Never ending struggle of Gyanu

 

Gyanu Maya Sunar is one of the member of ‘Jagriti Women’s Group’ in Gorkha which was formed by ADWAN. She has been actively involved in the group from the last nine years.  She is living in a joint family of twelve members. She has two daughters and one son. The elder daughter is 12 years old, second child is 10 years and the younger daughter is 5 months.

 

Gyanu Maya’s husband works as a farmer, although they don’t have enough land to cultivate.  She is one of them whose house has been destroyed during the devastating quake in April 25th 2015. Gorkha was one of the worst-hit of all districts.

 

She was about to cross the hanging bridge with her three little kids when quake hit the country for the first time. She was on the way to go to her parents’ house. She shared that “we were totally shaken in that bridge, I thought as if it was my last day. My kids started to cling into my body and continuously crying. I was extremely worried and trying to save me and my kids. So I rushed into my one of my aunt’s house nearby”.

 

She was crying even when she shared her experience with us. The fear of losing her family was still in her heart and mind. When she returned back to home next day her house was completely destroyed. She had no idea what to do? The stored food was buried in the rubble, there was no shelter, and aftershocks were continued etc.

 

Gyanu and her family are now living under a temporary shelter with her family. They received some kind of relief support after some days from the government which was not enough to survive for her whole family. Being one of the member from the group her family received an emergency relief support from ADWAN. They received some food items, blanket, mosquito nets and mattress which helped the family to survive few days and weeks.

 

As time passes by Gyanu was really worried about their future. Gyanu is just an example in the village. Everyone has similar story. The schools remained closed for more than a month. The new academic session just started but like other Gyanu is worried about her kids. Their economic condition is very weak. Their source of income is daily wages and farming which is not adequate to support the education of three kids. She says with full of tear on her eyes “my children are very good at study but unfortunately we are not able to provide them necessary support such stationery, clothes and other necessary things. She further says that we have no house and we don’t how can we build. She heard that government will provide some support but she is not optimistic about the support as in Nepal government support is only for those people who have access and politically sound. He appeals and says that the family would be grateful if ADWAN could provide any types of support mainly to continue her kids’ education.