Provinces press prime minister over unmet demands for key powers

The chief ministers of seven provinces jointly called on the federal government to implement the 17-point charter of demands they presented last year.

Expressing their concerns at the meeting of the National Development Problem Solving Committee led by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today, they asked to fulfill the demands which are a must for the provinces’ effective functioning.

Last July, a delegation of seven chief ministers had presented their 17-point demands including deployment of civil servants, promulgation of laws, and revenue sharing.

“We jointly called for implementing the 17-point demand, most of which remain unimplemented,” Madhesh Province chief minister Satish Kumar Singh said, adding that their key and longstanding demands include adjustment of Nepal Police in provincial police force and promulgation of the Federal Civil Service Act as in the absence of the necessary law the smooth functioning of the provinces have been regularly under question. "Although maintaining law and order falls under the exclusive authority of the provinces, successive federal governments have delayed the adjustment of the police, and promulgation of subsequent laws.

The provinces also demanded transferring ownership of land and buildings being used by provincial entities to the respective provinces, and deployment and transfer of the officials in coordination with the provinces. Provinces have been complaining that frequent unconsented transfers of principal secretaries, secretaries and other staff adversely affect their performance.

The chief ministers have been demanding an arrangement to send secretaries by the federal government to the provincial ministries and by chief administrative officers to the local units, with the provinces retaining the ultimate authority to assign them duties. 

Currently, the federal government deploys them directly, which has created problems in the he provincial level.

Since the provinces have been facing unprecedented burdens from natural disasters, the chief ministers demanded urgent support and response from the federal government.

Likewise, delay in promulgation of the remaining federal laws to delegate the exclusive and concurrent authorities to the provinces, as well as amendments to existing laws to ease land acquisition for development projects and establish industrial areas have also hindered the progress of provincial governments.

The chief ministers also asked to amend the Local Government Operations Act to ease revenue sharing from river-based resources between local and provincial governments, and revise the Forest Act to allow them to use national forests. 

The Madhesh government has even filed a writ petition in the Supreme Court demanding authority over forest management, but the case has been pending since long.

The chief ministers have also demanded to repeal of the Urban Area Public Transport (Management) Authority Act-2022 to enable provinces to collect revenues from traffic rules violation.

The chief ministers, during today's meeting, also expressed frustration over delays in obtaining clearance from the forest ministry, which according to them is hindering development efforts of the provincial governments. In response, PM Oli said he too was concerned about the delays in development works due to lack of permit in the use of forest covered areas.

Oli was of the view that concerned agencies with forest should facilitate development efforts while also working to protect forests and environment. Instead they are creating barriers in development efforts, he added.

Oli, on the occasion, also called for running an effective, competent and transparent administration, which can priorities addressing the public grievances.

Government, World Bank sign $100 million project to improve provincial and local roads

The Government and the World Bank on Monday signed a financing agreement for a $100 million concessional loan from the International Development Association (IDA) to help improve the connectivity, efficiency, resilience, and safety of Nepal’s provincial and local road network and strengthen the government’s capacity to manage the road network.

The Provincial and Local Roads Improvement Programme (PLRIP)-Phase 1 will build and maintain about 3,000 kilometers of all-weather, resilient, and safe provincial and local roads and bridges, benefiting about one million people in Sudurpashchim, Karnali, and Madhesh provinces, according to a press note issued by the World Bank. "It will also strengthen the institutional, management and technical capacity of provincial and local governments to plan, design, construct, and maintain road and bridge infrastructure and improve service delivery."

The financing agreement was signed by the finance secretary Dr Ram Prasad Ghimire on behalf of the Government and the World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, at the Finance Ministry on Monday. A separate project agreement was also signed by the Ministry of Urban Development, the participating provinces, and the World Bank.

“This programme will help enhance rural connectivity, improve access to services and markets, and unlock Nepal’s economic potential in an inclusive manner, while reducing travel time and costs for Nepalis,” said joint secretary at the Finance Ministry Shreekrishna Nepal.

The Government recognises the scale and magnitude of transport connectivity challenges and the need for substantial investment to support provincial and local governments as they adapt to decentralised governance. "To address this, the PLRIP will help strengthen rural development and build the capacity of the provincial and local governments to handle complex sector challenges," the press note reads, adding that the first of the three-phase programme will target three of Nepal’s seven provinces and four local areas which will be scaled up in future phases.

“The programme supports Nepal’s federalism agenda by empowering provincial and local governments and promoting inter-governmental coordination in the transport connectivity sector to help improve the lives of Nepalis through better infrastructure and services,” said World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka, David Sislen, after the signing the agreement.

The programme will introduce several best practices including five-year performance-based maintenance along with construction contracts, routine maintenance through self-help groups, community-led complimentary infrastructure, pilots on alternative means of connectivity and rural transport services, approach roads, and an online program monitoring and management system.

Fiscal federalism progressing at a moderate pace, further reforms needed to strengthen outcomes

Nepal’s legal and institutional reforms under fiscal federalism and public financial management at the provincial and local levels have continued but at a moderate pace, says the World Bank’s Nepal Fiscal Federalism Update 2024.

A reduction of available financial resources in fiscal year 2023 for provincial and local governments, mainly due to a decrease in federal revenue, led to the first fiscal deficit at the subnational level since the outset of fiscal federalism in 2017, it says, adding that to enhance the outcomes of fiscal federalism and public financial management including improved revenue generation for all three tiers of government, the Fiscal Federalism Coordination Division at the Finance Ministry was designated to coordinate public financial management reform efforts and the preparation and implementation of a Fiscal Federalism Roadmap.

The report provides a comprehensive review of the progress of fiscal federalism in Nepal. The recommendations are well aligned with our national-level vision on smoothing the fiscal transfers to help subnational governments carry out their responsibilities effectively. "The report also informs and supports our ongoing efforts to clarify responsibilities among the three tiers of government and advance fiscal federalism,” said Chief Secretary Dr Baikuntha Aryal.

Building on the first edition of the Nepal Fiscal Federalism Update, the 2024 edition explores in-depth the key pillars of fiscal federalism in Nepal: Revenue Assignment and Administration; Expenditure Assignment and Administration; Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfers; Borrowing and Capital Finance; and Fiscal Revenue from Natural Resources.

It recommends specific measures to upgrade the Inter-Governmental Fiscal Transfer system and establish a consolidated public financial management performance database that includes data from the subnational levels to enhance evidence-based decision making and transparency.

“The report highlights the need to upgrade institutional arrangements for the Intergovernmental Fiscal Transfers system to make the transfers more needs-based and timely, and to increase the fiscal autonomy of provincial and local governments, in order to improve fiscal federalism outcomes,” said  chairman of the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission Balananda Paudel, on the occasion.

The report also recommends strengthening provincial and local-level institutional arrangements for fiscal federalism and public financial management operations, including actions to improve budget credibility to improve delivery of services by subnational governments.

“Fiscal Federalism is a foundation for sustained service delivery by provincial and local governments," World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said, adding that they need adequate financial resources and the ability to make spending decisions at the subnational level, in the spirit of federalism and the Constitution. "The World Bank is committed to supporting the Government of Nepal, in close collaboration with other development partners, to further solidify fiscal federalism in Nepal."

निजी क्षेत्रको आत्मविश्वास बढाउने कसरतमा सरकार, प्रधानमन्त्रीले प्रतिस्पर्धी बजार बनाउने आँट गर्लान् ?

लामो समयको रस्साकस्सीपछि सरकार अर्थतन्त्रको विषयमा संवेदनशील हुन थालेको देखिन्छ । एकातिर प्रतिपक्षी नेकपा एमाले सरकार गिराउन विवादास्पद व्यवसायि दुर्गा प्रसाईसँग भिड्ने दाउ खोजिरहेको छ भने अर्कोतिर आम जनतामा विशेषतः युवामा सरकारप्रति चरम निराशा छ ।

सरकारमा रहेका राजनीतिक दलको असफलतालाई जोडेर गणतन्त्र तथा संघीयता नै खराब भन्ने भाष्य बनाउन केहि दक्षिणपन्थी पनि दुर्गा प्रसाईंलाई अगाडि धकेल्दै छन् । विभिन्न कोणबाट आएका लगातारको दृष्य तथा अदृष्य दबाबले प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल आफैं पनि आत्मविश्वास गुमाउँदै छन् ।

शुक्रबार तनहुँको आँबुखैरेनी गाउँपालिकाद्वारा सञ्चालित आँबुखैरेनी अस्पतालको समुद्घाटन गर्दै प्रधानमन्त्री दाहालले गठबन्धनको एकता धेरै बलियो भएको बताउँदै आफूलाई एक महिना पनि जाँदैन भन्नेहरू रहेको तर, राम्रो काम गर्दा ११ महिनासम्म सहजै आएको बताए । उनकै भनाइबाट पनि स्पष्ट हुन्छ, प्रधानमन्त्रीको अन्तर्मनमा अझै पनि आफू सत्तामा टिकेकोमा गर्व छ ।

हुनत नेपाली राजनीतिमा सत्तामा टिक्न कस्ता कस्ता सम्झौता भए भनेर सोच्ने हो भने लामै फेहरिस्त बन्छ । राजनीतिमात्र होइन, नेपालका सबै राजनीतिज्ञ प्रतिको आजको चरम विकर्षण त्यसैको कारण हो । त्यतातिर नजाउँ ।

