Dolakha, May 31

A 13-year-old physically challenged minor had been tied with a rope by his family members for the past nine years at Sailung Rural Municipality, in Dolakha.

Subash Tamang, who was born physically disabled, was first tied up with the rope on his leg when he was four. “He can’t speak nor can he can walk properly. When he walks two or three steps, he collapses,” said his mother Shantimaya.

His parents have to go to work in their farmland to earn their living. “To tie him up with the rope is mandatory for us, it is not our wish to be cruel. If we go out to work leaving him free, it will be more dangerous for him. So, we have no other alternative,” she regretted. She added her son had to face such hardship as they were unable to afford necessary treatment on time due to monetary crisis.

“We took him to shamans and local health facilities for check up, but we failed to take him to well-equipped and facilitated health facilities due to our poverty. Had we been able to manage necessary treatment on time, he would have been cured,” she repented.