The situation of the brother and sister, whose mother hanged herself five years ago due to the frustrations of abject poverty, was further exacerbated after their father fell sick and became paralyzed.[break]
After the mother´s suicide, their father Mandanlal took to rickshaw pulling to feed the children and finance their schooling. But when Madanlal suddenly fell sick and his hands and legs stopped functioning for lack of immediate treatment, the burden of his care also fell upon the young shoulders of his two children.
Bereft of parental guidance and support from any other source, Samjhana and Manoj have taken to begging to feed their father and themselves. The two children are to be found begging from door to door for some money or food.
“If anyone gives us five or 10 rupees, we return home with some rice,” said Samjhana. “Otherwise, there is no other option but to go to bed on empty stomachs. It would not have been that hard if there were only the two of us. But we also need to feed our father,” she added.
Samjhana further informed that she has been working at a brick kiln to feed her ailing father.
“I carry 12 bricks at a time and that causes me a severe headache at the end of the day,” she stated, informing further that she earns Rs 18 daily from the kiln.
Samjhana, her brother Manoj and their invalid father are living out their hard times in a riverside shed in the northwestern part of Ghorahi Bazaar.
Rags were found scattered in the room. There was nothing that could be cooked for food. A small packet of salt was the only edible item available in their so-called kitchen. “We had gone out to beg, but no one gave us anything. We´ll have to go to bed hungry today also,” said Samjhana.
The brother and sister feel happy whenever there is any festive activity such as a religious occasion or a marriage ceremony in their vicinity. According to Samjhana, they go to such festivities where they can fill their stomachs and also bring some food for their father.
The brother and sister, who were studying in grade 2 and 3 respectively, had to stop going to school after their father fell sick.
No one--be it the government or any non-government organization --has provided the young children any kind of support so far. However, some neighbors are kind enough to give them some food occasionally. “These children are really going through hard times. Sometimes, I give them something to eat. But it´s hard for anyone to provide support always,” said Tulasi Badi, one of their neighbors.
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