तर, सत्तामा टिक्न सम्झौता गर्दै गर्दा, आम जनताका दैनिन्दिनका समस्यामा ध्यान दिन चुकेको अझ थप समस्या निम्त्याइएका धेरै उदाहरण छन् । सरकारले नीतिगत भ्रष्टाचार गरेका कारण बजारमा अनुचित महँगी बढ्दा सरकारले कारवाहि गर्न नसकेको अथवा गर्न नचाहेको मात्र होइन, सरकारले लिएको प्रिपेड घुसको पैसा जनताको खल्तीबाट तिराएका कारण पनि राजनीतिज्ञ अनि राजनीतिक व्यवस्था नै बदनामा भएको कुरामा कुनै शंका छैन ।

यसैबीच, अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान बनाएर आर्थिक कृयाकलापमा जनताहरुलाई विशेषत युवालाई ब्यस्त बनाउन सके नियन्त्रित प्रजातन्त्र तथा नियन्त्रित अर्थ ब्यवस्था लाद्न सकिन्छ कि भन्ने उत्तरी छिमेकीको पदचिन्ह पछ्याउने सरकारी तयारी हो कि भन्ने निजी क्षेत्रको त्रास छ ।

त्यसको लागी नियन्त्रित निजी क्षेत्र पनि अनिवार्य शर्त हो । निजी क्षेत्रको नियन्त्रणबाट प्रजातन्त्र पनि नियन्त्रितरुपमा चलाउन सकिन्छ भन्ने दक्षिणी छिमेकीको उदाहरण पनि भएका कारण सरकार उदार र प्रतिस्पर्धी अर्थतन्त्रभन्दा नियन्त्रित अर्थतन्त्रतर्फ अगाडि बढेको निजी क्षेत्रको आशंका छ ।

तर, सोमबार अर्थ, गृह, भौतिक पूर्वाधार, सहरी विकास, उर्जा, जलस्रोत तथा सिंचाई मन्त्रालयका मन्त्री तथा सचिव र नेपाल राष्ट्र बैंक, राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग, धितोपत्र बोर्डका नेतृत्वहरुसँग प्रधानमन्त्रीले बालुवाटारमा तीनघन्टा लामो छलफल गरेपछि मंगलबार प्रधानमन्त्री कार्यालय सिंहदरबारमा निजी क्षेत्रको गुनासा सुन्ने भएका छन् ।

आफनो सरकारले अर्थतन्त्रलाई क्रमशः सुधार गरेको दाबी गर्ने प्रधानमन्त्रीले के प्रतिस्पर्धी निजी क्षेत्र बनाउन सघाउलान् कि सरकार नियन्त्रित निजी क्षेत्रको परिकल्पनालाई साकार रुप दिने गृहकार्य गर्लान् हेर्न बाँकि नै छ ।

तर, निजी क्षेत्र आफैं पनि यतिखेर नीतिगत अलमलमा छ । निजी क्षेत्रको पहिलो गुनासो चर्को ब्याजदर हो । तर चर्को ब्याजदरको बिरोध गरिरहँदा निजी क्षेत्रले उद्योग ब्यवसायमा ब्याजदरको भार कति हो र कसरी ब्याजदरका कारण उद्योग ब्यवसाय पीडित भए भन्ने स्पष्ट पार्न प्रधानमन्त्री समक्ष तथ्य तथा तथ्यांक पनि प्रस्तुत गर्लान् नै ।

चर्को ब्याजदरभन्दा पनि खतरनाक समस्या प्रतिस्पर्धाबिहीन बजार हो भन्ने कुरामा निजी क्षेत्रले प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई कति बुझाउन सक्छ, त्यसैले नेपालको निजी क्षेत्रमात्र होइन अर्थतन्त्र कता जान्छ र कसरी अगाडि बढ्छ निर्क्यौल हुने देखिन्छ ।

माने पनि नमाने पनि नेपाली अर्थतन्त्र आजका मितिसम्म कोल्याप्स नहुनुका पछाडि खुला बजार र त्यसले सिर्जना गरेको प्रतिस्पर्धा नै हो । प्रतिस्पर्धाका कारण बजारमा वस्तु तथा सेवाको मूल्य घट्ने तथा गुणस्तरमा सुधार आउँछ । तर, नेपालमा विभिन्न वादका सरकारहरु बन्दै गर्दा ठिमाहा प्रकृतीको खुला बजार प्रबद्र्धन गरिएका कारण सरकार तथा आमजनता दुबै ठगिएका छन् ।

सरकारले बजारमा प्रतिस्पर्धा गर्ने तथा आमजनता अनि सरकार आफै पनि राजश्व नठगिने वातावरण बनाउन प्रधानमन्त्रीले कसरी सहजीकरण गर्न सक्छन्, त्यसैमा सरकारको सफलता अथवा असफलता निर्भर रहन्छ । एकातिर सरकारले लक्ष्य अनुरुपको रावश्व उठाउन सकिरहेको छैन भने अर्कोतिर सरकार खर्च गर्न पनि असमर्थ छ । अझ स्पष्टरुपमा भन्ने हो प्रतिस्पर्धी बजार नबनाएका कारण सरकार लगातार राजश्वमा ठगिएको छ । राजश्व चुवाहट बढेका कारण राजश्वको लक्ष्य भेट्न मुश्किल परेको छ । अनि पैसा नभएका कारण विकासका काममा खर्च गर्न सरकारलारई हम्मे परेको छ ।

त्यसैले अर्थतन्त्र संकुचनमा गइरहेको निजी क्षेत्रको आरोप छ । तर, अर्थ मन्त्रालयका अनुसार भने गत आर्थिक वर्षको पहिलो त्रैमासको तुलनामा चालू आवको पहिलो त्रैमासमा पुँजीगत खर्च २२ प्रतिशतले बढेको छ ।

यसैगरि, लक्ष्य नभेटेपनि राजश्व बृद्धिदर पनि सन्तोषजनक रहेको अर्थमन्त्रालयको दाबी छ ।

विदेशी लगानी पनि गत आवको पहिलो त्रैमासभन्दा चालू आवमा बढि आएको अर्थमन्त्रालयको तथ्यांक छ । गत आवको पहिलो त्रैमासमा १ अर्बभन्दा कम वैदेसिक लगानी नेपाल भित्रिएकोमा चालू आवको पहिलो त्रैमासमा ३ अर्ब हाराहारी भित्रिएको छ ।

यसैगरि, गत आवको पहिलो तीन महिनामाभन्दा निजी क्षेत्रमा गएको बर्जा पनि दोब्बर भएको छ । यसरी सरकारले अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान हुन लागेको दाबी गरेको छ ।

अर्थतन्त्रमा आज देखिएको समस्या रातारात आएका होइनन् । तर, पछिल्लो एक दशकको आर्थिक बृद्धीदरको औसत् ४ प्रतिशत हाराहारीमात्र रहेको कारण पनि वर्तमान सरकार दबाबमा छ । अर्थतन्त्र चलायमान नहुनु, रोजगारीको अभावमा युवा विदेश पलायन बढ्नु तथा सरकारको खर्च गर्ने क्षमतामा वृद्धि नहुनुका कारण पनि निजी क्षेत्रले सरकारलाई अर्थतन्त्र सुधारमा दबाब दिन थालेका छन् ।

त्यसमाथि पछिल्लो समय आन्तरिक तथा बाह्य कारणले बढ्दो महंगीका कारण सर्वसाधारणको जीवनयापनमा समस्याग्रस्त बन्दै गइरहेको छ ।

Indira Rana Magar elected House of Representatives deputy speaker

Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) lawmaker Indira Rana Magar has has been elected new deputy speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR).

The ruling coalition – that includes CPN-UML, CPN-Maoist Centre and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) besides the RSP – candidate Rana Magar has been elected deputy speaker with 166 votes today. She has defeated Mukta Kumari Yadav of Nepali Congress (NC). Out of 275 members of the House of Representatives, 264 participated in the election. One needs to secure the support of 138 members in the 275-strong lower house to be elected. As many as 97 lawmakers stood against Magar, while Prem Suwal of the Majdoor Kishan Party stood neutral.

Magar and Yadav filed their candidacy for the position of deputy speaker in the House of Representatives yesterday. NC’s Yadav was supported by the CPN-Unified Socialist and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party Nepal besides the NC.

Newly elected Speaker Debraj Ghimire first presented Rana's candidacy in the assembly for decision. During the division of votes, as the majority of MPs were in favor of Rana, the candidacy of Congress MP Muktakumari, who was her rival, did not have to be presented for decision.

The 52-year-old Rana Magar, who is from Jhapa, became an HoR member from RSP through the proportional representation (PR) electoral system. 

Actively involved in social work and child rights before entering politics, she is the founding chairperson of Prisoners Assistance Nepal, a non-profit organisation that looks after children whose parents are in prison.

A resident of Salbadi from Arjundhara-11 in Jhapa, Rana Magar, has two schools and 10 childcare centres under her guardianship. In the centres, as many as 2,000 children of inmates from Jhapa to Palpa district are getting care and education at her initiative.

Born to father Pratap Ranamagar and mother Manmaya Ranamagar as the youngest child in 2027 BS, she began taking care of the inmates’ children by renting two rooms in Kathmandu 22 years ago.

Rana Magar is also listed on BBC 100 Women. In 2005, Rana Magar also got the prestigious Ashoka Fellowship, and the ‘Asia People’s Service’ award in 2009. She has received Asia 21 Young Leader Public Service Award in 2009 and World Children’s Honourary Award in 2014 for her social work. She was featured in BBC’s 100 Women List in 2017.

The third largest party in the ruling coalition RSP got the post of deputy speaker and the largest CPN-UML the speaker according to the agreement of the coalition. CPN-UML lawmaker Dev Raj Ghimire was elected speaker on Thursday defeating Ishwari Neupane of NC.

