KATHMANDU, Feb. 19 -- There is a saying - democracy dawned in Nepal in 2007 BS but the people of Jumla came to know about it only in 2008 BS! The essence of this saying is that the residents of remote and rural Jumla, which is far away from the capital, got the news of the arrival of democracy too late due to the lack of transport and communication.

Some locals of Jumla, who Republica met in Kathmandu on February 18, the eve of Democracy Day, said that despite democracy being introduced in 2007 BS, its essence had not been felt in Jumla even in 2080 BS. "I don't know where and when democracy was introduced. Our suffering is the same," said 59-year-old Chukki Mahatara from Jumla, "After working for 12 months, we don't get enough to feed o...