Author: space4knews

April 20, Pokhara – Hem Bahadur Gurung, who lost the use of both legs due to polio at 18 months old, spent 25 years on a wheelchair. Over these years, he has been actively working in the disability sector, advocating for rights and inclusion.

Until now, Hem Bahadur had never experienced mistreatment, but recently endured unprecedented inhumane behavior. Despite his physical discomfort and pain, the emotional distress caused by oppression from the leadership of a disability organization has deeply affected him.

He recounts being roughly handled, his wheelchair attacked with boots, and even denied permission to use the restroom. “The inhumanity crossed all limits. Brutal attacks on people with disabilities happened. I faced an insult in my 50th year of life that I had never suffered before. It deeply moves me and brings tears,” Hem Bahadur said emotionally.

This incident occurred on March 12 during the 10th General Convention and the 23rd Ordinary Session of the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal, held at Darbar Lawn Party Palace in Butwal, where 425 representatives from associated organizations participated.

Hem Bahadur, also the Gandaki Province President of the Federation, went to the convention to engage in policy debate, highlight rights and participation issues for disabled individuals, and advocate for institutional reform and capable leadership. Instead, he became a witness and victim of the most inhumane treatment in the institution’s 23-year history.

A viral video on social media shows security personnel roughly handling Hem Bahadur on his wheelchair and damaging it. Hem Bahadur is the person sitting in that wheelchair. The majority of disabled individuals attending the convention felt the leadership acted inhumanely, and that there was state-created intimidation. They allege that security personnel forcibly removed wheelchair users, using ‘bouncers.’

They reported that even blind women faced inhumane treatment, with abuses coming from security guards, volunteers, and police officers. Federation members such as visually impaired Birodh Khatri, Neun Drishti Virukamal Shrestha of Saksham Nepal, Bhojraj Shrestha, and Vimala Sadashankar criticized the use of state mechanisms to suppress voices when legal procedures were violated within the organization.

Despite complaints of leadership being unlawfully taken by force, their primary grievance is the state’s neglect. Since police and administration deny receiving complaints or repressing dissent, they are preparing to file complaints at the Human Rights Commission.

Details about how this situation arose in the Federation’s convention were gathered from Hem Bahadur, who is also the Gandaki Province president.

The opening session of the convention began on March 11 at the Darbar Lawn Party Palace in Butwal, with Gandaki Province Assembly Member Sunita Thapa as the chief guest. The Federation’s President, Devidatta Acharya, chaired the session.

“The venue and timing for the convention were not discussed within the executive committee; everything was unilaterally decided, leading to dissatisfaction from the start among representatives,” Hem Bahadur explained. “Devidatta wanted to retain his presidency.”

After the opening session, the closed session began. The reports were read from audio recordings. The General Secretary had been suspended a month earlier from presenting reports. Treasurer Kumar Regmi, who has a hearing disability, delivered the financial report via audio, according to Shrestha.

Representative Birodh Khatri protested, declaring the convention illegal due to procedural violations. He objected that the election officer was appointed unilaterally by the committee rather than through an alternative selection process.

Shrestha alleged that fake associations were registered with the Federation, hiding documents, and demanded corrections. There were claims that the leadership used votes from such fraudulent groups to plan the election.

When many began shouting slogans against the leadership, security personnel (bouncers), volunteers with hearing impairments, and police were deployed. Attendees were not allowed to speak and even had their microphones taken away. Viral videos show bouncers and police officers engaging in inhumane behavior.

There was shoving and pushing. Police detained Bhojraj, Virukamal, and others until they signed attendance in the evening before releasing them. The program was halted throughout March 13 due to fears the election might be disrupted, which caused further protests.

At 7pm on March 11, the election coordinator Shalikram Banjade and some officials resigned. The next day, a new election committee under Jok Bahadur Khatri was formed, but debates arose over the committee’s legitimacy. Committee officials responded to the controversy on-site.

“Claims that the new committee formed because the old one resigned have not been discussed in the hall and are incorrect,” Hem Bahadur said. “We were not allowed to discuss any agenda, so there was no legitimacy to the elected committee.”

Banjade stated, “There was a court case; I resigned because the committee was controversial, but then I learned that another committee was formed and leadership elected.”

Representatives began staging sit-ins in protest of the leadership amid heavy security. The venue had only one wheelchair-accessible restroom, but wheelchair users were denied access to it.

“Despite people claiming to help us move, when we said we’d wait at the gate to relieve ourselves, we weren’t allowed inside, citing higher orders,” Hem Bahadur recounted. “Our appeals to consider disability sensitivities were ignored, after which brutal attacks began.”

Wheelchair users were pushed and shoved; security personnel attacked wheelchairs with boots and caused damage.

Videos show security officers lifting and pushing wheelchairs near the security gate, dragging a chair close to the reception, and moving it to another area.