The Constitution makes it mandatory to elect a Speaker and a deputy Speaker within 15 days of the House’s first meeting.

According to the Article 91 (2) of the Statute, either the Speaker or the deputy Speaker must be a woman and from different parties, preferably form government and opposition. However, the ruling alliance has divided Speaker and deputy Speaker among themselves.

Rana, after being elected, claimed to work on strengthen the federalism, though her party openly has criticized the federalism, and asked to scrap the Province as according to them Province has become liability.

The deputy Speaker, according to her, is inspired by renowned litterateur Parijat, who was her guide and guardian, when Rana Magar moved to Kathmandu for study. She did her schooling by getting enrolled at Grade 5 at the age of 12 in a local Maharanigunj Primary School, Arjundhara, according to her elder brother Jagat Ranamagar.

She holds a MA degree in Sociology and has a daughter.

According to the Parliamentary Secretariat, except the single party Panchayat Rule of 30 years, Rana Magar is the 12th deputy Speaker and seventh women deputy Speaker in the parliamentary history of Nepal. The first deputy Speaker was Mahendra Narayan Nidhi of NC (March 31, 1960), who could enjoy his tenure till December 15, 1960 as then King Mahendra dissolved the House and arrested the democratically elected government led by NC president BP Koirala.

After the democratic movement of 1990 that reestablished the multiparty democracy, Mahanta Thakur – then NC now Loktantrik Samaajbadi Party – became the deputy Speaker on June 23, 1991 to December 17, 1994. From December 18, 1994 Ram Bilas Yadav from Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) became deputy Speaker till October 13, 1997.

The first women deputy Speaker of the House was Lila Shrestha Subbha from CPN-UML. Due to intra-party feud in CPN-UML, her party asked her to resign and she resigned on October 10, 1998. 

Bhoj Raj Joshi from the CPN-ML – a splinter party of CPN-UML – became deputy Speaker of the House on October 14, 1998, after the resignation of Lila Shrestha Subba. Joshi – now CPN-UML leader – remained deputy Speaker till March 23, 1999.

The second women deputy Speaker of the House Chitralekha Yadav was elected deputy Speaker of the House on June 29, 1999. He is the longest serving deputy Speaker of the House due to political upheaval. She remained deputy Speaker till January 17, 2007. During her tenure as the deputy Speaker, the country witnessed direct rule of the King Gyanendra.

But after the CPN-Maoist – now Maoist-Centre – came to main stream politics, they won majority in the House and the House saw Purna Kumari Subedi was elected the deputy Speaker on November 28, 2008. Her tenure was till November 19, 2013. After Subedi of CPN-Maoist, Onsari Gharti, of the same party, became deputy Speaker of the House on February 26, 2014. Her tenure remained till October 14, 2015. Later Gharti also became the Speaker of the House.

From October 15, 2015, Ganga Prasad Yadav of RPP became the deputy Speaker of the House till October 15, 2017. Then Dr Shiva Maya Tumbahamfe of unified CPN (CPN) remained deputy Speaker till January 20, 2020. From July 15, 2022, Puspa Bhusal of NC became deputy Speaker till September 17, 2022.

On January 20, 2023, today, Indira Rana Magar of RSP elected deputy Speaker of the House. RSP – the fourth largest party in the House – according to power sharing agreement among the ruling alliance, was planning to field lawmaker Sovita Gautam, who has defeated the former Speaker of the House Onsari Gharti in Kathmandu-2, but all of a sudden proposed Rana Magar, who has become HR member under Proportional representation (PR) electoral system – at the last moment.

World Bank highlights resource gap to maintain federalism

The World Bank (WB) has concluded resource gap to maintain the three-tier government. Releasing a report, 'Public Expenditure Review (PER) Report on Fiscal Policy for Sustainable Development', the multilateral development partner also said the government should also introduce five key reform measures to support fiscal sustainability and its transition towards green, resilient, and inclusive development.

The World Bank, in its report, has also identified five top priority reform measures. It has suggested on encouraging the update of sub-national spending responsibilities through the intergovernmental grants system.

Supporting exports and job creation through reforms to import duties, strengthening domestic revenue including a review in VAT exemptions, enhancing public capital spending by rolling out the National Project Bank and providing fiscal incentives for a green growth transition are among measures that World Bank has recommended to achieve the goal.

The World Bank has also stated that Nepal has made significant strides in implementing fiscal federalism but excessive dependency of the sub-national governments on the intergovernmental transfers and revenue sharing, which accounts for around 30 per cent of the annual budget, to fulfill their financial demands.

“While federalism is helping bring policymaking closer to the people, it has also increased fiscal spending and exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic led to a sharp rise in fiscal deficits and public debt,” the report reads, stressing the importance of strengthening investment processes and fiscal policies for green growth, and fiscal policy reforms to enable Nepal to use its green electricity surplus to mitigate air pollution to protect the health of people and the economy.

With the country’s transition to federalism, expenditure responsibilities have been devolved to subnational governments that are predominantly financed through intergovernmental transfers and revenue sharing. These now account for between 8 per cent and 9 per cent of GDP per year (or close to 30 per cent of the annual budget). 

“This report provides an analytical basis to inform our reform efforts to strengthen federalism and create fiscal space to support our new focus on a green, resilient, and inclusive development (GRID) model,” finance secretary Madhu Kumar Marasini said, adding that it complements our ongoing efforts to refine the fiscal transfer system put in place the systems for monitoring and reporting for a more results oriented and accountable delivery of local services.”

Likewise, World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervosthis said that the human development PER, both of which will help inform the design of World Bank support to Nepal, including through our ongoing support through our various Development Policy Credits."

World Bank support for federalism and improved service delivery

 The World Bank approved today a $150 million project to help Nepal strengthen service delivery and institutional capacities in strategic secondary cities, and to support the post-Covid-19 economic recovery. The project is unique in that it puts the municipalities in front and center in project implementation, in full alignment with federalism principles enshrined in the 2015 Constitution of Nepal, according to a press note issued by the multilateral development partner.

“In the context of rapid urbanisation, federalism and Covid-19, providing support to strengthen institutions for effective local service delivery in Nepal’s secondary cities, and extending targeted support to vulnerable groups affected by the impact of the pandemic is critical,” World Bank country director for Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka Faris Hadad-Zervos said. “Our support will help build capacity of key municipalities, enhance local accountability, and accelerate Covid-19 recovery by short-term employment for vulnerable groups as well as service delivery,” he added.

The Nepal Urban Governance and Infrastructure Project will support municipalities located in two strategic urban clusters: Eastern-Terai region (Provinces 1 and 2) and Western region (Gandaki Province and Province 5). The selected municipalities in these areas are key to Nepal’s economic development and are centers for commercial and administrative activities. Through the creation of Nepal’s’ first dedicated Urban Sector Grant, the project will finance strategic infrastructure in the targeted cities, based on the priorities of the municipalities and their citizens.

The project will also support capacity building for the municipalities for improved urban management and with strong focus on citizen engagement, enabling targeted municipalities to better plan, manage and execute service delivery and urban management activities. In this way, the project ensures that the capacity of municipalities is built in relation to functions that they perform (learning by doing), and that municipalities are held to account by citizens and national government.

The project will finance small scale labour intensive public works, thus creating temporary jobs for at least 20,000 people across the country, including women and other vulnerable groups. The project also includes a contingency emergency response component to reallocate project funds to support emergency response and recovery.

“The project is a critical milestone in that it is the first World Bank project in Nepal to directly support federalism,” the Project Task Team Leader and Senior Urban Specialist of the World Bank Jonas Ingemann Parby said, adding, “Equally importantly, the project includes best practices in climate resilience, gender equality, social inclusion and citizen engagement, which the federal, provincial and local governments can take on.”

The project is fully aligned with government policies and strategies, including the National Urban Development Strategy, and is harmonised with the overall support provided by the government and development partners towards the implementation of federalism in Nepal.

Most of the local levels fail to bring law to protect consumers

 Some 746 local governments have yet not brought Consumers Protection Act, though the Constitution has given them the right to bring the law to protect consumer, according to the chair of the Consumer Welfare Protection Forum Jyoti Baniya, speaking at a programme today.

Highlighting the need to enforce Local Market Management Act as provisioned in the Constitution, he said that the Constitution has also recognised consumers’ welfare under the fundamental right providing sufficient grounds to enforce effective measures to protect their rights. ”The local governments’ apathy to introduce necessary laws has left consumers helpless across the country.”

Although it has been almost five years since the new constitution was endorsed – in 2015 – and the local governments had their elected representatives a year later, only 7 local governments – out of a total 753 – including Damak, Kalaiya, Bhimeshwor, Waling, Tansen, Birendranagar and Tikapur municipalities have so far brought the Act. The law paves way for forming a powerful committee under leadership of the deputy mayor, Baniya added.

The law delegates full authority to the committee to oversee almost all market related activities that include cross inspection, provision of selling points and budget management to conduct research and raise awareness among general people. Each of these 7 municipalities are reported to have allocated up to Rs 5 million to carry out these activities.

The delay in formulating necessary laws by the local governments has created severe problem in effective market inspection and monitoring,” he said, adding that the market inspection being conducted by mayor, deputy mayor or high ranking government officials, in the absence of necessary law have failed to provide any relief to the consumers. “The market, however, has become largely unsafe for consumers as they are being cheated.”

The concern for consumers’ right protection started in Nepal some two-and-a-half decades ago.

