Attention! Civilized democracies of the globe!

I vividly recall the immediate days after 1990 popular movement when the lay men were given to understand by the champions of democratic movement that the system now in force would change in no time both the face and the fate of the teeming millions reeling under abject poverty during the erstwhile regime. Albeit the bold manner in which the leaders made speeches and lectures did convince the lay men that the days ahead were brighter for them indeed. Some even felt that the erstwhile regime should have been thrown much ahead of 1990 for obvious reasons.

However, after two or three general elections the kind of personalities "we the people" sent to the parliament and the manner they acted in the parliament causing heavy burden on the national exchequer suddenly brought "we the people' back to our senses. How we the people were cheated by our own men in the parliament at various intervals of these "democratic years" has best been compiled by my friend Mr. Aditya Man Shrestha in his book "'Bleeding Mountains of Nepal" which was published a couple of years back. The stories contained therein in the book amply reflects the manner in which the country had been operating during the Panchayat days and more so is operating in these democratic days.

The following story I have copied from that book. A close look at the story penned by Mr. Shrestha will perhaps act like an eye opener and will undoubtedly help those "'friendly" donors who day in and day out exhibit their "desire" to be of some support to the Nepal's new system of governance and in the process manage some sort of training programs for our "'people's representatives" in their home country.

Now that most of the things I wish to write here has best been told by Journalist Mr. Shrestha, hence I would not consume much of your valuable time. However, I wish to sound the ''friendly" donors and western democracies that prior to sending our "'people's men" to their countries for "educational trips" they should inevitably ask their "'character certificates" or at best the "medical certificates" for obvious reasons.

Just enjoy what Mr. Shrestha has to write about our lawmakers who appear expert in squeezing the national exchequer.

It pays to be sick

Mr. Shrestha writes:

"'Going by official records of parliament, Nepal appears to be ruled by sick politicians. A large number of parliament members have misused the special medical facilities provided to them by the government. In fact, they were seen playing the game of outpacing each other in pocketing money for purposes other than medical. Starting from Rs. 10,000, they were permitted allowances up to Rs. 300,000 for treatment of real or fictitious ailments.

A list of 60, out of 265, members of the parliament was published along with the amount of money they had received from the government for treatment. The list has mentioned the speaker, chairmen of different committees, ministers, opposition leaders and ordinary members. It is an authentic list verified by no less than the Public Accounts Committee. The misused medical privileges looked so scandalous that the committee chose to banish the list to cold storage. But later under public pressure, it was made accessible.

The most interesting feature of this incredible phenomenon is that the parliamentarians have claimed to have taken the most expensive antibiotic. According to expert opinion, this medicine is administered only when the patient is so serious that he is confined to bed. But none of the members of the parliament had been so seriously ill in the last couple of years. The local press invariably carries the news of these VVIPs getting admitted to the hospital even for a minor complaint. No such public information is available on "very ill" lawmakers save a few. The fact that the prescriptions and the pharmaceutical bills of about forty MPs should contain the same expensive medicine can't be a mere coincidence.

Many MPs were found, in this business of maximising benefits, forging their paperwork. One MP submitted a prescription issued by the Outdoor Patient Department, OPD, testifying serious "lung infection" that would, if true, have forced him to bed for several weeks. IN another case, a discrepancy was detected between the doctor's prescription and the bills submitted for reimbursement.

The papers submitted by yet another MP showed that he consulted a "cardiologist" purportedly for a "lung disease" and got his claims upheld. Some went ahead with only the purchase bills unaccompanied by prescriptions. Some members did even not bother to attach prescriptions to their claims for reimbursements.

The papers of one MP showed that he had a "temperature" of "162 degrees" which is simply ridiculous because then he would be dead. He knew his carelessness would never be challenged by any official. One "male" MP got even paid for "maternity care".

There is another variety of payment that has been made. One MP was paid for one bottle of Horlicks, one Shampoo and one packet of tea. Another MP was paid for his "room heater" and "cooler"'. Even the publicity materials of one MP were paid for as medical item. The bills for fruit juice and liver too were included. One MP received payment for his medical treatment in Vellore, India, sitting at home. The number of MPs visiting the US and another countries for so-called medical check-up gets inflated every year.

It is estimated that more than Rs. 10 million went to the medical treatment of the MPs who in fact were never sick. There are several agencies like the Cabinet Secretariat, the Home Ministry and the Parliament Secretariat which release the medical expenses to the lawmakers. There are, of course, rules that govern claims for medical expenses. The Medical Board that assesses the seriousness of the meical problem of an MP is invariably ignored or circumvented by the government.

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