Danish ambassador to Nepal, Finn Thilsted’s commitment on Monday to provide Rs 2 billion — Rs 0.5 billion as direct support for the peace process and Rs 1.5 billion for continuation of activities on rural energy — is indeed a good news. The ambassador has rightly hailed the “tremendous change” and the way “progress is being made” after the political change, improvement in security situation, and the recently signed 25-point code of conduct between the government and the Maoists, which “should be implemented for a better Nepal.” He, however, labelled the present scenario as “fragile recovery” before peace and stability are completely restored. He also said that it would be a “good signal” if the UN is involved in the peace process that has “just begun” but he has not stopped short of warning of the “challenges ahead.” Like a true friend, Denmark, a major donor in Nepal’s education sector, has assured assistance in promoting projects, especially in the education and environment sectors even as the political support and economic cooperation is to continue as is. As one of the poor countries in South Asia bogged down with “bad governance”, Thilsted hoped that the new government would take all necessary steps to institutionalise good governance. As Danes are happy to have a queen in their country, in similar vein, the envoy wanted the Nepalis to decide for themselves the fate of the institution of monarchy.

There is no question Nepal is now faced with a mammoth task of nation-building, for which obviously it needs the reassurance and support of its friends. A number of countries from near home and overseas have already pledged their support for the gigantic task of national reconstruction. Though there will not be any dearth of funds, what is actually needed is the will and honesty to gainfully channelise the foreign aid to the intended beneficiaries. Funds will have no meaning if they didn’t translate into plausible material benefits for the people.

Past experience testifies to the fact that some manipulative politicians, fraudulent non-governmental agencies and so-called do-gooders have found it convenient to exploit and embezzle public funds. Any mindset to block transparency and accountability on the part of the state and the private sector, has to be banished because the public has a right to know who is giving how much money to whom and for what purpose. The onus now rests with the government to come up with procedures that can keep a check on the credibility and effectiveness of the agencies concerned. The citizenry, too, has to be more alert to track down the corrupt and bring them to book. Disillusionment, at this juncture, should not by any means be allowed to flourish. Now is the time to rebuild the nation — brick by brick.