Explore: Peace And Famine The villages of remote and rural Humla, where fear would creep in with every sunset during the Maoist's people's war, are slowly returning to normalcy after the Maoists joined the peace process. The famine-struck Humlese claim that their lives have become relatively easier compared to the hardships of the past. Already faced with the prospect of a deadly famine in the wake of three years of relentless drought that has rendered the land unable to sustain crops, the Maoist tax and diktats, including compulsory participation in the CPN-Maoists from every home and permission papers, had further made their lives a living hell. "Then, we had to ask their permission even to move from one place to another. We had to feed them when they wanted," 56-year old Haru Budha of Srinagar said, adding, "Such provisions have now been removed. We can now move from one place to another as we wish." The Maoists have declared five VDCs of the Shrinagar area "model areas." For the last four years, outsiders were denied entry while permission papers were introduced for the villagers to move from one place to another. The Maoists had also imposed a "one permanent member from each house" rule in the area. From the Shreenagar area alone, the Maoists conscripted 132 youths into their PLA of which the Maoists admit 27 were killed in action. "In those days, we needed their permission, even to forage for food for our hungry families," Chavi Lal Kunwar of Mail said, adding, "We had to be home by the time they had designated." On days when they had to leave home, the locals had to furnish details like their destination and the purpose of their visit to the Maoists. Locals of the region comprising the Shreenagar, Maila, Madana and Jairi VDCs have little knowledge of the government-Maoist talks and peace process back in Kathmandu. And yet, they are experiencing subtle changes in their lives all the same. "What, we know little? Why, we know that we will have peace now, the Maoists say so and the few that have radios float such news in the village," one of the only three to pass the SLC exams from Sheenegar, Bikram Budha said. "But, we are at ease." The direct effect of the peace process can most clearly be seen from the children joining the local school. Suryodaya Secondary School--the only one for all five VDCs--has seen student enrollment double since last year. According to school principle Hari Gorkhali, while there were only 84 students last year, this year, the number has risen to 181. "After the Maoists issued their compulsory membership decree, there was a drastic decrease in the number of students," Gorkhali said, adding, "Since the situation has eased in the village, enrollment has increased." For all its worth, Shreenagar is the centre of the region. Besides the school and sub-health post, the food depot is a stark reminder of government presence in the area. The village peon doubles as the health officer and will only dispense advice owing to the absence of medicines. The food depot was shutdown after the Maoists' presence in the area intensified. Meanwhile, the locals have urged authorities to reopen the defunct food depot. Local leaders have also stressed the reopening of the sub-health post. Although out of bounds to outsiders in the past, the World Food Programme (WFP), in association with local NGOs, is providing food assistance. It takes four days to reach the district headquarters and four more to reach the nearby bazaar of Sanfebagar. "I had contemplated giving up my job," said maths and science teacher at Surodaya School, Rudra Siwakoti. "But now, things are better. I am thinking of not leaving after all." Other teachers echo Siwakoti. In the past, it was mandatory for teachers and government officers to submit up to seven percent of their income to the Maoists. Likewise, development projects too had to cough up a minimum of seven percent to the Maoists. These days, individuals aren't taxed, but taxes for "development works" continue to be levied on the people of Humla. "These days, we don't levy taxes.... we did in the past," the CPN-M regional in-charge Lalkesh Joshi said. Stating that the people's government and people's court remained, Joshi said that those too would be dissolved once the Maoists join the interim government. "Things have become easier for political activism as well," former Nepal Student's Union central member Lokendra Bhandary said. Apart from the Maoists, he seemed to be the only one who was willing to spell out his political leanings. Even now, it is only the Maoists who openly state their political affiliations. Other party representatives have not gone public. "We aren't stopping them," Lalkesh said, "We have no idea why they don't carry out their activities in the open." asscio. with sinchewdaily. Khim Ghale//