Parbati Khadka, a very simple and literate youth from Beldandi Municipality (Rauteli Bichawa VDC-8) of Kanchanpur district, had love marriage with Ganesh Khadka. Within three years, they were living happily with other family members including Mother-in-law and one brother-in-law. Ganesh was the only one support to the whole family after his father demised.. Lack of employment opportunities at their own place, he decided to try his fortune in the foreign employment. Hence, he finally went to India, where he was earning enough to look after his family. He had good earning there.
They had their first child after three years of their marriage and the daily household task for Parbatis changed as she needed to focus more on her child rather than other household chores. Gradually, she started to feel some sorts of changes on the behavior of her mother-in-law as the latter tended to scolding and arguing with her with no reasons. Although Parbati did not take the matter seriously initially, the mother-in-law started to turn further arrogant and abusive over time. Parbati, now, decided to share the issues with her husband, who made them stay separately. The separation worsened conflict between them. As a result, Ganesh came back leaving his job and started taking alcohol and even attempted to beat her Parbati several times. Being optimistic, Parbati was expecting to see change in her husband’s behavior but unfortunately, she did not see any changes.
One day when Ganesh ultimately denied having their marriage certificate issued and declared that she was not her wife, Parbati attempted suicide. On the way to jungle, she met a community reporter of Equal Access from the same VDC who after listening to her story informed the nearby police who rescueed her and kept her under the protection of Local Women group named Saptarangi Women Cooperatives. The cooperatives, later later on, referred the dispute to the CMC at their own VDC. In the presence of Ganesh’s mother as a stakeholder, they sat in the mediation session, which at the end came up with the solid conclusion after identifying the demands of the disputant parties with the various points of agreements.
Ganesh would cooperate in having their marriage certificate as well as the child’s birth certificate issued.
Ganesh would give equal treatment to both mother and wife
Ganesh would gradually quit his alcoholic habit
Parbati and her mother- in-law would maintain congenial relationship.
During follow up visit by the CMs after 1 month of reaching agreement, the family members were found staying happily by maintaining warm relations. Ganesh had already had registered the marriage and his son’s birth was also registered. Parbati, Ganesh and his mother heartily thanked to the CMC and mediators for their contribution in reunite and maintaining harmony in their family.
