Ilam Awaits Revival

Ilam, known as the Queen of Hills, is famous for its stunning natural beauty and its tea gardens. Whenever people talk about tea, Ilam is the first place that comes to their minds. However, the hustle and bustle market of Ilam Bazaar has, of late, lost its charm. Several reasons exist behind this downturn of the famous town of the past. 

Traditionally, tourism and agriculture were the main sources of income for the people of Ilam. But nowadays, many have shifted from agriculture to the service sector. One reason for this shift is the migration of locals to Birtamod and Tarai towns and even to the Kathmandu Valley. Today, only some parts of Ilam—such as Fikkal, Kanyam, and Sandakpur—manage to sustain their markets, largely due to ongoing tourism. 

Another cause of this decline is the lack of basic facilities like healthcare and education. The district hospital in Ilam is in poor condition, suffering from inadequate maintenance and a shortage of qualified doctors. As a result, many people face serious difficulties, and many lives are lost because the nearest well-equipped hospital is about three hours away by vehicle. 

Moreover, the road conditions are poor, especially during the rainy season when roads get blocked, making travel difficult. This situation raises concerns, especially for residents of village areas such as Soyak and Sangrumba, which, despite being part of Ilam Municipality, remain “so near yet so far” from proper facilities.  

Due to these shortcomings, many migrate to Jhapa or Damak in search of better health services. The lack of proper educational services further compounds the problem, pushing students, particularly to the Kathmandu Valley, for quality education. After becoming qualified, many choose not to return because of the lack of career opportunities.

Secondary education in Ilam is not very strong, and while undergraduate programmes are slowly improving, they still do not include the courses most in demand. As a result, Ilam's students often find it difficult to compete at the national level, and it is very rare for them to compete internationally.

The business environment is also rapidly declining. Business owners are frustrated by the shrinking market. In today’s digital age, many consumers prefer online shopping, a sector which is underdeveloped in Ilam. The declining population further reduces the customer base, making it harder to sustain businesses. Moreover, local businesses lack innovative ideas and fail to offer products that appeal to younger generations.

Poor governance and inadequate maintenance of tourist sites have left a bad impression on visitors. The tea gardens, the main tourist attraction, are deteriorating. The tea bushes of Nepal's oldest tea garden are aging, and no proper care is being taken to maintain them. 

To revive the market in Ilam Bazar and the district as a whole, providing basic facilities to residents must be the top priority. Good governance is essential to achieve this. Locals should receive training to think outside the box and develop innovative ideas. The education services need significant improvement.  Additionally, the local government must create career opportunities for the younger generation to help uplift Ilam as a whole.