By Deepak Joshi Pokhrel
Just last week, a local vernacular newspaper in Butwal covered news related to corruption as a result of poor governance at the local level. The story highlighted how every sector has been beset by poor governance giving rise to rampant corruption. It also exposed how our leaders and disreputable traders work behind the curtain to earn quick money breeding corruption. Unfortunately, we do not dare to raise our voices against such malpractices that have been infesting our society since time immemorial.
Corruption as a result of poor governance has not been an unusual phenomenon in Nepal. It has remained an integral part – be it government or non-government institution. In plain words, it has been ingrained deep in our psyche and society. Despite this, we have not been able to improve our governance in combating rampant corruption.
When we talk about corruption as a result of poor governance, we cannot afford to ignore our health system. If media reports are any guide, our health system is in a dire stage. The government-run hospitals are overwhelmed, understaffed and underfunded. The doctors who are deployed at the government hospital and who are supposed to serve the poor and marginalized people are seen attending the patient at their clinics or hospitals. They are not accountable to people and as a result, people cannot avail of the constitutionally guaranteed health facilities. The posh hospitals are beyond the reach of common folks in terms of cost. What is worrisome is the fact that these hospitals are reported for their involvement in financial irregularities and negligence on the part of the doctors which often lead to the death of patients. Amidst this paradoxical stage, people have to rely on their fate saying it is a usual business and we have to accept the way it is.
It is also an open secret that our politicians either own the big private hospitals or have major stakes in them. They earn more money operating it illegally on the cloak of one party or the other. In such hospitals, doctors and non-medical practitioners are appointed based on their political connections and not on their academic credentials. What generally matters is their connectivity with political heavyweights. One should not expect better services from these select doctors.
There are reports in the media that many traders in Kathmandu valley manufacture sub-standard medicine let alone the situation in rural areas. If such products would sneak into the market, people will be duped. The poor governance and negligence on the part of the concerned authority have only encouraged these wrongdoers to engage in such malpractice playing with the health of commoners.
Poor governance is not just limited to our health system. There are other areas as well. Take the example of our shops and groceries operating across the country. As per the media report, they sell sub-standard and outdated goods. One step further, they charge more than what has been prescribed by the government. No one understands why such irregularities exist and blacklists are not held. The answer to this question is very simple. The traders and politicians work behind the curtain and wrongdoers will not be held even if we complain about such malpractices.
This is not to say that the government of the day has not taken action against the wrongdoers. It has. But sadly, the government becomes active during festive seasons and launches massive crackdowns on them while remaining just a mute spectator throughout the year.
The construction companies have a similar tale to tell. The politicians in the guise of the contractors have been bidding and winning the contract through a backdoor approach. The result. The quality of the outcome is far below standard. The poor quality of the road within the valley limits is just the representative of such outcomes. There are several across the country. If the woman in labor pain is to be taken to the hospital, she will deliver the baby on the way due to the heavy jerking of the vehicle. If such is the case of roads within the valley, let alone the road beyond the valley.
As a sign of dissatisfaction, we often see people mocking the government for planting the paddy on the muddy highway. The question is why the government fails to fill the potholes and improve the quality of the road. They also ask why the road needs to be repaired every year. Why road should not have self-defined life. Neither the leaders who claim to speak on our behalf are concerned about this problem nor do local authorities take the issues seriously.
It seems we are the most submissive, passive and compliant folk on this planet. We are not bothered about corruption and abuse of authority as a result of poor governance. Likewise, we are also not concerned about our rights and entitlements when they are violated. We must caution the public authority when they intend to shy away from their responsibilities under various alibis. We have to stand up and speak against when our constitutionally guaranteed rights and entitlements are denied by these select politicians.
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