Rupandehi-3 Voters Express Dissatisfaction Over Stalled Development and Lack of Employment

Butwal. Voters in Rupandehi Constituency No. 3 for the House of Representatives complain that development in their area has lagged significantly in recent times.

Although road networks have reached various places and electrification has been achieved in villages, the development desired by the voters here centers on road upgrades and the creation of employment opportunities. Furthermore, many long-term residents have yet to receive land ownership certificates (Lalpurja).

They include obtaining the Lalpurja within their definition of the 'development' they seek.

In the 2074 election, then CPN-UML leader Ghanashyam Bhusal was elected from this constituency, and in 2079, Deepak Bohara of RPP won the direct election. Before that, Balkrishna Khand of the Nepali Congress was elected in the Constituent Assembly election, and in the 2074 election, he was elected under the proportional representation system. He also represents Rupandehi-3.

During this period, Bhusal and Khand, who represented Rupandehi-3, became ministers. Bohara won the 2079 election and entered parliament while being unable to speak due to poor health. Due to illness, Bohara could not accomplish much during his last term. He passed away in Chaitra 2081. However, voters recounted that having been active in politics since the Panchayat era, he accomplished much more in development work compared to other representatives from this constituency.

While Bohara did substantial work in physical infrastructure, ordinary voters complain that other representatives elected from this constituency at various times have contributed little to continuing or upgrading those projects.

According to Prakash Somare, a voter from Butwal Sub-Metropolitan City-19, the contribution of CPN-UML's Bishnu Poudel and RPP's Deepak Bohara to the development of Rupandehi district as a whole, not just Constituency No. 3, is unmatched by other leaders. "The others are just figurehead leaders," he said. "They did little for us. Perhaps they did something for relatives, kin, or their own cadres, but not for us."

Somare stated that while structures like rural roads, bridges, and electricity have been built, their upgrades have not materialized. A farmer by profession, he says his livelihood is just managed. With his children grown up, his desire is for suitable employment opportunities to be created for them within the country.

Tara Rana from Butwal-18 also points out the lack of road upgrades. Raising four buffaloes, she manages her livelihood by selling milk. She said, "Since there is no other source of sustainable income, I am making a living by raising buffaloes."

Rana mentioned that they feel no enthusiasm for the elections. "No matter whom we elect, they won't do anything for ordinary people like us," she said. "If there were work and fair wages for those who want to earn a living through labor, what else would we need?"

Her aspirations include improvements in education and health sectors, and the upgrading of roads and drains. Expressing that a wave of change has been seen in the country following the Jan Andolan (People's Movement), she hopes this election will bring a transformation to the nation.

Rukmangat Jaishi Sharma from Shuddhodhan Municipality-3 stated that the state has much work left to do in employment, education, and health. He also complained that families who have lived in the area for decades have still not received land ownership certificates. "We didn't just come here recently; decades have passed," he said. "We cannot understand why they are hesitant to issue Lalpurja for the land we have been cultivating since that time."

Sharma complained that leaders from various parties who come seeking votes during every election, promising to provide Lalpurja, neglect the issue even after winning and reaching the government. "If the law was insufficient, shouldn't those leaders, whom we helped elect to the place where laws are made, have made the necessary amendments?" he questioned. "Can't the parliament set a standard and decide to issue Lalpurja? It seems they keep the Lalpurja issue pending just to use it as an excuse to seek votes in every election."

Prem KC from Siddharthanagar Municipality-8 complained that those who reach the government have failed to work effectively towards creating employment opportunities and ending corruption. He said, "When there are no job opportunities, the youth are forced to go abroad. Isn't that what is happening now? If they found employment here, would anyone leave their parents and children to go abroad?"

KC argues that in this election, voters should cast their ballots in a way that ensures a single party achieves a majority, rather than forming a coalition government. He stated, "If no one gets a majority, two or three parties have to form the government. How can development happen then?"

Punyaprasad Upadhyay from Siddharthanagar Municipality-9 believes that a young leadership capable of creating development and employment opportunities should be chosen. "We understand that building physical structures alone does not constitute development from the construction of the Gautam Buddha International Airport," he said. "The international airport was built, but there are no international flights."

He argues that leaders pushed forward the airport plan haphazardly, primarily to increase the value of their own land plots, resulting in the misuse of state assets. "Is building an airport enough? It needs to operate," he said. "Does building an airport that cannot handle international flights count as development? Where are the tourists? Tourists will only come if the planes fly."

He concluded that there is a need for leadership that draws up a blueprint for sustainable development, benefiting the state and the public, rather than constructing structures haphazardly in the name of development.

Khemraj Kharel from Omsatiya Rural Municipality-2 points out the lack of employment opportunities in the country. He emphasized the need to open industries within the country to end the compulsion for the young workforce to go abroad for jobs.

He said, "The existing state-owned industries were sold off by leaders. So how will the youth get employment?" He stated that the main necessities now are job creation, upgrading roads, and improving the quality of education and health.

Kharel argues that the government must create an environment for establishing industries to generate employment. "In the past, textile industries, yarn factories, and tire industries were opened," he said. "Thousands of people found employment in those industries. They sold off the existing industries. The country needs leaders who have the vision to restart such industries now."