London to Freetown

Devi Gurung is a  60 year  old, widow .  She suffers from paralysis on the left side of her body, probably caused by a stroke.  Devi’s future looked bright when she had married Narbahadur Gurung.  He was in the British Army in the 6^th Gurkha Rifles.  But  he wasn’t in the army long enough to receive a penion, he was made redundant after nine years service on the 1st May 1970. This was a bitter blow for him and his family. 

But 12 years ago Narbahadur contracted TB.  Retired from the British Army he could not afford to buy the medicines he needed.  He went to India to work and to save the money for the medicine.  That is where he died alone in 1995.  This is what upsets Devi the most, her husband dying alone, working in a poorly paid job in India.  She feels the UK government should not abandon the medical needs of their ex-serviceman in Nepal, perhaps if they hadn’t she would still have her husband today.

Devi can’t work, she is completely dependent on the charity the Gurkha welfare trust .  They provide her with a welfare pension of £26.03 a month.  This is enough  for food each month.