MANAUSEWA ASHRAM POKHARA: Helping the helpless
Ever since Manausewa Ashram came into existence in 2012, the
Ashram has been doing great work. Now the Ashram has become the home of several
men and women who are not capable of fending themselves. Had the Ashram not
brought them to its home, they would have been living on the street---
unnoticed and unattended.
Seeing the true dedication of the people behind running this
Ashram, now even our government has started helping them with infrastructure
development activities.
Lately, my wife and I visited one of the branches of Manausewa Ashram located at Chhorepatan, opposite Devi’s Falls. We spent a quality time with the people living in the Ashram. We offered food for them and a little financial help for the construction of a new Ashram building in Hemja.
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| New building of Manausewa Ashram under construction in Hemja. |
We have made it mandatory to celebrate our son’s birthday at
Old Age Ashrams. We have been doing it for the last two decades. To celebrate
our son’s first birthday, we went to the Old Age Home at Sita Paila. We have
regularly visited this place for over a decade. After that, in 2017, we started
visiting Manausewa Ashram, Pokhara branch. The Pokhara branch of Manausewa Ashram
came into operation in 2017. We were once again at Manausewa Ashram to
celebrate our son’s birthday on December 30, 2023.
At present, there are 67 women, including young girls as young as 14 years old. In this branch of Manausewa Ashram, only women are accepted. A new Ashram at Hemja accommodates men.
“In the past, when we had only this Ashram in Pokhara, we placed both men and women together. Soon, we faced some difficulties and realized that the coexistence of both sexes couldn’t work very well. Then the concerned people of the Ashram felt an urgent need for yet another Ashram in Pokhara. Then, finally, a new Ashram came into existence at Hemja. And all the men were shifted to that Ashram. The building of the new Ashram is still under construction," informed Samjhana Banaula, the in charge of the Ashram.
Most of the women and girls living here have been suffering
from mental illness, and they need regular medicines.
Speaking with this scribe, Banaula said, “Almost all the
women and girls living here have been suffering from mental illness. In many
cases, these women are abandoned by their family members. In a situation like
this, they start living on the street. A young girl or a woman living on the
street can be extremely dangerous. They are exposed to all kinds of
vulnerabilities. Sometimes these women leave their houses and become
untraceable. Only keeping these women in the Ashram is not enough. They need
medicine regularly. Every month, we need to buy medicines worth over one lakh
rupees. We get little financial help from the government, but we have to bear
the rest of the cost. Such expenditures on medicines are always increasing as
more women get into the Ashram. On top of that, we have to pay every month Rs.
80,000 as room rent. Utility bills are extra.”
At present, 67 women are living in the Ashram. Among them,
50 women are on regular medication. They receive regular doses of medicine for
their mental illness. Most of the women living here are suffering from
depression. Others have different kinds of mental illnesses.
“We have volunteer doctors, and sometimes we take patients to doctors and their clinics for the diagnosis. We found that many women are suffering from depression. By the time they are brought to our Ashram, it is too late. But we provide them with love, care, and medicine, and we have seen the difference. Many women’s health improved, and now they are capable of living with their families. Some women do not want to leave the Ashram but to choose to serve the people here”, informed Banaula, the in-charge of the Ashram.
HOW YOU CAN HELP THIS ASHRAM
Once you visit this Ashram and see how elderly and mentally
ill women are cared for, it will melt your heart right away. A small staff of
six people takes care of the whole Ashram. The staff here remains busy around
the clock. 24-hour attention is required. Anything can happen within a flicker
of an eye. Most mentally ill women can sneak out of the Ashram and disappear in
the crowd, leaving no trace behind. Or, under the influence of depression, they
can also commit suicide. Anything can happen if the staff here is not vigilant
for 24 hours. The staff working here definitely needs utmost alertness.
The Ashram needs food, vegetables, clothes, and medicines
daily. Meeting the daily needs of the Ashram is a serious challenge for the
Ashram management. To run the Ashram they depend on philanthropists who are
always ready to help the Ashram. If you want to offer food for the women here,
as we did, you can directly contact the office. Its contact phone number is
9843347619.
The Ashram is building its own expanded Ashram at Hemja.
Your financial contribution will greatly help in the construction of the Ashram
building.
YOU CAN SET UP DONATION BOX(S)
Yes, you can set up donation boxes at your offices, schools,
colleges, and other places. So that interested people can donate cash for the
Ashram. This fund will help the Ashram a great deal.
YOU CAN OFFER GROCERIES
Feeding 67 women and 6 working staff at the Ashram is indeed
a challenging job. To lessen their burden, you can offer them groceries. They
will gladly accept rice, wheat flour, pulses, cooking oil, and many other kinds
of food items.
YOU CAN OFFER THEM WARM CLOTHES, UTENSILS, AND OTHERS
If you have some clothes, maybe new or used ones, no
problem. You can donate them. You can also donate them some utensils. Some
other items of daily use, like table fans, ceiling fans, mixer grinders, sound
boxes, stationery, etc., can also be donated.
Taking care of so many women, mostly mentally retarded ones,
has been a tough job to do. The six-member team must receive our accolades.
These staff’s selfless dedication to their work is beyond words.
It is utmost necessary to strengthen their hands by providing them with the necessary help. This will help them manage Ashram’s expenses more independently.
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