Residents of Nawalparasi Village Prioritize Basic Needs Over Election Rhetoric Amidst Flooding and Lack of Infrastructure

Nawalparasi. As the fervor for the House of Representatives elections intensifies, residents of Baguwan village in Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-1, Nawalparasi (Bardaghat Susta East), are seeking solutions to their daily struggles rather than focusing on election slogans. Annual flooding, lack of basic infrastructure, the necessity for students to drop out due to the absence of a secondary school, and limited employment opportunities remain the main problems here.

This settlement, situated between the Narayani River and the Binayi Khola (stream), becomes vulnerable as soon as the monsoon sets in. Many families are forced to stay awake all night, fearing that floods might enter their homes when it rains, according to local Sita Somai Magar. "We don't know when the flood will come; whenever it rains, we are terrified all night. We heard a lot about building embankments during the election, but we haven't seen any work done," she said.

In this village, home to 207 households, there isn't even a secondary level school. Laxmi Basic School, the only primary school here, is submerged during the monsoon, disrupting regular classes, stated the school's principal, Khor Bahadur Khatri. "After Grade 8, students have to travel seven to eight kilometers away to continue their studies," he said. "Due to remote paths, forest areas, and lack of transportation, many adolescents drop out of school midway."

Many children discontinue their studies midway because they have to travel far from the village to complete secondary education, said local Dal Bahadur Magar. He complained that traveling across rivers and forests exposes them to dangers from animals in Chitwan National Park and the threat of floods during the rainy season. "It is not easy to send children to distant schools. The path is not safe, and it is also difficult to afford the expenses. That's why many quit studying," he said.

Wildlife risk is another persistent problem for the locals, as this settlement falls within the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park, noted local Bhuwan Singh. He complained that going to the fields in the evening or traveling at night is risky for the residents. "The government has failed to provide permanent solutions to mitigate human-wildlife conflict," he said. "Leaders promise to solve all problems during elections, but after the election, they don't listen no matter how much we say."

The youth in this area are seeking employment opportunities. Agricultural prospects are minimal in the village apart from farming. Local Pawan Dhega Magar stated that many young men and women are forced to choose foreign employment or migration to the city due to the lack of access to skills training, small enterprises, or self-employment programs.

"We have the desire to work, but there are no opportunities in the village. If we received training and investment, we could do something here too," he said. "The government should focus on creating an environment where youth can earn a livelihood while staying in the village, but that hasn't happened yet."

Local representatives mention that the level of sanitation and public awareness is also low in this village, which is inhabited primarily by Magar, Dalit, and some Kumal communities. Motisara Lohani, a ward member of Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-1, pointed out the need for awareness programs related to health, education, and nutrition. "Roads have been constructed within the village, but they are incomplete because rivers and forests lie in between," she said. "Special initiatives must be taken to enhance education and awareness levels in this settlement, which has become remote despite being in an accessible area."

Deepak Poudel, the Ward Chairman of Binayi Triveni Rural Municipality-1, stated that Baguwan village remains remote because the Triveni route, which falls under the Gandaki Province's pride project, the Korala-Triveni road sector, has not been opened. Chairman Poudel mentioned that the village faces many obstacles in development and physical infrastructure work because it is located within the buffer zone of Chitwan National Park. "It seems the Federal Government needs to advance the Baguwan-Dumkibas road, river control, safe housing, establishment of a secondary school, and income-generating programs as a comprehensive development package," he said.

Safe settlements from floods, schools where children can study locally, and the creation of employment opportunities to retain youth in the village have become the main concerns for the locals. The people of Baguwan have a single message: "May the leadership this time initiate work that delivers results, not incomplete promises of development."