King-People Relations

MINISTER for Information and Communications Ramesh Nath Pandey said that the relationship between the King and the people of Nepal has always been close, cordial and cooperative and no one can ever create a barrier between the monarch and the people. Speaking at a function in Biratnagar the other day, Minister for Information and Communication Pandey said that His Majesty the King is always concerned with people's well-being and Nepalese people also have strong and unflinching faith and trust on the institution of monarchy. History is witness that it was monarchy that has always played crucial and decisive role in times of national crisis and rescued the nation and the people. The role of monarchy has been very instrumental in the unification, modernisation, development and democratisation of the country. There are instances that Shah Kings have even sacrificed the Throne for the cause of people and the nation. It is for this reason why people always revere the King as their saviour. The overwhelming presence of people in the Royal civic reception organised in Biratnagar recently on behalf of the people of Eastern Development Region is an example of the relations between the monarch and the people. Similar moves have also been made from other regions too to facilitate Their Majesties the King and the Queen. Some elements who are trying to create a wall between the monarch and people are scared with this closer King-people relationship. But these elements, as said by Minister for Information and Communication Pandey, would never be successful. Moreover, the present government had been entrusted to immediately start the process for building peace. The result has been the declaration of the cease-fire between the government and Maoists, which is expected to be transformed into a lasting peace. The cease-fire is the result of strong desire of all for peace, prosperity and stability. Some parties are now trying to derail this peace process on different pretexts. But people are careful enough not to allow anybody to create a roadblock to peace process. The institution of Monarchy is the meeting point of all forces and people in Nepal and the country's ultimate future also lies on the monarchical culture and stronger King-people relationship.

NGOs' Tasks

THAT the role of civil society organisations in national development is crucial is unquestioned. As part of the civic society, non-governmental organisations collectively constitute an important cog in the developmental wheel. They have the potential to supplement efforts of the state in reaching the most needy in far-flung areas, especially when the government machinery is simply not equal to the task of reaching such areas. And then there is the question of funds. The limitation of funds at the disposal of the government also makes it unlikely that it could administer development works in all areas, even if it had the requisite administrative set for this purpose. Hence the growing importance of NGOs as a significant conduit for improving the socio-economic conditions of the people in a country like Nepal where most people live under the poverty line. The post-1990 open, democratic era has seen a mushrooming of the NGOs. The growth however has been largely quantitative. Even so, in many places of the country many important development works could be carried out only because there were serious, earnest NGOs in operation there. The estimate that national and international NGOs have been spending Rs 5 to 6 billion annually in the country bespeaks of their role as a major player in development area.

Things have not been easy for the NGOs these past few years in operating in many of the districts hit by Maoist insurgency. In the ensuing government-Maoist battles, a lot of NGO works, some of them excellent initiatives, were the first casualty. As the heat of conflict went up, many NGOs had no option but to leave the area, leaving their tasks unfinished. With the ceasefire in place now since last January, NGOs are thinking of ways to get back to their business in areas they were compelled to vacate previously. With the slogan as the "Respect for Peace, Good Governance and Human Rights: Social Development Our Campaign", the fourth general convention of NGO Federation of Nepal started on Wednesday in Pokhara where over 1600 social workers and human rights activists from 48 districts across the kingdom are taking part. The convention affords the NGO community of Nepal an occasion to chart their future course, now that at least large-scale violence has stopped. In fact, apart from the development works, NGOs of Nepal-particularly those working to defend human rights and promoting peace-must play a concrete role in bringing the government and the rebels to the negotiating table as quickly as possible and finding points of convergence. For without permanent peace, they will not be able to do meaningful work out in the rural areas however much they may wish for. Only with peace in place, they could effectively and judiciously utilise the resources available to them for socio-economic development of the country.