Heavy on taxpayers

EDITORIAL

The Big III have yet again, as if for record’s sake, failed to deliver on their word. The leaders of the three main political parties UCPN (M), NC and CPN-UML assure the public that they would be reaching a consensus but their actions prove otherwise. The way things have gone so far is that they merely agree to agree and that is about it. Hopes were high that an agreement would be reached during the secret Hattiban gathering, but this meeting between the leaders of the three major parties, as only to be expected, again did not succeed in finding a way out of the deadlock. The political impasse continues to remain because the leaders of the Big III fail to rise above partisan interests. This has cost the country and the people dear. In order to arrive at a consensus, the leaders should not be going for power, which for all purposes they are doing now. Their thirst for power is evident. This is more so with the Maoists. The Maoists have failed to give in to the demands to become a civilian party and to give away weapons. Similarly, they have failed to return seized properties and dismantle the paramilitary structure of the YCL. These have been major stumbling blocks in finding a way out of the political impasse.

Now the Big III are upbeat about another conclave that is going to be held soon, but the people are skeptic about the positive outcome of the meeting. After all, past meetings which were supposed to break the deadlock have failed to reach a consensus which the political leaders never tire harping about. These meetings are held with the tax payers’ money and what a wastage. In the end it is they who suffer. The political leaders have been given the mandate to write the new constitution, and the way things are going on now the writing of the constitution is unlikely unless the political leaders mend their way and are serious about writing it. Much time have been lost in the exercise to elect a new prime minister. The caretaker government has been in place for over three months. This is not a healthy sign. The holding of conclaves is useless unless the leaders of the Big III are serious about arriving at a consensus. They should put the interest of the people before them while making all decisions that concern them.

What the people in general as taxpayers feel is that they have been duped. For every meet at the taxpayers’ money has resulted in a fiasco, and the people want not only a justification for the useless parleys. The leaders must owe it to the people that they have tolerated all their antics so far even to the extent of silently watching the taxes that they have paid used in unproductive manner. These are times when the people feel that the leaders have betrayed the mandate reposed on them, who are trying to grind their own axes at the expense of the taxpayers. The leaders, particularly those belonging to the major parties, must feel guilty that they have been stripping empty the state coffers, that is the money that the people have paid as taxes. The Constituent Assembly (CA) too has become a white elephant that the people have been paying to support, but the returns has been rather discouraging.

Neglected seniors

It is quite grimacing when the scene of the senior citizens biding their time in loneliness comes before the eyes particularly in times of festivals when everyone else is celebrating. With no one to share-mostly it is their sorrows-it is a heart rending tale. Most of those who have found refuge in the Pashupati Briddhashram, the shelter for the elderly, have been evicted from their home by their own dear and near ones or have lost them. They can only reminisce and derive some comfort. Despite the fact that they have been provided the shelter and food for free, yet the visits to them by people can give them the encouragement to live their life fully. More than the material part, what they need is love and compassion. This seems to be lacking with most of the other people busy with their speed of life, while the officials who matter are lost in their own quest, and so no time for these senior citizens.

Every year, the number of elderly people are on the rise yet the government has made no strategies on how to deal with the housing and feeding of those who have been abandoned by their families on the streets. The refrain: Do something for them.