Provincial leaders commit to implement findings of federalism stocktaking report

The Chief Ministers of five provinces expressed appreciation of the process and agreement of the findings and recommendations of the Federalism Capacity Needs Assessment (FCNA) at a special briefing event on the FCNA held today.
The briefing – jointly organised by the finance ministry amd ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration – was delivered by the country manager of the World Bank in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Nepal and in the presence of international development partners.
“Nepal’s transition to federalism significantly increases the need to develop capacity at all levels of the government and to modernise the governance system and institutional framework as an ongoing process,” stated finance minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada, on the occasion.
“This will help in taking on new service delivery responsibilities as required in the federal set-up, and also meet growing demand for better public services,” he said, adding that the FCNA is an assessment of Nepal’s capacity needs in the provincial and local governments to implement federalism, along with a roadmap of priorities for all three levels of government over the short and medium terms.
Led by the government with the support of the World Bank and UNDP, the FCNA was jointly undertaken by the Georgia State University and Nepal Administrative Staff College, which was initiated in September 2018 and completed in December 2019. The assessment covered the federal government, seven provincial governments and a representative sample of 115 local governments using informant interviews, desk reviews and questionnaires, and focused on three main elements of capacity: organisational, institutional and regulatory, and physical infrastructure.
“Nepal has made a historic move from a unitary form of government to a federal system that builds accountability of three levels of the government,” minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration Hridayesh Tripathi said, adding that the success of federalism in Nepal implies success in all three levels of government which requires that they work together as one in meeting the aspirations of the people.
The FCNA identifies measurable progress since the adoption of the federal constitution in 2015 with the set up of key institutional structures, strengthening of the regulatory environment and strong initial progress in the adjustment of personnel in all levels of the government. Provincial and local governments account for about 34 per cent of total national expenditure, suggesting strong government acknowledgment of the importance of fiscal federalism. However, the FCNA notes that gaps still exist between the needs and existing capacity at all levels of government to manage new functions.
During the interaction, chief ministers, who attended the meeting expressed their views that relate to the need for infrastructure building, technical support in better planning and execution of projects, capacity building of human resources both at the provincial and local levels, and better coordination within provincial governments and with the federal government. They also appreciated the cooperation from development partners to support the implementation of federalism and welcomed the plan of dissemination of the FCNA in two provinces.
The assessment calls for a strategic approach to capacity building for federalism, including the need to prioritize measures to strengthen the foundations for intergovernmental and inter-ministerial coordination and monitoring of the implementation of federalism. The FCNA recommends a roadmap essential to help improve Nepal’s capacity readiness for federalism.
The FCNA was first disseminated at the federal level in December 2019. The report dissemination process, which seeks to mainstream findings and recommendations in all three levels of the government, will be completed by disseminations organised for provincial and local government officials and other stakeholders within the first quarter of 2020.
“The FCNA is a dynamic document that is intended to facilitate discussions on the way forward,” World Bank country manager for Nepal Faris H Hadad-Zervos said, adding that identifying the capacity needs for federalism is just one part of the equation. “The other and important part is to operationalise the FCNA findings and recommendations.”
“We are committed to support this process and the broader implementation of federalism in Nepal,” he added.
“It is all about bringing basic facilities and services like education, drinking water, food, basic health and roads faster to those really in isolated places,” UNDP resident representative Ayshanie Medagangoda-Labé said, adding that it is also about having the will and expertise to work in a different way. “We hope the FCNA will give the evidences for a strong foundation on which we the partners can rally to complement each other and deliver on the commitment.”

Roadmap recommended improvement in Nepal’s capacity readiness for federalism

Federalism is taking root in Nepal with measurable progress in institutional and regulatory environments for federalism, according to a government report.
The Federalism Capacity Needs Assessment (FCNA) – an assessment of Nepal’s capacity needs focusing on the provincial and local governments to implement federalism – is released by Finance Ministry and Federal Affairs Ministry.
The report – conducted by the Georgia State University and Nepal Administrative Staff College in 2018 and 2019 – is led by the government with the support of the World Bank (WB) and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
The assessment report covers the federal government, seven provincial governments and 115 local governments using informant interviews, desk reviews and questionnaires, and focused on three main elements of capacity: organisational, institutional and regulatory, and physical infrastructure.
“The transition to federalism is profound and requires years to unfold,”finance secretary Dr Rajan Khanal said, addressing the report launching ceremony.
“The report, in this regard, provides an important baseline in Nepal’s federalism implementation and capacity requirements to guide the success of federalism for the benefit of the people of Nepal,” he added.
The report also identifies measurable progress since the adoption of the federal constitution in 2015 with the set up of key institutional structures, strengthening of the regulatory environment and strong initial progress in the adjustment of personnel in all levels of the government. Within the first two years of the operation, provincial and local governments have accounted for about 34 per cent of the national budget significantly boosting their fiscal responsibility, the report reads noting that while initial progress is significant, gaps still exist between the needs and existing capacity at all levels of government to manage new functions. “The assessment calls for a strategic approach to capacity building for federalism, including the need to prioritise measures to strengthen the foundations for intergovernmental and inter-ministerial coordination and monitoring of the implementation of federalism.”
According to federal affairs secretary Yadav Prasad Koirala, the report is a living document. “I will like to highlight the need to implement the most urgent, relevant and feasible recommendations as prescribed by the assessment on a priority basis.”
The report also recommends a roadmap to help improve Nepal’s capacity readiness for federalism. Developed through a consultative process with all stakeholders under the leadership of the government, the roadmap can help deliver on common objectives and improve coherence and coordination among the three levels of the government. The roadmap will not only articulate reform priorities and sequencing of actions, but also help to improve implementation of the reform process for the successful implementation of federalism.”
Likewise, World Bank country manager for Nepal Faris Hadad-Zervos, on the occasion, said that Nepal’s success with federalism will be measured by not only how well the government manages the challenges associated with the transition to federalism but also by the quality of services provided to citizens. “The roadmap recommended by the FCNA can, in effect, add value in the implementation of federalism and help smooth out the transition.”
“Strong institutional arrangement for capacity building at the provincial and local levels is key to supporting Nepal’s transition to federalism,” UNDP Resident Representative AyshanieMedagangoda-Labé said addressing the report launching ceremony. “The findings and recommendations of the report will go a long way in guiding future courses in the implementation of Nepal’s federal form of governance.”

DCCs, local levels told not to accept foreign aid without approval

The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has issued a circular to all district coordination committees (DCC) and local levels not to accept assistance or loans from foreign agencies, development partners, communities or investors without consent of the federal government.
In a response to a letter from the Finance Ministry citing a recent decision of the cabinet, the ministry has urged DCC and local levels to abide by the constitutional provisions and other existing laws related to exclusive and concurrent powers of all three tiers of government.
The constitution – Article 59 (6) – reads that the Government of Nepal shall have power to obtain foreign assistance and borrow loans, which means only the federal government has the right to accept the foreign assistance and borrow loans. “Such assistance or loans shall be obtained or borrowed to maintain macroeconomic stability of the country,” the article reads, adding that Clause 7 of Schedule-5 has set down the matters related to international treaties or agreements, extradition, mutual legal assistance and international borders and transboundary rivers as the exclusive power of the federal government.
According to Section 12 of the Inter-governmental Fiscal Arrangement Act-2017, provincial and local governments shall not obtain any form of foreign grant or assistance or implement or make to implement any plans or programmes with the foreign grants or assistance, without prior consent of the federal government, the circular reads.
The Finance Ministry has requested the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration to issue a circular to all the DCC and local levels in conformance with the November 15 decision of the cabinet, citing that there was the possibility that foreign assistance and loans would be accepted without bringing it to the knowledge of the federal government,” according to the Development Assistance Coordination Section under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration.
The central government has became very cautious about the issue after some local levels were found to be planning to sign agreements with foreign development partners for assistance and loans by keeping the federal government in the dark.
The federal government can accept foreign grants and assistance for plans or programmes to be implemented by the provincial and local governments.

Bureaucracy posing challenge to federalism: NCP chair Dahal

The senior leader has accused the bureaucracy for not supporting the government and posing challenge to federalism.
Addressing Sudurpaschim Financial Summit in Dhangadi today, Nepal Communist Party (NCP) chair Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ said that the bureaucracy has been holding the development of Nepal back.
The civil servants, from the old political system, are not used to expediting the development process and holding the economic growth of the country back, he said, adding that the new government following the political change in the country should have sacked them. “We should have bid farewell to the employees – who had worked in the old political system – and hired fresh manpower.”
The government failed to usher in change due to the civil servants with old mind sets,” Dahal added.
Accusing the civil servants of not cooperating with the political leadership for the implementation of federalism, he said that bureaucrats are corrupting leaders’ mindset on various pretexts. “The domination of bureaucracy in the issues of nation building, after the second people’s movement had led to the loss of accomplishments achieved from political struggle,” Dahal said, charging the civil servants for failing to get rid of centralised and unitary mindset, though he did not mention the centralised mindset of the politicians themselves.
Sudurpaschim Financial Summit – the first of such kind of summit in province – the participants discussed on role of financial and non financial institutions in the economic development of the Sudurpaschim province. The first session – moderated by former vice chair of National Planning Commission (NPC) member Min Bahadur Shrestha – witnessed the participation of commercial banks, development banks, finance companies and central bank representatives, whereas the second session – moderated by former vice chair of NPC Dr Swarnim Wagle – witnessed cooperatives, life and non-life insurance companies, Insurance Board and media representatives. They discussed various opportunities and challenges of the Sudurpaschim province, and its way forward. Karobar Editor Kuber Chalise, on the occasion, suggested the province to include financial literacy in the course books of all the local levels in the province.
Concluding the Sudurpaschim Financial Summit, finance minister of the province Jhapat Bohora brought out the Dhangadi Declaration. The declaration reads that the provincial government will encourage and support the local levels in the province to include financial literacy in the school course.

