Unlike other adolescent boys in his locality, lifestyle of Leela Prasad Chamlagain does not reflect exuberance of life. Neither is he active nor agile. Worst of all, tied in chains for 17 years, he has been not only bearing the brunt of mental retardation but also the stigma attached with mental health disorders. The 19-year-old child of Januka Chamlagai, resident of Rajgadh-8 in Jhapa district, was chained since he was two years old. The mother of four recalled that Leela Prasad showed the symptom of mental retardation since he was a toddler. "He was mute from the childhood. He would not behave a regular child." Mother described him as a boy whose right hand did not function but would trouble them by moving hither and thither and disappearing out of sight in no time. "Before people would treat him as a nuisance and before he unknowingly keeps his life at stake in the absence of me or before anyone attacks my child for the mistakes insanely made, I tied up him with chains to keep him safe," shared the impoverished mother who left no stone unturned to ensure sound health to her son. But due to financial constraints, the mother who works as a laborer in the locality has not been able to provide medical intervention. "Who does not want to provide care and cure to their children but I am in dire straits and have not been able to ensure medical attention to him," explained the mother who is single-handedly taking charge of her household in the absence of her husband in foreign shores for employment. Worry-wart mother is equally concerned over the care of her son following her death. She questioned, "I am worried for him in my absence. Who will take care of him when I am no more?" Hamstrung by lack of funding, Januka appeals to philanthropists to help her son get medical help. She said, "I am hopeful that my son would regain his sanity provided he gets proper medical care." Persons wishing to assist mentally challenged Leela Prasad to break free both from chain and his condition can contact Januka through this scribe at 9852679625. हरेक आमाबुबाको इच्छा र चाहना हुन्छ आफ्ना सन्तान ठूला बनुन्, धेरै पढुन्, धेरै पैसा कमाउन्, देशको सेवा गरुन्, आफ्नो र आफ्नो परिवारको इज्जत धानुन् अनि बुढेसकालमा आफूहरूलाई सहारा दिउन् । तर, झापा राजगढ-८ निवासी एक महिलाको जीवनमा आफूले चाहेको भन्दा ठीक विपरीत भएको राससले जनाएको छ । विसं २०५४ मा जन्मिएका लीलाप्रसादलाई १७ वर्षदेखि साङ्लोले बाँध्नुपरेपछि उनकी आमा जानुका चम्लागार्इंले बुढेसकालमा सन्तानको सहारा पाउने आशमात्र मारेकी छैनन्, आफ्नो शेषपछि छोराको हेरचाह कसले गरिदेला भन्ने चिन्ताले पिरोलेकोसमेत बताइन् । १९ वर्षीय छोरालाई १७ वर्षदेखि निरन्तर साङ्लोले बाँधेर हेरचाह गरिरहेकी जानुका भन्छिन्- “बुढेसकालको सहारा त गुम्योगुम्यो, मेरो शेषपछि उसलाई कसले हेरिदेला ?” बाल्यावस्थादेखि नै सुस्त मनःस्थिति भएका लीला बोल्दैनन् । उनको दाहिने हात पनि चल्दैन । तर, आमाले गरेको इशारा भने बुझ्छन् । टोलाइरहने स्वभावका उनी फोहर टिप्दै खाने, बोलिरहने र हिँडेपछि घर नफर्कने गरेपछि उनलाई साङ्लोले बाध्नुपरेको जानुकाले बताइन् । आर्थिक अभावका कारण उनको उपचारमा कठिनाइ भएको बताउँदै जानुका भन्छिन्- “छोरो निको होस् भन्ने चाहना कुन आमालाई हुँदैन र ? तर, के गर्नु छोराको उपचार गराउने पैसा छैन । छाक टार्नसमेत धौधौ हुन्छ । मजदुरी गर्न नगई हुँदैन त्यस्तो अवस्थामा उसलाई साङ्गाले बाँधेर जान्छु ।” -जानुकाले भनिन् । आर्थिक अभावकै कारण छोराको उपचार गराउन नसकेपछि जानुकाले दातासमक्ष सहयोगको आशा गरेकी छन् । उनले भनिन्- “एकपटक राम्रो डाक्टरलाई देखाउन पाए छोरो निको हुन्थ्यो कि भन्ने मनमा लागेको छ ।” “जता हिँड्यो उतै हराउँछ, कतै गयो भने पानीमा डुब्ला, गाडीले किच्ला, कसैले कुटिदेला भनेर हामीले उसलाई साङ्लाले बाँधेका हौँ ।” – जानुकाले भनिन्- “माया भए पनि छोरो बचाउन अर्को विकल्प नदेखेर उसलाई बाँधेका हौँ ।”