Losing faith in the system

The state of politics and bureaucracy in Nepal demands urgent attention and reform.

The state of politics in Nepal has been a matter of concern as issues of accountability, transparency and efficiency in the government have remained unchanged for decades. This is not limited to politicians and extends to bureaucrats and government offices as well. A recent incident during my visit to the District Administration Office in Lalitpur to obtain a passport for my one-year-old daughter is a glaring example. The authorities insisted on seeing my daughter in person despite providing proof of her identity. I tried to explain that my daughter was still breastfeeding, and it would be healthier for her to stay home instead of coming here, enduring traffic, hot weather, congestion and smoke. However, they insisted that I bring her. Reluctantly, I brought my daughter to their office, but surprisingly they didn't seem to be interested, leaving me wondering why they had asked me to bring her at all.