Local governments present budget for next fiscal year

Following the federal and provincial budgets, most of the local bodies presented their budgets in the municipal assemblies today. A few urban and rural municipalities have presented their budget ahead of the final deadline that is today.
According to the provision of the Intergovernmental Fiscal Management Act, local governments must announce their budgets in their respective assemblies by Asadh 10 of the Nepali calendar, some 20 days before the beginning of the new fiscal year. Based on the law, most of the metropolises, sub-metropolises, urban and rural municipalities have presented their budgets in the municipal assemblies today.
The Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration (MoFAGA) – in coordination with the Finance Ministry – had forwarded a circular to all the local bodies to present their budget by Asadh 10. But some 100 municipalities failed to present their budget by today’ deadline, according to the law. In the current fiscal year some 25 municipalities have failed to bring the budget, some 40 local governments had announced their budget without presenting ‘Programmes and Policies’.
Those municipalities, which were unable to present their budget today’s deadline will face problems in receiving the grant provided by the Finance Ministry, according to the joint secretary at the Federal Ministry Jaya Narayan Acharya.
Among six metropolis, Kathmandu Metropolitan City has presented a budget of Rs 15.50 billion – which is the largest among all the 753 local governments – for the next fiscal year. Likewise, Pokhara metropolis has presented a budget of Rs 7.54 billion, Lalitpur Rs 5.17 billion, Biratnagar Rs 5.12 billion, Birgunj Rs 4.48 billion and Bharatpur has presented a budget of Rs 3.37 billion for the next fiscal year. Likewise, Hetauda sub-metropolitan presented a budget of Rs 1.81 billion for the fiscal year 2019-20.
The local governments will finance their budgets through their own revenue, grant transferred from the federal and provincial governments, revenue shared from the federal government and provincial governments and through internal debt, according to the Constitution.
The total of 753 local governments will be able to mobilise revenue – shared from the divisible fund and calculated according to the formula prepared by the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission – worth Rs 65.45 billion for next fiscal 2019-20. They will directly get 15 per cent of the total value added tax (VAT) and internal excise, apart from 25 per cent royalty collected from mountaineering, electricity, forest, mines and minerals, water resources and other natural resources, according to the Constitution.
Likewise, the federal government will transfer a total of Rs 89.93 billion as equalisation grant and Rs 123.87 billion as conditional grant to the local governments. The provincial governments will also transfer grants to the local governments, under fiscal transfer.
Grants from the federal government are transferred in four tranches – every quarter – from the beginning of the fiscal year in mid-July. The federal government has increased grant amount to local bodies by Rs 18.77 billion to Rs 213.82 billion for fiscal year 2019-20.
The federal government transfers 40 per cent of the conditional grant in the beginning of the fiscal year and the remaining amount is transferred based on the performance of the expenses.
According to the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, equalisation grant has been allocated based on the need of development in local governments including multidimensional poverty, socioeconomic discrimination and status of infrastructure development in local units.
The National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission is the constitutional body that recommends required fiscal transfer to sub-national governments and manages the utilisation of natural resources in an undisputed manner but this year, according to the commission sources, the Finance Ministry has overruled the commission’s authority in budgetary process. 

Fiscal federalism, discipline must for higher growth

Effective implementation of fiscal federalism and maintaining fiscal discipline are crucial for Nepal to achieve higher economic growth, as per the Asian Development Bank (ADB).
Releasing the latest ADB Nepal Macroeconomic Update ADB’s country director for Nepal Mukhtor Khamudkhanov said that the outlook is for a stable growth on the back of strong domestic demand, fuelled by a larger budget allocation to sub-national governments and accelerated post-earthquake reconstruction. "However, challenges to smooth implementation of fiscal federalism and maintaining fiscal discipline at large could pose potential risks to the outlook.”
According to Khamudkhanov, Nepal has the potential to achieve and sustain higher growth rate over a long period of time if these challenges are addressed.
The ADB has projected the country’s economy to grow at 6.2 per cent in the ongoing fiscal year while it has anticipated that the economy will grow at 6.3 per cent in the next fiscal year. The Asian Development Bank’s growth forecast is slightly lower that the growth rate of 6.5 per cent projected by the International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, an optimistic government expects to achieve an economic growth rate of over 7 per cent. Finance Minister Dr Yuba Raj Khatiwada has - in the budget for the current fiscal year - forecast a growth rate of 8 per cent when he presented the budget for the current fiscal year to the Parliament.
The ADB update has also projected the agriculture sector to grow from 2.8 per cent in fiscal year 2018-19 to 4.5 per cent in 2019-20 due to a good monsoon that is expected to boost paddy production to 5.5 million tonnes, a rise of 8.4 per cent from the previous year. Likewise, the industry sector is expected to expand by 7.1 per cent in 2018-19 buoyed by improved electricity supply and efforts to improve the investment climate while the services sector will likely grow by 6.4 per cent with the expansion of wholesale and retail trade, hotels and restaurants, and financial intermediation, the update reads.
Meanwhile, ADB’s Nepal Macroeconomic Update has projected inflation to rise to 4.4 per cent in 2018-19 from 4.2 per cent in 2017-18, partly reflecting somewhat higher inflation expected in India, stable oil prices, and higher government expenditures under the new federal structure.
Likewise, revenue collection has primarily increased on higher import growth and an improvement of the tax system while the budget as of mid-January 2019 is in surplus by Rs 173.3 billion owing to strong revenue growth and a marginal slowdown in recurrent expenses, the update reads. "Though capital expenditure has surged in the fiscal year through mid-February, its execution stands at only 22.5 per cent. This could again lead to a spending spree in the last month of the fiscal year, undermining the quality of capital projects."
ADB is committed to achieving a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, while sustaining its efforts to eradicate extreme poverty. In 2018, it made commitments of new loans and grants amounting to $21.6 billion. Established in 1966, it is owned by 68 members—49 from the region.

Architect of social security programme, Adhikari no more

Architect of the elderly allowance and local level empowerment programme former deputy prime minister and finance minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari breathed his last at Dhumbarahi-based Hospital for Advanced Medicine and Surgery (HAMS) today at 9.35pm.
Adhikari (82) – who was undergoing treatment for heart and respiratory problems at HAMS – is survived by his wife and three daughters.
HAMS Hospital – issuing a press note – confirmed the news late in the evening. "We are very sad to announce that Bharat Mohan Adhikari, who was undergoing treatment at this hospital for the last 23 days, has passed away at 9:35 pm today,” the press note reads.
"Adhikari breathed his last at 9:35 pm," HAMS in its press note further reads, adding that Adhikari died due to multiple organ failure. "Though, his condition had improved a few days ago, his condition began to deteriorate three days ago."
Earlier today afternoon, the hospital - in a statement -- has also said that Adhikari had developed symptoms of multiple organs failure.
The senior NCP leader Adhikari – who also served as deputy prime minister twice – was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) for the past few days following lung and heart-related complications.
Adhikari – a four-time finance minister – was a permanent resident of Morang district and the brother of former prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari. Born in Bhramarpur of Mahottari on May 4, 1936, he was a four-time member of parliament from Morang district. During his political career, Adhikari also worked as the then CPN-UML’s deputy parliamentary party leader and transportation minister.
However, he was popular – during his tenure as the finance minister in the cabinet of prime minister Man Mohan Adhikari in 1994 – for introducing the 'Aafno Gaun Aafai Banau' programme, a development programme aimed at developing villages across the country, giving them the authority to select local projects on their own. Under the programme, Adhikari allocated Rs 500,000 to each Village Development Committee (VDC), though the local bodies used to get money through the district bodies earlier.
Though the first elected communist government lasted only nine months, Adhikari's popular programme including the senior citizens social security programme was a policy departure as it started the realisation of the government's responsibility towards its senior citizen. Adhikari decided to provide Rs 100 as a monthly allowance to each citizen aged above 75 in his budget in 1995. Though opposition Nepali Congress (NC) party initially opposed Adhikari’s policy, saying that a distributive budget policy won’t help the country’s development in the long run as it would only be a huge burden on state coffers and suck huge resources, all the successive governments including the ones led by NC couldn’t stop the programme. The elderly allowance programme – over the time – ha widened the areas of the social security schemes introduced by Adhikari, and increased the allowance. The elderly allowance has become Rs 2,000 as of the current fiscal year.
Likewise, the 'Aafno Gaun Aafai Banau' programme was also a signature programme of the then CPN (UML) – currently Nepal Communist Party (NCP) – that has been cashed by the party even in the last election after almost two decade-and-a-half to gain the overhealming majority to form the incumbent KP Sharma Oli led government. Though the programme was a counter to Nepali Congress that had allocated 80 per cent budget to the village, it gave power to the local authorities to exercise their right to develop their place by themselves.
Adhikari also played an important role as a member of the constitution drafting committee in 1990 and was actively involved in drafting the Interim Constitution of 2007.
A liberal and moderate leader, Adhikari became full-time party leader after the 1990-movement, shifting his base from his native town of Biratnagar to Kathmandu. In Biratnagar, Adhikari used to practice law.
A Standing Committee member in then CPN-UML, Adhikari has announced his retirement from active politics in 2014 as the party – during the 9th General Convention – put 70 years of age limit to be involved in the active party politics.

