Voters in Baglung Demand Concrete Commitments on Market Access and Rural Employment Ahead of Elections

Baglung. As the date for the House of Representatives election on Falgun 21 approaches, candidates are scrambling to woo voters. From early morning till evening, candidates are reaching out to voters' doorsteps and fields to seek votes. Voters, who have repeatedly received only assurances, are now beginning to seek agendas and commitments.

Krishna Prasad Sapkota of Kathekhola Rural Municipality-6 stated that he would vote for a leader capable of arranging market access for farmers' produce. He complained that despite producing tens of lakhs worth of vegetables and fruits every year, they fail to get fair prices due to a lack of market. Kandel mentioned that he has been participating in voting continuously since BS 2048, but has yet to find a leader who fulfills the demands of the farmers.

Kandel said, "In the past, we used to leave our household chores and campaign for leaders to win; they won the election and became ministers, but our problems remained the same. Now, we will only vote for those who work for farmers. We have stopped believing the false promises we followed before. We have many problems; we don't get seeds and fertilizers on time, and our produce doesn't fetch a good price."

Tambahadur Thapa of Bareng Rural Municipality-1 said that they must elect a candidate who can stop rural migration and connect people with entrepreneurship. He stated that the number of people moving from villages to the city increases every year, and no leader has paid attention to stopping this. Thapa explains that the lack of encouragement for farmers and youth who want to engage in agriculture and enterprise in the village leads to foreign migration and internal displacement.

"We farmers in the village do not have high expectations from leaders; it would be enough if they create an environment for us to stay in the village and engage in enterprise; it is our duty to earn a living by working," Thapa said. "In previous elections, we heard many flowery speeches from leaders; now we need commitments. We want to stay in the village and do something here; we need a leader who can create that environment."

Among the municipalities in Baglung, Jaimini has the highest rate of out-migration. The number of people migrating from Jaimini every year is large. Local Toshika BK said she would vote for a candidate who can provide micro-enterprise, agriculture, and good education facilities in the village. She mentioned that all the affluent people have already moved to the city, and now only ordinary families remain in the village.