For Fairer Election

FAIR election is the backbone of any democracy. Only through elections may the people be able to choose their representatives. Elections not only help form a legitimate government at the centre, but also pave the way for local governments, which in turn formulate programmes meant for the development of villages and the towns. But that needs a fair election. If the elections are not held in a free, fair and impartial manner, the voters cannot choose their representatives. Whatever may be the result, any political party that makes a successful bid to power through unfair means loses the legitimacy to rule. The famous saying on democracy — "of the people, by the people, for the people" — by American President Abraham Lincoln clearly states the depth of relationship between people and democracy. Indeed, elections work as A bridge between people and the parties — that’s the point where they. However, the election system, especially in the young Third World democracies, is rarely free from criticisms due mainly to the lack of fairness. Nepal can not be an exception. Often times, the political parties, which are not in power during the elections, want us to believe that the elections were not held in a fair manner. The reactions expressed by the political parties after all five elections — three parliamentary and two local — may be taken as case in points.

Aware of these, the Election Commission is implementing various measures to make the elections fairer. EC’s plan to introduce Voters’ Identity Cards to all eligible voters in the country is one of the major steps initiated to this direction. The Commission is planning to implement family inventory system in five districts — Kaski, Kailali, Makawanpur, Morang and Banke — to ensure fairer elections. It has already started collecting names of all the members of the family and updating the voters’ list in Kaski. The household inventory is the list of names of all the members of the voters that is prepared separately for each family and household. Since the voters’ household inventory is the main basis for the identification of the genuine voters, it helps in preparing and updating the voters’ list. A correct voter’s list is one of the factors that influence the voting pattern and also check riggings. Hence, this should be expanded nationwide gradually.

Kathmandu City Scheme

KATHMANDU city has expanded its city limits by many folds within a matter of a few decades, especially from the early ‘70s. Along with it, the denizens are still witnessing dramatic transformations in their beloved city’s very configuration. While the city has sprawled beyond its former boundaries by gobbling up the adjacent farmlands, its familiar landmarks have been completely overshadowed by concrete skyscrapers. Similarly, the once cobbled alleys that gave the capital city its unique flavour, particularly to the thousands of tourists that flock to Nepal every year, have given way to streets paved with asphalt and bricks. And in place of the innumerable artistically built houses that used to be embellished with intricately carved doors, windows and lintels, many-storied—and needless to say, ugly—conglomerates have sprung up. Likewise, the laid-back atmosphere that the capital city used to exude till the early ‘70s has given way to hectic pedestrian and vehicular traffic. So much so that the municipal authorities are having quite a hard time just to keep their city clean, green and environment-friendly, not to speak of keeping pace with the denizens’ need for basic civic amenities. One of the main reasons for the rapid changes taking place in the capital city could be due to the inordinate wish and desire of every Nepali to build a house in the capital city. This, in turn, has led to the addition of over 4,000 new dwellings, big or small, every year to the already over-crowded city. Another could be due to the successive waves of migrants, especially from the surrounding rural areas, flocking to the city in search of job and other opportunities. The heavy concentration of facilities in the capital city vis-à-vis the rural areas has been identified as the main reason for the rural people’s migrations. Yet another could be the proliferation of industries within and without the capital city’s boundaries. All this, undoubtedly, is putting tremendous pressure on the capital city’s existing facilities that, to say the least, were constructed to meet the needs of the dwellers of a small city that Kathmandu was before its fast-paced growth

Change, as the popular adage goes, is the only constant in the world. But any change should be for the better. In the case of the capital city, not only should the city be clean, green and healthy, but it should also have a long-term development plan to safeguard its social and economic values. Hence, the Kathmandu Valley Town Development Board’s recent meet to give the final touch to the 20-year long term development plan is perfectly in order.