Far-flung Bajura villages deprived of voter education

Bajura, June 17

With the second round of local level elections just around the corner, voter education programme has yet to reach Gumbagaun, a far remote village of Himali Rural Municipality in Bajura.

As many as 30 voters live in Gumbagaun, but they have no idea how to cast the ballot. Gumbagaun is a four-day walk from the district headquarters Martadi. A local, Kali Bahadur Gurung, 72, shared that he has never cast vote in elections. “I do not know how to cast vote,” Gurung said. Tshering Dhorche Lama, 80, another local, said he had cast vote just once in his lifetime. Purush Lama said he was oblivious of the upcoming second phase of the civic polls. “Telephone facility is unavailable here and no one has come for election publicity,” he added. Moti Gurung, 80, said she would cast her vote for the first time in the second phase of polls.

Though the government has spent huge amount in voter education,Gumbagaun is deprived of basic voter education. Magal Bahadur Buda, at Baudi Village said leaders from political parties reached the village seeking votes. “But, no voter education programme has been held in the district.