PM stays overnight at Bankariya settlement

HETAUDA, FEB 09 - Prime Minister Baburam Bhattarai stayed overnight at a house in the Bankariya settlement at local Twangra, Handikhola VDC-7 on Friday night as part of the programme of the prime minister spending one night at people's house. Twangra is 15 kilometres from Hetauda and is backward in terms of development. It is predominantly settled by the people of the minority Bankariya community. The prime minister's personal secretary Phanindra Devkota said the prime minister chose to spend a night at a Bankariya house. The Bankariya people live on wild roots and fruits even in the 21st century. Although different social organisations work in this poor settlement, this is the prime minister's first visit to the Bankariya settlement. Upon reaching the settlement, Prime Minister Bhattarai said that the government was committed to empowering the minority Bankariya people. He said that the government would provide all the services and amenities provided by the state to the Bankariya people who number only 75. He also stressed that the government was committed to protecting the culture and ethos of this unique community. On the occasion, the Bankariya people demanded construction of a suspension bridge over the local Handikhola stream and resolution of different problems including that of drinking water. To this request, the prime minister said that he would issue directives to the bodies concerned to that end. RSS