Kathmandu: As Sita Wadi took the oath as Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, her parents in Surkhet watched the moment on television with pride and emotion recalling years of hardship spent raising their daughter along the banks of Jhupra Khola.

Mother Parbati Wadi had come from their small hut near Jhupra Khola just to watch her daughter on television. As she watched, she wasn’t just seeing a minister she was remembering her little daughter growing up in poverty.

Sita’s parents, Parbati and Gopal Wadi, used to survive by breaking stones and filtering sand from the river. With that hard work, they managed to send Sita to school.

As a child, Sita used to tell her mother, “One day I’ll grow up and remove our poverty.”

Now, that responsibility feels real not just for her family but for the entire Wadi community and even the country.

A proud but emotional family

When asked how she felt, Parbati said she was extremely happy. She never imagined that someone from such a poor family could become a minister. Sita had called her mother that morning to share the news. The last time they met in person was weeks ago.

Her father, Gopal, also feels proud. He had studied up to grade 8 but his life took a difficult turn when he lost money to a fraud while trying to go abroad for work. The stress even affected his mental health. Now the family hopes their daughter’s success will bring him peace.

Life is still the same

Even though their daughter is now a minister, the parents still live the same life. They are landless and still stay near Jhupra Khola. They raise pigs, break stones and filter sand to earn a living.Parbati says they still need money for daily expenses, children’s education and healthcare so they will continue working.

Education changed everything

Parbati herself never went to school but she was determined to educate her daughter even if it meant working in harsh conditions. Sita studied well and later got support from an organization called Jyoti Ghar, which helped her continue her education.She eventually completed a master’s degree in political science.

A symbol of hope

Sita is the first person from the Wadi community in her area to graduate and also the first to become a minister. She became a lawmaker through the proportional system under the Rastriya Swatantra Party.

Now, her mother and the entire community have hopes:

• Better access to education and healthcare
• Land ownership (or relocation with proper housing)
• Someone who will finally listen to their struggles

Parbati says, “We just want our daughter to help our community either give us land ownership here or arrange another place to live.”

The bigger picture

This is not just a success story of one person it’s a story of struggle, sacrifice and hope.

A girl who grew up breaking stones by a river is now in a position to make decisions for the country. And her parents are still working the same way but with pride in their hearts.