Krishna Raj Gautam

Kathmandu, May 3: The youths on a fast onto death under a relay hunger strike launched by the Campaign for Economic Revolution for Employment and Prosperity are starting to show signs of weakening health conditions.

The 12 youths launched the hunger strike on April 27 at the Open Theatre in the heart of the capital city. The health condition of most of the youths is reported to be deteriorating.

Among them Niraj Pun and Bharat Lamichhane have been admitted to Bir Hospital which lies a block away from the site. Apart from the two, other youths on hunger strike include Anusha Rai, Jibita Acharya, Laxmi Tamang, Manju Gautam, Ajit Jha, Dawa Sherpa, Mahesh Nepal, Riyaz Poudel, Gyandev Bista and Chandra Bahadur Thapa. Thapa is the coordinator of the Campaign and a former lawmaker.

Many youths have been provided saline drops at the agitation site. They are demanding employment opportunities based on capability, qualification, skill and ability or state loan to youths as per their educational qualification.ansan for job in kathmandu khulamancha 444087310

They have called for social security allowance with identity cards for unemployed youths, putting an end to the trend of strikes and arrangement for industry friendly and employment-oriented schemes.

The agitating youths have insisted on special management for national athletes and players, and artists.

The agitating youths have also prodded the government to come up with necessary policy for the manufacturing domestic products to be used in domestic market so as to strengthen the economy.

Social worker, Sonam Shakya, said the effort made by the youths in rising above political parties and ideologies to push for ending unemployment in the country is praiseworthy.

The range of those expressing solidarity with the hunger strike from different social strata and civil society is broadening by the day.

Campaigner, Phaniraj Lohani, said the government was still not serious towards the subject and called for holding relevant dialogue to resolve the matter.

At least 500,000 literate youths come in the labour market in the country annually but the scope of employment remains uncreative and inflexible. Every year a huge number of youths go abroad for migrant work or study.

Kathmandu School of Law’s teacher and advocate, Sunil Kharel, said millions of youths had gone abroad for foreign employment. He urged the concerned authority to not play with the lives of youths on hunger strike. RSS