United We Stand

DEPUTY Prime Minister and acting president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party Badri Prasad Mandal has said that Nepal's democracy is by no means in danger but getting mature every day under the leadership of the His Majesty the King. Speaking at a function in Rajbiraj, Saptari the other day, Deputy Prime Minister Mandal observed that democracy is safe and secure as His Majesty the King has clearly expressed the commitment to do whatever is needed for the consolidation of democratic system in the country. Monarchy, multi-party system and fundamental human rights are the basic hallmarks of Nepal's democracy. The institution of monarchy has always played an active role and made historic contributions for the establishment and consolidation of democracy in the country. The motto of Shah Kings has always been the rule on the basis of people's will and desire. The institution of Monarchy and democracy are inter-dependent in Nepal. In fact, Monarchy has always been the custodian of democracy in Nepal. In order to strengthen democracy, ensure political stability and accelerate the process of democracy in Nepal, we must develop monarchical culture, in which lies the safe future of the country and the people. History is witness that whenever the nation falls into a crisis, it is the institution of Monarchy that rescues the nation and leads it to a safe and secure destination. As the country fell into the quagmire of uncertainty and chaos in the last 12 years of misrule of different political parties and mindless violence perpetrated by the Maoists, Nepalese people have looked to the Monarchy to rescue the nation from the trouble. The main concern of the people at present is security and peace. Soon after the formation of the present government, His Majesty the King has clearly instructed the government to take necessary measures for restoration of peace, stability and security by ending the Maoist violence. The government has done every thing possible to fulfill its responsibility. It has already started the peace process with the Maoists, the beginning of which is the declaration of cease-fire. In addition, it has initiated several steps to provide relief to the people. However, all these efforts can be successful only when cooperation and support are extended from all people. There should not be any doubt and confusion from any quarters about the intention of peace process and its selfless efforts for country's stability and development. The interest of the nation is safe and secure with the close cooperation between the monarchy and people, which all political forces and all others must understand.

Bogus Employees

THE CIAA (Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority), as per a news item carried by this daily the other day, has filed cases against three employees for presenting fake certificates of educational qualification to secure appointment, promotion and gain special education. This is not the first time that the CIAA had initiated actions against those employees who, to either gain appointment, promotion or additional perks, had forwarded counterfeit certificates of educational qualification. The CIAA, it may be recalled, had earlier forwarded similar actions against some employees who had submitted bogus educational qualifications. And, if we are not to take the perception among the general public-that such unscrupulous acts are quite rampant among employees working in the public and the private sectors-with a pinch of salt, then we could be hearing of more such cases being filed by the CIAA against such devious employees in the near future. For, to allow all such errant employees who, solely on the basis of their deceitful acts, had not only gained employment opportunities, promotions or bagged scholarships but, worse still, sidelined their more qualified fellow aspirants, could ultimately lead to a situation wherein the undeserving ones are rewarded with more perks while the truly deserving ones are penalised for their sterling qualities and qualifications.

At a time when the government is sparing no efforts and resources to create a vast pool of skilled manpower needed to nudge the nation along the path of all-round development by upgrading the educational system, institutions and facilities, just to know that some job aspirants had gained employment while some employees had secured additional perks like promotions by submitting fake educational qualifications does leave a bitter taste in the mouths of all qualified job aspirants and employees. Worse still, it also never fails to give the unpalatable impression that there are some loopholes in the concerned authorities' current systems of recruiting and promoting only qualified manpower and employees. While the need on the part of the concerned authorities to plug in the loopholes, if any, is always there, what also goes without saying is that if, for want of necessary remedial measures on the part of the concerned authorities, particularly the CIAA, such loopholes were to remain, then what can be safely surmised is that not only the government's national development programmes but also the private sector's own efforts to complement the government's development endeavours could be the ultimate losers, if not sufferers.