Parsa govt offices hounded for donations

BY SUJIT MAHAT

PARSA, Oct 2 - Never-ending donation drives launched by various underground groups have always been a big pain in the neck for government employees and businessmen in Parsa district.However, in recent times, it is not underground outfits that public employees and businessmen are running away from. ...

...the political parties, their sister organisations and local youth clubs that are demanding exorbitant donations for the Dashain festival.

After a myriad of so-called groups, committees, clubs and sister organisations of political parties started to swarm government offices here asking for donation to organise Durga Pooja, cultural programs and different events during Dashain, most senior officers have stopped coming to office.

It is not unusual for such groups to move around from office to office collecting donations during the festival season. But the problem arises when such groups demand ridiculous amounts and even resort to violence if they are not obliged.

Just on Sunday, students affiliated to the Madhesi People’s Rights Forum (MPRF) vandalised the office of Tribeni Group at Aadarshnagar for not coughing up the donation amount demanded. Donation demands range between Rs 5,000 and 30,000.

A senior officer at a government office said he was insulted and nearly assaulted by one such group when he refused to give a donation.

Donation drives in the district have reached the point where the District Education Office had to station security personnel Wednesday to keep donation groups at bay.

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