Jhapa-5 Residents Express Discontent Over Unmet Promises Despite High-Profile Development Projects

Biratnagar. On Saturday, UML Chairman and former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli visited Sarangpada Bazaar in Kamal Rural Municipality-1, which falls under his constituency. During this visit, he held discussions with locals and his party workers for some time.

After the discussion, Oli entered the vegetable market and inquired about vegetable prices from the vendors. Just as Oli was about to leave after checking the prices, some youths and students approached him seeking a meeting.

During the meeting, Oli asked a student, "What are your needs? What do you young friends require?"

In response, one youth told Oli, "We haven't found jobs. We need employment."

Oli immediately replied, "Okay, I will open industries for you."

Eighty-four-year-old Tilak Bahadur Pokharel, a senior citizen from the same area, expressed dissatisfaction while recounting the conversation between Oli and the young students.

"Bale (Oli) asked what was needed, and they demanded jobs and employment. Oli left saying he would open industries," Pokharel recounted, "Now what industries will he open! He hasn't done anything at this late hour."

It is natural for outsiders to assume that significant development has taken place in Jhapa-5, given the discussions surrounding the billions of rupees in budget Oli channeled while he was Prime Minister. However, the local residents express dissatisfaction, arguing that even newly paved roads do not provide sustenance. Moreover, these smooth roads have not reached every area.

Kamal Kumar Niraula, 61, from Gauriganj-3, Thekitola, was found sitting by the side of a dusty road. When asked what work the state still needed to complete here, he replied, "The roads are in disarray; they need to be fixed. They just marked the roads and left. We have to eat dust. This affects everyone."

The road in front of Chandrakala Darji's house in Gauradaha-7 is also dusty. Along with the roads, she demanded employment opportunities for her educated children. "It's been 36-37 years since I started voting. The other day, my heart ached seeing children like ours shot and fall. How much must their families have cried," Darji said, hinting at a change in voting preference, "Our children are educated but haven't found any employment. We will vote for the person who does something to advance our children."

Purna Dhimal from Damak-3, Dhukurapani, is landless. A large tower (Damak View Tower) stands southeast of his hut. However, the road in front of Dhimal's house is covered in dust.

Sabita Tajpuriya from Gauradaha-8 demands that health and education should be free. "They should look into the health sector a bit. They say everything is free in government schools, but nothing is truly free. They charge fees for enrollment. They charge money as 'exam fees.' They call it English medium and charge money for that too," she said.

Bishnu Prasad Parajuli from Gauradaha-3 is a retired teacher. He claims that roads and electricity are the primary issues political parties must address.

Parajuli also demanded the construction of embankments along the Ratuwa River. "There has been no relief for farmers. Farmers are suffering regarding the issue of fertilizer too," he added, listing more agendas.

Menuka Karki (Dhamala) from Damak-3 is landless. "They promised to give land ownership certificates to everyone here, but they haven't done so yet. So, we have complaints upon complaints," she told the RSP leader who came for door-to-door campaigning. "There is no drainage for water from our road. There is no outlet for water to leave our house; there is no space. Water flows on the road. Everything here is unmanaged."

Pointing to the View Tower located south of her house, she said, "They can say anything with their mouths. KP Oli built that View Tower, what else happened? What did they do for us? They gave us tin sheets worth 50,000 rupees and drowned us in 4-5 lakh rupees of debt. When the View Tower was being built, they brought people from India to work, but they didn't give any work to the local common people."

She also complained that when local projects are implemented, jobs are not given to those who have passed SEE or Grade 12; instead, outsiders are brought in to work.

Keshav Dahal, an RSP worker from Damak-3, stated that development is needed in the agriculture and tourism sectors. "This area is excellent for agriculture. Secondly, since the forest is nearby, there is potential for a Forestry Science Campus. There are also some sectors for tourism," he said. "Even though the tower is here, there are talks of changing it into a medical college. There is a structure of rivers here; by creating a corridor-like path along that structure, there is potential for boating and everything else."

Man Bahadur Bhujel from Dhukurapani, Damak-3, complained about not receiving his land ownership certificate. "Ram Thapa (Mayor of Damak) won by promising to provide land ownership certificates within six months; it's been two years, and nothing has happened. Now we need to look for someone new," he said. "The View Tower should be converted into a hospital or college."

Balabhadra Dhimal and Purna Dhimal from the same area also mentioned problems with the roads.