Bandhs: More a pain than solution to ills

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

If you ask students studying in Class I or II, they can easily explain the causes and consequences of a strike almost as if they are answering the easiest question in their textbooks. This is because even a young child is greatly affected by bandhs and chakkajams. Today strike has become a sole means of demanding one’s rights. We hardly find a month passing by without a strike or two. It is not fair to give thousands of people pain for the justice of a small group. These frequent strikes have made life more difficult for people. However, though strikes have a negative impact on people and society, there is no other method for demanding rights. It is the fastest option for getting any demand fulfilled. If such a situation continues in the nation, days are not far when the nation will fall in the black hole of emptiness from where it will be impossible to bounce back.

— Bijay Khudang

n Bandhs are harmful to students as they pressurise the students and teachers to cover up for the time lost due to closure of schools. Job holders have to go to work but can’t take their vehicles and this can trouble them. The strikers compel shopkeepers to shut their shops and ban vehicles, and they may eventually be beaten by the police. They have to stand in the scorching sun and both the police and the strikers get hurt in the scuffles that may ensue. The main problem caused by bandhs is that the nation loses revenue because industries can’t produce goods. One survey showed that the nation can loss Rs 2 billion in one day of bandh.

— Deepti Pokhrel,

Kathmandu

n Bandhs and chakkajams are definitely not the solution to anything. Educational institutions, factories, industries and offices shut down. Various important programmes and events have to be postponed. Overall there is a huge loss in the economy of the country. Bandhs and other violent forms of protest should be banned completely. The callers of bandhs should think out-of-the-box and should come up with other ways to solve a problem to fulfil their demands. All a common man wants is running water from their taps, a smooth supply of petroleum products and peace and harmony in the nation, not bandhs. Even one day of bandh creates great loss of property and also has a negative impact on tourists. Strikes only cause inconvenience to the common man.

— Abhilasha Rayamajhi

n Bandhs and chakkajams achieve ‘ZERO’ and the majority of the population do not know the reason/s for calling a halt to the nation. Halting the nation’s working population and creating a situation of ‘zero income generation’ and also inconveniencing the tourists, who bring millions of foreign income into Nepal, can only be detrimental to any nation’s economy — let alone the message it sends out to the rest of the world about the nation’s instability in administration and law and order.

— Sue Chamberlain

n Nowadays bandhs and chakkajams have become a part of Nepali people’s lives. Whatever the reason they call bandhs for, we always end up suffering rather than benefiting from it. It also seems like the followers of bandhs in Nepal lack in creative knowledge. For instance, once a Japanese factory workers organised a strike to get their demands fulfilled — they only stitched the right sleeve of a shirt and when the authority agreed, they also stitched the left sleeve. In this way they didn’t stop their work but got their demand fulfilled.

— Aditi Lohani

n I am against the calling of bandhs and chakkajams and would be more than happy if a proposal to make it illegal is passed (no chance though). However, on a more broader view, it is the only way to create pressure on our useless government. Protests are common over the world but in the context of Nepal, they tend to manhandle the other groups and burn a few vehicles who disobey them (idiotic). Sometimes, I just wonder how can so many people turn up for a bandh when everyone I talk to are against such acts and guarantee me that they are never supporting such purposes?

But the fact is that it is the commoner who suffers. The government top brass against whom the bandh is called easily pass through all the bandh through the use of police force. The bandh organisers do not even think of this fact and keep troubling the common people. Last week my friend had to walk to Ekantakuna from Jorpati, and back, due to the bandh. Can bandh organisers imagine the

distance?

— Aashish

n I don’t think bandhs and chakkajams are the only means to protest. It only creates inconvenience for the people. Those who depend on daily earnings to survive are especially troubled by such bandhs. It also causes a negative impact on the economy of the country. Bandhs does not mean only to protest. It may mean protest in Loktantra, but it should not be allowed to create inconvenience on others. Bandhs have become a system and taking place even in small regions. It is creating harassment in people’s daily life. It is affecting the markets and educational institutions. Bandh should be ended forever for stability, peace and development of our country.

