At Habitat, we partner with the world’s most vulnerable families to bring them a brighter and better future. We believe a home will bring family stability, strength, self-reliance, and security and in Chandra’s case, a home has done just that.
Chandra has led a challenging and difficult life and found himself a single parent of two until the day came where he remarried. Saraswati his new wife has a disability and struggles to walk but that has not stopped her from bringing love and support into Chandra’s and his children’s lives.
Admiring Bunu’s energy, Chandra smiles and shares, “I am very lucky and happy that both my children are normal, unlike my wife and me.” Despite being specially-abled, Chandra goes to work every day while his wife stays home to look after them. “With God’s grace, now I can stand and walk. Had you seen me three years ago, I was bedridden. That is the reason Bunu’s mother left me and I remarried.” No one would guess Saraswati is not their biological mother. All the bonding they share and the love between them is real.
“Now, I earn enough to keep my family happy and I never worry for tomorrow, only believe in today. We are happy with all that we have and all the energy I have every day comes from my family.” Saraswati adds, “Whatever earning he brings, we manage it and sometimes I feel bad that I can’t go out to work because I can’t walk properly. It is difficult for me to find work cleaning homes and cooking anyway, as nobody accepts me for being a Dalit. Chandra also faces this problem I know but he never gives up.”
Chandra openly shares all the struggles he has faced for being untouchable. “Not only have my family encountered this problem, but many of us in our community have faced similar problems because we all are poor, uneducated, and ex-bonded laborers. But now I feel secure; I have a house which is ours; that is the only thing the Nepal government has done for us so far.” Chandra joins his hands and closes his eyes to pray, “Now I only pray for God to give me enough strength so I can work and give both my children good education for their bright future.”
