Trainings Completed:
Knitting, Kumbeshwar Technical School, 18 April 2005 - 18 July 2005
Sewing, Kumbeshwar Technical School, 16 March 2005 - 15 September 2005

Basanta Sharma Pandit is the mother of two children from Dang. She was accused of killing her stepson and sent to the prison. Her stepson went missing for 4 days and was eventually found dead on the bank of a river some kilometers from her home. The villagers accused her of drowning the boy in the river and she was sent to the jail. The younger of her two children, went with her to live in the prison. At the time, her husband supported her, saying she had not killed the child. But after she was in jail for a year, the villagers poisoned his mind and convinced him that Basanta had really killed the child and that was why she remained in prison. They even said that as Basanta was a criminal, she would be in the jail for 20 years and questioned why he would stay with her. Eventually, he married another woman.

After two years in prison, Basanta was proved innocent of the crime with help from her neighbors. But by then, her husband was already remarried and had another child with his new wife. She went to her mother’s home, but could not live there permanently. In Nepali society, it is rare for married daughters to return home and live with their parents. Basanta wanted to do something on her own to earn her and her child’s living.

In January 2005, Basanta came with her son to live at the SETU halfway home and receive training on sewing in order to earn her living as a tailor. Her son was enrolled at Sundar Shreesti Boarding High School after he came to SETU. She also wanted to bring her daughter, but her husband would not allow her. Basanta successfully completed two training courses on hand knitting and sewing at the Kumbeshwar Technical School. She hopes to show the villagers that she was innocent, that she is able to stand on her own feet and is not dependent upon anyone.

In February 2006, Basanta graduated from the SETU halfway home. She and her son now live at Gongabu, nearby SETU Nepal. She has opened her own tailoring shop. Her son attends school at National modal science school. Now Basanta is working in one of the hostel nearby her home as a helper and also works in her own tailor shop.

Doma Lama is a determined woman. Doma Lama arrived at SETU Nepal on 25 November 2004 after spending 2 months at Central Jail in Kathmandu. Doma was sentenced for fighting with her neighbors over money. However, Doma was not forced to go to jail. Rather, she chose to go because at the time her husband, a tourist guide, was abusing drugs. He spent his earnings on himself and did not provide for Doma Lama and their 2 year-old daughter, Sanjita. Although Doma found work as a housemaid, her earning was not enough to support the family. She began borrowing credits and this was the reason for the fight. Life at home had become so difficult that Doma believed going to prison with her daughter Sanjita would improve their situation.

Upon her release, Doma entered SETU, hoping to receive vocational training that would allow her to support herself and her daughter. Doma spent a year at the SETU home during which SETU provided funding for her to enroll in two vocational courses. After earning certificates in baking and cooking, Doma found work as a cook at Samrat Restaurant and had worked there for two months earning 2,000 nrs each month. She was also able to earn extra money sometime by working overtime.

With her new skills and steady employment, Doma was able to graduate successfully, leaving the SETU home on 10 December 2005. She now lives with her husband and daughter in an apartment in Gongabu close to SETU. SETU also helped Doma by providing scholarship for daughter, Sanjita, paying for school fees and other necessary school materials.

Durga Gotama was only 24 years old, when her husband was killed by Army accusing as a Maoist spy. Her husband, Thakur Prasad Gotame was killed at Narja while he was sleeping. Her son Prithivi was 9 months when he was killed.

After her husband death, she doesn’t get any help neither from village nor from government. Her in- laws also accused her as cause of her husband death. Her villagers also see her as bad luck for her family. She was mentally tortured by her in- laws. Her parents were died after her marriage, so she cannot get any help either from them.

Even though she was economically weak, she worked as agriculture labor and sends him in local school where he was taking basic education. So with the view to obtain training on sewing she came to SETU with the referred of one of the SETU’s networking organization in Rasuwa.

So, in order to protect her from involving herself in some anti-societal work like prostitution and committing other crimes she was given Sewing Training Course from SETU. Her children, Prithivi Sagar who is supported by SETU and he is studying in good English school in Rasuwa. Now she is stitching clothes in her own home by the sewing machine provided by SETU.

