Subsidised salt from Raskot transported to Surkhet, accessed by the privileged

By Prem Simkhada,Kalikot, Dec. 5: Iodised salt intended for citizens in remote areas is being transported from Raskot Municipality in Kalikot district to Surkhet, raising concerns about corruption.

The government has been providing subsidised salt to remote areas through the Salt Trading Corporation. The villagers are required to show their citizenship certificates to receive up to 11 packets of salt. 

However, it has emerged that large quantities of salt are being taken from the warehouse in sacks and sent to Surkhet.

Jivan Bahadur Shahi, a sports teacher at Badimalika Secondary School, reported witnessing the transportation of subsidised salt meant for remote areas to Surkhet. 

He observed two sacks of salt, about one quintal, being loaded onto a vehicle heading to Surkhet. 

Upon inquiry, he discovered that the salt was destined for the residence of a municipal government representative.

“When we purchase even a small amount, citizens here are required to show their citizenship. Yet, municipal officials can purchase salt by the sack and send it to Surkhet,” Shahi said.

The government-provided salt costs Rs. 9 per packet in Kalikot while in Surkhet it is sold for 30 rupees per packet.

Mahesh Neupane of Raskot shared that he learned through social media that salt was being transported to Surkhet. 

He suggested that those with access were likely facilitating the transport to earn a profit of 20 rupees per packet.

“We discovered two sacks being sent to Surkhet, but how many more sacks have been transported without our knowledge?” Neupane questioned, noting that many public representatives and employees live in Surkhet.

Locals in Raskot claim that the two sacks of salt are proof that supplies meant for the citizens of Raskot are being redirected to Surkhet, particularly to the homes of Mayor Dharmaraj Shahi and Acting Chief Administrative Officer Jawan Singh Bam.

Meghraj Shahi of Raskot-5 stated that the government must be held accountable for how sacks of salt are being transported to Surkhet while locals are left waiting at the depot all day for just a single packet.

Shahi suggested, “If the salt is to be sent to Surkhet, it would be better for the government to deliver it directly there and save on transportation costs.”

Dambar Budha, head of the Manma Depot responsible for distributing salt in Raskot, said, “This is a problem at the government level. I was only in charge of distribution.”

Budha received information that sacks of salt, purchased using the citizenship details of five people from a single household, were being sent to Surkhet and Nepalgunj.

When Budha confronted Mayor Dharmaraj Shahi about the practice, the mayor responded that Raskot residents also lived in Surkhet.

Upon learning that salt was being sent to Surkhet, Budha called Mayor Shahi to inform him of the situation. However, the mayor replied that Budha’s role was limited to distributing salt in Raskot, not overseeing its destination beyond the municipality.