KAILALI, FEBRUARY 14
The family of the late journalist JP Joshi who was murdered in 2065, is left in the lurch due to the financial crisis.
The three-member Joshi family that has been living at Malakheti in Godawari Municipality-3 of Kailali district, has been facing a financial crisis after the death of JP Joshi. Journalist JP Joshi had left home for Kathmandu on 2008 October 08 Asoj 22 2065 and was soon out of contact. He was found dead on November 28 at the Malakheti forest.
Joshi is survived by his wife Basanti Joshi and two daughters 17-year-old Puja and 13-year-old Gita who are studying in grade 10 and six respectively at the Attariya based Everest Boarding School.
Due to the lack of economic means, the family has been facing difficulty in clearing the dues of the Joshi-siblings for the last one and half years amounting to Rs 95,000.
"Earlier, the school had refused to let Puja fill the exam form due to the aforementioned reason. However, after rounds of request and 'pleading', the school finally allowed her to fill in the form," siblings' mother Basati lamented.
Joshi family has been living in a house with a leaking roof and has been making ends by selling buffalo milk. Basanti got the buffalo on a loan from the local women's group, she has to pay half the amount she gets from selling milk against which. The remaining amount is insufficient for her to fulfill the needs of the family of three, forcing her to also work as a daily labourer to bring food to the table.
"The school has constantly been asking us to clear the dues which gives me so much mental pressure that sometimes I think of stopping my studies for good," Puja said.
"The Federation of Nepali Journalists had helped in the studies of the girls for five years, however, for the last one and half years there has been no support of any sort from anywhere leading to the current predicament, " Basanti said while adding, "neither the murderer of my husband has been found nor have we been able to secure any means to sustain the family."
Recently, a team of Shiva Gaunle, former president of FNJ, Arjun Shah, President of FNJ Sudurpaschim Province Chapter accompanied by THT's regional correspondent had met with the family to understand their situation and initiate help from FNJ and other agencies to help in the siblings' education.
