In the run-up to the upcoming federal and provincial elections, major political parties have been making poverty alleviation, increase access to road and quality education as their election agendas in Bajura district, the poorest district in the country.

Bajura is the district which faces severe shortage of food every year. Though, ranked 74th in the District Human Development Index, Bajura occupies the 75th position in the district poverty index.

According to 2011 Census, poverty rate in the district is 64.1 per cent. Data at the Central Department of Statistics in 2001 showed the poverty rate at 47.3 per cent.

Candidates of Nepali Congress and left alliance have been chanting populist slogan by reaching out each house that they would eliminate poverty and hunger within five years by developing a scientific method to increase production.

According to the statistics of District Agricultural Development Office, 40 percent children below age five are suffering from malnutrition in the district.

Only 4.4 percent people have enough food to eat and 30 percent of the total population is reeling under food shortage.

Food production in the district is only sufficient for seven months. According to UNDP, 14 percent of the people, below the age of 40, lost their lives in the district.

NC parliamentary election candidate Kabi Raj Pandit said, “We will develop a scientific method to resolve food shortage and poverty in the district.

Similarly, CPN-UML candidate for the parliamentary election Lal Bahadur Thapa claimed that there will be sufficient food in the district once after the development of the scientific method.

“Our party has said in a manifesto that it will sort out the issue of food shortage in the district within five years,” he added.

Another severe problem in the district is transportation. Most of the villages in the district are not connected with the road. Those villages which are connected with the roads are in awful condition.

Two women died of labour pain due to lack of timely delivery recently as they could not be taken to the hospital owing to poor condition of road.

Other patients have also been facing problems to reach health posts and the District Hospital for treatment.

Bajura Campus Chief Suresh Pandit said that the deteriorating quality of education has become a big worry of the district.

“Only some people make through the Public Service Commission exam and are able to take the government job,” Pandit said.

Electricity shortage is another major problem of the district and at least 40 percent of the people in the district for compelled to stay in dark.

Both NC and UML have been saying that they would make the district glitter with bright lights within the next five years.

The district and nation have not been able to take benefit from Khaptad National Park and popular religious site like Badimalika and Budinanda Lake of Province-7 due to lack of publicity.

Both the parties have committed to increase job opportunity and draft possible ways to develop the district.

Meanwhile, candidates of NC and left alliance claimed that they would win the parliamentary and provincial elections slated for November 26 and December 7.

NC has pitched former Assistant Minister Janak Raj Giri in Province ‘Ka’ and Padam Bahadur Shahi in Province ‘Kha’.

Likewise, UML district Secretary Bal Dev Regmi has been fielded from Province ‘Ka’ and alternative central member Prakash Sah has been pitched from Province ‘Kha’.

On the eve of the election, NC former district President Man Bahadur Rawal had deserted the party, leaving people in doubt that his departure would impact the party.

Pandit, however, said that Rawal’s departure would not affect party’s performance in the upcoming polls.

Likewise, UML district leaders are also not satisfied with the candidates’ selection.

Party’s district level influential leader Hikmat Shahi is not happy as the party did not give him the ticket to contest in the provincial election.