After new house, children's education becomes Jibi's concern

BY SANTOSH DAHIT,Dang, jan,1: For years, Jibi Bishwokarma of Kakrahawa in Gadhawa Rural Municipality-5 lived  in a house that was a home only in name. With bamboo-woven walls and a thatched roof, the fragile shelter leaked during the monsoon and offered little protection from the biting cold in winter. Strong winds often blew the roof away, while rainwater would flood the interior, making daily life unbearable.

Because of the unsafe the house, her two children often fell ill, sometimes with fever, sometimes with other diseases. The most heart-breaking moment came when one of her sons died from a snakebite caused by the same unsafe living conditions. Recalling the past, Jibi said, “Because we didn’t have a proper house, even my two surviving children had no motivation to go to school.”

While her husband, Parshuram Bishwokarma, was alive, he dreamed of building a house, even if it meant doing daily wage labour. However, he fell seriously ill and passed away due to a lack of proper medical treatment. After his death, raising two children alone through manual labour became an immense challenge for Jibi. Her dream of a safe home remained unfulfilled, and the pain of living in an unsafe shelter troubled her day and night.

Amid these hardships, Jibi received unexpected support. Through the initiative of the Rural Women’s Upliftment Centre, a two-room earthquake-resistant concrete house, along with a toilet, was constructed for her family. After moving from a small hut into a safe, permanent house, not only Jibi’s family but the entire Kakrahawa community has been filled with happiness.

“I have received a house which I have never imagined,” Jibi said. “It feels as though even poor people like us have someone watching over us. I never dreamed I would have a house like this in my lifetime. Now I no longer worry about having no roof over my head. From here, I have found the courage and determination to build my children’s future.” Having lived in a fragile hut for years, Jibi is now overjoyed to own a two-room permanent house.

With her dream of home fulfilled, her main concern now is ensuring that her two children complete at least SEE level. “If someone could help with my children’s education, it would mean a lot,” she said. “The house is done. I can manage their daily needs through labour, but my biggest worry now is their schooling.”

Ashmani Chaudhary, Chairperson of the Rural Women’s Upliftment Centre, stated that the house was built under the Safe Housing Project, which targets poor, vulnerable, and marginalised communities, particularly single women and children under the age of 16. She informed that the house was constructed through a partnership involving Rs. 425,000 from the Rural Women’s Upliftment Centre and Nivasa Organisation, along with Rs. 200,000 from Gadhawa Rural Municipality.

Gadhawa Rural Municipality Chairman Yam Narayan Pokhrel stated that the Safe Housing Programme will be continued in the coming years. He also said that, in partnership with the Rural Women’s Upliftment Centre, four houses were built last year and three more this year.