Hira Lama was 16 years old when she gets married with Pradeep Lama. She gave birth to Sagar lama after few years back. Her husband used to work as a driver so she gets to know many other drivers of that place. Among them two were from Nuwakot district, they used to visit her house frequently during their stay in Hetuda. One day they came to her house and asked her for ten thousand rupees and tempted her by saying while returning the money they will give her extra six thousand more. She was so excited to get sixteen thousand rupees that she immediately gave them the amount they asked for but she did not know that they were planning to use the money to sell the girls to India. The two men and girls get caught by Nepal’s boarder police while trying to cross the Nepal boarder.

During the investigation, they told the police that they get the money from Hira Lama to sell the girls so police case a file against her. She was sentenced to jail in 2055/8/18 for 12 years. She was kept two years in Bharatpur jail and after that she was send to central jail. She was free from jail in 2065/3/13.
In 2nd November she approaches to Setu with the help of the organization from where her son is getting educational support. She took training of Candle making and incense making from Setu. Now she is making candle at her own house with the help of the machine and raw materials provided by SETU Nepal. She earns good money by selling those candle.

Despite of being innocent Inju Lama was sentenced for 5 years in 2001 of killing her own mother-in-law. She came at SETU on 5th of Oct. 2006 all the way from Kabre district. Her husband who was alcoholic used to beat and used to find false causes in everything. They didn’t have healthy marital life and one day Inju tried to kill herself with the knife when she had a fight with her alcoholic husband. The mother-in-law tried to snatch the knife but unfortunately she got killed and Inju was detained.

Inju’s son was 1 ½ year old when she was detained. Her husband doesn’t want Inju to visit him or talk to him. Inju visited her husband’s house twice but she was unsuccessful to find her son because her husband has kept him with his grand parents in some other places. So, Inju came back to Kathmandu and approached SETU Nepal with the hope to gain some skills development training. So, soon she will be enrolled in sewing training.

Inju has father, mother and younger sisters they are doing agricultural work at Kavre. Ijnu doesn’t have good relationship with her family. Her family is upset with Inju because she eloped with her husband and her family was not happy about that since than Inju was not that important for her family. So, Inju didn’t have any hope from her family members.

Inju’s husband re-married when Inju was in last year of detention and living with his second wife and now she lives separately with her husband. With the help of SETU Nepal she took training of sewing and now she has her own tailor shop and has good earning from it.

Kamala Ale 28, from Chitwan, Sardanagar ward no. 1 who was involved in dollar ex-changed case and was sentenced in 2002. While she, her husband and children were living at Gaushala Kathmandu their landlord’s daughter-in-law was involved in dollar ex-change work illegally and this woman told Kamala to get involve with her, so that they both can earn money easily and faster. This daughter-in-law’s one of the friend who was spy was also involved in money ex-change work. So, one day this spy got $2200 to change and he gave the money to this daughter-in-law and Kamala Ale and asked them to give $440 more than the amount he supposed to get. But this daughter-in-law and kamala didn’t agree with him so the spy informed the police department that these two women were involved in dollar ex-change illegally. Kamala Ale and the daughter-in-law were taken by the police. The daughter-in-law paid fine of $ 1181 and got freed herself but Kamala Ale couldn’t pay the fine and was sentenced for 2 year.

While she was in prison her two children were with her in the prison. As soon as she was prisoned her husband also got married to his second wife. After Kamala’s return in 2004 she found out that her husband remarried and living with the second wife. And she started live by herself but sometimes her husband used to visit Kamala. So, later Kamala had one son, who is now 1 year old. Now Kamala is living with 3 children and is doing some embroidery work and earning $41 per month. These days she doesn’t have any contact with her husband. She has been facing so much trouble to raise her 3 children (2sons and 1daughter) and herself. Kamala’s younger sister who is also in Kathmandu sometimes helps Kamala by providing some food and money. Kamala’s daughter is living with Kamala’s sister.

So, on 18th Nov. 2006 Kamala approached SETU Nepal and requested it to provide her a driving training so that she could help her children and herself. So then SETU provided her the driving training. But She couldn’t get driving license now she has watch shop owned by hers and works in one of the finance company. Now she earns good money from these its being easy for her to raise her three children and herself by her own income.

Kamala Khadka, 31 who’s husband, Tej Bahadur Khadka was died in 2055/3/17 by
fever. His family members are all uneducated so they didn’t take his fever seriously which caused death of Tej Bahadur Khadka. After her husband death, she searches different possibility to earn enough money for her and children. As her father was died when she was child and mother eloped with other man after her father death, she has no place to go.

