Lumbini, the birthplace of peace, has been in chaos for a week with protests and sit-ins. Since July 13, the Lumbini Development Fund's head office has been locked and the work has been stopped by the employees, the place of peace Lumbini has become chaotic. Employees from Tilaurakot in Kapilvastu, Nigrodharam, Devdah in Rupandehi and Ramgram in West Nawalparasi can reach the Lumbini Fund head office at 10 am for the protest.

On July 8 and 9, the employees worked with black bands on their hands and pressured them to meet their demands. Even after that, since there was no hearing about the demand, they have been protesting by stopping the work and locking the office since July 13. The employee union had submitted a memorandum on July 5 and announced the program of protest. 

Lumbini, which comes from all over the world to receive the energy of peace, has been in turmoil for a week and tourists, devotees and worshipers are returning disappointed. The responsible officials are not interested in the demands of the Lumbini Development Fund Employees Union, which has been agitating with four-point demands . The employees have become more angry saying that they did not even make a general inquiry to solve the problem with the employees.  The responsible officials of the

fund are all camped in the capital. Vice President Lyaharkyal Lama, Member-Secretary Sanuraja Shakya, Treasurer Dhundiraj Bhattarai and Planning Manager Smita Bhatt are all in Kathmandu now. Treasurer Bhattarai is ill and undergoing treatment, while member-secretary Shakya has resigned on July 5, but it has not been accepted. The senior director of the fund Gyanin Rai and the accounting officer Naval Yadav are also now in Kathmandu. While officials and high officials were in the capital, the demands of the employees could not be heard. 

As none of the senior staff available in Lumbini has been given the responsibility of the head of the fund, the fund has become parentless . Abdul Offa, Chairman of the Employees' Union, said that the employees are discussing a strong protest saying that this is an insult to them. Our demands have been completely ignored. Until now, we have locked the head office of the fund. Now we will lock the gate that enters the fund master plan," he said.

The union meeting held on Monday has also decided to lock the ticket counter and museum for two/three days as the demand has not been heard. "If a peaceful movement turns violent, the officials must take all responsibility for it." Even after calling the vice president for the 10th time, he did not pick up," said President Ofa. 

Prakash Yadav, the treasurer of the employees' union, said that he was surprised that there was no point even after so many days of protesting. "Responsible officials became irresponsible". Now we are discussing the strategy of the decisive movement," he said. _{Employees of Lumbini Development Fund sitting on the balcony of the office after rain. Photos:  Manoj Poudel/Kantipur}

The office is having a very negative impact when the protest stops the administrative work. Rajan Basnete, the information officer of the fund, said that the annual policy and planning program for the current financial year is being delayed. Similarly, he said that due to not being able to proceed with the auction process of crores of wood, it is rotting due to water and tendering for other development works is getting delayed. Similarly, he said that the attitude of various service providers and businessmen towards funds is becoming negative when the payment of funds for the Buddha Jayanti, which was completed last financial year, was stopped. "Now, it has been like this for a long time and we have to be reluctant to do a loan of thousand rupees with the fund." When the amount is delayed, the view towards the fund is becoming very negative,' he said. 

When the employees are agitated and the work is stopped, even when negative messages are sent, none of the officials of the relevant ministries and funds have taken the initiative to solve the problem . The employees said that because they are playing games without taking the initiative of dialogue, they are being motivated to protest more strongly. Culture Minister Badri Pandey, the chairman of the fund, also accused the employees of not showing any interest in addressing the demand. 

In front of the fund's head office in Lumbini, the employees are staging a sit-in daily from 10 to 5 pm by locking the main gate. The main gate and the office branch have been locked . All the employees of the fund stopped their work and sat under the mango tree near the main gate of the head office for the whole day . They enter the office only when it is raining. 

The employees' union has demanded that they should get accumulated leave, fund allowance and dearness allowance, and all the employees who are currently under service contracts should be filled through a limited competitive examination so that the age limit is not applied by amending the staff regulations . Similarly, they have demanded that all the employees should be approved soon and permanent employees should be promoted according to the Fund Staff Regulations 079.

fund has 40 permanent and 177 service contract employees . Union Secretary Jitendra Yadav said that he was made permanent after 8/9 years of contract work in the fund as he was a relative, but union president Offa is still under service contract even though he has worked for 18 years. According to the employees' union, security and revenue collection were not hindered even though the employees protested. Some security personnel are also participating in the movement. 

In Lumbini, which is known in the world as the land of peace, there is increasing concern as the unrest, tension and chaotic environment are increasing, said Bhikshu Siri Bajir, vice-professor of Lumbini Buddhist University . Responsible officials should try to solve the problem. Otherwise, a bad message will go abroad," he said. When there is a problem between high-level employees and officials, it affects small employees, pilgrims, worshipers and monks and nuns. Inability to make decisions and mutual distrust within the fund is also becoming difficult . Khagendra Kafle, head of the security branch of the fund, said that the problem should be solved by meeting the reasonable demands of the employees.