Shame on the government

The Himalayan Times

30 June 2017

Shame on the government

We have seen in the past that the major political parties, whoever and whenever ascended the political helm, had split the ministries to accommodate their loyal lawmakers in the ministerial chairs. Has any government so far shown any interest to find out whether these ministries were doing their tasks to the satisfaction of the common people? So far, there are more than two dozen ministries designed to serve the nation and its people. Political leaders talk much about the development works being done in the country.

It was not a surprising but sad news to read “Humla local reps in capital to revive rice supply” (THT, June 27, Page 1) when the newly elected people’s representatives should have been focussing their effort on other development programmes. Instead, they are in the capital wandering around Nepal Food Corporation (NFC) and other different government offices to resume the supply of rice to their district. What a shame on the government and the NFC? Other remote districts are also food deficit areas. I am not so sure about whether the concerned ministries and departments have put any effort to seek other better options, such as, digging irrigation canals, rather than airlifting rice forever.

The government through NFC is supplying rice in a subsidized price to these districts using air transportation. However, this time the private airlines have excessively raised the cargo charge. As a result, the NFC was unable to supply rice to Humla. Why does the government not use Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) rather than private airlines? Or why doesn’t the government call for bidding among the private airlines for supplying rice to these remote districts? I hope, there are not any commission games on air cargo charges.

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj,