SARLAHI: Cowsheds have been doubling up as home for two girls - Kalpana Ghimire (12) and Bhawani Baral (18) - of Ghurkouli VDC in Sarlahi district for a decade or so. But, the physically and mentally challenged victims continue to suffer the torture silently.

The ordeal is far greater for Bhawani than Kalpana. The latter is thrown into

the pen as and when her family goes out of the house for work. Poor Bhawani, akin to cattle, is tied to a post in the cowshed. She cannot even set herself free, thanks to her disability.

Kalpana — the cleverer of the two — manages to unshackle herself at times.

“Sometimes, she runs away. Though she is deaf, she can follow some

sign language,” said Indra Kumari Ghimire, one of her relatives.

Bhawani’s father Dilli maintained that her daughter, who could not hear and speak from childhood, did not have a congenital problem.

“She suffered from typhoid during childhood. Her condition had worsened since then. We are compelled to keep her in the cowshed since she constantly litters the house,” said Dilli.

Kumar Baral, a local, maintained that they were trying to provide physical training to the challenged to bring about a change in their behaviourial pattern.

But these hapless girls failed to take advantage of the facility since their impoverished families could not afford the training programme.

Niru Shrestha, chief, District Women Development Office, opined that the society should come to the rescue of differently abled people. “The government should also take their responsibility,” she reasoned.

Arun Kumar Jha, chief, District Public Health Office, felt that advanced technologies had been developed to make these people more efficient and cope with the hazards of daily existence.

“It’s up to the government to come up with new policies to improve their living conditions,” he added.