Chitwan, May 4 :

She is handicapped, but that hasn’t daunted her from wanting to serving others who are handicapped. Ganga Rayamajhi (19) of Chhapahile-1(Gulmi), who earlier had to drag her body on all fours, is now able to walk with the aid of artificial limbs. She now wants to serve helpless and disabled people by becoming a nurse.

Ganga lost both her legs after she suffered burn injuries from a fire caused by the oven while she was sleeping. At that time, she was just three months old.

Sturdy-spirited Ganga managed to acquire a school education. Daily, she dragged herself to school along the knotty and hilly trail, with sandals tied to her knees. While it took normal children only 20 minutes to negotiate the path, Ganga had to labour for 45 minutes to reach school from that trail. She passed her SLC exams from Arjei Higher Secondary School while staying at her mother’s house.

Talking to this daily while she was in Chitwan in course of her mother’s treatment, she said she completed the CMA course from Tamghas Technical Institute. She wants to study as a staff nurse in the Terai and wants to serve the helpless and disabled after completing her course.

Ganga’s trouble are legion. Her mother is a cancer patient. Ganga herself is poor financially. “I am forced to collect funds for the treatment of my mother,” she said. Two years ago at the time of her SLC exams, the principal of Arjan Higher Secondary School (Tamghas), Dan Bahadur KC opened up a new vista for her by telling her that artificial legs could help her walk.

Good Samaritans like the CDO of Gulmi, Netra Prasad Sharma, and Baburam Poudel launched a fund collection drive for getting her artificial limbs.

“With their support, I got the opportunity to get artificial limbs at Hariyo Kharka Hospital (Pokhara),” a grateful Ganga said.