The Prime Minister Employment Programme which promised a minimum 100 days of job in a year to all unemployed population of working age ended within a month of its initiation in most parts of the country. But Darma Rural Municipality in Salyan district has continued the programme with its own investment. The rural municipal office has used its capital budget to conduct the programme.

Nim Bahadur KC, chairman of the rural municipality, said that they have used part of the budget of the rural municipality to provide jobs to the villagers. “The Prime Minister Employment Programme ended within a month leaving villagers jobless again. So we decided to give continuity to the programme and create jobs at the local level,” said KC.

According to Darma Rural Municipality, a total budget of Rs 10.8 million has been allocated for the employment programme this year. “We have prioritised jobs for the impoverished and distributed budget in all six wards of the rural municipality. One worker can work for 100 days after being selected for the job. In every ward, 60 employees are currently busy repairing and cleaning roads, foot trails and drains,” said KC.

The programme has come as a blessing for 40-year old Nirmala Pandey.

“My husband is blind and hence cannot find work easily. This programme has given me a job and I don’t have to worry about money for the next 100 days at least,” said Pandey. “However, I would request the local unit to provide employment for a whole year to people like us who depend on it. I don’t know how to manage my expenses after 100 days.”

Tara BK, 30, of Farula is also currently employed under the programme. A widow and a mother of two, BK has the responsibility of providing for her family on her shoulders. “Our corn stock will only last for two months. There’s no other option but to work as a daily wage worker to support my two children.”

Kiran Gautam, the coordinator of the programme, said that the programme has received positive feedback from the locals. “More than 4,507 applicants have filled up the unemployment forms. For now, we have prioritised impoverished families who cannot afford food even for three months of the year.”

According to him, the local unit provides Rs 300 to 500 per day to each employee on the basis of their skills and capacities.