Youths from Mugu district have launched the ‘Root Out Corruption Campaign’ in Surkhet, pledging to address corruption, policy-level misconduct, misuse of public resources and delays in development works while promoting transparency and accountability.

The decision was made during a gathering led by youth activist and agriculturist Ashish Devkota. Participants said governance and development in Mugu have worsened despite heavy public spending and government investment in recent years.

Citing the National Statistics Office’s Small Area Poverty Estimation Report 2023, participants said Soru Rural Municipality is the second poorest local government in Nepal after Junichande Rural Municipality of Jajarkot. The report shows 72.36 percent of Soru’s population, or 10,330 people out of 14,277, live below the poverty line.

They also referred to the Office of the Auditor General report, which recorded Rs1.30 billion in outstanding irregularities across Mugu’s four local governments. Soru Rural Municipality accounted for Rs612.29 million, followed by Khatyad Rural Municipality with Rs429.06 million, Chhayanath Rara Municipality with Rs193.52 million, and Mugum Karmarong Rural Municipality with Rs66.63 million.

The youths raised concerns over the delayed Domukh concrete bridge at the confluence of the Humla Karnali and Mugu Karnali rivers. The project, contracted in 2021 for Rs159.3 million and due by 2025, remains incomplete, affecting local mobility and daily life.

They also highlighted shortages of drinking water, lack of medical equipment, contractor negligence, irregular social security payments, weak public services and staff shortages across local governments. Delays in relief distribution after the 2023 floods and landslides in Tarapani of Soru were also discussed, along with alleged irregularities during Covid-19 procurement.

Participants said the lack of jobs and services has accelerated migration, leaving villages with mostly elderly residents and low-income households. The gathering decided to appoint youth representatives across Mugu to document grievances and forward them to concerned authorities, including the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority.

Campaign coordinator Devkota said the initiative is focused on public interest, not directed against any party or institution.