However, it is not for nothing that common people dream of getting help from the PMO. Our prime ministers (PMs), incumbent as well as former, are themselves responsible for making people believe that it is possible to get monetary help from them. In the past, they have too often recklessly doled out funds from the state coffers to people, primarily their kith and kin and party cadres, generating such hope among the people.
The incumbent PM Madhav Kumar Nepal spent the annual fund of Rs 3 million provided to him within three months after he assumed office in May. By now, he has already spent over Rs 35 million and has again sought an additional 2.5 million. According to a report readied by the PMO, former PM Pushpa Kamal Dahal tops the list of PM’s ‘misusing’ state funds. Dahal spent a whopping 60 million during his nine-month tenure.
While it might not be unethical for an executive head of a government to give away funds to those in dire need, it is mandatory to ensure that the entire process is transparent and that every penny spent by them, which comes from taxes paid by the citizens, is made public. However, so far that has hardly happened. According to reports, as mentioned above, the money has mostly gone to family members and party cadres.
Following Nepal’s demand to release more funds after he spent 3 million in the first three months of his tenure, the Financial Assistance Directive was amended, which revoked the PM of the privilege of distributing financial assistance through his/her direct recommendation. However, the directive is still under review. We urge the government to bring the directive, which authorizes the Ministry of Home Affairs to distribute financial assistance to those recommended by the PM only after assessing the seeker’s status, living standard and genuine need, into effect as soon as possible.
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