वित्तीय संघीयताका चुनौती

मोरङको बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाले त्यहाँ रहेका उद्योगलाई विभिन्न शीर्षकमा लगाएको करविरूद्ध मोरङ व्यापार संघले उच्च अदालत विराटनगरमा मुद्दा दायर गरेको छ । व्यापार संघले सोमबार उच्च अदालतमा बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाले संविधानविपरीत दोहोरो कर लिएको भन्दै मुद्दा दायर गरेको हो । संघका अध्यक्ष पवनकुमार शारडाका अनुसार बूढीगंगाले त्यहाँका उद्योगमा यस आर्थिक वर्षदेखि लागू हुने गरी विभिन्न शीर्षकमा अत्यधिक मात्रामा छुट्टै व्यवसाय कर लगाएको छ । जसअनुसार ठूला उद्योगलाई ५ लाख, मझौला उद्योगलाई ३ लाख र साना उद्योगलाई १ लाख कर कायम गरेको छ । साथै घर जग्गा करअन्तर्गत उद्योग भवनसमेतको समेत कर दस्तुर लगाइएको छ । रिट निवेदनमा ‘उद्योगहरूले धेरै अगाडिदेखि करसमेत बुझाई कारोबार गर्दै आएकोमा पुनः पटके सवारी कर, विदेशी सवारी साधनमा लाग्ने दस्तुर र कवाडी कर भनी उद्योगका लागि आउने सवारी तथा कवाडीका सामाग्रीमा दोहोरो कर उठाउन आह्वान गरिएको बोलपत्र नै गैरकानुनी’ रहेको दाबी गरिएको छ । बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाले कार्यपालिकाको बैठकबाट दररेट पारित गरी फलाममा प्रति केजी २ रूपैयाँ, पित्तल, तामा, फलाम, जिंकलगायतमा प्रति केजी २.५० र काम नलाग्ने मेसिनरी औजारमा प्रति केजी २ रूपैयाँका दरले लगाएको करले उद्योग व्यवसायको लागतमा वृद्धि भएको अध्यक्ष शारडाले बताए । 

