The 30-minute long address that began at 7.15 p.m. touched upon nearly all the problems that have surfaced and the prime minister expressed the government´s determination to address each one of these.
- Dowry abolition from next week
- Banda, chakkajam and vandalism against spirit of the peace process
- Ministers asked to end nepotism
- Brokers to be barred from entering government offices
- An hour break for government office staffs
- Recommendations of past commissions, including that of Rayamajhi Commission, to be implemented
While warning that the country will slide into the cycle of war unless the people´s grievances are duly addressed, he said "logical integration" of the two armies and writing of an inclusive new constitution should be completed to avoid another conflict. He also called on one and all at home and abroad to participate and contribute to the constitution-making process with open heart.
PM Dahal made two mentions of the culture of banda (general shutdown) and anarchy growing in recent times and said the government would take firm steps to end these.
He pledged to ban dowry within a week as well.
The PM´s address comes amidst growing, and somewhat nasty, debate about the fate of the Maoist combatants and increasing banda by various groups on all kinds of pretext in different parts of the country.
In his second televised address to the nation since taking of the highest executive office on August 18, PM Dahal admitted that his government could not address the people’s desires in the five months.
“There were high expectations of the people from the new government which were not unnatural,” said Dahal.
“I should tell the people at this moment that a dramatic change was not possible because of the old form the government,” said the PM. “Moreover, we did not have adequate study and any knowledge of the statecraft."
He said these five months were the time for the government to study the technique of the governance. “We were also in a transition.”
Till yesterday, there were kings who were held responsible for all the good and bad fortune of us but they are no more there to be blamed for, said Dahal. “The steering of the country is now in our hands but sometimes I wonder whether we are heading to a height of anarchy.”
Dahal also alleged that taking support of banda, chakkajam and vandalism has become a daily life of some people in these days in the name of expressing their grievances. “This way of protest is against the spirit of peace process and this style of protest and opposition, ultimately has proved detrimental to constitutional drafting process.”
Already rapped by main opposition as well as most of the coalition partners for failing to control YCL activities, the PM said he is worried about waste of youth power, which was supposed to be used for forward-looking peace and social justice, in anarchist activities. “It is very unusual that the youths of the ruling parties have very bitter relation, hostility and clash so I urge the youths to stop such activities immediately.”
Dahal said the government is sending a cultural team to villages as a peace campaign to heal the wounds of the conflict and to consolidate peace.
The PM also sought help from all in order to make the country better. He urged the business community to take initiatives for constructing schools, hospitals and roads and assured them that his government was committed to create a conducive environment for industrial activities in the country.
He said the Upper Tamakoshi hydroelectricity project will be constructed by Nepali capital, experts and expertise. The government will not borrow for small projects, except for huge ones, he said, adding that the East-West Railway feasibility will be studied and the process to construct the fast track between Kathmandu and the Tarai will be started soon.
The PM said impunity is a fatal disease and vowed to punish the guilty as implicated by past commissions including the Rayamajhi Commission.
Social and land reforms
The PM also announced to enforce immediate social reform measures. “From the next week, dowry culture will be completely abolished,” he said. “The daughters will be provided with equal share in parental property.”
He said the government will set up complaint centers in all the village development committees and municipalities within a month to check domestic violence. He said the practice of untouchability will be treated as "a heinous crime". He announced that dalit students will be provided scholarship through martyr Dil Bahadur Ramtel Scholarship scheme.
He said the government will open process for registration of tenants to facilitate them to assert their rights over the land they plough.
Administrative reforms
As the measures for administrative and governance reforms, the PM urged the ministers to cut their engagement in formal programs outside the office and urged them to spend more time in office. He also called upon the ministers to end nepotism during political appointments at their ministries.
He also urged the bureaucrats to end red-tapism and spend all the time at office except an hour as lunch break. He announced that the brokers will not be allowed to get inside government offices and service will be provided to the people based on token system. He declared that those giving bribe to the government employees will be equally treated as corrupt.
The PM said the government has not massively reshuffled the bureaucracy so far [despite their non-cooperation] but urged the bureaucrats not to take it as the government’s weakness.
Dahal also revealed that the government is launching special action plan for reforms in the court in coordination with the Supreme Court.
PM Dahal said the government is going to form local bodies soon to expedite the implementation of the pro-people programs envisioned in the budget.
´Govt´s success stories´
Dahal presented a number issues that he takes as success of the government. Smooth running of Nepal’s foreign policy, continued inflow of foreign assistance, formation of constitutional bodies, beginning of the constitution-drafting process were some of the successes he mentioned in his statement. “We have received assistance of Rs 40 billion in this period,” he claimed.
He, however, blamed the past governments for most of the bad things prevailing in the country at present, including the power crisis. He said the government would revoke power generation license if the license holders fail to start work within six months.
The PM said the much-awaited all-powerful disappearance commission will be formed soon.
Related story
We will take the fake Bhutanese refugee scam to a logical end o...