— Subrat Kafle

n Strikes just highlights a cause, but does not provide a solution to the problem. However, it has now become a festival of sorts. In the name of strikes, people are not only burning our property but also our dreams, desires and even life. Politicians are the main cause for the calling of such strikes. They hypnotise the citizens with loads of dreams and now that they are not being fulfilled, people have become aggressive. The daily wages workers are finding it hard to survive, patients are fighting for their lives, students are deprived of education, industries and companies are facing huge losses which directly affects the country’s economy. So it is just the general people who are suffering.

— Nikita Thapaliya

n Our country Nepal is full of surprises, and the main surprise is strike because we don’t know when it is going to occur. When people become dissatisfied with something, then protest by calling a strike. They do not compromise or have dialogue or a mutual understanding but highlight their problems directly with a strike. It is a dire problem in our society. It disrupts the activities of general people. If such a situation continues, then our country can never stride ahead. If strikes get completely stopped, then it will be a great respite, and developmental works would take place.

— Nischal Budhathoki

n Bandhs and chakkajams sound disgusting even we hear the words. It affects us as well as our nation. It also spreads negative news to other countries. Calling bandhs is not good. It affects all sectors, people, businesses which is very harmful for our developing country. Bandhs are not the solution to any problem. Jay Nepal!

— Rachana Shrestha, Bhatkepati-12, Kritipur

n A shutdown has become the only and most effective means in Nepal to mount pressure upon the government. Yes, such perpetual shutdowns directly and seriously affect the daily wage-earners, poor, powerless and unequal. But their sacrifice and tolerance of such bandhs will, for sure, end the age-old discriminations and marginalisation once and for all. It will certainly bring happiness, prosperity and equality in their lives. Nevertheless, shutdown enforcers must be responsible, avoid violence, vandalism and allow plying vehicles which deliver essential services and goods.

— Suzanne, Dharan

n Bandh is a democratic form of protest. But it is democratic if people are allowed to choose whether to support the bandh or not. What has actually tarnished the image of bandh is the fact that most parties try to enforce it on people, which is very undemocratic. Bandhs yield result and make the governments to bow to the people’s wishes; politicians try to use the same tactics again and again. Politicians with their followers have got a very easy method to be in the news. No one tries to solve issues by negotiating, rather a bandh or chakkajam is easy to organise. Probably this is where bandhs lost their appeal and bandhs without a proper cause has distanced the common man from it. But, historically, bandhs are the means of protest that the common man used to remind the authority about its duty.

Bandhs are not bad, but the ways to implement it are bad for sure. There needs to be a change in the modus operandi of bandhs. Minimal violence can be achieved by diminishing the use of force and this can be achieved by limiting the time frame of such protests. Two-three-fours hours of bandh (with proper cause) will be more effective as people will be able to support it without hampering their personal life. Political parties need to realise that the protests they organise, at the end of the day, is successful only if people support it.

Bandhs don’t serve a purpose other than harming the economy and loss of livelihood for daily labourers. Smooth supply of commodities of food and medicine get scarce. Transportation comes to a standstill also affecting the tourist’s mentality.

— Chandan Kumar Shah

n Strike is an inconvenience for the general people. Due to bandhs there is loss for many people. Strike decreases the economic efficiency of the country. Students who are meant to be the building blocks of the nation are deprived of the their right to study. Due to strikes, there is an abrupt increase in the price of goods. Strikes should be

discouraged.

— Himal Parajuli, Gongabu, Kathmandu

n Due to bandhs and chakkajams, the general people have to suffer. These strikes might be a way of highlighting causes, but it is simply not the right way of doing it. I think it is very illogical. The only victims are the general people who in the name of bandh have to walk to reach their destinations, and bear the loss. And these bandhs just only create a negative image of our country.

— Jubi Joshi

n The bandhs and chakkajams are really weird. In the case of our country, they are the best way to express to authorities concerned the demand for our rights. I think bandhs and chakkajams should be banned. It is hampering our daily chores and schedules. The tasks which can be done today and now are procrastinated resulting in lack of social and economic development. It is definitely creating inconvenience for people like us. If anyone wants right, go to authorities concerned, don’t directly jump on the streets and close the town. I am a Bachelor level student. Due to such bandhs college can’t open regularly due to which our course has not been completed yet and the exams are coming near. Bandhs should be for a good cause not for silly reasons like asking for someone killed in a road accident to be declared a martyr.

