Ease Service Delivery

After assuming office, Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda has constantly been calling for good governance, corruption control and effective service delivery so that the people feel positive change in their daily life. It is natural for commoners to expect the fulfilment of basic services from the new administration. Political instability, soaring inflation, unemployment and economic hardships have made their life difficult. Bearing in mind the people’s problems, the new government is putting its best foot forward to address their woes. On Tuesday, PM Prachanda issued a 30-point directive to the government secretaries, asking them to provide effective and efficient services to the people. 

According to the news report published in this daily, he instructed them to deliver efficient and hassle-free services in the basic areas such as education, health, transportation, issuance of passports, driving licenses and national ID cards and submission of the property tax. Prior to giving directives to the government secretaries, the Prime Minister listened to the progress achieved in different sectors as well as challenges that have hindered in implementing the government programmes and projects. With the installation of the new government, it is the duty of the bureaucracy and government mechanisms to support it whole-heartedly for it has fresh mandate to meet the people's aspirations. The success of the new regime largely hinges on the commitment and performance of the civil servants considered the permanent government. 

The creation of three-tier government aims to effectively cater services to the people. More than five years have elapsed since the implementation of federalism but the people's desires of getting public services without any hindrance have not been realised. In his 30-point instruction, the Prime Minister has clearly focused on public service delivery and timely completion of development projects having direct impacts on the life of the people. There is a reason not to be satisfied with the delivery of basic services to the people. The PM pulled no punches when he said, "There are news reports that people have to stand in long queues from 2:00 am in the morning to get their passports. If the pace of the national identity card distribution remains as it is today, it will take decades for all citizens to get it. One has to wait for years to get driving license. While paying monthly taxes, one has to face hassles and stand in long queues. ” 

The new government needs to take measures to improve the financial administration to boost development expenditure and raise revenues as per the set target. Poor capital spending has left many vital projects in limbo. It has become necessary to recruit competent human resources at the provincial and local levels so as to implement federal system based on the principle of self and shared rule of the people. The upcoming parliamentary session should deliberate on and approve the federal civil law to this end. 

The Prime Minister has sought concrete outcomes on the reduction of road accidents, crimes and settlement of the cases related to loan sharks within the next three months. It is high time the political and bureaucratic leadership work in tandem to meet public expectations. If the impediments lie at policy level, the bureaucracy should come up with reform proposals to overcome the legal and structural issues. But there should not be ifs and buts when it comes to implementing the PM's instruction.