Pultisara Jaisi of Lali village in Kharpunath Rural Municipality-1, Humla, walked for an entire day to reach the district headquarters, Simkot, to buy subsidized salt. Travelling on foot from Deukhuri in Kharpunath-1, she spent the whole day standing in line at the airport gate. After purchasing eight packets of salt, she began her return, which will take her another full day.
Even after spending two days on the trip, she could not buy as much as she needed. A rule has been implemented allowing only one person per citizenship card to purchase a maximum of eight packets of salt.
Jaisi said that people in the Himalayan district have long been compelled to stand in queues for rice and salt. “Earlier, we had to stand in line like this to buy rice; now we have to stand in line to buy salt,” she said.
Not only Pultisara, but Krishna Prasad Jaisi from Deukhuri in Kharpunath–1 was also standing in line to buy salt. He complained that he is forced to spend two days just to purchase eight packets of salt.
“It takes one day to reach Simkot and another day to return. We have to spend two days just to buy eight packets of salt,” he said. “Along with the time, we also have to bear expenses for food and other necessities.”
Similarly, Tularaj Budha of Simkot Rural Municipality–8 walked three to four hours to reach Simkot to buy subsidized salt. He stated that the provision allowing only eight packets of salt per citizenship card is not reasonable.
Locals have expressed dissatisfaction over having to stand in line all day to collect salt and still not being able to purchase the amount they need.