Local Politics – Central Power

The ID card issue: how a relief program got delayed

Featured stories, Local Politics - Central Power, The 2015 Earthquake Aftermath / 2 Comments

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In early May the government pledged 200,000 Nrs. to every family who lost their house in the earthquake. Shortly after, it was decided to quickly hand out an initial 15,000 Nrs. – as an immediate emergency grant – for building temporary shelters before the monsoon. It wasn’t a huge amount but enough to buy zink sheets and get a roof over the head, and so it seemed to solve one of the most urgent matters in the earthquake aftermath: to provide at least some shelter from the elements before the rain started. But then the program stalled!

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Left by the road: expropriation without compensation

Economy and Infrastructure, Local Politics - Central Power, Roads, Roads and More Roads / 0 Comments

Textbook distribution: a chain of commission

It’s not all rosy when the dozers plough through the land of the locals. Indeed, the value of the property may go up once the road opens. But in the meantime, the only way to avoid loss is by way of receiving government compensation. To be sure, the government usually pledges a formally calculated compensation […]

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Without relief in sight: locals depend on self-help

Featured stories, Local Politics - Central Power, The 2015 Earthquake Aftermath / 0 Comments

FEATURED QUAKE II ny

Chief District Officer of Sindhupalchowk, Krishna Prasad Gyawali, just abandoned his post. It’s not “dereliction of duty”, he explains, but a call for help! On Wednesday, four days into the earthquake aftermath, one of the worst hit districts had still not received the most basic relief aid – like tents, food and medicine supplies. Thousands of locals are without homes, many have lost their food granaries, and all Gyawali could tell them was: “I can’t help you – come back later”. Scores of villagers who just lost everything started protesting, and now Gyawali refuses to return until the government delivers.

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New survey: Almost 75 percent reject federalism

Constitution-making - local implications, Local Politics - Central Power / 0 Comments

Survey

Federalism has been on everybody’s lips for seven-eight years. A federal state structure – based on ethnicity – was indeed a popular idea back in 2008. But what about now? Well, ask the Kathmandu-based Interdisciplinary Analysts (IA), and they’ll say it’s all changed. Merely 26 percent of the population are in favour of federalism; and […]

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A “never ending story”: postponing the local elections

Featured stories, Local elections: just a memory, Local Politics - Central Power / , , / 0 Comments

Chief Election Commissioner, N. K. Uprety: Ready if the parties want the local election...

It has not really mattered who formed the government, or who was prime minister. Since 2002, when local elections were first due – five years after the 1997 election for the country’s DDCs, VDCs and municipalities – local elections have been postponed as persistently as has the finalisation of the constitution. Official reason? Anything from king Gyenendra’s take-over and the Maoist conflict to growing local corruption and a need to adopt the constitution first. The Election Commission has declared itself ready to organise the election many times. But every time, the government has postponed. Want to recount the recent chapters in this “never ending story”? Check out this overview!

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