Fettered federalism

With the status quo not working, it is natural to seek out new political forces or monarchy.

Anyone who has heard CPN-UML chair and Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli talk about federalism and delegation of power and responsibilities under it will instantly know that he is a reluctant federalist. He seems to believe that the seven chief ministers unnecessarily blame the federal government for the failure to make use of their own powers. The reason for the paucity of civil servants in the provinces, moreover, is not due to the federal Parliament’s inability to promulgate the Federal Civil Service Act, as provided for in the new constitution. Oli rather believes the provincial governments and their offices do not treat the officers deputed from the centre well. The same with the lack of police personnel in the provinces. The local level bodies fare no better. A recent study by the Federalism and Localisation Centre, a Kathmandu-based think tank, shows that of the 67,719 vacancies at local bodies around the country, only 43,807 positions have been filled. And despite their added responsibilities under the new dispensation, the number of civil servants at the local level has actually gone down compared to the pre-federalism period.