Eliza Gurung, who became 'Miss Janajati' in 2019, has become the first woman from the remote geography of Chumnubri and Dharche areas of North Gorkha to reach Parliament, while continuously engaging in social work.
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In the leadership of the National Independent Party (NISP), House of Representatives member Sudhan Gurung was saying, ‘If Didi had not been elected, it would have been difficult.’ Ever since Sudhan registered her candidacy from Gorkha-1, Eliza has been a pillar in the election campaign. Impressed by Eliza’s dedication, Sudhan was saying, ‘You worked so hard, you worked so hard, my daughter, whether it was by walking on a bike in the hills or by any means, you made everyone reach everywhere.’
Sudhan is from Chumanubri-3 Sirdiwas, while Eliza was born in Dharche-2 Kerouja village. The voice of Chumanubri and Dharche rural municipalities in northern Gorkha being neglected has been rising loudly since the implementation of federalism. In previous elections, the issue of declaring these two municipalities as special, autonomous or protected areas has been raised. This election has created such a coincidence that two young people from the remote northern region of Gorkha, where there has been a demand for the declaration of a special zone, have become MPs.
Eliza, who was included in the list of 48 proportional women MPs of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and became the first woman MP from the Chumanubri and Dharche constituencies of North Gorkha. In no previous election, a woman MP had been elected from Dharche and Chumanubri directly and proportionally. Born in a remote village in Chumanubri-2, Kerauja, Eliza's interest in social service from a young age opened the door to becoming an MP. From school level, Eliza had been a regular participant in various programs held in the village. Eliza used to join the creative youth club in the village and participate in social programs.
After completing her secondary education at Kerauja Secondary School in Dharche-2, there was no campus near her village for higher education. She reached her aunt's house in Manang and studied her Plus Two at Thojo Campus. When the 2015 Baisakh earthquake devastated most of the settlements in Gorkha, Eliza's village Kerauja was severely affected. After the earthquake, she returned to her village after being appointed as a social worker for Ezila Care Nepal.
'Not a single house was intact due to the earthquake, everyone was living in tents,' she said, 'All the villagers were in fear, at that time we ran an awareness program, we also distributed blankets, solar panels and other essential items.' After the earthquake, Eliza became even more well-known at the local level as she traveled around the village as a social worker. She also had the opportunity to work as a social worker for four years in organizations such as the Methodology Development Service Center and Integration Nepal.
In 2019, Eliza also won the crown of 'Miss Indigenous People' organized by SK Entertainment. After being crowned 'Miss Indigenous People', Eliza, a young woman from a remote village, got the opportunity to become known throughout the country. At that time, Eliza was a district member of the Tamu Hula Chhojadhia Gurung National Council and a member of the North Gorkha Tamu Society. In Mangsir 2076, Dharche Rural Municipality also announced Eliza, who was 'Miss Indigenous People 2019', as the ambassador for reducing child marriage.
Eliza's family background was close to the Congress at that time. At that time, she also got the opportunity to distribute food and other materials in Manang, Sindhupalchowk and other areas through the Girija Prasad Foundation. She became close to Sujata Koirala and joined the foundation as a youth member. Eliza, who has been active in social service, was very impressed by Ravi Lamichhane's television program.
After Lamichhane left television and started politics, Eliza also got the opportunity to join his party. Eliza was also included in the founding 25 central members formed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) in Asad 2079. In the 2079 election, the RSS had also made Eliza a proportional candidate. But she was not included at that time as only 13 proportional MPs became MPs.
In this election, Eliza, who was at number 13 when 48 women were made MPs in the RSS' proportional system, was also included. Eliza, who was born in a remote area and started her parliamentary journey, says that she will raise the problems seen in her area in the House. ‘We will take the initiative rather than making promises,’ she said, ‘I will move forward in a way that will set an example that a daughter born in a remote village can reach this place and do so much work.’
Since child marriage is still prevalent in the northern region of Gorkha, she plans to work to reduce it. ‘We will also raise our voice on what can be done to stop child marriage,’ she said, ‘The agricultural produce produced in the northern region has not found a market, we will also take the initiative by expanding the road network or how to bring the products of this region to the market.’
Sudhan Gurung, who was elected directly from Gorkha-1, has included the issue of taking a national initiative in his election manifesto by declaring the Himalayan regions like Chumnubri and Dharche as ‘special development zones’ and bringing targeted service infrastructure. Eliza also says that she will raise the issue in the House, giving priority to issues such as education, health, and employment seen in the northern region.
