Bhaktapur, May 7

Political parties and the general public alike are greatly invested in the upcoming civic polls with election campaigns in full swing across the country.

However, earthquake victims living in temporary shelters at various places in Bhaktapur, including Dekocha, Byasi, Na:Pukha, Sallaghari, and Chyamahasingh are not as enthused. No political leader from any political party has visited them seeking votes so far, according to the victims.

Jaya Krishna Kumpakha, a quake victim, is living in a makeshift hut in a settlement at Dekocha in Bhaktapur Municipality. “I have been living like this for two years now, and no political leader has come to me to even inquire about our problems, even with the elections around the corner,” he said.

There are sixteen families living in the settlement. The settlement had 50 families at the beginning, but some families rebuilt their own homes and some moved back to their own damaged homes.

“Manabiya Astha Nepal has helped us with food, drinking water, and accommodation. We will vote for whoever the organisation recommends us to,” said Kumpakha.

Another quake victim Astha Bahadur Manandhar, who is living with disability, also echoed Kumpakha’s grievances. He is constantly plagued with worry for his family. Two of his children are differently-abled, and Manandhar is the sole breadwinner of the family. He does not have money to even purchase medicine for himself as prescribed by the doctor. “We will vote for those who will look after us and our children,” said the Manandhar couple.