Right
Priorities
IN his replies to a
wide range of queries raised in the House of Representatives in recent days and weeks,
Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba sought to assure the lawmakers Tuesday that the
government was doing all it could in resolving the Maoist issue, promoting good governance
and bringing in reforms in different spheres. He gave an extensive reply to
lawmakers’ across-the-board concerns on subjects ranging from foreign affairs to the
role of Royal Nepalese Army to Integrated Security and Development Programme to border
issues. Governmental efforts at land reforms and steps taken to improve general
administration and the country’s economy also figured in his statement. But what was
indicated as being at the top of the government’s priorities was again the Maoist
problem. Obviously referring to the ongoing efforts at resolving the problem, he said that
it was imperative to give a peaceful outlet to the serious problems besetting the country
at present. Resolution of the Maoist problem may be a dominant subject, but there is a
multitude of other issues that the government has to deal with in a forceful manner. In
this connection, Premier Deuba assured the lawmakers that the government had already
started to bring in wider reforms in an institutional capacity in the existing laws
related to good governance and curbing corruption. Indeed, the current session of
parliament is expected to deliberate on several important bills that, if passed, would go
a long way in promoting good governance and fighting one of the major public enemies in
the form of corruption. Legislative efforts are under way also in promoting the rights and
situation of women and children.
Among the more
important steps that the government has taken over the recent past or those on the anvil
relate to: extension of Integrated Security and Development Programme to additional
districts, a monitoring and coordination unit on general administration reforms,
formulation of long-term industrial perspective planning, plan to set up national
information science centre to work as information-statistics bank, expansion of relations
with different countries on foreign investment, committee to monitor, evaluate and
rejuvenate ailing industries and exports promotion. The endeavours by the present
government in different sectors of national life have been notable and they signal right
priorities, but it will take time for the results to be visible. What needs to be stressed
here is that the good steps already taken in different areas of governance require
sustained, earnest follow-ups. The success of most of the labours in these areas hinge
also on the degree of peace reigning in the country and the serious attention good
governance promotion gets. It is against this background that Premier Deuba’s
emphasis on resolution of the Maoist problem and efforts to promote good governance
acquires a resonance.
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