EDITORIAL: Out of order

Non-compliance with the order seems to be the order of the day, as former top cops still have orderlies despite asked to send them back

In the 82-point action plan aimed at home administration reforms, which was unveiled by Minister for Home Affairs Ram Bahadur Thapa on April 2, one of the issues he had highlighted was “police personnel in non-policing jobs”. The minister had said that all police personnel deputed for purposes other than security would be recalled by mid-May. Accordingly, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) on April 13 issued a circular to Nepal Police and the Armed Police Force, directing them to recall within seven days all police personnel deputed for purposes other than security. The move was taken in light of complaints that cops were working as orderlies, domestic help and personal security officers at the houses of some “incumbent or former high-level officials” who do not face security threats from any group. But non-compliance with the order seems to be the order of the day in Nepal, as some former senior police officials have been found to be keeping orderlies even today.

Police personnel of lower ranks have been for many years serving at homes of former ministers, police officials and bureaucrats where their duties range from cooking to washing clothes to running errands. In the past also questions have been raised over deputation of cops, whose duty is to provide security, to work as domestic help and orderlies. According to a list prepared by MoHA, some former AIGs have as many as three constables to perform household chores. Employing police personnel as domestic help by some influential individuals – from ministers to high-ranking police officials – has been a long-standing practice in Nepal. The practice of “keeping” police personnel, who are government employees, at homes for purposes other than security smacks of feudalistic tendencies, but it has continued despite opposition and criticism in the past.

There is no denying that the state should ensure security to former ministers and officials. And there is a process for that – if any former official faces a security threat, s/he may be entitled to cops as security guards through the concerned district administration officer. But it has come to light that former high-level officials request for police personnel on the pretext of security threat, but use them as cooks, drivers and attendants. There have been cases where security has been sought by some individuals who do not face any security threat. Recalling police personnel working as domestic help for former high-profile officials was part of MoHA’s home administration reforms plan. But if it fails to recall cops from former police officials’ homes, there is ample ground to doubt it could ever recall police personnel from the houses of former ministers who enjoy extensive political clout. How can be police personnel, who are paid by taxpayers’ money, deputed to serve as domestic help for a handful of so-called high-profile individuals? Home Minister Thapa should walk the talk and get his ministry to implement the directive issued a month ago. It should not be a tall order for MoHA, which is the line ministry of internal security agencies, to implement its own order of recalling orderlies from the houses of former top cops.

Useful scheme

The rainwater harvesting scheme can be one of the options to address water scarcity seen in public and community schools. Some public schools in rural areas have recently installed this system to provide enough water in toilets for maintaining cleanliness and personal hygiene. It is also used for drinking purpose after using purifier. Shree Indrayani Primary School and Ramkot Secondary School, both located in the Rupa Rural Municipality in Kaski district, are the two schools where rainwater collection plan have come into operation to supply water.

Rajendra Raj Bhattarai, principal of Shree Indrayani Primary School, said girls from Grade V to VIII and female teachers used to remain absent in classes during their periods due to scarcity of water facility in his school. Earlier, both the schools used to employ staff to fetch water. Bhattarai said the problem of girls and female teachers remaining absent during periods has been overcome with the provision of rainwater collection. This scheme can also be replicated in other schools in rural areas. The system is cost effective and it can be set up by local masons using local resources.