Stories from the Village

Just when you think you have heard it all....
This guy decides to sell his wife and son for $176. For the price of a microwave, would you sell your family?

Cop Sells Wife, Son

BAITADI, Aug 11 - One Keshav Nath of Mahendranagar-9, Kanchanpur district allegedly sold his wife and five-year-old son to an elderly man. Keshav, a Nepal Police constable posted at Surkhet, reached an agreement with Gangadutta Nath, 65, of Gokuleshwor-7 of Baitadi, allowing the latter to marry his wife, Mina.

The unbelievable episode unfolded as Mina's uncle lodged a complaint at the District Police Office (DPO) demanding justice for the "sold woman."

Local people said Keshav and his uncle, Mansingh, set off for Gokuleswor with their game plan with Mina and the son, Himamshu, five days ago. However, Mina, 25, was totally unaware of the plan.

"He took me to Gokuleshwor saying that he was recently transferred there," said Mina. "He told me that he would come back after making a telephone call. But he never returned," she added.

The DPO said that the police have started investigations over the incident after taking Gangadutta and Mina into custody. But the person at the center of the bizarre episode, Keshav, is still at large.

Locals said Keshav received 12,000 rupees ( $176.00) from Gangadutta on the condition of leaving his wife with him. Gangadutta refuted the allegation. He, however, admitted that he paid 10,000 rupees as bus fare and hotel expenses for the whole episode.

It is learnt that Keshav had married another woman in Nepalgunj recently. While Gangadutta, father of seven daughters, is known to have been in search of a second wife, longing for a son.

In villages across Nepal, girls are put in a cow shed during their first period for 12 days. They are thought to be unclean in the Hindu religion. They can not come in contact with anyone (especially men) or touch anyone, especially other's food. Women giving birth are also held in a cow shed during the birth of their child and 13 days after. They must not come in contact with the father of the child or go outside the shed.

Chhaupadi Kills Teenager

DOTI, Aug 11 - The traditional practice of keeping girls and women in chau goath (a cow shed) during menstruation and delivery has killed a 15-year-old girl here in a remote village of the district.

Rekha Damai, 15 of Mudegaun VDC - 6, died at chhau goath. The Chhaupadi practice is rampant in the far western region. When Damai was sleeping alone in the goath, she suffered from diarrhea. As there was no one to take her to a health post located at an hour's distance from her home, Damai fought the disease all alone till she died the same night.

"From whom would I seek help, she was having her monthly period," sobbed Tana Damai, the deceased girl's mother. "We hadn't thought she would die the same night."

Tana said her husband was also suffering from diarrhea and she was unable to seek help from other people. The girl had eaten carcass meat during day time. Other people of the same Dalit community who also suffered from diarrhea due to consumption of the same carcass have been cured as they received treatment on time.

Sita Chopada, president of Mahila Jagaran Nepal said women who stay in chhau goath have even faced rape. Similarly, women have been bitten by snakes and suffered other reproductive health related problems.

Although the government has already abolished the practice following the Supreme Court's order, it has continued in the far western region.

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