KATHMANDU, July 16: Youth protesters from the ‘enough is enough’ campaign have yet again hit the streets in order to jog the government’s memory regarding the agreement reached between them and the government on June 7. Joining the protest in front of the ministers’ quarters in Pulchowk, Lalitpur, this morning most of them were seen holding placards that read ‘implement the agreement’.
The nationwide campaign led by mostly youths had surfaced through the Facebook group ‘enough is enough’ led by activist Iih. The campaign that started digitally had then materialized in the form of substantial protest gathering thousands of youths on the streets to oppose the government's poor handling of the COVID-19 crisis.
Despite constant demonstrations and calls by the youths, the government had failed to acknowledge the protests and demands presented by the youth protesters. Stirring to the neglect and indifference that the government kept showing to the protests, activist iih had organized a Satyagraha campaign (hunger strike) and was later joined by other youths including Pukar Bam.
What we gained, what we lost
However, the Satyagraha campaign had given positive outcomes as Prime Minister Oli himself visited the youths at Hams Hospital on the evening of July 2, after they were admitted to the hospital owing to their deteriorating health conditions.
On July 7, the youths called off the Satyagraha following a 12-point agreement signed with the health ministry on the evening of July 6. The agreement that calmed the protestors had mentioned that the government would fulfill their demands as soon as possible.
Nevertheless, stating that the government hasn’t worked according to the agreement even a week after it was signed, the protestors have recommenced the protest.
The 12-point agreement mentioned that the government would discontinue the use of rapid diagnostic tests and increase polymerase chain reaction testing to identify COVID-19 infection, include healthcare and frontline workers, migrant returnees as well as contacts of people who have tested positive for the virus and transparently publicize its spending on the pandemic.