— Sudin Shrestha

Buddhanagar, Kathmandu

n Bandhs and chakkajams benefit no one. This is only a mental satisfaction for them who calls these strikes. In the recent bandh I happened to read in papers that about more than half dozen people died due to scarcity of medical treatment only because of the bandh. I don’t know when they will understand that it does not cause any harm to the top leaders and that’s why the leaders do not pay attention to the bandhs. And what if a relative of bandh-caller falls ill seriously or gets in an accident and the other bandh-callers from other parts will not allow his/her ambulance to pass?

I was upset when I heard that bandh is supposed to be as one of the democratic rights. This is really an ill description. What about other’s human rights? An ideal human right will be meaningful and true only when one’s human right will not be problematic to others’ human rights.

— Pavan Kumar Karna, Chandranigahpur, Rautahat

n I want to quote a popular saying, “History repeats itself” which seems relevant in this country as once again the same old days of frequent bandhs and chakkajams have returned. It is quite normal for us to face frequent strikes. The strikes may be the easy way to get the attention of the public as well as from the government for their cause but, it is not the only way and there are other many ways to focus on their cause without affecting the life of general people. Though, the strike may pressure the government to accept their demands soon, it affects the millions of general people, their day-to-day life, hampers the education of millions of students — the backbone of the country and it causes loss of nearly a billion to the economy. If we compare the cause for strike with this loss then, we can easily conclude that the nation loses a lot more than it gains from these strikes.

— Swati Shah, Shantinagar, Kathmandu

n Peaceful bandhs for reasonable causes are practically tolerable and sometimes must if sufferers face really injustice. But it’s just happening opposite in Nepal. Torching vehicles, tyres, vandalising public properties, chakkajams are like TRP of bandhs these days. The one thing we forget is who is going to compensate for the losses? Do the finances to construct these properties come from Mr Premier’s pocket? Who is suffering the most? It is all of us. So, please, please! bandh-callers, stop this nonsensical and violent bandhs.

— Nikesh Maharjan,

Godavari

n The frequency of bandhs has affected the day-to-day life of the general public. Though the enforcers claim their acts having been supported by the public, in reality public are totally ignorant about it. The only thing the general public know is bandh disrupts their life and that it is they who are subjected to the burnt of bandhs. If we look at the scenario, we see students are confined to their homes, daily wage earners are finding it hard to survive as they do not have any work at hand. People’s movement has largely been restricted and day-to-day activities has come to a standstill. No one seems to have benefited from the bandh except those who have enforced it. Whatever the reason for organising a bandh, it has paralysed the nation and halted all social and economic activities. When a single day bandh incurs loss in millions in the business sector, we can very well imagine the loss when there is regular and indefinite bandhs that is going on continuously.

— Ambika Pandey

n ‘Strike for two days.’ ‘Two hours chakkajam.’ ‘Nepal bandh.’ These are the common phrases in Nepal that one can hear almost everyday and anywhere. Nobody knows when and where there is strike. These days it happens like a sudden accident and anyone can be victim of it. It is not necessary for any serious cause to bring about a strike in our country. Even a very minor cause can halt the whole nation.

These strikes cripple the life of general people. Transportation, economic activities, industries and administration have been halted. Millions of students’ future is getting spoiled. They have not been able to receive education properly. Poors and labourers are suffering. Calling a strike may highlight a cause, but it is not the way to deal with the matter. Strikes are like sharp thorns poking the general people and troubling them.

— Sujan Dhakal

n Strikes are meaningless for students, especially those who are getting ready for their board exams. This hampers their studies and creates indiscipline in them. Some of them are motivated by political parties, so they get involved in the strike. Sometimes due to the strikes, students have to be in their houses for more than a week and teachers can’t finish the course on time. Bandhs cause great loss as the students who are the base of the nation now and driver of it in the future are badly influenced and disturbed.

— Garima Poudel, Pokhara

n We have to say the bandhs and chakkajams are back again. The trend is growing like a fashion. Strikes do not highlight the real causes for which they are called. Strikes cause more inconvenience for the general people who have to bear the burden and the burnt of everything in the name of this or that cause.

