Marginalized Karnali

Historically, Karnali region has been marginalized by the Nepali state right after the Gorkhali invasion in 1789. Though there are lots of potentiality for Karnali to prosper there are several hindrances like inadequate infrastructure and other hurdles which has stopped Karnali from becoming the mainstream.

Road infrastructure is in a pathetic condition in Karnali. Karnali highway is lifeline of the region but it is called ‘death road’. The other prime road is Karnali corridor which now runs till Salisalla of Humla district. But it is not an all-weather road till date. Construction of bridges is still not in place.

Transportation cost in Karnali is one of the highest in the country. People from Karnali walk minimum two three days to the depots in district headquarters to take five kilograms of rice/salt. This is a common scene in Humla district even now.

Recently, one senior bureaucrat from Karnali province publicly acknowledged that infrastructure problem in Karnali province is high.

Karnali has not been properly represented in the government as well. No one from Karnali is even the minister of state in the federal cabinet.

Similar underrepresentation prevailed in bureaucracy, development agencies, media, civil society, academia etc.

Mostly ‘biased’ opinions and reports about Karnali have been appearing in national newspapers. They are not well-researched and are written with Kathmandu-centric mind. The field-level data of remote places have not been collected.

Legendary scholar from Karnali Saubhagya Shah wrote decades ago that in Karnali, Karnali folks struggled for cook (Bhanse) for Gorkhalis who came to ‘serve’ in Karnali. That situation far changed in the bureaucracy sectors at least for Jumla, Kalikot district.

Ironically, in development partners sector which claimed the ‘champion’ of inclusion in Nepal inclusion in human resources not changed so much from the eye of Karnali. They provided most of the assistant level positions provided to Karnali folks but the managerial level positions given to the people outside Karnali folks.

The recruitment of development partners is not ‘transparent’ like public service commission. There are certain types of inclusion or other favoritism prevails. Which excluded Karnali folks to include in managerial positions. ’Incompetency’ tags provided to Karnali folks.

The development partners recruitment process mostly operates through Kathmandu that needs extra cost, time, energy, and other referee process. This type of assemblages of recruitment regime is out of reach for Karnali folks than elsewhere of Nepal.

When I was working in a development partner, one senior from the office told me how to not ‘misuse’ resources of photocopier machine without context. That type of ‘dominant’ attitude, behavior seen in the recruitment; working level relationship to Karnali folks in political parties, bureaucracy, development partners and other places.

Gyanendra Shahi, elected from Jumla district as Member of Parliament said that he will get the portfolio ministry like Ministry of Finance if he would elect in the Parliament. But the fact is that no one is giving any portfolio ministry to Karnali folks.

There was comparatively excellent connection of roads in Dailekh and nearby Achham district by the mid-hill highway which connects villages of those districts. But nearby Kalikot, Jumla, Mugu, Humla and Dolpa districts the road conditions are so poor which hampers basic services in Karnali.

Past structures of Karnali zone including Bajura district is in margin even in Human Development Index (HDI) and Multidimensional Poverty Index (MDPI) so far.

Historically, the then Jumla state is so strong in military, cultural, economic, arts, astrology etc. That time Jumla state attacked at least three times in Malla kingdom in Kathmandu valley.

The architecture was superb whose remnants are still found in Karnali region till date. The Sinja palace excavation also found lots of pillars, lion statue. That shows that the Jumla state was so prosperous in past.

Presently, the opportunities provided by state and non-state actors are so dire and appallingly low in comparison to other parts of Nepal.

The scholarship opportunities provided to Karnali folks by Fulbright, Australian Aid, Chevening, India, China, Japan, South Korea and more is so low and almost ‘nil’ comparison to other parts of Nepal.

Recently, national grid line was connected in Karnali’s Jumla and Kalikot district.

The flight system is so poor and unsystematic. The STOL service is out of online ticketing. The airlines always charge extra money from poor Karnali folks in the name of ‘local passenger charter rate’.

The safest airline in Nepal Buddha air is out of reach of Karnali people till date. The unsafety and Karnali is seemed synonym in every sector like in aviation sector.

The death news of pregnant and delivery women is common there. But the news has been not eye catching for beyond Karnali people.

Though, there has been certain well representation in bureaucracy, development partners from Karnali folks. Those who elevated ladder in politics, development sector etc. simply forgets or pretend to forget Karnali.

Mostly ‘biased’ opinions and reports about Karnali have been appearing in national newspapers. They are not well-researched and are written with Kathmandu-centric mind. The field-level data of remote places have not been collected.

The sub-conscious mind of losers’ mentality also worked in Karnalian’s mind.

Corruption is rampant in users committee or in contractor’s project where ‘soft’ monitoring has been prevailed due to geographical distance, armed conflict in past or lack of transparency.

Dhunga adkaune, paisa ladkaune (Stone standing and money embezzling) is common when the ‘Afno Gaun, Aaphain Banau’ (Own village, develop we) program launched in fifties.

The Karnali Employment Programme (KEP) also promoted corruption and heavy equipment culture in Karnali which now turns into disaster prone areas in many parts of Karnali.

Nepal in crisis which wrote in 1980s and other foreign aid research stated that the politics of road in Nepal by our neighbours and international powers in the name of ‘Himalayan security’ has been so common. The BP highway, Dhangadhi Dadeldhura highway, Dharan Dhankuta road are some of the examples where foreign aid worked for road connectivity.

But in Karnali’s fate, the north border is there so we could not get good road even in this new era. The people from Tibet came Karnali for food forty, fifty years ago. Currently, the scenario is different. The border closed.

And northern neighbour even not willing to provide some ‘gifts’ even to border folks here in Karnali which Tibet had been providing in the past.

Shey-Phoksundo to Rara; way to Mansarobar lake is potential to harness Karnali’s development. The Shangri-la is there but the policy level intervention is needed by the local, federal, and provincial level for Karnali’s prosperity.

The food culture is so rich in Karnali. That may be quinoa to Marsi rice of Jumla, Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFPs); olive of Bajura is potential to prosper Karnali.

So, it’s time to truly invest in Karnali. It will benefit Nepal hugely.

Published on 18 April 2023