— Ghanashyam Khatiwada

Ghanashyam Khatiwada is a former chairman of the Letang VDC of Morang district. Situated 52 km north-east of Biratnagar, the VDC used to be a junction for people coming down from hilly districts like Panchthar and Ilam to Terai. However, for the past couple of years, the village is severely affected by the Maoists. Khatiwada, who is also a central member of the VDC Federation, spoke to SANJAYA DHAKAL about his experiences. Excerpts:

How do you evaluate the last two years since the time the government failed to extend the tenure of the elected representatives?

Gradually, we are witnessing the systemic destruction of not only physical infrastructures but also the values and norms of democracy. The development efforts that we had carried out during our tenure are being undone. For instance, I had initiated system of keeping family information card in my village where there is a population of 17,000. I had also undertaken studies to prepare a village profile. But the Maoists have burnt all that along with the VDC building. Talking about the whole country, in the past nine years of insurgency, 150 VDC level functionaries including chairmen, vice chairmen and members have been killed due to conflict and 31 were abducted. 2000 VDC buildings (out of the total 3913 VDCs) were destroyed either partially or completely.

But the government has appointed secretaries to run the VDCs. Aren’t they working?

The government-appointed VDC secretaries never come to the village. The situation is grave. In fact, the secretaries, in most cases, are persons from outside. Local people do not have faith in them. They also face increase risk from the Maoists. In fact, among the 65 VDCs of Morang district, secretaries of 54 of them work from the DDC office in Biratnagar. Likewise, in Sankhuwasabha district, all the 33 VDC secretaries are concentrated at the district headquarters. Out of the total 3913 VDCs in the country, the government has not been able even to appoint secretaries in 1200 of them. You can imagine how the development and service-delivery has been affected. Furthermore, the practices of local taxes, which we had initiated for the purpose of fiscal sustainability, is being gradually terminated as the secretaries don’t give a damn about it.

In the past, the government had also made political nominations to run the local bodies. How did you find it?

Well, the nomination of political persons was one step ahead than appointment of bureaucrats. Because most of the nominated persons were local and had some political background. They were more dedicated towards service delivery because they felt they needed to placate their future voters. However, it was not an appropriate decision in face of the option of restoration of formerly elected representatives that the government had before it.

In a situation like now, how can one believe that mere restoration of former heads improve the situation? Wouldn’t they also face similar security problems?

I believe that the elected representatives have much more legitimacy and strength at the local level. It would not be easy for the Maoists to touch elected representatives because a mass is behind them. Besides, as most of the Maoists are also from among the same locality, it would be easier for elected representatives to convince them about their intention. Having said that, I must add that there is no alternative to holding election for the local bodies, which, in turn, does not seem possible without reaching into some sort of understanding with the Maoists.

Do you think there is need for more devolution of power to the local bodies?

Absolutely, the central government must shake off its misplaced notion that the local bodies are unable to handle the authorities. In fact, sectors like health, agriculture, education must be immediately and completely handed over to the local bodies. Singh Durbar cannot and should not formulate development plan for my village. That would be ridiculous.