Number of women representatives elected in deputy mayor and vice-chairperson positions has also decreased as compared to previous local elections.

The absence has deprived people from the hilly district of timely treatment, leaving many disabled.

Several blind women have fallen prey to sexual assaulters in Bajhang but the families’ apathy and society’s behaviour towards sexual assault victims have kept many of them from claiming justice.

Rural women are deprived of safe motherhood services due to illiteracy, poverty and lack of public health awareness.

Both parties and their candidates have failed to give due importance to the voter education campaign. As a result, many eligible voters are unaware of the voting process creating high chances of invalid votes.

Khaptad National Park has restricted bamboo cutting to once a year, leading to a shortage of raw material for weavers.

Women of the remote Achham local unit demanded a ban on alcohol, introduction of women-centric programmes at the local level and accessibility to a good healthcare system, but their demands remain unaddressed.

The district was disconnected from the national road network for about a month in October last year as the floods and landslides severely damaged Jaya Prithvi Highway.

Road connectivity has led to a boom in agricultural output and small businesses in the villages since transportation has opened up new markets and possibilities.

The national park, with support of other organisations working in the conservation sector, is set to start the deer count from Sunday to mark the start of the national wildlife week.

Lack of detailed study in Muktikot, other villages worsens situation when the actual toll of deprivation is unknown.

With rise in human-animal conflict, villagers are setting traps to catch wild animals.

Deforestation, haphazard construction activities and undue extraction of riverbed materials are responsible, say experts.

As the villages have no transportation services, most of the beneficiaries have to walk quite a distance to receive the social security allowance from the designated banks.

Mothers in Muktikot suffer from lactation insufficiency for lack of nutritious food and lose their babies either in the womb, at birth or at neonatal and postneonatal stages.

The bird sanctuary will play a crucial role in conserving various globally as well as nationally threatened bird species.

As many as 150 people received a new set of dentures at a health camp organised by the federal health ministry and Bajhang hospital.

Fifty families have been displaced by landslides in Katkhet, Talbada and Maitoli villages of Bajhang.

Floods victims in the district have been seeking rehabilitation in safe locations for the past two decades but no help has been forthcoming, locals say.

Public offices in Baitadi are functioning under acting chiefs as employees don’t want to be posted to the remote district.