She is illiterate and don’t have any skill so after her husband death they have to depend upon neighbors for food. These days, her elder daughter is with close relative and younger daughter is with maternal uncle. Setu heard about their situation and took Kamala and her son Yubraj into house and agreed to care for them and put into full time education. Kamala who was referred by “Backward Society Education organization” was interested in “Sewing Training Course”. So, she was given this training, through this training she might utilize her skills and earn enough money for her children and herself.

SETU provided Sewing Training Course to Kamala. Now she use her skilled to stitch clothes at her own home and she earns good from it and can fulfill her basic need.

Kamala Raut, who’s husband, Kamal Raut was killed by the Army in 2059/3/10 was teacher by profession. That day when her husband was killed she was busy in her household chores. Later, some of her neighbors inform her that her husband was killed by defense force while attacking the Maoist. According to neighbors, her husband was busy in teaching when Army enters the school suspecting Maoist might be hiding in the school. Suddenly they start firing and hearing the bullet sound Kamal Raut also get out of the class and start running to save his life but his want to save his life was his most unfortunate decision because seeing him running, army suspect, he is also one of the Maoist and killed him. Her husband died at the spot. She couldn’t do any thing for him to save his life. She was depressed by his sudden death. She was more shocked when army capture her by saying she is supporter of Maoist. She was sentenced to jail for six months. In the same time Kamala had three daughters and 1 son to look after.

She was shocked when government didn’t give her compensation for his husband death. In this situation she was unable to continue her children studies. Seeing her condition Backward Society Education organization of Dang sends her daughters to Maiti Nepal and herself to SETU Nepal to get vocational training. Her two daughters are in Maiti Nepal. Maiti Nepal is taking care of both of them. She took sewing training from Setu Nepal and now she is living in her own village doing her household work.

Laxmi Nepali came from Goltakuri V.D.C Dang, district Nepal at SETU Half Way Home in 14th June 2006 with the hope to acquire sewing training and open her small tailoring shop at her village. Her youngest son who is also at SETU’s care go to school and he is in class U.K.G. Her two children lives in the village with her. They also go to school. These two children are getting educational support from one of the organization called BCD (Boat for Community Development). This organization has been providing uniform and stationeries to these two kids.

Laxmi’s husband was killed in 2002 by the Army while collecting fire-wood in the jungles alleged him as a Maoist sympathizer. The dead body of her husband was not given to his family and till now nobody knows what had happened to the dead body. The hapless widow was taken to the Court of Law by some law practicing volunteers. She fought the legal battle. The Court gave ruling in favor of her and dismissed charges of RNA. It ordered the State to pay rightful compensation which fell into deaf ears of the State. She had no flicker of hope that the State would ever do any thing to heal her wounds.

Laxmi took sewing training and along with sewing training she took adult literacy classes, yoga classes which would help Laxmi to become free from her trauma.
Laxmi and her son are provided with food, clothe and shelter at SETU Half Way Home for more than one and half year. Now they both lives in their own village. Laxmi runs tailor shop with other one partner and have good income which makes her easy to fulfill her basic need. Setu Nepal help her one son to get good education in the village.

Madhu Nepali 28 who came all the way from Phulbari V.D.C Dang District of Nepal at SETU Nepal Halfway Home in 14th June 2006 searching for better future for her children and herself. Her husband was killed by the security force while celebrating Teej Festival in 2003. This festival is especially for the married women where they fast for whole day not even drinking a drop of water for their husband’s long life. Madhu Nepali was also fasting for her husband’s long life but unfortunately she lost her husband in the same day.

One neighbor who he had fallen out with and who turned out to be the RNA (Royal Nepalese Army) informer maneuvered the RNA into the village by giving a false tip-off that Maoist rebels have sheltered and are feasting in the village. The soldiers came to village and shot so many innocent villagers and one of them was Madhu’s husband. This was happened in the year 2003. Not even the state helped her or gave her compensation. At last she approached SETU Nepal through the help of one of the organization called SEED (Society for Environment Education Development) which works for the environment and children educational support in Dang district.