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बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाले लगाएको करको विरुद्ध ब्यवसायीले अदालतमा मुद्दा नै दायर गरेको एउटा प्रतिनिधिमूलक घटना हो यो । संघीय संविधानको लेखनक्रमममा नै निजी क्षेत्रले संघीयता लागू भएपछि दोहोरो कर तथा अन्य विभिन्न करहरूमा एकरूपता ल्याउनु पर्ने मागसहित राजनीतिक दलका शीर्ष नेतृत्वलाई लामो फेहरिस्त नै बुझाएको थियो । पटक–पटक विभिन्न नाममा दोहोरो कर लगाउँदा उद्योगी–व्यवसायीको मनोबल खस्कने र उद्योग व्यवसायको लागत बढ्न गइ धराशायी हुन्छ ।  संविधान तथा कानुनअनुसार पनि सघीय सरकार, प्रदेश सरकार तथा स्थानीय सरकारले एउटै वस्तुमा पटक पटक कानुन नै नबनाई दोहोरो–तेहेरो कर दस्तुर लिनु गैरसंवैधानिक तथा गैरकानुनी पनि हो । तर राजनीतिको विद्यालयबाट संघीयताको पाठ्यक्रम पढेर हुर्किएको हाम्रो स्थानीय तथा प्रदेश एवं संघीय नेतृत्व नै वित्तीय संघीयताको मूल मर्मविपरित संघीयतालाई नै खतरामा पार्ने क्रियाकलापमा व्यस्त छन् । राज्य पुुनःसंरचना तथा भौगोलिक संघीयताको चुरो भनेको वित्तीय संघीयता हो । यदी वित्तीय संघीयताको बारेमा संविधान निर्माणकै क्रममा व्यापक छलफल भएको भएको भए, आज यो विवाद आउँदैनथ्यो होला । तर, संविधान निर्माणका क्रममा भएका सबै नै छलफल केबल राजनीति र भूगोलमा मात्रै केन्द्रित भयो, चुनावलाई केन्द्रबिन्दुमा राखेर राजनीतिक दलले देशमा शासन गर्ने अभिप्रायले नै संविधानको परिकल्पना गरे । त्यसको परिणाम आज प्रदेश, प्रदेशबीच तथा स्थानीय सरकार, स्थानीय सरकारबीच धेरैभन्दा धेरै लगानी तान्ने र औद्योगिकीकरणमा जोड दिनुपर्नेमा अऔद्योगिकिकरण हुने डर फैलिएको छ । निजी क्षेत्रलाई त्रसित बनाउनु भनेको मुलुक अऔद्योगिकीकरणको बाटोमा जानु हो । मोरङको बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाको यो घटना एउटा प्रतिनिधिमुलक घटनामात्र हो ।
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नेपालमा शदियौंदेखि एउटा वर्गको केन्द्रिकीत शासनसत्ताका कारण राज्यका सबै स्रोत र साधन उनीहरूको कब्जामा रह्यो । जसका कारण देश गरिबी, अभाव, असमानता तथा अविकासको दुष्चक्रमा प-यो । विगत ७० वर्षदेखि नेपालका राजनीतिक दलले नेपाली जनतालाई घोकाउँदै आएको पाठ यही हो । त्यसैले समानुपातिक, न्यायोचित तथा समविकासका लागि संघीयता आवश्यक छ । नेपाली जनताले राजनीतिक दलको पाठ अक्षरशः पालना गरे र एउटा परिवार वा वर्गको हातबाट शासन सत्ता खोसेर आफनै हातले संघीय गणतन्त्र नेपालको संविधान लेखे । तर, राज्यको पुनः संरचना कुुनै पनि देशको विकासका आयामभित्रको एउटा पाटोमात्र हो । समानुपातिक, न्यायोचित तथा समविकासको लागि, त्यसैले, राज्य पुनः संरचना भौगोलिक कार्यमात्र होइन । स्वस्थानी कथामा झैं एउटा घेरा कोरेर तिमी यो राज्यको राजा भयौ भन्नका खातिर हजारौं नेपाली जनताले बलिदान दिएका होइनन् । तर, राज्य पुनःसंरचना तथा त्यसपछिका केन्द्र सरकारका क्रियाकलापमा स्थानीय तथा प्रदेश सरकारको आर्थिक सक्षमता विकास तथा वित्तीय संघीयताको झल्को नपाईदा एउटा वर्गको हातबाट शासन खोसेर अर्को नवकुलिन वर्गको हातमा शासन सत्ता गएको हो कि झैं आभास हुन थालेको छ । किनकी स्थानीय सरकारमा चुनिएका नेताहरू आफना गैर संवैधानिक तथा गैरकानुनी चुनावी वाचा पूरा गर्न आर्थिक अनुशासनहीनता तथा विकृत वित्तीय अनुशासनको अभ्यास गर्दै छन् । मोरङको बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाका पानीमाथि उत्रिएको हिउँको एउटा सानो टुक्रामात्र हो । योभन्दा ठूलो आकार पानीमुनि अझैं छोपिएको छ । त्यसको पूर्ण आकारको अनुमान अहिले कसैले गरेको छैन । जब त्यसको पुर्ण आकार देखिन्छ, जनतामा संघीयताप्रति चरम वितृष्णा नजाग्ला भन्ने छैन ।त्यसैले वित्तीय संघीयताको पहिलो ठूलो चुनौती भनेको अझै पनि जनवादी केन्द्रिकृत राज्य सत्ताको धङघङी नै हो । वित्तीय संघीयता कार्यान्वयनको पहिलो चुनौती अहिलेको केन्द्रिकृत कार्यशैली तथा वित्तीय अनुसाशनहिनता नै हो भन्नेमा विज्ञहरु विश्वस्त छन् । अर्थविद् डा. चन्द्रमणि अधिकारी पनि केन्द्रका नेतृत्वको ब्यवहार संघीय प्रणाली अनुरूपको हुनुपर्नेमा जोड दिन्छन् । तीनै तहको सरकारको चुनाव पछि नेपाल संघीयता कार्यान्वयनमा गएको मान्ने हो भने पनि कार्यशैली भने परिवर्तन भएन । केन्द्रले नै सबै निर्णय गर्ने तथा विकासको जिम्मा लिने हो भने, प्रदेश तथा स्थानीय सरकाले कहिले क्षमता अभिवृद्धि गर्ने र संघीयता पूर्ण रूपमा लागू हुने प्रश्न जटिल छ । किनकी विकास भनेको आर्थिक क्षमता वृद्धि मात्र होइन, अपितुु नागरिकको व्यवहारमा आउने समष्टिगत सुुधार हो । संघीयता अनुरूपको व्यवहार नभएसम्म संघीयता अझ त्यसमा पनि वित्तीय संघीयता कार्यान्वयन हुन सक्दैन । समस्या मोरङको बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिका जस्ता अनेकन स्थानीय तहमा छ, त्यता समाधान गर्न लाग्दा ठिक होला न कि गद्दी छोडेर साधारण नागरिक भइसकेका ज्ञानेन्द्रले नाचेको प्रति टिप्पणी गर्दा ।
000
दोस्रो चुनौती, तीनै तहका सरकारबीच साधन स्रोतको ठाडो तथा तेर्सो सन्तुलित बाँडफाँड हो । वित्तीय संघीयताका विश्वव्यापी सिद्धान्तअनुरूप वित्तीय स्रोतको प्राप्ति र वितरणसँग सम्बन्धित सिद्धान्तहरूमा राजस्व जिम्मेवारीको सिद्धान्त, अन्तरसरकारी हस्तान्तरणको सिद्धान्त, ऋण प्रवाहको सिद्धान्त, वित्तीय व्यवस्थापनको सिद्धान्त नै प्रमुुख हुन् । तर, देशको भूूगोल, उद्योग–व्यवसाय, स्रोत परिचालनका सम्भावना पनि महत्वपूर्ण हुन् । हाल नेपालमा संघीयता महँगो भयो, कर धेरै लगाइयो भन्ने आवाज जताततै छ । अवश्य पनि केन्द्रिकृत राज्य व्यवस्था भन्दा संघीयता महँगो हुन्छ नै । संघीयता महँगो राजनीतिक व्यवस्था भए पनि जथाभावी कर लगाउँदा आइपर्नसक्ने भावी दुुश्परिणामबारे जनप्रतिनिधिहरू अनभिज्ञ देखिएका छन् । पहिला एउटा सरकार भएकोमा हाल केन्द्र, ७ प्रदेश तथा ७५३ स्थानीय सरकार नेपालमा छन् । प्रादेशिक संसद र मन्त्री, संघीय संसद र मन्त्रीलगायत धेरै निकाय तीनै तहमा राखिने व्यवस्था भएकाले संघीयता खर्चिलो हुुनुु स्वाभाविकै पनि हो । त्यसमाथि चुनावपूर्व गरिएका राजनीतिक वाचा पूरा गर्ने नाममा जथाभावी डोजर लगाउने खर्च विभिन्न करका नाममा थप्नु गैरसंवैधानिक तथा गैरकानुनी हो । सिद्धान्ततः कर जहिले पनि र जुनसुकै प्रकृतिको भए पनि न्यूनतम आवश्यकता पूरा भएपछि मात्र लिनुदिनु पर्ने वित्तीय औजार हो । त्यसैले, जनता अब सचेत भइसकेका छन् र वित्तीय औजारको दुरूपयोग बुझ्ने भइसकेका छन् । कर तिर्ने बेलामा उनीहरूले आफूले पाएको सुुविधाको समीक्षा अवश्य पनि गर्दछन् । देशको भूूगोल, आर्थिक क्षमता, पूर्वाधारको क्षमता, जनताको हैसियत आदिलाई हेरेरमात्र कर नलगाउँदा अर्को विद्रोह ननिम्त्याउँला भन्ने छैन । राज्यको आयस्रोतको ठूलो स्रोत भनेको कर राजस्व हो । तर, एकातिर रोजागारी सिर्जना गर्ने तथा कर तिर्ने उद्योगी ब्यापारीलाई त्रसित पार्ने, अर्कोतिर अत्यावश्यक पूर्वाधारको अभावमा नयाँ लगानी नआउने भएपछि भएका सीमित स्रोत पनि नासिने भयो । संघीयतामा केन्द्र, प्रदेश र स्थानीय सबै सरकारले कर लिन पाउने विश्वव्यापी मान्यता छ भन्दैमा बन्द व्यापार उद्योग नै बन्द हुने गरेर स्रोतलाई नै नष्ट, भ्रष्ट गर्ने अभ्यास गर्दा नकारात्मक सन्देश जान्छ र संघीयताप्रति नै वितृष्णा जगाउँछ । संविधानको अनुसूची ६ मा उल्लेख भएको विषयमा प्रदेश र अनुसूची ८ मा उल्लेख भएको विषयमा स्थानीय तहले कर लगाउन पाउँने भएपनि साझा अधिकारको सूचिभित्रका विषयमा र कुनै पनि तहको सूचीमा नपरेका विषयमा राजस्व उठाउने व्यवस्था नेपाल सरकारले निर्धारण गरे बमोजिम हुन्छ नै । तीनै तहलाई आ आफ्नो अधिकारक्षेत्र भित्रको विषयमा राजस्व उठाउने अधिकार पनि छ । तर राजस्व उठाउनेमात्र होइन उठेका राजस्व सदुपयोगको तथा पारदर्शिताको कुरामा पनि ध्यान दिनु आवस्यक हुन्छ । अपुग स्रोत केन्द्रले संकलन गरेको राजस्व संघ, प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहलाई न्यायोचित वितरण गर्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहले प्राप्त गर्ने वित्तीय हस्तान्तरणको परिमाण राष्ट्रिय प्राकृतिक स्रोत तथा वित्त आयोगको सिफारिसमा हुने व्यवस्था समेत संविधानले गरेको छ ।तर, संविधानले सबै अधिकार दिएको छ । आफै व्यवस्था गर भनेर केन्द्रले भन्ने स्थिती हाल छैन । किनकी उनीहरूको क्षमता अभिवृद्धि पनि आवस्यक छ । त्यसबाहेक आवस्यक स्रोत केन्द्र सरकारले प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहलाई राजस्वको क्षमताको आधारमा वित्तीय समानीकरण अनुदान वितरण गर्ने व्यवस्था गरिएको छ । साथै, प्रदेशले नेपाल सरकारबाट प्राप्त अनुदान र आफ्नो स्रोतबाट उठ्ने राजस्वलाई मातहतको स्थानीय तहको खर्चको आवश्यकता र राजस्व क्षमताको आधारमा वित्तीय समानीकरण अनुदान वितरण गर्नु पर्दछ । नेपाल सरकारले संघीय सञ्चित कोषबाट प्रदान गर्ने सशर्त अनुदान, समपूरक अनुदान वा अन्य प्रयोजनका लागि समेत संघीय कानून बमोजिम वितरण गर्न सक्छ । राजस्व बाँडफाँड गर्नेसम्बन्धी कानुन बनाउँदा प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहले जनतालाई प्रदान गर्ने सेवा, राजस्व उठाउन सक्ने क्षमता, विकासको आवश्यकता, गरिवी र असमानताको न्यूनीकरण र बञ्चितीकरणको अन्त्य जस्ता विषयमा ध्यान पुर्याइएको पनि राष्ट्रिय प्राकृतिक स्रोत तथा वित्त आयोगले बताएको छ ।सिद्धान्ततः संघीय प्रणालीमा राजनीतिक र प्रशासकीय अधिकार जस्तैगरी वित्तीय अधिकार समेत संघीय इकाइहरूबीच आपसमा बाँडफाँड गरिन्छ । संघले प्राप्त गरेको आय (राजस्व) लाई प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहसम्म प्रदेश वा स्थानीय तहको क्षमता, आवश्यकता र क्षेत्रीय सन्तुलनसमेतलाई विचार गरी कानून बमोजिम वा संवैधानिक आयोगको व्यवस्था भए सोको सिफारिसमा वितरण गर्नुपर्दछ भन्ने मान्यता अनुसार नै आयोगले वितरणको फर्मुला बनाएको हो । यसरी वितरण गरेको स्रोत के कामको लागि खर्च गर्ने भन्ने अधिकार भने पूर्ण रूपमा प्रदेश वा स्थानीय तहलाई नै हुन्छ । यसो गर उसो गर भनेर हस्तक्षेप गर्न वा निर्देश गर्न पाइदैन । यसरी स्थानीय तहसम्मै स्वतन्त्र रूपले खर्च गर्न पाइने हुँदा क्षेत्रीय असमानताको अन्त्य हुने, बेरोजगारी समस्या घट्ने, राजनीतिक उत्साह र जिम्मेवारीबोध हुने तथा जनजागरणमा सकारात्मक परिणाम प्राप्त हुन्छ भन्ने मान्यता पनि हो । त्यसैले राष्ट्रिय प्राकृतिक स्रोत तथा वित्त आयोग गठन तथा अन्तरसरकारी वित्त व्यवस्थापन ऐनले पनि सरकारका तहहरूबीच राजस्व बाँडफाँड गर्ने सहजीकरण गर्न गर्दछन् । किनकि साथै, बिनास्रोत साधन समानुपातिक, समन्यायिक तथा समविकास पनि चुनावी नारा मात्र हुन्छ । त्यसैले स्थानीय सरकारकै ब्यवहारका कारण अर्को चुनावसम्ममा संघीयताको विरुद्धको जनमत तयार नहोस् भन्नका लागि पनि वित्तीय ब्यवस्थापन महत्वपूर्ण छ । बिना सफल वित्तीय संघीयता कार्यान्वयन नेपाल फेरि अर्को एउटा राजनीतिक प्रयोगशाला नबन्ला भन्ने छैन । इतिहासले नेपालमा प्रत्येक १०, १० वर्षमा पटके राजनीतिक परिवर्तन भएको देखाउँछ । इतिहास नदोहोरिएला भन्ने प्रत्याभुति दिनसक्ने वर्तमान सरकारको कुनै क्षमता छैन ।
000
अर्थविद् अधिकारीका शब्दमा नेपालको वित्तीय संघीयताको तेस्रो प्रमुख चुनौती भनेको साधन तथा स्रोतको परिचालन र व्यवस्थापन हो । नेपालको संविधान २०७२ ले संघीय, प्रादेशिक र स्थानीय सरकार गरी तीनैवटा सरकार संवैधानिक हकको अधिकार प्रयोग गर्न सक्ने बनाइ दिएको छ । यसैले, सरकार चलाउन खर्चको आवश्यकता पर्ने भएकाले सबै तहका सरकारको ध्यान करको दर र दायरा बढाउनतिर नै गएको देखिन्छ । संविधानको धारा ६० तथा साझा सूची र ५ देखि ९ सम्मका अनुुसूचीहरूले स्थानीय, प्रान्तीय र संघीय सरकारका कार्यक्षेत्र, अधिकार र साझा अधिकार खुलाइदिएको पनि छ । तर, साधन तथा स्रोतको परिचालन र ब्यवस्थापनमा  नेपालको कुनै राम्रो इतिहास छैन । र संघीयतामा सबैभन्दा ठूलो झगडा यसैमा देखिन्छ । यहि साता काठमाडौंमा भएको अन्तर प्रदेश परिषद्को बैठकमा मुख्यमन्त्रीहरूको गुनासो पनि यसैमा थियो ।    संघीय राज्यव्यवस्था र सरकारको महत्वपूर्ण पक्ष नै शक्ति र स्रोतको बाँडफाँड हो । नागरिक हक–अधिकार, निर्वाचन प्रणाली, सरकार–सरकारबीचको अन्तरसम्बन्धजस्ता विषयहरू शक्तिअन्तर्गत पर्छन् भने राज्य सञ्चालन, जनहित र विकास–निर्माणका लागि स्रोत, आम्दानी र राजस्वको बाँडफाँड र निरूपणसम्बन्धी कुरा स्रोतअन्तर्गत पर्छन् । अधिकारमात्र दिने तर आर्थिक स्रोतको सुनिश्चित नहुने भएपछि मुख्यमन्त्रीहरूका गुनासा बढ्दै जानेछ । जसबाट संघीयता विरोधीलाई बल पुग्छ र दशकौंपछि नेपालीले प्राप्त गरेको राजनीतिक स्थिरता पनि खतरामा पर्ने देखिन्छ । किनकि वित्तीय संघीयता भनेको संघीय प्रणालीमा देशका विभिन्न तहका संघीय इकाईबीचको वित्तीय सम्बन्ध हो । त्यसैले संघीयताको सफल कार्यान्वयन गर्न वित्तीय संघीयता अचुक अस्त्र हो । कुनै पनि संघीय मुलुकको सफल कार्यान्वयन गर्न सरकारका तहबीच स्वस्थ, पारदर्शी तथा सन्तुलित वित्तीय व्यवस्था आवश्यक छ । तर, नेपपमा वित्तीय विकेन्द्रीकरणको पक्ष सहज देखिँदैन । स्रोतसाधन र विकासका गतिको हिसाबले विभिन्न सरकारमा ठूलो भिन्नता पाइन्छ । विगतका तथ्यांक हेर्दा नेपालभित्र ६ जिल्लाबाट ८५ प्रतिशत राजस्व संकलन भइ बाँकी ७१ जिल्लामा १५ प्रतिशत मात्र उठ्ने अवस्था छ ।
000
नेपालको संविधानले सार्वजनिक, निजी र सहकारी क्षेत्रको सहभागिता र स्वतन्त्र विकासमार्फत राष्ट्रिय अर्थतन्त्र सुदृढ गर्न अर्थतन्त्रमा निजी क्षेत्रको भूमिकालाई महत्व दिंदै उपलब्ध साधन र स्रोतको अधिकतम परिचालन गरी आर्थिक समृद्धि हासिल गर्ने लक्ष्य लिएको छ । संविधानले निर्देशित गरेका लक्ष्य हासिल गर्न निजी क्षेत्रको ब्यापक सहभागिताबिना असंभव छ । निजी क्षेको आग्रहमा नै संविधानको धारा २३६ ले अन्तरप्रदेश व्यापारमा वस्तुको ढुवानी वा सेवाको विस्तारमा कुनै किसिमको बाधा अवरोध गर्न वा कुनै कर, शुल्क, दस्तुर वा महशुल लगाउन वा त्यस्तो सेवा वा वस्तुको ढुवानी वा विस्तारमा कुनै किसिमको भेदभाव गर्न नपाइने व्यवस्था गरेको पनि छ । तर पनि ब्यवहारमा कस्ता समस्या आउने छन् हेर्न बाँकी नै छ । यस्तै, हाल खर्च बढिरहेको कारण संघ, प्रदेश र स्थानीय तहको खर्चको व्यवस्थापन गर्न तथा तीनवटै तहको बजेटको स्रोत व्यवस्थापन गर्न अप्ठ्यारो परेकोले के कसो गरेर नयाँ स्रोत जुटाउन सकिन्छ भन्ने ध्याउन्नमा स्थानीय तह लागेको देखिन्छ । त्यसैले राजनीतिक रूपमा स्वतन्त्र भएपनि नेपाली जनताले संविधानले दिएको आर्थिक स्वतन्त्रता पुर्ण उपभोग गर्न पाउनु पर्दछ । आफूले चाहेको पेशा व्यवसाय स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक गरेर खान पाउने अधिकारमा कुनै पनि तहको सरकारले हस्तक्षेप गर्दा संघीयता संचालनको लागि चाहिने स्रोत सुक्ने र पुँजी पलायन मार्फत अर्थतन्त्र धरासयि हुने खतरा रहन्छ । मोरङको बूढीगंगा गाउँपालिकाको घटना यस्ता विकृत अभ्यासको अन्तिम उदाहरण बनोस् । 

