Elderly Voter Reflects on Unfulfilled Promises, Youth Employment Concerns During Election Day

Kathmandu. Shanta Regmi, 90, who was returning after casting her vote at the Padmakanya Vidyashram polling center in Dillibazar, could not precisely recall how many times she has voted in her life.

One thing, however, remains clear in her memory: many leaders she voted for in past elections won but failed to fulfill their promises to the people. Many never even returned. "We have become like the sun beyond the hill now," she said, "Even though we have suffered, we wish that our grandchildren and children do not have to suffer."

Her granddaughter is abroad. Regmi believes that if there were a good employment environment in the country, the younger generation would not be forced to go abroad. "If work was available in the country, why would one have to live abroad?" she questions.

Another voter from Dillibazar, Gokul Dhital, does not view the past as entirely disappointing. He believes some work has been done in the country, but it has not been sufficient to meet public expectations. "Voted many times. It cannot be said that nothing happened in the past," he said, "But the work done is not as much as our expectation." In his view, the current main necessities are good governance and employment.

He emphasized the need to address the expectations of the new generation, especially 'Gen Z'. "The future of the country will only be strong if the trust of the youth can be won," he said. Today's House of Representatives election is taking place under special circumstances following the Gen Z movement.