Aryaghat's coin collectors struggle to survive 

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Feb. 25: The three generations of 22 years old Ram Baniya from Birgunj have spent their lifetime in and around Aryaghat of Pashupatinath temple premises. It is not out of their wish and free will but out of compulsion as there is no way out for the Baniya family.

All the three generations of Ram Baniya made a living out of collecting coins which are thrown into the Bagmati River as offering while performing the last rites of the deceased. Their life had not been easy in the holy land of faith and solace.

Despite collecting coins for the whole of their life, Ram's grandfather and father led a poverty-stricken life and died without holding a penny that they searched all their life.

As it goes, the fruit does not fall farthest from the tree, Ram Baniya, the third generation, also does not see any rosy days ahead.

Ram said, "I used to take 300 to 400 rupees a day but that also got snatched away from me as I no longer can do the work that my father and grandfather did. Here, I see my ending worse than my father and grandfather as there are no other alternatives provided for people like me who spend a lifetime in the frightening site of death and pain."

Similarly, Santosh Pariyar, aged 13, from Solukhumbu, said that he came to live in Pashupatinath after his mother committed suicide and his father went to jail on the accusation of murdering his wife.

"Since I came to my senses, it is collecting coin that has got me going. I was staying afloat from the money I made by picking up coins but that has also been taken away from me" said Pariyar.

Pariyar said, "I was not doing anything for long since we could no longer collect coins. So I went with my friend Arjun (name changed) to ask for work. He then took me up somewhere and said that I can make Rs. 5 lakh if I complete one job. Later, I got to know that the job was to sell my kidney."

Pariyar then asked the government for the rescue and shed the light on issues of human trafficking, organ trafficking, death, and missing cases, saying that it is us, the vulnerable that falls on the prey of human traffickers.

According to the Executive Director of Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT) Dr. Ghanshyam Khatiwada, the PADT has been giving shelter to many homeless and orphans for a long time. And it did not ban coin collection to throw away the coin collectors into distress. 

"But, because of some behavioral problems of the coin collectors such as beating and threatening bereaved participants, stealing and abusing alcohol, and even drugs, we put a ban on this practice," Dr. Khatiwada told TRN Online.

With regard to protecting the homeless, helpless, and unaided people, he pointed that it is the responsibility of the government and concerned authorities to give shelter, care, and protection to such people.