Hem Bahadur said, “This inhumane treatment left me in shock. I struggled to breathe and remained dazed for a while. Later, when I asked for another wheelchair, I wasn’t given one and had to crawl on it.”

With staff assistance, he reached the restroom, but felt pain in his head, body, and arms afterward.

“Seeing my unusual discomfort, a large security official ordered me to be placed in front of CCTV cameras. However, cameras were not nearby. They pushed my wheelchair to the entrance door of the hall where cameras were present,” Hem Bahadur tearfully recalled. “It felt as if the hall was closing on me under intense sunlight.”

A new executive committee was selected under Devidatta’s leadership at the Federation, but a majority boycotted it, claiming the leadership was seized by force. Many doubted the fairness of the leadership election, especially since complaints about violence and inhuman behavior were ignored.

“If the state has law, process, and justice, the incident must be investigated, and the guilty severely punished. The forcefully dissolved committee should be annulled, and a temporary committee formed to hold a clean election,” Hem Bahadur demanded. “Even the existing electoral committee would face consequences.”

Many delegates boycotted the convention, citing arbitrary leadership. Among 126 delegates from Gandaki, 84 signed the boycott with 8 absent. According to Hem Bahadur, only 44 votes were cast, and those were allegedly forged.

Meghnath Padhya, the Deputy Chief District Officer of Rupandehi, said no complaints had been filed regarding the incidents. Since the Federation is registered in Kathmandu, complaints should be lodged there, and police should collect evidence accordingly.

“We were only informed about permission and security for the convention. If injustice occurred, legal remedies can be sought,” Padhya said.

Legal Proceedings Will Determine Outcome: President Devidatta

Reelected Federation President Devidatta Acharya stated that this dispute should not be considered just a problem of this convention. After the 9th Convention in Nepalgunj, over 193 complaints were filed with administration, commission, and courts within 22 days, escalating the conflict.

He explained that the 10th convention was originally planned for December 12-13 but was postponed to March 11-12 due to the Genji movement and loss of district administration documents.

Many registered associations failed to renew in time, leading to complaints; membership increased from 24 to 424. Later, controversy arose over registration of fake organizations. Security was tightened due to destruction and crowding during the general assembly.

“Volunteers and bouncers were deployed to maintain safety,” he added.

Despite protests from 30-40 delegates, the convention continued, arguing that possession of delegate cards invalidated the boycott.

“There are still three writ cases in court. They advise attendees to seek justice at the judiciary. The legal process will examine whether it was lawful or not,” he said.

April 21, Kathmandu – Even before 6 a.m., crowds gathered around the main entrance of Bir Hospital. Many patients arrived clutching old prescriptions, while others carried medical reports. Patient relatives steadily advanced through lines, supporting those seeking care.

Everyone was united by a single goal – to reach the OPD ticket counter. The area near the ticket booths was heavily congested, with long queues stretching throughout the hospital premises.

This scene followed a two-day closure of the hospital on Saturday and Sunday, resulting in an overwhelming influx of patients on Monday.

The hospital closure led to a backlog of patients requiring treatment all at once. Lines had already grown long before ticket counters opened, with many arriving early in the morning.

Pramod Mukhiya, 37, who traveled from Janakpur, showed his old medical file and said, “My body aches, and I feel like I might faint. The hospital was closed on Sunday, so I could not get treatment. Now I have to wait for hours again today.”

Pramod’s hands and feet were numb as he sat on the ground, speaking softly. He was accompanied by his elder brother Surendra Kumar Mukhiya and his wife.

He developed sudden health problems three weeks ago, including vomiting blood and numbness. He received initial treatment at a private hospital in Janakpur, where doctors identified liver issues and advised further treatment in Kathmandu. As a farmer and laborer, the medical expenses totaling 120,000 NPR were a significant burden.

With loans from relatives and villagers, Pramod arrived in Kathmandu on Thursday night.

On Friday, he visited the emergency department at Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital but was denied admission as a general patient. Without connections, he stayed at a hotel near Gaushala.

All hospitals ceased operations on Saturday. On Sunday morning, he took a vehicle from Ratnapark to Bir Hospital, only to find the OPD ticket counter closed. A security guard told him, “The OPD is closed today, please come tomorrow.”

Confused, Surendra accompanied Pramod to the emergency ward, but he was not accepted.

With no other options, Pramod went to a private hospital. On Sunday afternoon at Kathmandu Medical College, his various tests and medicines cost over 20,000 NPR. Doctors advised additional liver tests at Bir Hospital and Teaching Hospital.

Waiting in line at Bir Hospital OPD on Monday, Surendra expressed frustration, “We arrived at 7 a.m., but only after 795 patients will we get tickets. There was no service like this on Sunday.”

Inside the OPD, confusion reigned. One line was for tickets, another for testing, and yet another for doctor consultations. Some patients sat on the floor, while the elderly and children stood due to a lack of seating; relatives took turns standing in long queues.

