Just visualize the PM’s official residence at Baluwatar. Indeed, the image could be beautiful, attractive, eye catching, clean and clear as is central.

Contrary to all your expectations, the residence is neither attractive

nor spick and span. It has a very wide area coverage, however, it is ill-managed and dirty.

Some days ago, when Indian Minister for External Affairs SM Krishna called on PM Madhav Kumar Nepal at Baluwatar, many journalists were waiting outside the residence to catch Minister Krishna. The waiting journalists, did not have any other task than gossips and walking around.

Suddenly, our eyes reached to the windows of a main building where the PM was having the meeting with his guest. We noticed the windows to be very soiled with layers of dust which disfigured the whole building. We thought that there was no one to keep the PM’s office clear of dust. It proves how we are indifferent to keep our residence clean in order to give a good impression to our guests. Even the garden in the premise is not well-managed. Similarly, some time back, journalists were waiting for the arrival of CPN-UML chairman Jhala Nath Khanal from his India trip. Many senior UML leaders were waiting at the VIP room of Tribhuvan International Airport to welcome him. Suddenly, UML leader Keshav Badal’s eyes came to focus on the sofa covers there. The covers were filthy and predictably not laundered since many months. This state of affairs annoyed the UML leaders. To get things started, they decided to provide a packet of detergent powder to the management to hammer home the message of keeping the important arrival and departure area clean, not only the sofa covers.

We ourselves felt ashamed that the place at TIA where countless international guests meet the media persons was in such a deplorable condition.. What impression would they get seeing the ill-managed room and the lack of any signs of cleanliness? The image is bound to suffer.

These are but two typical examples of places where international high-level guests frequently visit. The other government offices also reflect the same story. Had the buildings and the premises been private property, matters would have been different or rather on the brighter side, but public ones seem to be no one’s business.