Sakela Rural Municipality has invested in livestock farming, horticulture, health, education and tourism sectors to uplift the financial status of the villagers.

Arjun Kumar Khadka, chairman of the rural municipality, said his office has made investments in the aforementioned sectors to boost the income of the villagers. “Model agriculture farms, buffalo, pig and goat farming, poultry and fishery, among other projects, are currently being run in various wards,” said Khadka.

There are five wards in the rural municipality with a combined population of 11,594, according to the National Census of 2011.

The residents of Ratanchha have started commercial fishery with around 1,500 households starting fish farms. Unnat Rai, ward chairman of Sakela Rural Municipality Ward No. 2, who also owns a fish farm, said, “I sold around 90 kg of fish from my fishery recently.”

In the last fiscal year, the rural municipality distributed 250,000 fingerlings to local fish farmers in Ratanchha. After receiving the government help, Santaraj Rai, a local of Ratanchha, said the villagers’ financial condition has strengthened.

“We have formed Paurakhi Fish Farmers Group, a group of 13 youths, for fish farming,” Rai said.

The rural municipality has also developed nurseries to grow lemon, coffee, pear and tea, among others. Ganesh Rai, coordinator of the Agriculture Development Section, said that his office plans to develop pocket areas for horticulture, fishery and farming of fruits. The rural municipality has designated specific crops to each ward—Bhanjechyandanda will grow lemons, Ratanchha pears; Khidi will grow tea and Kiwi, and Mattima will have coffee plantations.

Rabin Magar, chief administrative officer at the rural municipality, said the local unit has started providing special grant and technical knowledge to the farmers. “We have also prioritised Allo, Dhaka and Radipakhi industries in the rural municipality.”

According to him, the rural municipality has also allocated Rs 1 million for the establishment of Allo Processing Industry in the current fiscal year.

The rural municipality has also prioritised tourism development alongside agriculture. According to Khadka, Tawatal, Maparung Bhir and Temke areas will be developed as tourist destinations. “The rural municipality is constructing Tawa lake at a total budget of Rs 565.7 million,” said Khadka. The funds will come from the rural municipality’s budget, he said. The construction of the Manebhanjyang-Temke foot trail is also underway.

In the last fiscal year, the provincial government had provided Rs 2 million for the construction of a foot trail; this fiscal year the project received Rs 4 million. “The construction of the foot trail will be completed this year,” said Khadka.

The rural municipality has also adopted special plans to provide quality education to students in 28 community schools. According to the Education Section of the rural municipality, all of the schools in Sakela will be adopting practical education. Officials of the education section will also impart training to teachers to ensure a quality education for students.

Underlining the importance of development in the health sector, the rural municipality has opened three birthing centres in Ratanchha, Khidi and Mattim. “Two more will be opened in Bhanjechyandanda and Matthilo Mattim within this fiscal year,” said Khadka.

All of the wards of the rural municipality are connected to road networks. According to the rural municipal office, blacktopping of the Sapsu-Manebhanjyang-Bhojpur road will also start this year.