Dhortpatan: When election comes round the corner, the candidates canvass the residents of Majhi settlement. Now too, the candidates and leaders of different political parties are reaching to the marginalized people’s settlements in Baglung Municipality-1 with several assurances when the federal and provincial parliamentary elections are coming near.
Candidates have promised employment to the people of underrepresented communities who are struggling to eke out their daily livelihood. The Majhi families, who were rendered displaced during the construction of the Baglung-Pokhara Highway in 2048 BS, had been sheltering in makeshifts at Bangechaur for over a decade. Merely four years ago, the government had constructed a settlement nearby Niyarghat and handed it to the indigent families. Though most of them got land ownership certificates with houses, many more families are yet to access the ownership certificates. Assurances have been given to the Majhi communities for basic amenities including road, drinking water and employment in every election.
“Leaders come to our houses almost every day with a pile of assurances during elections. But they never come back to our settlement to address our real problems after the elections,” said Som Bahadur Majhi, a local. According to him, the candidates have not delivered on their promises on road, drinking water and employment. Years have passed since the leaders made the promises for the management of drinking water and roads, he said, but the commitments have never been translated into actions.
It may be noted that the government had constructed 13 houses targeting the displaced Majhi families four years before. Though they got houses they lack basic facilities such as health, education, employment and drinking water, Majhi added. Chandrakala Majhi, a local resident, said, “Our entire property was ruined during the construction of the road. The government gave us houses but there is no means for sustenance. The government should either show the area of work for livelihood or provide employment opportunities”. She says that the candidates do not come back to them after the election. “These candidates who turn up now will come back to our settlements only in the next elections,” she said.
(RSS)
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