Government to send staff to local bodies within a week

General Administration Minister Tek Bahadur Basnet said that the government is preparing to send staff in local bodies within a week.
Warning that the government would take stern actions against those staff defying orders, he urged the government employees to comply with their transfers to respective places to facilitate locally elected representatives to implement federalism and constitution.
Speaking at an interaction programme organised in the capital today, the newly appointed minister Basnet said that government will consider employee’s sentiment, their position, and other factors also while adjusting to various provinces in the near future.
"Government is preparing to sent the staffer to province number 2 for the coming September 18 local polls," he said, adding that other locals levels of 6 provinces as locally elected representatives would get their staff soon.
The government is preparing to sent staff on contract basis and increase salary, perks and benefits of employees deputed in local bodies across the nation, until the Employees Adjustment Bill is endorsed by the Legislature-Parliament.

Hopes and Fear in US presidential election

NEW YORK: As the Amercians are ready to vote for the 45th president on November 8, never ever in the history were they so nervous, feared and disgruntled. As the largest democracy in the world is going to vote, some however still see hope as there is not much room for a president – whoever is elected – to maneuver on his own.
The fear is also mounting as according to various polls that some 60 percent of the Americans say that they don't like either of the presidential nominees – Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton and Republican candidate Donald J Trump – as they both seem 'not real'.
According to the Watergate famed-journalist Bob Woodward, both of the nominees are not very truthful. "We don't understand why these people are there," he said, in an interaction with journalists. "American people seem not believing on either of the candidates," he added.
Trump is a real estate businessman with no prior political experience whereas Clinton has already been the Secretary of the State, which is why White House is not new to her. However both the candidates have been in news for one or the other wrong reasons. A US presidential candidate must get 270 electoral college votes – out of the total 538 – to win. Each of the 50 states have 2 electoral college making 100 apart from 435 House of Congress members adding to a total of 535, and Washington DC has 3 electoral college votes as it has no representation in the House of the Congress.
However, most of the political pundits are of the view that the history might repeat itself; one candidate will get more popular votes and the other electoral college to win as it had happened in 2000. In 2000 presidential election, George Bush had won the presidency by 271 electoral college votes, though his opponent Al Gore had the majority of the popular votes. And it took 36 days to declare the winner after the controversy.
"Everyone has gone tired and fatigued in the political system of the Washington DC," according to Colonel F William Smullen, former chief of staff to the former Secretary of State Colin Powell, and incumbent director of National Security Studies in the Syracuse University in Syracuse New York. "They are divided because majority of the voters are simply disgusted by the state of politics, which I have never seen before," he says, explaining the cause of rise in the anti government sentiments in recent times.
According to Smullen, who is also the author of the book, "Ways and Means for Managing Up," it all started in the year 2003, when the USA invaded Iraq blaming Saddam Hussein for possessing the weapons of mass destruction (WMD). "The CIA unluckily towed the wrong lead," he remembers. "The sources were not reliable but it proceeded through that moment and till today there is no compromise. We have not learnt to find a compromise."
Of the total 330 million American population, some 220 million are registered as a voters. However, there is a huge doubt that the voters' turnout will not be as it is expected. And there is also possibility that those who come out to vote will only vote for their local senator but not for the presidents.
In an interview with Syracuse New Times newspaper, John Katko, the Republican incumbent for the 24th Congressional District seat of New York, said he would not support any of the candidates. When asked about which presidential candidate does he support and why, he said, "None of the above."
"I have never endorsed Donald Trump and I've never been said I'm going to vote for him, and I'm not going to," he said, adding, "I have serious concern with his tone of rhetoric. And I've had serious concern about some of the integrity issues with Hillary Clinton. So, I'm not going to vote for either one, and I don't think I am alone."
Smullen seconds his opinion. "Most of the Americans might not turn out to vote because they are frustrated and angry," he added.
But the sun will again rise on November 9 and one between the two candidates will win. However, Smullen fears of critical situation after November 9. "If Clinton wins, there could be civilian strife and protest on streets," he said, "because the Trump and his supporters – 60 percent according to NYT/CBS News Polls – have been claiming that they will not accept the results, if he loses."
The civil strife and then the majority of Republicans in the House of Congress seem to make Clinton's tenure in White Office harder, if she wins. "The Republicans in the House of Congress have already declared that they are not going to let Clinton appoint any judges, if she wins," he added. The post of the 2 judges has been vacant in the Supreme Court, which is the new president is expected to appoint.
However, Smullen is not at all hopeless and so is Dr Jeremy Mayer, Associated Professor at the School of Policy, Government and International Affairs, George Mason University, who thinks, in the first hand, things will turn out well. "If not also, there is less room for the president to dance," Mayer said, adding that the US Federalism has made the US president less powerful. "That's why whoever wins; there is a limit to his role, which is why there is hope too."