The flood-displaced families in Rautahat are pinning their hope on the candidates of the upcoming local level elections to take the initiative to rehabilitate them.

With the third phase of local elections taking place on September 18, many flood-affected people in the district are actively engaged in election activities these days. They hope that the elected candidates would help them rebuild their lives. 

“We are closely observing what candidates are going to do for us. We hope that the leaders will help us build new homes,” said Sunainadevi Thakur, who has been displaced with her 12 family members.

The flood-affected families in the district have urged the parties and their candidates to work for their rehabilitation.

Gopi Mahara, a local man from Badharwa, said they needed new homes.

 “We have lost our homes and properties in the flood. We hope the elected leaders will help us get out of this predicament,” said Mahara.

Many families in Rautahat are still reeling from the aftermath of the flood. The displaced families are living in  poorly built huts.

“We are struggling to manage one square meal a day. The government aid was insufficient. We hope that the local government will not let us down,” said Raj Kishor Das, another flood survivors from Badharwa.

Chief District Officer Uddhav Bahadur Thapa said flood survivors were receiving daily food allowance of Rs 70 per person.

Besides offering the food allowance, the government and the local administration have not done anything substantial to rehabilitate the flood-affected people in the district.

According to the data of the District Administration Office, 23,595 families have been displaced and 3,844 houses have been destroyed by the floods. 

More than 500 homes were destroyed and 901 homes were damaged in Badharwa alone.

Central leaders canvass for votes

DHANUSHA:  The central leaders are busy canvassing for votes for their party candidates s in Province 2.

Naya Shakti Party Nepal’s Coordinator Baburam Bhattarai, Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum Nepal Chairman Upendra Yadav and Nepali Congress leader Bimalendra Nidhi attended the election campaigns of their respective parties at Janakpur Sub-metropolis in Dhanusha on Monday.

Addressing the Naya Shakti’s election assembly, Bhattarai, also a former prime minister, urged the voters to give opportunity to new political forces and new faces in the upcoming elections. “I request the voters to cast their precious votes to the candidates with clean image,” said Bhattarai.

SSFN Chairman Yadav said Madhes needed development and rights that the non-Madhes-centric parties cannot deliver.

“The voters of Madhes must vote for the candidates from the Madhes-based parties, who will guarantee the rights and development of the region,” he said. 

NC leader Nidhi took a jab at the rival party, CPN-UML, at a press conference. 

“It was the UML that denied the Madhes its rights by not supporting the amendments proposed to the constitution. The party will pay for this betrayal with a humiliating defeat in the local elections,” he said.