Meanwhile, an elderly woman in a wheelchair was seen being assisted by two women in the hospital courtyard. The 80-year-old suffered from hypertension.

These elderly visitors came again from Sattungal on Sunday but could not see a doctor and returned disappointed. “We came yesterday for a follow-up, but the doctor was unavailable. I am here again because my mother’s condition worsened,” said the caretaker.

Bir Hospital is one of the oldest government hospitals in the country and attracts large numbers of patients from outside the capital. For many poor and marginalized individuals, it serves as a vital hub of affordable, accessible care.

Many patients standing in line expressed a common grievance, “Even when we are ill, we must wait for hours. Will we even get to see a doctor today?”

Krishna Prasad Tiwari from Gorkha said, “We arrived early this morning, but the crowd means we may have to stay in the hospital for two or three days to receive care.”

Tiwari suggested that the hospital operate seven days a week with additional staff to cope with demand.

Patient admissions have also increased alongside the OPD crowd following the two-day closure decision. This has elevated the risk of surgical delays.

Tiwari explained the lengthy wait times throughout hospital departments. “We have to wait hours to see a doctor, and similar congestion exists at laboratories. Hospital management is sluggish, and the two-day closure has worsened the situation.”

Eighteen-year-old Bhesma Khatri, who had appendix surgery last November, came early with old medical files for recurring health issues. “I came yesterday but couldn’t see a doctor and left. The two-day closure has caused me more pain,” she said.

Bir Hospital handles over 3,000 patients daily and represents a beacon of hope for the impoverished. However, patients from remote and hard-to-reach areas often face persistent hardships accessing care.

The hospital has more than 28 departments, with crowds equally dense throughout labs and pharmacies.

Some patients wait in line at ticket counters, others at cash counters, and many stand in queues to see doctors. Basic seating is inadequate for general patients waiting outside the OPD.

The chaotic congestion makes swift service delivery difficult, resulting in widespread dissatisfaction among service users.

Rupn Prasad Patel from Rautahat complained that despite arriving by 7 a.m., he did not get a chance to discuss his problems with a doctor by midday. “You have to queue everywhere. Ordinary people are left confused about where to seek services. Hospital management is weak.”

Patel, who has kidney issues, was accompanied by relative Bires Kumar Chourasiya. Chourasiya said the two-day closure worsened the patient’s condition. “Since Friday, he hasn’t been able to see a doctor and is suffering. The government closure decision has created major difficulties for citizens seeking treatment.”

While the break provided rest for healthcare workers, it posed significant challenges for patients.

Overall, the two-day closure at Bir Hospital has exacerbated the suffering of patients.

Doctors Warn: Healthcare Services Growing More Chaotic

Doctors report a marked increase in patient loads at Bir Hospital following the government’s policy to close services two days per week.

One physician noted that closing the OPD for two consecutive days disrupts treatment for both patients and staff.

“When services are closed on Saturdays and Sundays, the Monday crowd becomes overwhelming, forcing patients from districts to stay in Kathmandu, increasing their hardship,” said the doctor.

Previously scheduled surgeries have also been affected. Patients who booked appointments for Sundays now face uncertainty due to the closure.

Hospital schedules have been disrupted by these closures, causing further complications according to medical staff.

Doctors emphasize that it is impractical to shut down major hospitals like Bir, Teaching, or Civil for two consecutive days and advocate for continuous seven-day operation.

They suggest staggered staff holidays so services can continue uninterrupted six days per week. This approach would maintain OPD, surgery, and other services regularly and reduce long patient lines.

Another physician explained that the two-day closure has increased both outpatient visits and hospital admissions, potentially lengthening surgery waitlists.

“I used to see around 60 patients; now I have to attend to more than 80 daily. Surgery wait times are lengthening across all departments,” the doctor noted.

They also remarked that shorter patient consultation times have become common due to the heavy patient volume. “Previously, doctors spent four to five minutes per patient; now even two minutes is difficult.”

Doctors report that continuous work causes mental stress among healthcare workers, necessitating leaves. However, without effective organizational planning, both patients and staff suffer.

Statistics from Bir Hospital indicate that on regular days, around 2,700 OPD tickets are issued monthly, but on the recent Monday, over 3,400 tickets were sold.

The Ministry of Health’s decision to close public hospitals two days a week lacks a clear plan for managing large hospitals’ service delivery, leading to uncertainty.

“Employees should have equal benefits, but when the hospital closes for two days, distant patients and those scheduled for surgery face difficult problems,” stated another Bir Hospital physician. “If continuous closure is unavoidable, the government should provide incentive bonuses for staff working on off days.”

They explained that with this system, OPD, surgeries, and other services would remain regular, preventing patients from facing long wait times.

The inability to allocate adequate time per patient due to crowding remains a significant issue.

Doctors mentioned that ongoing work pressures contribute to staff mental stress and the need for leaves, but lack of management causes problems for both patients and staff.