Government fails to deliver relief to people; runs under the grip of black marketers

Many people sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy with the hope that the country will move towards peace and prosperity, but the political parties, who are at the helm of power, have been running mobocracy in the name of democracy.

At a time when the price of petroleum products has been decreasing at record levels at the international level, Nepali customers have been forced to pay high prices. The state owned oil monopolist has been selling petroleum products at 10-12 rupees more per liter than the actual price. The Nepal Oil Corporation has been charging high prices from customers despite the government’s decision to auto adjust the prices of petroleum products in line with the international prices. However, the government has failed to take any action against the looting by the state owned organization. Earthquake affected people have been living a very miserable life but the government’s efforts for providing relief to them is very slow. According to a recent report, the government has only been able to spend around 13 percent development expenditure in eight months of the current fiscal year. All these incidents raise the pertinent question of whether there is government in the country. Yes, the government acted very actively to bring petroleum products from China ending the monopoly of India but the plan has now become defunct with the influence of Indian government.

Rather than improving, the situation of the country is getting worse every day with the political parties running only for the sake of power rather than working for the benefit of people. The political parties have been creating political syndicate in the country and blocking the progress of the country. The political syndicate starts from the grass-root level to top level, which is blocking the development process. The political parties have not even spared the Judiciary. Party cadres, who became a lawmaker representing some political parties, are in the process of becoming the Justices of the Supreme Court, which has the responsibility of annulling the decisions made by the legislature and executive. Rather than providing opportunity to deserving candidates, the political parties have been making appointments based on political affiliation. In a recent conversation, a senior government official said, “There is no chance of getting a good position based on your capacity if you are not affiliated with some political party, which has been discouraging many talents, which is counter-productive to the country in the long run.” His statement reflects how the country is being run at the moment. When KP Oli became the Prime Minister, he appointed most of his advisors from his home district Jhapa. Is it because they are really capable or the Prime Minister is repaying the price of their support. The hand-picked political cadres turned technocrats have been dancing at the tune of politicians rather than giving good direction to the country and national economy.

The government and political parties have been losing confidence of people as they are totally run for personal and partisan interests rather than for the interest of the country. There is anarchy in every sector and the government is losing its grip on crucial issues. For example, some businessmen arrested for creating artificial shortage during the period of blockade and charging high amounts have been released without further action taken against them. Recently police arrested two drug producers for selling drugs in high prices but they were released immediately. Most of the doctors serving at the government hospitals have been working in private institutions and the tragedy is that they put their name plate showing their affiliation at the government hospital but the government fails to initiate any action against them. Private clinics publicizes that a senior doctor or department head of government-owned hospitals like Bir Hospital or Teaching Hospital, also provides services at their clinic but the government is reluctant to make them accountable and also increase the quality of medical services. Some politicians do some publicity stunts but these are just ripples in the water. Current General Administration Minister Rekha Sharma is said to have a clean character but she is also involved in transfer and appointments of her close ones and relatives in lucrative areas.

The country is in serious crisis. Although the remittance sent by foreign workers is giving life to the national economy, all the economic indicators have been hinting at major crisis in the future. The commercial banks have been publicizing good results not because they have good health but because the Nepal Rastra Bank allowed them to cheat, the repercussion of the same could be seen in recent coming future. The central bank allowed the commercial banks to treat the loans whose installment were not paid since the earthquake period as good loans for six month against the provision that such loan should be provisioned. The government failed to mobilize the national economy by expediting development works as it is busy in political gambling rather than solving the pressing issues of the country.

The civil society is meanwhile divided based on political affiliation but the scenario is becoming really alarming, so this is the time to raise voices for correcting the wrongdoings of political parties and the government for the sake of the country. Recent money collected during IPOs of different companies show that Nepal does not lack money for its development; the only thing is that we lack a government which can create an environment of trust. Many NRNs have been expressing their interest for investing, and the only way this will bear fruit is if the government forms the environment of trust and political stability is maintained. It is imperative that all people should raise their voice against indecisiveness of the government and pressurize it to correct its course for the sake of the country.

(Editor’s note: How do you find this article? Please send your comment to editor@nepalekhabar.com. Please send your opinion/thoughts to us, we will provide suitable space for it.)