It is shocking to hear that over two dozen people of the Badi community are suffering from HIV/AIDS “Badi families struggle with HIV/AIDS” (THT, December 20, Page 2). Families of this community got HIV/AIDS because women of this community are traditionally engaged in flesh trade due to lack of other opportunity for their livelihood. Mostly they are concentrated in mid-Western region districts, such as Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Rukum, Rolpa, Jajarkot and Kailali.

Traditionally, they were the minstrels entertaining the upper caste people during religious festivals and weddings. Slowly, they were forced to engage in prostitution as they belonged to the lower caste community and they did not have any land to till and other skill to support their families. When the second Jana Andolan was over and the country was preparing to hold the first Constituent Assembly elections the then interim government had reached a number of agreements with the destitute community promising that they would get every government support they need and they do not need to pursue the degrading life.

However, none of the agreements including land for housing and other income generating skills was implemented; nor were they given any financial support so that they could quit the traditional business and lead a normal life. Likewise, a number of NGOs had set up their field offices in those districts to support the Badi community. Millions of rupees were spent in these districts to uplift their condition of living. But not a single family from this community was lifted from poverty.

The new constitution has been drafted but no change has taken place in their life. Those NGOs have already folded up their contact offices and moved elsewhere where they have their hidden agenda to sell. But we have the elected government which should keep promises it made with this community. Will the government listen?

Aruna Rayamajhi, Nepalgunj    

Determination

It has come to light that a former British Gurkha soldier who lost both his legs in war-torn Afghanistan has said that he is planning to stand atop Mount Everest, the highest mountain in the world, in 2018. He is planning to scale the highest peak in order to break the boundary of disability. As a matter of fact, he wants to prove the world that even differently-abled people are capable of climbing high mountains no matter how much difficult the task may be. While talking to Hari Budha Magar of the Himalayan Times, he seems to be determined to achieve the goal of climbing the peak. The permanent resident of Rolpa district is determined and committed to make his dream come true in that specific year. Let’s wish that he may realise his dream despite the hardships ahead. All the best to the former military man who wants to achieve an impossible-looking task for such a disabled man. Even many able-bodied people have failed to conquer the peak.

Pratik Shrestha, Baneshwor