Concluding tj govt priority: Minister Sharma

The current government led by Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ completes 100 days in office on Tuesday. Despite the fact that 100 days are not very long time, the government has made notable progress and achievements in economic recovery, trend setting of good governance, speeding up of development works, easing of service delivery to the people and addressing of people’s grievances. The government that has accorded topmost priority to social justice, good governance and prosperity has focused its time, energy and attention on the promotion of national interests. 

In this regard, Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma talked to Purushottam P. Khatri of The Rising Nepal at her office in Singha Durbar Monday evening. Sharma, who is also the spokesperson for the government, said that the government has made significant achievements on the fronts of service delivery, formulation of essential laws and measures towards ensuring means of daily livelihoods to the common people. “Transitional justice and peace process have also been on the list of government’s priority”, Minister Sharma said. Excerpts of the interview: 

The government is completing its 100 days in office on Tuesday. As the spokesperson, how do you assess the performance of the government these days? 

The government during its initial phase of the formation has become able to send a positive message that it will focus all its attention on fulfilling the daily necessity and aspiration of the public. This government has instilled hope among the people that it will certainly do something in the interest of the public, and this is one of our major achievements. 

Simultaneously, when the Prime Minister assumed the office as executive head of the government, the Prime Minister has given high importance to the issue that are directly connected to the public. Specially, the Prime Minister has given special focus on service delivery like ending the queue system to receive passports and citizenship. Similarly, the Prime Minister has raised the issue of the formulation of necessary laws that have been stalled for long. 

Within these days, the political system took a different course and the Prime Minister had to seek vote of confidence for the second time. Despite having these difficult situations, the Prime Minister and his Cabinet has obviously done some visible works. 

The initially formed government had to be changed when the Prime Minister wanted to forge national consensus but that could not happen before the election of the President. 

The government within these days had also done some works that are linked to the daily livelihood of the general people like increasing the price of unprocessed milk of the farmers, fixing the minimum price of wheat and sugarcane and lately, the government has inked a five-point agreement to address the problem of loan shark victims by deciding to form a commission. 

The government has also decided to conduct tele-medicine treatment system to the Nepali migrant workers abroad.  The economic situation which was in crisis, has now witnessed an improvement. 

The government has intensified work in the formulation of necessary laws. The main priorities of the government are to address the transitional justice and conclude the peace process.  We will very soon take these issues forward from the federal parliament. The government has almost given final touch to formulate federal education and civil servant Acts. 

 How do you list the achievement of the government on the basis of priority?  

I have already mentioned you many works that have been performed by the government.  The works related to the formulation of federal laws, transitional justice and peace process are major prioritised works of the government. 

Similarly, service delivery is another prioritised work. The government is effortful to make the service delivery of every ministry and its units more effective. The government is facilitating to end the inter-ministerial misunderstanding and lack of coordination and bureaucratic hassles. 

Some development projects which has to be given momentum have also been kept in high priority of the government. A good spirit has been developed among the ministers of the Cabinet representing different parties to take all these issue ahead.  

Generally, the first 100 days of a government are regarded as obstacle free. What challenges did the government face during this period?

 I have already given some hints to this regard. Mainly, the government had to face the political challenge within these 100 days. 

The government had to seek vote of confidence for two times in the federal parliament. There had not been a situation to work in the constant rhythm. Obliviously, there were disturbances. 

Still some critical issues are awaiting solution, and the present government has understanding that national consensus is required to address them. For example, we need consensus to formulate some laws immediately. 

Political equation changed within the honeymoon period. Did this affect the performance of the government?

There was no disruption from any sector to take this government ahead, but there was some disturbance due to change in the coalition. The Prime Minister had to shoulder the responsibility of 16 additional portfolios. But in policy and theoretical wise, nothing as such has come to a halt. The newly formed coalition government has almost got its full shape. The government is in mood to go ahead developing good spirit among the ministers. Now, a situation has arisen in which all the ministers has agreed to catch the spirit of the Prime Minister to work for public wellbeing.  

The election-time coalition has now been revived. Can we hope that this is going to ensure stability in the nation?

Yes, you have raised a good issue. Mainly, before the election, one coalition was formed and that was formed to safeguard the constitution. Had the House of Representatives not been  dissolved repeatedly, that coalition led by the Nepali Congress would not have been formed. We also joined that coalition. And today, after the election to the President, the coalition had been revived again. What I personally think is that this is natural and should be taken naturally. 

 The policy and programme of the government for the next FY budget is under formulation.  Can we expect anything new in it? 

The government has to intensify the preparations for drafting the government’s policies and programme for the new fiscal budget. The government has no excuse to set a separate timeline to make preparations for the new fiscal budget. Despite the limitation of the financial sources, the government is preparing to bring out the best outcome from the limited budget. Despite limited financial source, the government must think of some new programmes in the upcoming budget. 

What are the priority areas of the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology?

The ministry had recently launched a system to bring uniformity in all the government websites and its monitoring provision. There is a need of law that governs the media sector. The ministry is preparing to amend some media laws. The government has also formed technical committee to resolve the problem seen in the telecommunication for its long term solution. This committee will soon submit report to the Ministry. The government is also working seriously to implement the programmes as envisaged by Digital Nepal Framework project. 

What measures have been taken to strengthen the cyber security?

We are currently under discussion regarding one cyber security policy. It needs to be taken to the Cabinet for endorsement. We have no cyber security act today. We should move ahead after issuing separate cyber security act. 

A debate has begun to address public grievances through the creation of a ‘Rapid Force’? What is the government’s preparation in this regard?

The Ministry has recently held serious discussions. The Prime Minister himself has publicly spoken about this issue of forming one rapid task force. This force will take the issue to address the problems seen in the development projects and infrastructure. However, no concreate decision to this regard has been made yet.