16/02/2026
Bishnu is the mother and carer of Kriti, who has learning disabilities. They live in Kageshwori Manohara Municipality on the edge of Kathmandu, with three other family members: Bishnu’s husband, who works as a painter-decorator, her father-in-law, and her son, a college student.
Her daughter Kriti was born in 2000. At eight, she contracted meningitis and – although it seemed to have been cured at the time - her health later began to deteriorate, to the point where she needed 24/7 care and support. Kriti was given a red identity card for severe disability, and Bishnu has been her carer ever since.
As Kriti’s representative, Bishnu joined a new self-help group (SHG) being formed in her area as part of Fwdn Nepal’s project with DDP, in October 2025. She was appointed the group’s chairperson and, alongside all the other members, she has learned a lot about disability, policy, rights and entitlements.
The FWDN/DDP project has also helped with essential supplies for her daughter, and with livelihood support, as Bishnu has started a small jelly cushion business. The plan is for such income generation activities and the SHG to carry on in a self-sustaining way after the project comes to an end in March.
