Anything goes kind of classical governmental mentality has landed us in the present state of affairs
KATHMANDU, NOVEMBER 21
The country is looking forward to receiving the new government that enjoys a new people's mandate like an anxious mum waiting to welcome her new born baby. The people are really frustrated with the performance of the past governments as they were barely concerned about the delivery of services to the people. This feeling has been projected in the mushrooming of independent candidates. It was also reflected in the victory of independent candidates in the capital city Kathmandu and a few others in the local election.
But the government barely listened to the genuine sufferings of the people, and that was the reason why the governing coalition has been alleged for its dismal performance.
People have a huge expectation from the new government.
If the new government also emulates its predecessors, then the future of the country will be hitting a serious political pothole. It may put the existing polity at risk seeking the return of the king and the Hindu kingdom as has been echoed very prominently in this election as well.
The governments formed following the national poll in the past have generally made a mark in the political history. The government led by B P Koirala had a host of new plans and programmes, which were emulated by the following Panchayat democracy until it breathed its last in 1990. The government steered by Girija Prasad Koirala also introduced a series of reformatory measures, which generated a wave of private initiatives in Nepal. The government escorted by Mana Mohan Adhikari also introduced a series of social packages like providing an allowance to the senior citizens.
It is only afterwards that the newly-elected governments began to lose direction.
The short-lived government piloted by Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and later Girija Prasad Koirala was in the midst of the People's War waged by the Maoists with the result that nothing substantive could be achieved. The People's War assumed such an alarming proportion that the following governments were almost paralysed. Some semblance of stability was seen only after the signing of the Peace agreement between the state and the rebels.
This was the time when the other countries in the region, such as neighbouring India and China, had made a giant stride towards development. China scaled a dizzy height of prosperity, making it a second economic power only to the United States or even first when measured against purchasing power parity.
India on the other hand continued to make a comparatively slow but steady progress, with the result that it is a factor to reckon with in any international equations at the present.
But Nepal sandwiched between these two prospering nations could not make a notable mark with the solitary exception of continuing to survive economically when the regional mate Sri Lanka collapsed dramatically.
It is against this backdrop that the incoming government has to take the business more seriously and not as usual. The problems may appear gigantic but if faced with sincerity, the solutions are not that complicated.
For example, the government could begin with the marginal reduction of the oil price. Its cost in the international market has already come down, but it has not happened so in our country in order to reduce the loss incurred since time immemorial.
People will feel a huge relief if the new government can reduce the cost of the fuel marginally.
The second change that can be introduced with ease is the cleanliness of public institutional precincts.
Often one comes across unkempt, untidy and rather dirty government offices, of which the international airport is a glaring example. A clean environment can be quickly created without much effort.
The other area that the new government can intervene is certainly speeding up service delivery in the public institutions, which operate in a speed slower than a snail's pace. The introduction of the online system can dramatically reduce the sufferings of the people that can be seen in the labyrinthine long queues. It may not bring relief to the digitally disadvantaged people, but at least the people who have digital capability can take benefit from this move. The system of phoning first and then only visiting the office also will bring respite to the people. This will prevent unnecessary waiting and the frustration to have to return home without the accomplishment of the work.
An intervention in the public transport will bring rapid comfort to the people.
If only the public transport could be made regular, timely and comfortable, people will not use their motorcycles and cars that are seen in myriads in number. One lane could be devoted to public vehicles along the Ring Road with paid cycles available to go to the city core. For the senior citizens, babies and their mums, electric vehicles could be made to run instead of bicycles. Bus night service was in operation, but it was stopped when there were good reasons to continue it with more regularity.
Education is another area that needs to be addressed immediately. In fact, our educational institutes are run without training.
Actually, the academic year should begin with the training of teachers regarding teaching techniques with the preparation of the lesson plan. Classroom teaching should be observed in order to ensure uniformity and to see whether teaching is being conducted as described in the training. The focus should be on average students, and it should be ensured that the students go home only after learning what is taught in the classroom.
Hospitals are also begging for proper intervention.
The crowding in some hospitals and vacancy in the others are indicative of impropriety.
Anything goes kind of classical governmental mentality has landed us in the present state of affairs.
But this state can be dramatically improved by introducing sincere and honest efforts. The new government has the option of either to perform or perish, which it should realise before occupying the hot seat of governance.
A version of this article appears in the print on November 22, 2022 of The Himalayan Times.
