Kanchanpur, Nepal — The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has called on the federal, provincial, and local governments to act quickly on the long-standing demands of reservation victims in Kanchanpur. The commission has urged officials to sit down with the affected communities and take steps to safeguard the health of those staging an indefinite hunger strike.
In Madanchowk, Mahendranagar, Jay Bahadur Rokaya, chairperson of the Reservation Victims’ Struggle Committee, and Ran Bahadur Bam have refused food since August 7. They are demanding fair compensation, housing for displaced settlements such as Dhakka and Tarapur, recognition as conflict victims, and free access to healthcare and education.
Following an on-site visit, the NHRC’s Sudurpaschim Provincial Office in Dhangadhi reported that both men are senior citizens whose health is steadily declining. The commission noted that their demands touch directly on constitutional rights — including the right to live with dignity, property rights, healthcare, education, employment, housing, and the rights of women, children, Dalits, and senior citizens.
The NHRC also reminded the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of its responsibility to protect human rights and to honor international treaties, which forbid depriving anyone of the means to sustain life.
Calling for a swift resolution, the commission appealed to both sides to settle the matter through dialogue and agreement, while encouraging the strikers to explore talks, negotiations, and legal remedies to address their concerns.
