Making it large

As reforms and modifications, additions and omissions are a regular part of the governmental functions, the sixth expansion of the Council of

Ministers has been effected to meet the growing

need to make it more inclusive. Though there may be criticisms based on the fact that the "already jumbo cabinet" will only burden the taxpayers' pockets rather than any benefits accruing. But, this from another angle may seem to be an instant response. However, Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal knows what is best for his cabinet, when mooting over the delivery part is taken into consideration.

It is true that the country is already passing

through a critical phase in its political journey when progress on the mandated tasks are nowhere to be seen. Whether it is the constitution drafting work or the forward movement of the peace process, this government has not been able to make its presence felt even as a facilitator for getting the UCPN (Maoist) to relent and allow the House to continue work normally. It also has not been able to provide the leeway that is of utmost importance in getting the august House resume work in earnest. Herein, it must also be remembered that 22 political parties in the Constituent Assembly (CA) have a stake in the government. The fallout is naturally the induction of members from them to keep the coalition unshaken by possible removal of support from any one of them. This itself is enough to suggest the balancing trick that the prime minister has to resort to so that it can reflect a semblance of political stability in the midst of all the troubles that have continued creating a sense of uncertainty at times when a concrete path has to be in place.

In the backdrop, the honeymoon period is over for the Nepal-led government. With the theoretically

demarcated time over, it might give reason for

PM Nepal to pick up pace to get going in the

direction that had justified his elevation to the

high office. With the UCPN (Maoist) not in a

mood to listen to anything, either to be a part

of the government or to withdraw their obstruction of the House business, the move ahead will

have to be extra orchestrated if the results are to be in tune with the post-CA aspirations of the people.

In this respect, the larger the cabinet is does not

necessarily mean a streamlined and efficient

work culture, but the constraints under which PM Nepal is working has also to be understood. Yet, it leaves everyone bemused.

The people seem to have become tired of the

antics of the political parties that see meaning only in their partisan interests which are rather narrow for any defining purpose. Yet, the democratic culture thrives on it, and that is taking place. The belief that the more parties that participate the greater will be the enduring outcome is yet to be substantiated. Instead of the people getting the benefits, life has become more difficult in recent days. Neither the government nor any of the individual parties have been able to touch the right chord for the suffering people like the diarrhoea-hit in Jajarkot, or the flood-affected in the Terai. Based on these, the people cannot find any solace in the cabinet expansion.

Nursing wounds

After the doctors' strike at Bir Hospital, it is the nurses now who have emulated the doctors by striking. There can be no doubt that some of the demands put forth by the agitating nurses are genuine, including the ongoing political intervention at health institutions. The strike of the nurses has brought to a standstill all health services, barring the emergency services, at both private and government hospitals. The doctors are now compelled to double up as nurses, which is a tough call for them. The doctors have always depended on the nurses to see to it that the patients take the required prescribed medicines, and provide assistance.

Since the doctors', and then the nurses' strikes have virtually crippled essential health services, it is high time that something was done about it. There is a provision which does not permit those providing essential services to strike, but this rule seems to have been flouted. These types of strikes could invite anarchy in the country. In any case, as is frequently the case, the government usually gives in to the demands. So, why doesn't the government act with speed to look into the grievances to set things right.