People should march to seek justice and preserve the hard-earned democracy

-Hon'ble Taranath Ranabhat, Speaker Lower House, Nepal

The goal of every government is to set the nation on an economically, socially, environmentally, ethnically and culturally sustainable track. Nepal is now passing through critical phase of economic development. We have not been able to progress much on economic front and therefore poverty seems to be increasing. We got to move fast and do something for the needy.

Nepal has taken big strides in education, which is a very important factor for the development of the country. Even the female literacy is slowly catching up. This means that there is a large number of literate and semi-educated youths. Over the last decade the degree of mobility and communication has increased and this creates a lot of aspirations in them. On the other-hand, the economic development continues to lag behind people’s aspirations, and this creates a gap that could be dangerous.

Like many developing countries Nepal is also suffering from corruption, tax evasion, inefficiency of the public corporations, traditional and conservative style of bureaucracy, lack of safety-nets for the poor and above all from the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few elites'. This should be changed. The government should be transparent and accountable. The democratic institutions should be strengthened and developmental activities should be carried out through good governance. Good governance means rule of law, decentralization of power, sense of responsibilities. After all we should put the people at the center of all governance policies, strategies and actions.

I am also of the opinion that our development model should be directed towards improving capabilities and expanding opportunities for all people, living in remote villages in mountain and Terai, irrespective of class, caste, gender and ethnicity. In this respect the theory of social justice is the only way to follow. We are still lagging far behind in this field compared to developed countries.

Therefore, we should encourage the civil society in the country to come forward and force them as a pressure group. The lack of such effective pressure groups has resulted in political instability in the country and this has made it near impossible to systematize the process of good governance. This is where such pressure groups should come forward and play a catalytic role in empowering the powerless, especially the marginalized groups and communities. They need to be helped and provided the much-desired space so they can organize themselves for economic advancement and all round development. In order for the institutionalization of good governance to really come about, a positive course of action would be to support and strengthen civil societies vis a vis NGOs and other organizations in the country. Only then they can act as a worthwhile pressure groups to those in power to initiate and expedite the process of good governance.

I also would like to put emphasis on the fact that there is no alternative to the multiparty democracy. This is a must as we all have the equal opportunities to pursue the path of our life according to every one of our genius and likes. The free, liberal and democratic environment, which we had been able to create after a long and arduous struggle should prevail at all, cost. No political forces in the country should undermine this fact. However I also agree that we need a clean, pro people, nationalistic and development oriented honest and accountable government.

The executive authority can go wrong if the parliament and a competent authority do not control it and fair judiciary should act as an umpire. The role of judiciary in making the government accountable is very high. However, it is far from satisfactory in our case. We should also look into this aspect of our society. Corruption, mismanagement and abuse of power and authority must be penalized. So far this seems to be very weak. Similarly, the role of other power enforcement agencies such as police, local administration and local governments also should be well defined and abuses and misuses must not be condoned in the name of decentralization.

If the political leaders do not pursue the basic principles of democracy and good governance it is the people’s duty to protest. They should march to seek justice and preserve the hard-earned democracy. They should pledge themselves to create a new order of equality, genuine democracy and moral values within the multiparty framework thereby establishing an honest and accountable government at the helm.

Accountability and transparency-pillars of democracy

-Subhash Pokharel

Today we are standing on the eve of a new millennium, and the time has come to evaluate what we have achieved and what we have lost over the years. Resolution of the cold war, scientific developments and establishment of democratic systems all over the globe are undoubtedly the min characteristics of this century.

Scientific developments have many things for the welfare of human beings from agriculture, industrial; establishment to the information society. But at the same time we must know that these developments have created real war situation on the one hand while superfluous peace attempts on the other. There are still many people struggling for democracy and social justice.

After the fifties, many countries have established representative democracies and in the first decade of the new millenium all the countries are expected to enjoy the fruits of democracy. Democratic values too were being renewed. People now talk of participatory democracy where sovereign people apply three criteria on governance- legitimacy, transparency and accountability. The constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal also lays ample stress on these three factors and the media, civil-society and the citizens are judging the performances of government accordingly.

Of course, democracy is indispensable for maintaining peace, harmony and mutual understanding among the peoples' and the nations, which also expands the social base of representation. Thus, it is only the democracy, which can foster the track one and track two diplomacy concurrently.

Accountability, legitimacy and transparency are the fundamental pillars of a democratic order. So, the success of democracy depends, plainly speaking, on these three factors. Mismanagement of these three factors may destabilize the entire democratic system, weaken the people and foster identity politics on primordial lines.

Performance and conduct of any government directly reflect on the system. So, the government must be accountable, legitimate and transparent for the strengthening of democracy. But at the same time one can not remain oblivious of the fact that the activities of the NGOs, civil societies, journalists, academia is crucial to establish civic culture.

So, the consolidation of democracy is related to the popularity of the democratic practices of the government, civil societies, journalists, NGOs, academia etc. That’s why we always must be cautious to uphold the principles of public life.

As the public holders are the corner stone of the system, they must bear seven characteristics that is also called HOLAISO principal of public life. HOLAISO means- Honesty, Openness, Leadership, Accountability, Integrity, Selflessness, and finally Objectivity.

If the public officers' bear these aforesaid characters, then it will not only strengthen democracy but also the rights of people.

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