— Uttam Bhetuwal, Gongabu,Kathmandu

n In recent days, even the stray dogs are familiar with the term bandh. Strike by this group, bandh by that group is common news. In the name of highlighting demands, various groups start bandhs and chakkajams. It has been like a tradition that when some need to fulfil their demands, they announce a bandh. Announcing strikes create inconvenience to the public rather than highlight the demands. Strikes are not an efficient medium to highlight their demands. Rather than strikes, the group must deal directly with the government or related organisation. Transportation system, business sector, sales sector, industrial sector, educational sector are badly affected which directly or indirectly affect the public.

— Sandeep Baral, Malepatan, Pokhara-5

n Strikes are an inconvenience for the general people like us. These days, mostly students appearing for their board exams, are suffering from such strikes. They are getting physically and mentally tortured. Their future is insecure. So, such bandhs and chakkajams should be stopped and they should go for table talk. If they declare a ‘Nepal Bandh’ to fulfil their demand, how will their demand ever be heard? Rather they should appeal to authorities concerned and talk regarding their problems.

— Sabitri Mali

n Bandhs and chakkajams have developed as a culture in Nepal. It has been adopted by all people, political parties and others to fulfil their demands.

People face many problems due to these strikes. These types of activities should be stopped.

— Rajan Bajracharya,

Brahma Tole, Kathmandu

n Bandhs and chakkajams are words that I don’t even want to hear. These bandhs are really really irritating. They are a means of inconvenience to the general people. The regular lifestyle of people gets badly affected. The economy of the country also gets hampered by these strikes, which are regular these days. We should shun the practice of calling bandhs and seek some innovative alternative to bandhs as this is not the only solution. Our government should also address the relevant issues quickly so that people don’t get forced to call strikes.

— Rasbin Rijal, Biratnagar

n Mount Everest is the identity of Nepal. Likewise Nepal is identified as the nation of bandhs and chakkajam nowadays.We cannot consider bandhs as a method to bring positive changes in a nation. Tourism industry depends on the prestige of a nation. In the context of Nepal, tourism is the most prominent basis for development, so bandhs and chakkajams make a negative impact on the tourism sector. Due to bandhs industrial production declines and foreign investors feel insecure about investing in Nepal.

— Renish Adhikari,

Old Baneswor, Kathmandu

n Calling a strike does not highlight the cause for which it is called. These activities are more of an inconvenience for general people. There are many other alternatives to solve problems. Bandhs and chakkajam only create loss to the economy and people. The cost of bandh to the Nepali economy is Rs 19,800,00,000 per day and Rs 3,860,00,000 per day for the industrial sector. As Nepal is a developing country, the government should help to create a stable environment where people can invest in development works and increase the production to lead towards development.

— Rashmi Lamsal

n Calling bandhs and chakkajams for any particular reason is not good as it ultimately is the general public who have to face the troublesome situation as they cannot get their daily items on time, have to walk a distance for any important thing and cannot get medical treatment on time. So, bandhs of any type must be either stopped or discouraged as it only damages the economy of the country as financial institutions and business organisations come to halt, tourists cannot travel to places of their choice and foreign trade which is the most essential thing in the development of any nation also gets adversely affected.

— Pratik Shrestha,

Buddhanagar, Baneshwor

n Dissatisfaction is a major factor people raise their voice up in protest. The most popular way of showing dissatisfaction is bandhs and chakkajams.

As a layman I want to request our lawmakers to list bandhs as an offence which could be an appropriate remedial measure for it not to happen in the days to come.

— Aashish Chaulagain

n I concur that calling a strike highlights the cause for which it is called. It has no scientific reason but it has become a culture now in context of our country. I strongly support the raised issues in the present situation but there has to be another way. Disrupting the education of children, killing the unborn baby in the womb due to lack of transportation to health care services will definitely highlight the issue but will it bring about a solution?

— Simrin Kafle, Bhairahawa

n Who likes the bandhs and chakkajams except those who do not have any work and don’t have anything to do. They like it as it provides them fun and they can also utilise their time by doing some non-sense stuff and causing trouble to other people. I don’t think calling a strike highlights the cause. They should have been negotiating on the issue and should have come to an mutual understanding, which would be a win-win for all parties. However, here in Nepal

who has time for negotiation?

All the major political parties are busy blaming each other

and signing useless

memorandums.

— Moin Uddin, Ghattekulo, Kathmandu