COVID19
News
1 MIN READ
Due to the closed border, a migrant worker is unable to fulfill his funeral duties upon his mother’s death
Basudev Bhatta, a migrant worker, shares his condition as he is forced to mourn the death of his mother in quarantine across the border. As told to Kiran Dhami.
My name is Basudev Bhatta. I am a resident of Shailyashikhar rural municipality in the district of Darchula. For the last three months, I have been working in road construction at Ghatikhola in the Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand.
On 27 March, we decided to return as we had no more work due to the coronavirus. We weren’t getting paid and it was becoming harder to survive. I arrived along with several others on 30 March at the border to find that it was already closed. We pleaded with security personnel to let us in but they didn’t listen. We were left stranded without food or water and Indian officials came forward to help only much later. We have been kept in quarantine ever since.
Five days ago, my mother, Gautami Bhatta, died. She was 65 years old and passed away from a heart attack. Her health had been suffering and she was worried about me and my brother who still remains stranded in Bangalore. As soon as I found out about her death, I tried calling people up and requesting authorities to let me cross the border. So far, I have talked to our mayor and ward chairman back home and to many journalists. They said that I would be allowed to return, but I’m still here. I have even filed a complaint on the police helpline. No matter how many times I tried to call the chief district officer, he wouldn’t take my call.
I am the oldest of five brothers. With two of us brothers still in India, only the youngest three are at home to do the final rites. My mother carried me in her womb for nine months and raised me. Today, look at my condition. I couldn’t even mourn my mother’s death properly. Is it not my right to mourn my mother’s death?
I don’t know what to say to a government that doesn’t understand the plight of its citizens. I would like to thank the two-thirds government. Let them thrive and prosper as we suffer.
:::::::::::
COVID19
Photo Essays
4 min read
People on the frontline continue to work despite fears and palpable risks
COVID19
5 min read
The coronavirus has cut through the democratic facade to show how deep inequality runs in Nepali society
COVID19
Features
7 min read
Learning from April’s fiasco, local governments are now coordinating the vaccine drive by ensuring social distance, handing out coupons, and managing queues.
Features
6 min read
The PM creates chaos, and invites ridicule for dissolving parliament at a time when he should be focusing on the Covid-19 crisis
Popular
Longreads
80 min read
A comprehensive analysis of the Kalapani issue
Features
7 min read
The number of Public Interest Litigation cases is rising every year and while this could be a good thing, many are simply being filed for publicity and to fulfill personal interests.
Week in Politics
4 min read
The week in politics: what happened, what does it mean, why does it matter?
Features
4 min read
The chronic in-fighting between Oli and Dahal has reached a point where a party split looks imminent
