A teen girl who was gang-raped three years ago in Nawalpur in Nawalparasi district has been further victimized as she was denied of education owing to the social stigma and poverty.
The girl, who was 13 years old when the incident took place, was eventually served justice but could not continue with her education after the incident.
The victim, who comes from an impoverished family, was ordered by the court to be compensated Rs 100,000 by each culprit. She had only received Rs 100,000 as compensation and that again after two years.
Unfavorable financial prospects aside, the girl admitted that there was no conducive environment in her home to receive further education as she is stigmatized. Her school friends are currently studying in grade 8 while her education journey was impeded following that unpleasant incident.
The now 17-year-old narrated, "I am ridiculed or accused for no obvious reasons by villagers since the incident. I used to shuttle between my relative's houses and Service Center at Parasi while my case was sub judice just at the District Court to avoid the stigma or social shame."
The victim further explained that the houses of those perpetrators lie on the way to her school. The families and relatives of those perpetrators continue to abuse her verbally whenever their path crossed.
According to her, they also spit on her, use foul words and blame on her. "They are the culprits but they behave as if I am the one."
Her father, who fends off his family by pulling rickshaw, is not educated one. So was her mother. A father of four, the victim's father wailed that it was very difficult to take care of children's education and meet other expenses with his earning.
One year has elapsed since the court ordered her to be compensated, the victim has not received the rest of the Rs 200,000 compensation amount as the office of the Women and Children was scrapped after the Nepali month of Asar this year.
They received the letter only on Asar 26 from the District Court after completing all necessary process and sent to the Kawasoti Municipality office which is failing to provide compensation amount to the victim girl due to budget crunch.
It is stated that the documents seeking compensation amount to the victim have been forwarded to the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens while the teenager girl seeks to get a new lease life with further education and love, care and dignified treatment from her family and villagers.
