By Ankit Thapa
Virtually the whole world knows by now that devastating floods have struck parts of Nepal. Prime Minister Balen Shah has said there should be climate justice across the world if such calamities are to be stopped.
Smaller countries like Nepal and other impoverished nations have suffered disproportionately because of the carelessness and childish manner in which developed nations have dealt with this dangerous threat to the entire world, making matters worse.
The casualties and physical destruction were immense for this country. As we have already mentioned above, Prime Minister Balen Shah has to make a strong impact on what Nepal had to go through during this disaster, which many experts now say was linked to global climate change. We have seen many other incidents caused by global warming, largely driven by developed nations, but poorer countries like Nepal have to suffer the consequences.
For example, there has been a drastic change in the weather pattern in Nepal itself, which was once relatively balanced. All this has changed now. People even in Kathmandu, which has one of the best climates in the world, are starting to suffer from extreme heat as well as severe cold at different times of the year.
This time, many people, including Prime Minister Balen Shah, have highly praised the role of security personnel in rescuing people and providing relief when the disaster occurred. This author also agrees that security personnel showed great bravery while carrying out their duties in different affected areas. Many also lost their lives. Such sacrifices by security personnel must be appreciated by all. They worked at different locations to save the lives of innocent people while being unaware of the dangers they themselves faced.
While this is the good part of the story of the security forces doing their work, there are also many complaints about their rude behaviour at normal times. These things are often taken for granted by the people in general. But at this opportune moment, this writer would also like to repeat what he has said many times before: government units, including the security forces, must be a permanent feature of the state. They should not be activated only during disasters but should have permanent divisions that remain ready at all times, no matter what type of natural disaster occurs.
Members of such forces should be trained throughout the year and provided with good equipment and adequate safety measures for the rescuers themselves. We know that every catastrophe cannot be handled by rescuers alone. In the disaster that occurred very recently, the nation witnessed the deaths of many rescuers, especially those belonging to the security forces. If possible, such tragedies should be prevented if the government is more alert and prepared.
We should not underestimate the huge corruption that takes place while distributing relief funds. Sadly, much of such assistance does not reach the real victims but is instead pocketed by those who are supposed to use it for relief. There are thousands of representatives and agents of different countries who have shown sympathy for the Nepalese people. But some individuals, while distributing only a small portion of the assistance provided by outsiders, actually keep much of the funds for themselves. In this context, it is good that Prime Minister Balen Shah has decided that funds should be channelled only through the Prime Minister’s Relief Fund to avoid corruption. But it is sad that many agencies are not obeying this decision and, instead of providing relief to the people, are using the funds for their own benefit.
Now, when Prime Minister Balen Shah talks to a wide spectrum of top-level leaders attending the United Nations General Assembly, he must make sure that he has the right people around him who are well versed in Nepal’s problems and can provide him with good advice. The writer of the speech that Balen will deliver to the august assembly should not only make an emphatic presentation but also be able to strongly convince the other leaders present about Nepal’s current woes and the difficult times the Nepalese people are going through.
This was something that a few other leaders in the past, particularly the former kings, used to do. As we have mentioned previously, the late King Mahendra was perhaps the best at this task. Instead of only blaming leaders such as the former kings, it would be better if the present generation of leaders learned from some of these policies and worked to make the country better instead of merely quarrelling among themselves.
What Prime Minister Balen Shah has said about global climate justice is a pragmatic decision to send a message to the entire world about how an impoverished nation like Nepal, which also has difficult terrain, suffers because of the wrongdoings of foreign countries as well as corruption among local officials. This is something that an honest leader like Balen Shah must stop if he does not want to see his image tarnished by the acts of corrupt political leaders and officials.
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