NUWAKOT-The children standing on the roadside were shivering, they looked tried and hungry. They were carrying small bouquets of flowers in their hands. They were there to welcome a minister. "Our teacher brought us here," said seven-year old Dilip Tamang who studies in the 2nd grade of Kalika Primary School adding, "I am hungry, cold, but the teacher won't let us go."

Finance Minister Ram Sharan Mahat was to inaugurate the rural road linking Deurali with Bungtang VDC. Twenty-four kids from grades two and three were pulled from their classrooms at 12PM to stand and wait for Mahat to arrive. All they were wearing was their school uniform and they were shivering. Sushil Tamang, who studies in the 3rd grade, says, "We have no idea why we were brought here."

Mahat was supposed to arrive at 2PM but due to delays he got there only at 4.30 PM. There was so little time that he took the flowers from the kids and said a quick thank you. Teacher Sumitra Tamang says, "The organisers told us we were to bring school children, that is why I brought them here."