By L.D. Pulami
Voices are being heard in almost all quarters about the inefficiency of the government and the apathy of the political leaders in working for the welfare of the citizens who voted them into power. When they have failed to work in resolving the problems being faced by the general people, it is almost useless to talk about what vision they have about the country itself.
They have no vision or plans to take the nation in the right direction and give the people a sense of security and well-being.
From the by-election in the Ilam district to the much-hyped foreign investment summit held in Kathmandu recently, the government seems to have done not much except the fact that these events were accomplished and discussions are still being held between the supporters and the detractors of these two programmes. But the question still persists as to how much time, manpower and money was spent on these exercises, which the government is still boasting of being as ‘resounding’ successes.
Meanwhile, the government and all the political parties don’t seem to be least bothered about the hardships the nation is facing politically, financially, and socially and the people are living in an insecure environment.
There is such a fluid political situation that even the top-ranking leaders in the alliance that is running the government and also those in the opposition parties, have no inkling about what is going to happen next.
This is not what the people participated in the elections and voted for these leaders to be members of the parliament and ministers. Actually political leaders should be making appropriate laws, keep the government on its toes and look into the major problems which are ailing the nation and the people. But no, even in this fluid and insecure environment, the political leaders who were supposed to lead the nation down the right path, are only concentrated on getting to power and squabbling among themselves.
The political parties are not only at loggerheads with one another, but simmering differences are being seen within almost all the major political parties which could have a say in either making or breaking the government. Some parties have even split just because the leaders have ambitious expectations for themselves and not for any political ideology.
It is being said in mockery that many of the voters in the provinces do not know the name of the chief minister in their own province. Naturally, such a situation in the provinces is a direct fallout of the differences among the political leaders at the federal level. Sadly, some cunning politicians are only interested in forming the government or becoming ministers and are actually not bothered about the poor state in which the country is in. They simply have no time to think about the more serious issues troubling the nation and the people in general who are finding it hard to just make daily ends meet.
The three major parties in the federal parliament and also many up-start young parties, including the much talked about Nepal Swatantra Party, are talking about their ‘mission’ for the next general election scheduled to be held in the Nepali year of 2084 BS. They seem to forget that what the people and the nation need is action from the government right now, to resolve the problems of the country in almost all sectors. Be it in having a stable government at the central level and in the provinces, good health services, better education, a robust economy and better relations with all the countries of the world, mainly with the two giant and ideologically different neighbours that Nepal is surrounded by, the people want to see results as soon as possible and not wait for another three long years.
It is also a sad factor that thousands of skilled and unskilled Nepali citizens are working in many countries around the world, just to escape from poverty and the unstable political situation back home. Some have even gone to dangerous areas only to earn money. It is a shame that the government wants to send more youths to foreign countries, instead of giving them better opportunities here, rather than leaving the country for good as it happens to be in most cases. Right now, it is said that the country is being run economically by the remittance sent by Nepali workers abroad. As an expert said in a TV talk programme, ‘no country in the world has been able to develop by depending on such wage earners who are working in dangerous, dirty and pathetic work conditions’ in different parts of the world.
Also, youths going abroad for studies cost the nation much and it also loses a lot of skilled manpower who seek to go abroad to work while the country needs their services more.
But the government seems to be not worried at all by such developments which have put Nepal way behind other countries and thus it has to go around seeking foreign aid even for its ‘projects of national glory’. Not only has the general expenses in the budget increased tremendously in comparison to its development budget, but it also has to borrow funds from international financial institutions like the World Bank, and IMF and better-developed countries who want to help Nepal. It is further disheartening that such funds are used for paying the salaries and perks of the parliamentarians at the federal and provincial levels, and also for many other unproductive sectors like buying expensive SUVs for almost all the ministers and top officials in different government institutions and the administration as well. If such a trend persists for long, not only the country will see its economy in tatters and further worsen the woes of the masses, but it will also lose skilled and strong manpower so much needed by the country.
For now, all we can do is just pray that some sense will come to the political leaders and other decision-makers or be mute witnesses in the downfall of this once naturally blessed country which was sovereign in all ways and not only in the false slogans of the corrupt leaders who are ready to sell their souls for personal gains.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect People’s Review’s editorial stance.
Login to add a comment