At present, there are various issues that need to be addressed such as poverty, political instability, unemployment, regional problems, etc. But, security has now become the biggest issue. Lately, public security has deteriorated. But this problem has not yet caught the attention of the political parties and other organisations concerned. Most surprisingly, the country has been running without a national security act so far. There is no national security policy.

In Nepal, security concept automatically means the role of the army alone. In reality, national security policy guides a country’s foreign policy, border security, economic and natural resources. The US is guided by National Security Policy 1947 and India by National Security Policy 1980. In Australia, a campaign on national security was conducted from 2004 to 2006. Video spots, radio and television programmes were used to generate awareness about national security. A country’s national concerns are guided by the security policy. Even media all over the world cannot go beyond their country’s security policy. Public security is also guided by national security.

At present, the morale of the Nepal Police is at its lowest. The law and order situation is completely lacking. The police cannot do anything if anyone is attacked by a person carrying a weapon. Moreover, police are eyewitnesses to incidents of Maoists’ beating and abduction. The responsibility or the role of police carries no meaning if some political party or some group handles incidents of beating or kidnapping and takes action against the culprits. The present situation is such that the police are aware of what is happening but they are not able to take any measures. The public has gradually lost their confidence in the police. The fact that many localities have hired security guards proves this.

The police have their own problems. Political intervention has lowered the morality of the police force. There is a major dissatisfaction over promotion and transfer in the police administration. Firstly, it is very strange that the home minister takes over the responsibility of promotions and transfers. This should actually be handed over to an independent Police Service Commission or to a similar body. But, unfortunately, we do not have one. When the issue of promotion in the police arises, lists of names reach the pockets of the leaders of various parties in power. In this situation, the police do not become a ‘force’ but mere loyal security workers to party leaders.

Besides, public security is not incorporated in the agenda of the political parties. How will the constituent assembly (CA) be formed if the present security situation continues to be the same? What are the mechanisms that need to be adopted during the CA polls for people to experience total security? These issues have not been discussed or raised. Thus there is an immediate need to develop a national security policy and to boost the morale of the security forces to uplift the present precarious security situation.