to eat,” says Shree Maya. She gave birth to her ninth son in a corn field as she did her eight elder sons. And, five days after she gave birth to a new son, Shree Maya started hoeing her field.

“We do not deliver babies in our houses,” says Shree Maya. “Once we are about to deliver babies, we run into corn fields. Delivering babies in corn fields is a cleaner and safer process.”

Shree Maya´s husband Surya Bahadur is a member of the management committee of a local school. However, very little knowledge do they have about delivering babies and educating children. Only two of their children go to schools.

The Chepang couple knows nothing about family planning. “I will deliver as many babies as my womb contains,” Shree Maya says. “No baby will come out once my womb gets totally empty.”