High Hopes From Govt

Along with the oath taking, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has given shape to the eight-member preliminary cabinet comprising three deputy prime ministers and four ministers. Deputy Prime Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has been entrusted with the responsibility of Finance Ministry while Deputy Prime Minister Narayan Kaji Shrestha holds the portfolio of Physical Infrastructure and Transport. Likewise Deputy Prime Minister Rabi Lamichhane has been allotted the Home Ministry portfolio. Portfolios of the rest of the four ministers were not fixed at the oath taking ceremony with the announcement that their portfolios would be determined later. Wider consultations held in the meeting of the ruling coalition members will reach will come up with decision on additional ministers and their portfolios. The new prime minister has to listen to the aspirations of the coalition partners and take accommodative move to give full, if not final, shape to the cabinet. 

There should be no delays to arrive at such decisions because the resultant void will affect the government services to be provided to the people. The nation faces many challenges, especially those created by COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis. Prompt decisions from the government can make a difference to tackle the tricky problems facing the nation and boost the morale of the people. Though the current economic problems are global in nature, wise decisions taken on time can solve the nation-specific problems. At a time when nations are hit hard by inflation and recession, Nepal can focus on attaining food security, import substitution and energy self-sufficiency with improved supply and export exploration of hydropower. 

Of course, the new government faces a number of challenges at this crucial juncture when public aspirations are naturally high. Addressing these challenges calls for prudence, patience, efficiency and hard work. The challenging time also offers the government opportunities to be innovative, discard the old and useless ways and come up with radical shift in policies and programmes. In the very first cabinet meeting held just after the oath taking ceremony on Monday, the government has decided to focus its attention on controlling the revenue leakage, speed up the country’s economic activities and give the public a sense of change and security. 

The first cabinet meeting has also taken a decision to expedite the services of various government offices that directly affect the concerns and problems of the public like distribution of driving license, citizenship certificates, e-passports and national identity cards. Breaking the tradition, the media people were briefed about the decisions of this meeting. In essence, the meeting has not limited itself in formality but has taken decisions that touch upon the daily lives of the common people. Besides taking concrete measures towards economic recovery, it also vital to keep the masses safe and immune from the resurgence threat of the corona virus. 

Heading a coalition government, the Prime Minister has the challenge of taking the entire partners into confidence so that the top executive team of the nation can devote itself for the service of the people. The new government is expected to establish the rule of law, good governance and zero tolerance on corruption. To do that, the government should be ready to take bold actions and flatly refuse to give in to the selfish and self-centric demands of different interest groups.