The news published in Kantipur on 6th of January titled 'Delegation to move unused Beilibridge for two years' has exposed the harsh reality faced by the remote district of Bajura. I first visited Bajura 47 years ago as a Peace Corps volunteer and recently returned.

I have a deep understanding of the courage and suffering of the people of this region as well as the challenges they face in their daily lives. Last fall I visited Bajura. During this, the local residents openly expressed their complaints about the government's policy of 'out of sight, out of mind'. This sentiment echoes the story of the disused belay bridge on the Budhiganga river, which if moved across the Dansanghu river in Kolti, could transform the lives of thousands of people.

For two years, local leaders have been working hard for its relocation, which would have provided road facilities to the residents of 17 municipalities in Bajura, Kalikot, Humla and Mugu. However, the process has not progressed due to government slowness. Lack of road access increases the cost of basic materials, limiting economic opportunity.

Most tragically, it delays emergency health care, which can sometimes lead to death. The residents of Bajura do not need luxury, they need infrastructure that can radically improve their lives. Local representatives have done things like organizing meetings, passing resolutions and lobbying at the state and federal levels, but their efforts have been frustrated by the inaction of higher authorities. It shows that the voices of remote areas are drowned in the noise of urban priorities.