Less than two weeks after taking office, the Baburam government launched an ambitious relief program on Friday,among large media presence at Singhadurbar. At a time when the work on constitution drafting has been sluggish due to dispute on the peace process, it may justify the government change but it cannot avert the inevitable danger and disappointment at the end of the extended period.
Among many things, the relief program promises increase in the supply of basic consumer goods even during festivals, effective monitoring to curb black marketing and adulteration and control on inflation. One may argue that most of the declared provisions in the program are quintessentially, part of a day-to-day government service delivery. So what is there to be relieved about?
“It has been months now that I have had to pay extra to the shopkeeper to keep milk packets for me,” says Chitraman Shrestha of Sankhamul, who was pleasantly surprised to see whole box of milk packets in front of the shop this morning. The shopkeeper expressed her relief. “Many of my customers are angry with me. I am glad that I don’t have to ration milk packets for selective few anymore.”
This is just a small example that things could be lot better for commoners, if not for the lack of initiative on the part of unwilling authorities. The shutting down and sealing of shops selling sub-standard food products all over the country has on one hand deterred adulterated and unhygienic food supply, and on the other hand established, under clear direction, the government agencies can respond to public needs quickly.
While interacting with the media, PM Bhattarai said “Bureaucracy is a weapon, if used effectively it can become a tool for change. If not, it can cause more harm than good.”
Among other provisions in the program, increased security along the highways will make travelling much safer, while easy supply of MRPs from districts within a month will save thousands for people who make long and expensive journey to Kathmandu. The easy supply of fertilisers and access to loans, if implemented immediately will help to address food deficit this season and bring down food imports.
The political parties are so engrossed bargaining on political brownies that they undermine the importance of little policy initiatives that can substantially ease lives of many. It was not surprising, even on Friday, the parties made only selective comments about number and modalities of integration and seized properties. It matters little to them that stinking garbage in the streets are spreading disease and shortage of long route bus tickets during festivals force people to pay double in the black market.
The younger leaders are disappointed with the way their seniors have handled the transition so far. A young Madhesi leader told us, “Political support and opposition must be based on capability and performance, but in our case personal and party’s interest override national interest.”
The anarchy within the Maoists, the political blackmailing of NC, the dubious nature of UML and rigidity of the Madhesi parties is not only delaying the peace process and constitution drafting, it is weakening the governance which hits hard on everyday lives of the people.
The culture of divisive and sectarian politics has replaced politics of consensus, the mandate of the April movement and which still is the only way to ensure speedy end to protracted limbo. If there is no visible progress on the peace process and constitution drafting in the next one month, the opposition will share as much blame as the government, given their politically calculated move to stay in the opposition. Probably, even more.
Anurag Acharya