BAJURA, NOVEMBER 20

Four siblings have been left in distress in the remote village of Rumdi, Himali Rural Municipality-2, Bajura, following their father's death and their mother's remarriage, which led to their abandonment.

The children-13-year-old Ishwari, 8-year-old Janisha, 7-year-old Antima, and 5-year-old Bibek-are now solely dependent on their 78-year-old grandmother, Dilkala Thapa for survival.

Jhag Thapa, their father, died on October 23, 2020, due to a lack of medical care. Their mother, Shanta Thapa, remarried in August 2021, leaving the children to fend for themselves for the past three years under their grandmother's care.

The grandfother, Dilkala, struggles to provide for the children solely on her social security allowance and charity but says appeals for help have gone unanswered.

Rumdi village is an extremely isolated area, with limited access to government and other essential services.

While three of the siblings attend a local school-Ishwari in Grade 6, Janisha in Grade 3, and Antima in Grade 1-they lack proper uniforms and stationery. Teachers have reported that the children often walk to school barefoot due to a lack of shoes, and the youngest, Bibek, does not attend school at all.

The family owns a small hut and a patch of barren land, which, although it could provide sustenance for a month, remains unused, as there is no one available to cultivate it, according to the locals.

The siblings wear donated, tattered clothing and struggle to meet their basic needs. 'During festivals, the children cry for new clothes after seeing others celebrate,' Dilkala shared. 'We have no money for special food during festivals; we just watch from afar.'

Ward Chairperson Ran Bahadur Budha has acknowledged the dire situation of these siblings, stating that they urgently need rescue and protection. However, he admitted that the local government lacks the resources to assist them. He appealed to organizations and individuals to step forward and help these vulnerable children.