KATHMANDU, April 19: The Nepal Teachers' Association's (NTA) 17-day protest, centered around the Maitighar-Babar Mahal-New Baneshwor area, has not only caused significant hardship for travelers but also completely disrupted the livelihoods of around 12,000 transportation workers.
Bharat Nepal, President of the Nepal Public Transport Federation, stated that the disruption has impacted transportation throughout the Kathmandu Valley, affecting approximately 4,000 vehicles that operate daily in the region. As a result, 12,000 transport workers have lost their livelihoods.
"Transport business owners and workers in the New Baneshwor-Maitighar area have faced severe impacts over the past 17 days, and transportation operations in that area have come to a standstill," he said.
In response, the NTA submitted a memorandum to the Ministry of Home Affairs through the District Administration Office. The memorandum demands the immediate resumption of transportation on the affected route. It highlights that the ongoing roadblock caused by the teachers' protest has created difficulties for workers and others, while businesses have faced financial losses due to missed bank installments, taxes, and insurance payments.
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The memorandum further points out that the main roads of the capital have turned into protest battlegrounds, directly affecting the transportation sector. It stresses that such prolonged activities in the heart of the capital have sent a negative message to both national and international communities, creating an uncomfortable situation for road users, ordinary citizens, and businesses in the transportation sector and beyond.
The memorandum urges the Ministry of Home Affairs to facilitate the resumption of transportation, considering the anger of transportation sector businesses, workers, employees, and general consumers.
Meanwhile, Ashok Kumar Bhandari, spokesperson and Assistant Chief District Officer of the District Administration Office Kathmandu, said he was unaware of the teachers obtaining permission from the District Administration Office for their protests in the New Baneshwor, Babar Mahal, and Maitighar areas.
Political parties, however, have obtained permission from the District Administration Office to protest and demonstrate at designated locations. "Whenever anyone seeks permission for a protest, we review it and grant permission for an appropriate location," Bhandari said. "However, it seems the teachers did not seek permission to protest."
Teachers have staged continuous protests since April 2, demanding the new Education Act. Teachers from all 77 districts have participated, spending time dancing and singing in the New Baneshwor, Babar Mahal, and Maitighar areas.
The protests have caused hours-long disruptions in traffic, including on alternative routes like corridors. Passengers have faced severe inconvenience due to long traffic jams, making daily life difficult. One passenger said, "The government should at least move the teachers' protest from New Baneshwor, Maitighar, and Babar Mahal to another designated location."
Meanwhile, the protesting teachers are urging the government to address their demands as soon as possible.
