Minister Rawal Addresses Cooperative Victims and Landless Issues in Dadeldhura

Dhangadhi. Cooperative victims, landless, and representatives of various organizations in Dadeldhura presented their problems and demands to Pratibha Rawal, Minister of Land Management, Cooperatives, Federal Affairs and General Administration. Minister Rawal, who reached Dadeldhura on Tuesday, first visited the Ugratara Temple and then participated in a meeting related to the Land Problem Resolution Commission. She also held discussions with district and local level office chiefs at the District Administration Office, Dadeldhura. Journalists were not allowed to enter the discussion. The discussion was held with the meeting door closed.

After that, Minister Rawal met with the victims of Shivashikhar Cooperative. In the meeting, the victims urged for immediate action, stating that their savings have not been returned for four years. The victims claim that approximately 31 crore rupees of about 6,000 depositors from Shivashikhar Cooperative in Dadeldhura have been embezzled. Man Bahadur Saud, coordinator of the Shivashikhar Cooperative Victims Struggle Committee, drew the government's attention to the fact that savings have not been returned even after a long time. The victims submitted a memorandum to Minister Rawal, asking, 'It has been almost four years since the cooperative misappropriated depositors' money, how many more years will it take for the government to return the money?' They urged for concrete action, stating that although every government has given assurances in the name of cooperative victims, the problem has not been resolved. They also warned that if the problems of millions of depositors are not resolved, the victims will be forced to come to the streets. Minister Rawal said that the problems of cooperatives and the landless are a high priority for the government. She stated that actions such as freezing the accounts of cooperative operators and searching for their property are being carried out, and that efforts are being made to return the depositors' money. Minister Rawal was also handed memorandums by various organizations including the Federation of Industries and Commerce Dadeldhura, Construction Entrepreneurs Association, Civil Society, Landless Victims Struggle Committee, and Cricket Association. They presented their demands and problems regarding the district's development, land issues, cooperatives, and sports. Journalists were initially not allowed to enter the meeting with cooperative victims. Although they were allowed to enter after journalists protested, they were prohibited from taking videos. Minister Rawal also inspected Dadeldhura Hospital. She inquired about the hospital's problems related to manpower, staff management, equipment, and infrastructure, and said that efforts would be made to improve the hospital. Stating that the development and expansion of Dadeldhura Hospital, the only federal hospital in the Sudurpashchim region, is necessary, she said that discussions would be held with the Ministry of Health regarding the overall improvement of the hospital. Dr. Sudha Devkota, acting Medical Superintendent of the hospital, stated that there are problems with staff management, equipment, and other administrative issues at the hospital. In the program, Province Assembly member and Chairperson of the Finance Committee, Akriti Awasthi, Vice-President of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Sudurpashchim Province, Man Bahadur Saud, and others also drew the minister's attention to the hospital's problems. After that, Minister Rawal went to Amargadhi Municipality and held discussions with representatives and employees. Discussions were held there regarding the overall development of the district, problems of the landless, and the needs of local levels. During Minister Rawal's visit to Dadeldhura, representatives of various organizations in the district presented their demands and problems. During the visit, the Dadeldhura Hospital, Amargadhi Municipality, and party offices were also inspected and monitored.