SETU Nepal found Madhu Nepali a pig farming training on the basis of her interest and capability. She has gone through two months training program and now back into her village to open a pig farm. She run pig farm for two years. But she found good opportunity to earn more money so she left pig farming and now she is in one of the middle east country to work their as lobour.

Maya Nepali who came with her son Sushil Nepali age 4 in 17th June 2006 at SETU Nepal Halfway Home searching for better future all the way from Goltakuri VDC Dang district, Nepal.

Maya Nepali’s husband was killed by the Army in 2002 while collecting fire-wood in the jungles alleged him as a Maoist sympathizer. The dead body of her husband was not given to the family by the army till now nobody knows what had happened to the dead body. The hapless widow was taken to the Court of Law by some law practicing volunteers. She fought the legal battle. The Court gave ruling in favor of her and dismissed charges of RNA. It ordered the State to pay rightful compensation which fell into deaf ears of the State. She had no flicker of hope that the Sate would ever do any thing to heal her wounds.
Her one of the children Sushil is under the care of the of Setu Nepal. He is now studying in one of the English school.

She took sewing training from Setu Nepal and now she works in garment office and also stitch clothes at her own home by the sewing machine provided by the SETU. She earns good income and easily fulfill her as well as basic need of her children.

Prem kumari B.k was the daughter of Dhan Bahadur B.K and Rama kumari B.K. She came from Gorkha, Hangshapur V.D.C. ward 3. She was from the middle class family. Her father was a farmer. She eloped with Mukti B.K when she was studing in class six.
Mukti was I.A graduate and was teacher in the school but he has very bad habit of drinking and gambling. But Prem kumari came to know all about these all after her marriage. He used to beat her and use bad words to shout her in front of the villagers also.

She was suspected as Maiost and sentenced to jail for more than 1 and half years.
But when she was in jail noone came to meet her, so she was very sad and depressed.
She took training of sewing for one month when she was in Setu Nepal.

Ramila Gurung who was accused of her own classmate (girl friend) trafficking while studying in grade 10. She was 17 years when she was detained. Ramila from Nuwakot district, Lachathang V.D.C ward no. 8. She came to SETU half Way home in 22nd May 2006 with the hope to take skills development training. She has completed her grade 12 while she was in prison. Her interest was in computer learning and wanted to work in office. So, SETU has provided that opportunity to her and now she is taking computer training. She has finished her basic course.

Ramila was a brights and smart student and was in “Student Union” member when she was in school. Her father was a leader of a communist party. Her father and the leader of congress party were having some political disturbance between them. So one day suddenly Ramila and her classmate were taken by the police and spent 15 days in prison. The main reason for their detention was that they were engaged in different political activities. After sometimes Ramila’s classmate eloped with one man. When the leader of congress party came to know about this he started to web the political conspiracy. He gave some money to the father of Ramila’s classmate and asked him to file the petition in the name of Ramila Gurung blaming she had trafficked his daughter to India. The father filed the petition in the name of Ramila. Unfortunately Ramila’s father and the classmate didn’t know about this matter and Ramila couldn’t prove any evidence so she had to spend 5 years in prison.

Now, Ramila is physically out of prison but still she is trapped in her mental traumas and frequently shares that she doesn’t believe especially women and girls. She says that she trusted her classmate (a girl) and had to pay a high cost. SETU has been providing her with counseling so that she can slowly start to trust others.

She has been living with her old father, mother, brothers and sister in laws near by SETU. Her brothers are job holders. But since Ramila returned from prison her brothers and sisters in laws are not treating her well. She is only staying with her brothers and sisters in laws because she loves her father and mother and she is ready to face any challenges for them. Since SETU’s main goal is to help and support needy women and children SETU took Ramila Gurung in its care.

Sita Pun, who was sentenced in 2001 for killing her own husband, approached SETU Nepal on 25th Sep. 2007 searching for better opportunities. She was released on the occasion of “Loktantra Diwas” 24th April 2007. She killed her husband because he used to drink alcohol and tortured Sita physically and mentally. He used to beat her in very cruel Manner. She used to have all the spots on her on her face different parts of the body.

One day Sita’s husband came drunk and had fight with Sita. He tried to kill Sita with an axe and while protecting Sita herself the husband got killed. After that accident without any fear and guilt with the honesty she directly went to the police station and told everything happened to the policemen. A case was filed in her name and she was sentence for 10 years.

