WINSTON Churchill once remarked democracy that has no better alternative faces many challenges. He underlined the fact, derived from historic experiences, how difficult it is to successfully work a democratic polity. Many of us may revile against the perversions of democracy since the restoration of multiparty democracy 11 years ago, but we must realise that this system is an improvement upon the past Panchayat System.

We have managed to retain this system over the past decade despite the persistent efforts by some elements to subvert the democratic experiment. This is all the more significant in the light of what has happened in some of our neighbouring countries where the people’s rule is ushered by the military rulers. In many countries military rule has become the alternative to democratic regime. Only in a few countries of our neighbourhood, army has scrupulously kept out of politics.

On the basis of the experience of the past ten years and on a critical analysis of the present situation, some of people are suggesting that there is a need for a revision or reform of the constitution to make it more effective. There is no harm in raising the question of constitutional reform, but other questions that have to be answered are: "How far we been able to preserve the structure of democratic government given to us by the constitution, drafted as a result of the historic people’s movement 10 years ago? What are the failures in the operation of the system which have surfaced in the last ten years? Are these defects remediable within the basic framework of the present constitution, with necessary amendments? Are the defects noticed in the working of the system so serious that nothing less than a radical revision of the constitution will remedy the situation?

First of all, credit should be given to the good sense of our people who, by and large, have shown a capacity to preserve the democracy by baffling professional politicians. But people will no more be tolerant towards leaders who betray the trust reposed in them. The picture since the general election, including the period of unstable coalition government, is still too hazy for us to declare a final verdict on the constitution and the democratic system itself. But we should not forget that if ways can be found to carry on the parliamentary system, it is always better to do so than opting for the old partyless system.

It can be safely said that many of the defects noticed in the working of the parliamentary system are remediable within the framework of the constitution if the major political parties bring their experience and commitment to national progress with a view to devising realistic solutions to the problems faced by the country. It has to be realised that if the moral fibre of the people is undermined by corruption and opportunism, then no change in constitution can save the polity from crisis and breakdown in future. No democracy can rise above the level of the national character. All political parties have to search their hearts and find out whether they have been faithful and sincere in honouring their professed commitments to the public interest.

Our politicians cannot blame the constitution without examining all the relevant issues. There should be a comprehensive and candid examination of all the lapses in the political arena that have been noticed in the last ten years, and there must be a genuine and earnest effort to remedy them. Internal reforms of the working of the political parties, especially at the grass roots level, is one of the fundamental reforms. Unfortunately, what we have witnessed in the recent years is a systematic erosion of the mass base of the major political parties, and the growth of schisms and pure adventurism in politics. But this factor should not disappoint us totally. Happily, there is a deep stirring among the politicians and new leaders are coming up with a promise of revitalising democratic experiment. In other political parties too, new faces are emerging holding the promise of energizing our democratic experiment.

Parliamentary system can be preserved and strengthened in a better way if the political parties come to the term of coalition government if no party gains absolute majority in the election. There should be no objection to such government if people are not willing to entrust their destiny to any single party. Moreover, unchecked parliamentary majority can be abused in the interests of the ruling party leading to widespread corruption in public life. Our political leaders have to reorient their political thinking and behaviour to the trend of coalition party politics with a view to facing any eventuality. Coalition government can be helpful in strengthening the cultural pluralism of the country.

The experiment of coalition government in Nepal was not encouraging. But in future our political leaders should show more tolerance and understanding to each other keeping in view of the supreme interest of the country.

In parliamentary system, political parties can reach to a coalition set up before the election to secure an absolute majority that assures the required stability. Its advantage is that it combines ideological flexibility with the stability of government within the institutional arrangements of a parliamentary democracy. Sher Bahadur Deuba, Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Surya Bahadur Thapa and finally Girija Prasad Koirala headed the coalition governments in the past. They faced certain difficulties as their experiment was based not on pre-poll agreement.

In the given political and social realities of the country, coalition arrangement can become a necessity in the future. Its successful functioning depends on the sagacity of our political leaders who should create the necessary condition for its stability by exhibiting the political virtue of ideological flexibility as cooperative partners. They should show their capacity for political adjustment for the constructive purpose of establishing a stable coalition.

ONCE somebody gets habituated to drugs, the person invites trouble not only for himself but also to the entire family and society. The family suffers, as the members have to put aside their daily work and must keep an eye on the person who tries to avoid their company.

They are obsessed with the fear that their boy or girl could head towards the point of no return after being totally addicted to drugs. They are always preoccupied with the thought of how they can put their child back into the track.

Similarly, the society suffers since it loses precious manpower after a large number of youngsters fall prey to drugs. Once they become the slaves of drugs they cannot obviously contribute to the process of nation building. Their priority is different. And they are least bothered about the world around them as long as they get what they long for.

The drug abusers who have been interviewed say that it all starts with the desire to become adventurous. First the feeling is very causal there is no element of fear as the user feels that there will never be a second time.

For a majority of them, the first experiment proves to be costly. They do it for the second time to feel better and there comes the third time without even realizing that what they are up to is something awfully wrong.

Gradually their world revolves around drugs. It is easy for them to deceive their parents in the beginning. The parents are easily overwhelmed when their child shows the zeal to join the music class or a language class.

They go on giving the amount of money their child demands without taking note of the fact that it is being used to buy drugs. Later after discovering the truth, they have a hard time dealing with the complication.

The addict who runs out of money in the later stages after his/her parents discover the truth starts lifting things from his own home or other’s home. The families having drug addicts never know when things are going to disappear.

There are many arguments about why people resort to drugs. Some say that people go for drugs after being utterly shattered and depressed while others say that people who fail to achieve their goals finally become an addict.

The reason could vary from person to person. But the most common reason understood by all is that the person becomes totally addicted and cannot do without taking the substance, which gives him the ultimate satisfaction.

Things go wrong when the family members fail to deal with the abuser tactfully. Most of the parents over do it and start nagging the abuser day in and day out. This kind of behaviour contributes to further complicate the situation.

The drug abusers are naturally very shy and want to be left alone. They tend to look for people who fit into their own group. They are guilty for what they are doing and wish to avoid comments and scolding.

First the parents must try to find out how it all started. What problems led their child to take up such a habit? They must try to mould the person by holding regular interactions and convincing the child that they are there to help.

Unless the parents who are the closest associates of the abusers do not handle their son or daughter with love and extra care things will not change for the better. Scolding or nagging the person could make matters worse.

The problem of drug abuse is gradually eating into our society also. Official figures show that there are nearly sixty thousand drug abusers in Nepal. The problem of drug abuse is further compounded when the abusers use the same syringe for injecting drugs. This kind of practice has been leading to increased cases of HIV and AIDS among the drug abusers.