Water bottles are kept in the wheelchair’s front part. There are packets of Dalmoth and Kurmure beside him. Cartons of noodles steal his space meant to keep his paralysed legs. Tej Bahadur Rawal, 52, thus manages a mobile shop on his wheelchair.

“I move around the Mahendranagar Buspark area in a wheelchair and make a little bit of money,” says Rawal, who has spinal cord injuries. “It helps me earn and pass the time as well.”

He says he earns around Rs400 to Rs500 on an average daily by selling goods mainly to the passengers who gather at the buspark area to board vehicles.

Rawal reaches the Mahendranagar Buspark area at around 7 am every day with the help of his wife, Mina Devi. They bring lunch from their rented room in Aithapur, which is near Mahendranagar Bazaar. They return home in the evening after moving around Mahendranagar Buspark area and sometimes Mahendranagar Bazaar as well. The ‘wheelchair shop’ has been quite helpful for the Rawal couple in managing their household expenses.

Tej Bahadur, a permanent resident of Amargadhi Municipality-6 of Dadeldhura district, was injured in People’s Movement-II, which was launched in 2006 to end king Gyanendra Shah’s direct rule and establish Loktantra. He sustained spinal cord injuries as security personnel had severely thrashed him during the peaceful movement in Dadeldhura.

It was April 10, 2006. The uprising was at its peak. He joined the mass protest after taking his morning meal. Police personnel resorted to baton charges. He could not run away. The security personnel thrashed him so brutally that his spinal cord got broken.

“I frequented Bareli to Delhi and Kathmandu. Big amounts of money were spent for the treatment. Neither I could save money nor was my treatment possible. My life was ruined,” says Tej Bahadur, informing that the government had provided Rs 450,000 for his treatment but he spent more mounts in a bid to get treatment.

Tej Bahadur owned a bus. He used to drive his bus before his injuries and lived a decent life. “But things have changed now. Now I have to struggle to manage two squares of meals and the educational expenses of the children,” he says with a sigh.

The Rawal couple has five children—three daughters and two sons. Two daughters are already married. Their youngest daughter has completed the Junior Technical Assistant course and currently stays at home. Tej Bahadur says he does not have money for her further studies. His eldest son quit studies when he was in grade 12 due to lack of money. He is working now as a daily wage earner. His youngest son is currently studying at bachelor level in Sudurpaschim University.

“I have a large family. A huge amount of money is required to manage food,” Tej Bahadur says. “The government provides a monthly allowance but it is not enough to manage family expenses. We are staying on rent. The allowance is spent to pay rent.”

Tej Bahadur receives a monthly allowance of Rs18,000. The federal government provides allowances to the injured victims of people’s movements as per their situation.

Tej Bahadur frequently reached a general store near his residence to buy essentials. One day, the general store’s owner suggested selling goods on his wheelchair. Tej Bahadur took his suggestion positively and started selling goods in the Mahendranagar Buspark area. “I initially thought about how much I could earn money by selling water,” he recalls. “I started earning a little amount after some time.”

It is all possible for Tej Bahadur due to his wife’s support, he says. Mina Devi takes him to the Buspark area and accompanies him in the business. She also supports Tej Bahadur by bringing goods from the general store. “We are doing it to eke out a living,” Meena Devi says.