After observation of her good character and behavior the head of the prison decided to release her 5 years earlier. After her release she was afraid to go back to her in-laws house because she was not accepted by her in-laws since the incident took place.

Sita’s twin baby boys are at “Child Protection Home” Sifhal, Kathmandu for 3 years. And as per the rule of the home now these children have to live with their own mother. As Sita mentioned that her main challenge is to help and support her children and her old parents.
So with the view to obtain training on sewing she came to SETU with the referred of one of the SETU’s networking organization. She wants to obtain sewing training and wants to go back to her village at Dang and wish to open her own tailoring shop and help her children and her parent.

So, she has to be supported by providing different skills so that she will not have to involve herself in some anti-societal work like prostitution, committing other crimes and again going back to the prison.

So than Setu Nepal provided her sewing training and also provided her sewing machine. Her two son is in care of Setu Nepal. SETU provide them clothes and help them to get good education. Now she is working in the garment factory and also stitches clothes with the machine provided by Setu Nepal. She has good income and can fulfill the needs of the family.

Sumita Rai, 30, was married in1993 at the age of 14. She was forced to get married by her family. She was not happy with their decision and lived in her parent’s house for 5 years and after five years she was sent to his husband house. She lived there for one year and she ran away from her in laws house. When she ran from there she was pregnant. She used to work in the garment factory as a cleaner. But at the time of her delivery there was no one to help her. She was in such a condition that she can do nothing. She gave birth to a child but the child fall on the ground and his head stroke on the ground and the child died. She was unconscious so she knew nothing. When she opened her eyes the she was in the pool of blood. So she cleaned herself and after that police came sentenced to jail. She was there for two years. Later on she was proved to be innocent and released in 2060. Seeing her condition, one of the police women took her responsibility for helping her.

She was searching new opportunities to live her life and go forward. So Setu Nepal came to know about her and brought in Setu Nepal. She took Sewing training from Setu Nepal and now she can stitch clothes very well.

Suntali Nepali who came all the way from Phulbari V.D.C in Dang District of Nepal along with her younger daughter Junu Nepali at SETU Nepal Midway Home in 14th June 2006 searching for better future for her children and herself. Her other three children are in the care of other organization.

Her husband Ramkumar Nepali was killed by the security force while celebrating Teej Festival in 2003. This festival is especially for the married woman. In this festival women fast for whole day not even drinking a drop of water for their husband’s long life. Suntali was also fasting for her husband’s long life but the God became so cruel that Suntali lost her husband in the same day.
One neighbor who he had fallen out with and who turned out to be the RNA informer maneuvered the RNA into the village by giving a false tip-off that Maoist rebels have sheltered and are feasting in the village. The soldiers came to village and shot so many innocent villagers and one of them was Ramkumar Nepali, Suntali’s husband. This was happened in the year 2003. Not even the state helped her or gave her compensation. At last she approached SETU Nepal through the help of one of the organization called SEED (Society for Environment Education Development) which works for the environment and children educational support.

She took sewing training from Setu Nepal. Now she is working in the garment factory and also stitches clothes in her own house by the machine provided by Setu Nepal. She has good income and can raise her children and fulfill basic need. Her one daughter is in the care of Setu Nepal. Now her daughter is having good education in Kathmandu.

Suvidha Nepali came along with her twin daughters at SETU Half Way Home in 14th June 2006. Suvidha’s children were 6 months old when their father was killed by the Army in 2002 while collecting fire-wood in the jungles alleged him as a Maoist sympathizer. The dead body of her husband was not given to the family by the army till now nobody knows what had happened to the dead body. The hapless widow was taken to the Court of Law by some law practicing volunteers. She fought the legal battle. The Court gave ruling in favor of her and dismissed charges of RNA. It ordered the State to pay rightful compensation which fell into deaf ears of the State. She had no flicker of hope that the Sate would ever do any thing to heal her wounds.

Suvidha’s elder daughter age 9 is living with her grand parents and studying in grade 3. An organization called SEED (Society for Environment Education Development) has been providing all the educational materials and uniform for this kid. And she is doing very well in school And her twins daughter Anju and Manju are in the care of SETU Nepal, they both are having good education in Dang.

She took sewing training from Setu Nepal and now she has her own tailoring shop and Setu Nepal also provided her the sewing machine.
Now she good income andshe can fulfill her family needs.

