Background: Previous situation:
12 years old, AmarbatiMukhiya,inhabitant of Kaudena-6, Sakraulis the youngest daughterof Ram Narayan Mukhiya. This settlement lies in the remote area of Sarlahi district, where people’s only source of income is agriculture farming and daily wage labor. She also belongs to a very poor family. Due to the remoteness, people living in this settlement rarely access to district headquarter i.e. they have poor access to resources.Amarbatihas physical disability by birth, however her parents were unaware of it at an initial phase and came to know about her disability conditionwhen she was 1 year old. Gradually, her left side (whole body part) did not work and further she faced neck problem (head leaning to one side only)that made her parents very much worried. Due to these multiple disabilities, she was unable to performher daily work suchaswalking, using toilet, bathing, eating, brushing teeth, etc. Since she needs one caretaker all the time,her father has to take multiple responsibilities: taking care of her and regular household chores including making income for their survival.
Intervention and Support:
In2018, DFID funded ENGAGE project started its intervention by initiating baseline survey and she is nominated as a primary actor of the projectbecause she was also an out of school marginalized girls with physical disability. After participating in technical verification camp, she received assistive devices such as shoes, sandal, rollator etc. To ensure better care of her, project organized a three days training to the parents/caretaker (Parent support skill training), her father also took part in that training and developed an action plan to support her.She was also taken to bridge classes for some period with the help of big sisters and their parents though she was already enrolled into a school just Infront of her home. But due to her severe health condition (disability) and lack of disability friendly infrastructure, she was unable to continue her education in the school.
Outcomes and positive changes:
Having these assistive devices, she has now been able to walk around, perform her daily activities. Although she is yet not able to walk faster and run, it is in improving trend because she is continuously receiving support and care from her parents that has further motivated her to continuing education in grade 4. In the lobby of project team, she has received disability card (RED) and now eligible to receivesocial security allowance from Nepal government.
Regarding a question how are you feeling now? Her father proudly says,”we are indebted of ENGAGE project, we have never thought that our child will be able to walk independently, perform her daily activities by her own and continue her education. Initially, none used to see positively to the children with disability in and around my community, but now after having parent support skill training, I have developed an action plan and creating an enabling environmentin accordance with. Also, she receives NPR 3000 per month as a social security allowance. Since there are no disability friendly infrastructure in the school where my child studies, I am planning to discuss with local government to make it disability friendly.Finally, I thank to ENGAGE project and team PRERANA for theirsupport that has really opened our eyes and playing an essential role to improve the life of my child,Amarbati.”
Written by –Ram Kumari Yadav (CM) and Mangal Sah (PO)
English translation by- Pooja Rgami (VSO Nepal NV Sign)
