Man Attempts Self-Immolation After Failing to Secure Employment

Sarlahi. After attempting self-immolation by setting himself on fire on Friday, 35-year-old Vivek Mandal, who holds a postgraduate degree (MSc) in science, has been brought to Burn Hospital in Kirtipur, Kathmandu for treatment. Police said that a large part of Mandal's body was burnt. He is a resident of Sisautiya, Godaita Municipality-10, Sarlahi.

According to police, Vivek set himself on fire on Friday afternoon. In critical condition, he was immediately taken to Provincial Hospital Malangwa for primary treatment. As treatment was not possible there, he was sent to Burn Hospital in Kirtipur via a Nepali Army helicopter on Friday evening for further treatment.

According to his family, Vivek is an educated youth who has completed his postgraduate studies in science. His father, Upendra Mandal, said that he worked as a teacher for three years at a school in Gaushala, Mahottari until about a year ago. However, the family claims that he was forced to leave his job due to political maneuvering within the school.

Some of his colleagues also said that although Vivek was a capable and skilled teacher, he had to lose his job due to politics and pressure within the school. After leaving the teaching profession, Vivek stayed at home. He then tried for employment in various schools and educational institutions. He also participated in Public Service Commission exams. But none of his efforts were successful. The family says that continuous failure made him mentally weak.

According to his wife, Rinadevi Mandal, Vivek was repeatedly worried that he could not meet the family's expectations despite his parents investing heavily in his higher education. The family stated that he became increasingly desperate as unemployment prolonged.

According to his mother, Mantutia Devi, he was under mental stress due to financial hardship and prolonged unemployment. He was also treated some time ago. The family is currently in severe financial crisis. According to his father, Upendra Mandal, about 3.5 million rupees in debt, taken from villagers and banks for Vivek's education and household expenses, is yet to be repaid.

Vivek's elder brother has been working in Qatar for the past four years in foreign employment. According to the family, the household expenses and Vivek's higher education expenses were met by his brother's earnings. The family had hoped that their financial situation would improve after completing his MSc and getting a teaching job. But after that employment did not last, the family fell into crisis again.

Vivek has a wife, one son, and one daughter. The son is currently studying while staying at his maternal uncle's house in Mahottari, and the daughter is at home with the family. The Mandal family, which has been struggling with a weak economic condition, is now under further financial burden due to Vivek's treatment.

The family says that not getting permanent employment despite having higher education, losing his job, continuous unemployment, increasing debt, and mental stress ultimately led Vivek to an extremely painful decision like self-immolation. Doctors are currently treating him at Kirtipur Burn Hospital to save his life, while the family is facing difficulties even in arranging for his treatment expenses.