Amika Devi Sangraula: Newcomer Politician Advocates for Labor and Production

Born in Hedang of Tehrathum district, Ambika Devi Sangraula is new to politics, but her political stance is clear and strong. Sangraula, a proportional representative for the Labor Culture Party, believes that good governance does not come through speeches alone.

As a proportional representative from the Khas-Ariya women's cluster, she raises her voice on issues of labor and production. Distant from the greed for position, power, and authority, she prefers to raise the voice of marginalized communities. A conversation with Sangraula, who is in the Federal Parliament's International Relations and Tourism Committee, for Rato Pati's 'With the Parliamentarian' column by Narendra Raula:

You were previously in business, and suddenly entered politics. Why did the desire to become a Member of Parliament arise?

I prefer to call myself a labor provider. I was in business for a long time (17-18 years). In 2079 BS, after the people of Dharan elected our former mayor Hark Sampang, I joined the labor campaign he was running. After that, I joined the political field.

What is the experience like now that you have reached Parliament? What new experiences have you gained?

It's been fun, very fun. We did not come from any movement, murder, violence, rebellion, or armed struggle. We have reached this place by donating labor, building houses and huts for the poor and helpless people, constructing bridges, participating in road construction, connecting drinking water pipes in the Kokaha river, and doing similar work. The party's name itself is Labor Culture; we have reached this place through labor. 

You also attended a two-day orientation training in Parliament; what new things did it teach you about the parliamentary system?

We got the opportunity to learn many things from the orientation training. While being MPs, we learned about the dignity and discipline that MPs should maintain, how we should dress, how to wear the logo, and how to sit. Besides that, what are the services and facilities we receive, and on what basis do we receive them? We got the opportunity to learn many things about parliamentary practice in a short period, and we were happy. The training was indeed fruitful.

Your party gives great importance to labor and labor donation. You also won people's hearts by building a bridge in Dadeldhura. Did you go to Dadeldhura yourself?

I really wanted to go to Dadeldhura, but since our session is ongoing, I couldn't go. Not all of us honorable members could reach Dadeldhura. Our chairman has gone, and honorable Purna Limbu has also gone. We four are here.

Labor means work, and culture means tradition. The main value and belief of our Labor Culture Party is labor donation. We donate labor. That too, a lot of work with little expense. We are poor; our economic condition is weak. Even with a weak economic condition, we spend many years looking to the state. Government processes are also long. Even for small tasks, there has been a lot of delay due to dependence on the government. As our chairman says, if we work for 6 days for our stomach and 1 day for the country, we can accomplish a lot in a single day. We have many such examples. You can look at Dharan as an example. I have been donating labor with Hark Sampang for three and a half years. I have joined the party actively and honestly. Labor donation is very essential in our country.

Did you ever think you would become a Member of Parliament?

No, I had a selfless intention. I did not go to that place with any self-interest. Everyone in our Labor Culture Party must be selfless. No one should come for personal gain. I never imagined becoming a Member of Parliament. I didn't even know I was placed first in the proportional list from the Khas-Ariya cluster. It happened unexpectedly.

What commitments did you make to the public during the election? What plans and promises did you make to the people?

We had made some commitments to the public. For example, we said that nature, culture, and technology make life easier. While we emphasize theoretical aspects for four days a week, we have been emphasizing practical education, production, innovation, and construction for three days. We have already built two factories for the purpose of producing soap and turmeric. Now we envision one house, one job, and one village, one industry. There are many other plans as well. We do what we say. We will initiate new work under the vision of honorable Hark Sampang.

What work will you do during your tenure? What are your plans and dreams for the people?

We are currently in the opposition, not in power. What I have experienced and seen as a Member of Parliament is that there is a majority government. We are few in the opposition. There are only six MPs from our party. We are given time based on numbers. We are not even getting the opportunity to raise the issues raised by the public in the house, but we are raising and will continue to raise the voices of every Nepali in trouble and suffering, the helpless Nepali, the landless, the unorganized residents, and the victims. We will not stop donating labor and will focus on production.