Colours of Life
Life has different colours. Happiness, sadness, joy, sorrow are all the variant colours of life that changes through phase of time. But Rekha Devi Rai was among such people who never saw any other colours in life. Whole life she had to pass through grief and sorrow. She never got any opportunity to realise the true experience of happiness.Rekha was mentally retarded by birth. She was only five years old when her widow mother married another man. Rekha also went along with her mother to live in her stepfather’s house. Due to her mental condition it was very difficult for her family to find a groom. Finally her mother married her to Ram Kumar Rai whose left hand and leg were paralyzed. She gave them 2 kaththa land and built a house for them as dowry. Ram Kumar used to build bamboo fences for goat’s barn, mud houses and fields to earn a livelihood. In this way, they were spending their days.
Three years back her mother died leaving her behind the shadow of motherhood. Before she could forget the loss of her motherly figure, she had to bear another shock. Her husband died on 9 July 2014 due to lack of proper treatment. Rekha was left alone with 2 sons and a newly born baby. She had no one whom she would go and ask for a support. After that, she became so isolated and depressed that her mental condition got disturbed. She was not in mentally fit condition. Her small baby was alive on the food given by neighbors. The roof of the house had fallen apart and walls were about to fall. During the rainy season, water poured into the house and it was very difficult to pass the night during cold season. She went to live in her stepfather’s house for some time but there was no one to show mercy upon her after her mother’s death. Therefore, she returned back to her own home. She does labor works for livelihood. However, the income isn’t enough for the family of 3 sons and a mother. She became associated with JBS since 07/11/2012. Her membership id no. is 065.02.5. Since last September, she has also not been able to save any money in her pension saving account.
JBS believes in supporting the needy and deprived ones at times of misfortune and always motivates them to lead a meaningful life. Under the Complete house-building program, JBS Rangeli Branch organized a program on 8 January 2016 where 68 participants took part in building the house of Rekha. The participants included JBS staffs, members and local people of the village. They built a house with 2 rooms plus doors and windows. They also installed solar set, tube well, improved cook stove and latrine for safe and hygienic life. For the first time in life Rekha could really experience how it feels to be happy. Rekha and her sons are overjoyed to find a new, safe and comfortable house for themselves. They had never imagined that such any day would come into their life. With this new and admirable change they are looking forward for a new way of leading their life.