Tara Bika, came to live at Setu after five years in prison. Shy and timid, Tara was married at age 13 to a 16 year-old boy in her village in the outskirts of Pokhara valley. Tara’s married life was smooth until she gave birth to the couple’s third daughter. After that time, her husband and in-laws began neglecting and mistreating her. Her husband began beating her and having extramarital affairs. Despite eventually giving birth to a son, her husband continued to abuse her. Spending all his wages on alcohol and his affairs, Tara worked as a day laborer to support her family. However, her husband also took that money for himself. One day Tara was beaten so severely that she had to be hospitalized by her neighbors. That day Tara realized her only choice was to flee the house with her four children. She went to a woman who had previously offered to help her find a good job in another city.

Tara was then taken along with several other women to an unfamiliar place. Having never received an education, Tara was illiterate and so unable to identify where she had been taken. Along with all the other women and girls, Tara was drugged. When she woke up the women realized that they were headed towards Nawtanwa, near the Indian border. The woman took Tara and few other women in a bus to an unknown place, unlike today in that time Tara was unable to read and write so she could not identify the place. Tara says that these girls along with her were given some kind of toxic things that used to make them subconscious. After she gained consciousness, she came to know that they were heading towards nawtanwa, which is a border of India. There she met another woman who was said to be the sister of the woman who brought her over there and the lady had already headed towards Pokhara. After a day of stay at the place a group of Indian policemen came in search of the two women who were said to be sisters and not finding the ladies over there, Tara was taken away by the policemen due to her innocence and ignorance she was also blamed of being a trafficker. According to Tara, she never got a chance to prove herself for not being guilty. Among the once imprisoned in the incident only two of them got the shortest sentence of five years and one of them is Tara. She has health problem when she was in jail.

After she came to Setu Nepal also she got the pain and the medicine she had helped to relief the pain. The organization has done her thorough check up and the reports shows that she has no health problems. Setu Nepal has send Tara for sewing classes for 6 months. She has been clearer to sewing so SETU provided her the machine with that she started an occupation in a short duration.

Thuli Tamang who was accuse of trafficking of her ex-step daughter to India. The petition was filed by her own ex-husband and his younger brother ( Thuli Tamang’s brother-in Law). Thuli and her second husband had a small restaurant in Kathmandu valley. Thuli’s ex- brother in law used to eat on credit in her restaurant. When Thuli asked her ex-brother in law to pay the money he refused to pay and had some fight. So, after some years Thuli’s ex-daughter eloped with a guy and her ex-husband and ex-brother in law blamed her saying she had trafficked her ex-daughter to India. Thuli didn’t have any proof to prove herself innocent.

In the year 1999 when Thuli Tamang was at her village for her father’s death ceremony she was arrested by the police due to which she was not even able to attain in her father’s cremation. She was taken to the prison at “charkhal” her case was going on and on. The case was pending in court for 3 years because Thuli could not proof her innocence. Nobody was able to find her ex-daughter. After few months Thuli’s ex-husband did tell the lawyer that Thuli was innocent they filed the case on the false bases. So,the lawyer told the ex-husband that he will be punished and he will have to remain in the prison instead of his ex-wife Thuli. Than Thuli’s ex-husband refused to stay and left her in prison for 5 years.

When Thuli’s second husband heard that thuli was sentenced for 5 years than he got married to another woman. These days he has been living with his second wife and a son. Thuli doesn’t have any children from him. Thuli’s husband is also refusing to provide citizenship to Thili due to which it is hard for Thuli to get jobs. So, SETU will be linking Thuli Tamang to one of the organizations called “AJAR” which works for the rights of prisoners and the ex-prisoners.

Thuli Tamang came under SETU’s care from 6th Oct. 2006 and has started her sewing training since 17th Oct.2006. She was very confused and in dilemma regarding her life. She was released in the year 2005 and spent one year with lots of problems. She didn’t have a permanent house and always had to shift from one place to another. It was even very hard for her to get food sometimes. She had passes so many nights with out foods. She did have families but in Nepali society parent will not care about the daughter once she is married.
Thuli Tamang got counseling, adult literacy classes and yoga classes. She is much happier and positive now than before towards her life. She wants to open her own small tailoring shop.

So, SETU provided her the sewing training but now she has hotel and has good income.