Nepal is on the brink of a major humanitarian crisis, possibly even more severe than the devastating earthquakes of April/May 2015. International Organizations like the United Nations (UN), European Union and the United States have expressed grave concerns. The promulgation of new constitution amid turmoil in southern plains has crumbled the nation. The much-awaited new constitution has sadly been the source of controversy and communal tensions. Madhesh-based groups have been protesting against the prejudiced provisions of the new document. To add insult to the injury, fuel exports from India have been halted, intensifying the catastrophe inside the country.The protestors say the new constitution is discriminatory towards them. Madheshi people are infuriated and they are venting their ire across the Tarai plains. The protestors have been aggressively demonstrating against the central government for past two months. India has enforced unofficial blockade citing security concerns in adjoining border areas. Dialogue between Indian representatives and their Nepali counterparts has failed to bring relief to the Nepali public.
For the last two months, Nepal has been deprived of petroleum and cooking gas, causing domino effect in other areas of economy. Availability of basic goods is scarce and the general public is suffering more with every passing day. Hospitals are running low on medical supplies, restaurants have no means to sustain themselves, and public transports are overcrowded. Citizens are forced to queue in front of petrol stations for days with hopes of refuelling their vehicles. Daily lives have been badly disrupted with people hopelessly searching for alternatives.
Our civil society does not seem to care much about the troubles caused by the blockade. People are united and have supported the government against the blockade, but it cannot be stretched too long. The longer we wait to resolve outstanding issues, the harder they will be to resolve. Students have been denied their basic human rights to attend schools due to lack of transportation. Commercial institutions are barely surviving.
Regardless of political miscalculations, the general public is in despair. At the end of the day, it is they who suffer the most. As a young and aspiring youth of this country, I ask: Where is the good governance that we are always promised after each revolution? Why is that people are grieving whilst the persons they elected as representatives are enjoying?
Is this what democracy is for? Why does a political leader require five escorts to take him from one place to another but thousands of students are staying home due to lack of transportation? Who is worried about the future of our country? We only ask that our government provides us with an environment to live and work peacefully and that our tax money is properly utilized. Is this too much to ask? Why is the government unable to look for alternatives? It must answer. Why should I not leave my country? Where is hope?
The author is a graduate in International Relations from University of Warsaw, Poland
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