Real stories - Sita B.K.

Sita belongs to the dalit community, called “untouchables.” Her mother died of cancer when she was 5 yrs old and her father died from TB two years later. She was brought to her maternal uncle's house. At the age of 13, she was married to an orphan boy. After a year, she gave birth to a baby girl.

The first few years, her marital life went well, but it did not last; her husband was having an affair with another girl and started beating her. Then, he brought that girl home. Every night, he used to beat her. Unable to bear everyday torture, she left her husband and went to stay with her uncle along with her daughter. Sita was 3 months pregnant. One day her husband came at her uncle's house and took her daughter away. She never saw her husband again.

Some years later, her to be in-laws came with marriage proposal for their son. They agreed to bear all the expenses and also not to take any dowry. And she got remarried at the age of 19. She gave birth to her second child, son. She knew nothing about her husband’s past. Later only she came to know that it was his fourth marriage and besides, he had very violent nature. He used to give severe torture to his wives. For her also, it was no different. He started abusing her verbally, physically as well as mentally. She was not even given enough food. As if this was not enough, he used to give her electric shock. But she kept on tolerating everything hoping that he will change one day.

She got pregnant but his behaviour did not change. Rather, it became worse. The torture was beyond toleration when one morning when she was breastfeeding her child, he threw acid on her. Fortunately, a local human rights defender came to know about the incident and with the support from local NGOs Sita was rushed to the district hospital, unable to treat her there, the doctors referred her to Kathmandu for further treatment but her in-laws did not show any concern to take her to Kathmandu and kept her at home. The local human rights defender and the local NGOs had to intervene and Sita was sent to Kathmandu by ambulance and taken to the Bir Hospital.

Her husband was arrested and taken in police custody, although he was released on bail, a case was filed at the District Court.

Following her treatment at the Bir Hospital, Sita along with her 18-month-old son was brought to Saathi Women Shelter. At present, Saathi has been taking care of her and her son. She is doing remarkably well. Her mother-in-law is insisting for Saathi to send Sita back but she is not willing to go back at all.

But Sita was worried about her daughter from her first husband who is living in the village. Saathi has decided to bring her to its Girls Hostel where she will be provided formal education along with other needs. Saathi is now coordinating with the local human right defender to bring her daughter back from the village.