Water scarcity in a remote village of Doti district has led many of his inhabitants to migrate over the last four decades.

Only 35 families remain in Thali these days, but the water trouble of the villagers does not seem to end even though more than half of its population are no longer living here. The migration trend has not stopped either. Forty-five families have left Thali over the past few years alone.

As the village does not have water supply system, they get their water from two well heads fed by springs, situated roughly 30 minutes from the settlement. Social activist Hema Kapdyal said water scarcity has remained a perennial problem of Thali, especially during dry season when getting a potful of water takes a long time.

Most of the villagers who moved out are now living in Thuligadh, a village that borders Kailali district. Ain Bahadur Magar is considering leaving Thali and joining them as well. 

He said he cannot remember the time in all his life when there was no shortage of water in his home.

The only thing that will persuade Ain Bahadur and his family to stay is if the local government authority set up a drinking water supply system in Thali. But he doubts it will ever happen since the request for developing a drinking water project in Thali has been ignored by the concerned government agency many a times in the past.

Suraj Rokamagar said they have been persistent on their request, hoping that one day their concern will be addressed.