E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, DEC 09 - Countering allegations that they have spent the past 100 days in government only misappropriating state resources, ministers from the Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha (SLMM) have claimed that they have tangible achievements to show for their stint in government. Talking to the Post on Thursday, they cited the partial implementation of the four-point agreement as their major victory, and accused the mainstream media of being prejudiced.

The Baburam Bhattarai-led government has the highest representation of Madhesi ministers in Nepal’s history. They control security forces (Home and Defence under Bijay Gachhedar), infrastructure (physical works and planning under Hridayesh Tripathi, communication under JP Gupta), social services (health under Rajendra Mahato), and key economic activities (industries under Anil Kumar Jha, agriculture under Nandan Dutta, irrigation under Mahendra Yadav).

Leaders claim that access to political power itself is a major achievement. Health minister Mahato said, “For the first time, there is a government whose existence depends on us. This is a psychological victory for the Madhes.”

Claiming that the four-point agreement should be used as the yardstick to judge their performance, Morcha leaders claimed they have delivered on all fronts. “Our participation enabled the formation of this government, which led to a breakthrough in the peace process. Constitution writing, too, has picked up, with the formation of the SRC and the new calendar,” said Jitendra Dev of the Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum (Loktantrik).

Dev added that there will be substantial progress on Madhes-specific issues within the next two weeks. “We have kick-started the process of Madhesi recruitment in Nepal Army. The inclusion bill is almost finalised and the Cabinet is expected to approve it soon.” The government also revoked the decision to impose daura suruwal as the national dress, a major demand of the Morcha in the run up to government formation.

Ministers claimed that access to power had translated into benefits for ordinary citizens.

Industry minister Jha said there was a lot of progress in his area of responsibility.

 “I have pushed forward several pending legislations, related to certification, industrial intellectual property, and public enterprises. We signed Bippa, and are setting up the Nepal Investment Board under the PM. We have also sent a proposal to revive six industries, including the Janakpur cigarette factory, to the finance ministry and it is positive.”

Jha added that there was also a plan to set up special economic zones in Kailali, Banke, Siraha, Gorkha and Gaur.

Mahato claimed that he was in the process of improving health infrastructure in the Tarai, by construction of new hospital buildings, adding beds in district hospitals, providing advanced equipment and recruiting additional human resources.

Asked about the perception that Madhesi ministers had engaged in blatant corruption, Jha said, ‘The media is dominated by NC and UML loyalists. They cannot digest we are in power. In the US, blacks are widely perceived as thieves and criminals. Madhesis suffer a similar fate here.”

Independent observers, however, have a more mixed assessment. 

Tula Narayan Sah, the head of the Nepal Madhes Foundation, said the performance of the Madhesi ministers was disappointing, but there was also an element of ‘exaggeration’ in reports about corruption. “From the peon upwards, most positions in the state are occupied not by Madhesis but people from other communities. And there is loot at all levels. To single out Tarai leaders is wrong.” Sah added that Madhes was slowly moving out of the agitational phase of politics, and is becoming a mature national stakeholder.

Kapilbastu-based human rights activist Ravi Thakur said that while Madhesi ministers gained a lot, Madhes did not get anything. “There is clear proof that some ministers through postings and transfers have enriched themselves.” He, however, added that the silver lining was that instances of extra judicial executions of young Madhesis, and instances of torture in Tarai, have dipped as the Home Ministry is controlled by a Madhesi party. 

In both Madhesi political and activist circles, there appears to be a consensus that the achievement is the fact of political representation; the impact of that representation is seen as secondary.

As a minister said, “It is not about governance. Today, Singha Durbar is full of Madhesis. You go to the canteen, you go to ministries, or when you are walking near the parliamentary party offices, all you hear is Hindi, Maithili or Bhojpuri. With each Madhesi minister, hundreds of other Madhesis gain access to power corridors. This is the achievement.”

Achievements

    Unprecedented access to political power

    Revoked decision on daura suruwal as national dress

    Dip in human rights violations in Tarai

    Inclusion bill almost final

    Preparations to recruit Madhesis in NA

Criticisms

    Allegations of widespread corruption

    Arbitrary bureaucratic appointments and transfers

    Lack of tangible benefits for ordinary Madhesi citizens

 

Posted on: 2011-12-09 09:02

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