Summary: Latika Dharma was rescued from a cave in a remote area of Nepal with her mother after her father left them in Nepal from India when she was one and a half years old. The family of Lalitka’s mother also did not support them, as Lalitka’s mother was mentally ill. Both of them were in a vulnerable condition in the cave. Her mother died when she was seven due to HIV infection and mental illness. Fortunately, Latika is HIV negative and is a very bright student.
Her Story:
With the help of the District Police Officials, the Women and Children Service Office of Doti, and the World Vision International branch in Doti, SETU Nepal rescued a mother and her three-year-old daughter, Latika, from a cave in the jungles of western Nepal, where they had been living for six months. A resident of Girichauka-4, Doti, Kalawati (Latika's mother) was a victim of severe family discrimination that led to a serious mental illness.
Abandoned by her husband and subjected to abuse and neglect from his family, Kalawati's mental health deteriorated drastically. She and her young daughter were forced to live in a jungle cave under horrifying conditions for half a year. When they were finally rescued, both mother and child were found malnourished. Kalawati was referred to a transit care center called Koshish for mental health treatment. Her stay and food at the center cost NRs 300 per day, excluding the medical treatment costs. At the same time, Latika was found to be suffering from a vaginal infection and severe malnutrition, possibly a result of sexual abuse during their time in the jungle. Both mother and child were in urgent need of care.
SETU Nepal immediately provided shelter and health treatment for Latika and, with the help of two partnering organizations, arranged treatment and mental health support for Kalawati. Thankfully, Latika was confirmed to be HIV-negative. A generous well-wisher, Mr. Sanjya Rimal, sponsored Latika’s first year of education at a well-known private school. His ongoing support and frequent visits made him a father figure in Latika’s life, for which we are deeply grateful.
Although Kalawati later left the transit home, SETU Nepal worked tirelessly to maintain a strong bond between mother and daughter, believing that a nurturing family environment is fundamental to a child’s development. With continued support from multiple organizations, Kalawati received housing and care. Unfortunately, she passed away in 2017 when Latika was just seven years old.
Current Status
Latika is now in Grade 9 at a government school in Lalitpur district and aspires to become a teacher. She excels academically, participates actively in extracurricular activities, and has already received several certificates of achievement. Intelligent, curious, and highly motivated, she puts her best effort into everything she does—from schoolwork to games and group activities. We are proud of her growth and confident that her future is bright.
Appeal for Support
SETU Nepal, as Latika’s immediate guardian, continues to ensure her care and development. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Ms. Jyoti Panta for her generous commitment to fully support Latika’s education.
At the same time, we humbly appeal to all well-wishers for continued support to fulfill Latika’s broader nurturing needs, including health, emotional well-being, and personal development. Any form of support—financial or otherwise—can make a lasting impact on her life.
We, the SETU Nepal family, are deeply grateful to everyone who helps create a brighter, more secure future for Latika.