This year's monsoon brought unexpected heavy rains towards the end of October, causing huge financial losses. Even though the weather should be clear, it has rained heavily for two consecutive years at the same time, causing loss of life and property. However, the government has been proactive in minimizing potential damage.

Despite the loss of people's wealth, the government's activism is being appreciated. Durga Dulal and Jaisingh Mahara talk with Home Minister Omprakash Aryal

  about the government's preparedness and sudden activism in monsoon:

How did the government work amid the forecast of heavy rains and disasters?

The obligations of the state have been fulfilled. Since this is a citizen's government and a guardian government, we prepared with that belief in mind. A few days ago, experts predicted the weather. After that, the government started preparations. From the civilian level who have been working in disasters for years, we started working according to their suggestions. I may have led as the Home Minister, but the results may have been seen due to the work of the entire team including Prime Minister Sushila Karki, Energy Minister Kulman Ghising, Finance Minister Rameshwar Khanal.

How did you establish coordination between the agencies under the government?

Not only the government, but also citizens showed commendable activism during this calamity. Everyone supported the government. Jen-Ji also has great support in this. According to the advice of experts, preparations were made by holding a meeting of the Council of Ministers.

The Disaster Management Authority under the Ministry of Home Affairs had already analyzed all aspects. As our mechanism was ready, it became easy to control the situation and work. There was good coordination between the Ministry Secretary and the Authority and other Ministries.

As soon as the experts suggested, I had a zoom meeting with the chief district officers of 77 districts. I was left free to protect the lives of citizens by deploying all mechanisms if necessary. We have only strengthened the efforts of those who were in charge.

Head of Security Agency, Nepali Army's Disaster Monitoring Agency, Department of Water and Meteorology under the Ministry of Energy were also active. Due to this, we were able to alert the citizens on time. In time we managed to stop traffic on the highway. So that we are saved from a possible big loss. All necessary mechanisms and manpower were mobilized from

policy directives. I got information from the disaster authority that the security agencies are ready. We have been successful in mobilizing the armed police, Nepalese army for relief and rescue and local level for public awareness before the disaster. As the

was being prepared, there was heavy rain across the country as per the forecast. Then all the mechanisms were activated at once. We were also staying at the Ministry of Home Affairs all night from monitoring to giving instructions to the necessary places. District and local level mechanisms were also activated from Disaster Management Authority. At the civilian level, there was also an act of showing activity in the rescue. Everyone was with us in raising awareness. Everyone complied as we closed the highway. In this way, not only the Ministry of Home Affairs, but the government and the people are all active. 

How easy is it for you who have no experience of running the government to do such work?

We have done what the state should do. We have activated and mobilized the agencies within the state apparatus. The current situation and conditions were also different from the past. Now there was a growing political conflict. Citizens were distrustful. There was concern that peace would turn into unrest or security challenges would arise. The government was formed amid this concern. Along with this concern comes a warning of disaster. The government was worried that the disaster would add to the humanitarian crisis. The political situation is also not favorable.

Since it was during the festival, there was a high risk because citizens had to travel. There was a situation where a small mistake could lead to a big loss. It was an even bigger challenge to receive information about a major disaster at a time when there was a lot of traffic. As Home Minister, I was more worried that the problems would increase and the citizens would not have proper security. Along with the concern was a sense of duty. My role as the leader of the Ministry of Home Affairs for facilitation and coordination may have been seen, but overall, the entire team including the Prime Minister worked.

is the government that is responsible for good governance and elections. However, there was also the challenge that we had to prepare accordingly when the public was hit by a disaster. All those in state power have and had the ability. It is only said to manifest, coordinate and cooperate. We have worked that now is not the time to earn respect and reputation by serving the people, but the time to gather goodwill. At such a time, we thought that people should be given the feeling of being a state. We have worked with the idea of ​​winning the trust of the citizens, cooperating and maintaining good governance, not using the power of the state.

This government is for good governance. It is for providing services to the public. Conducting elections while maintaining law and order is the main responsibility of the government. If good governance could not be given, service delivery could not be given, what is the difference between the previous government and the current government? Elections cannot be held if peace and security cannot be provided and people's distrust only increases. Therefore, elections are the primary responsibility of the government. That is why our work is the starting point leading up to the election.

In the meantime, we have found that the spirit of volunteering has been awakened more than at any other time. If the people wake up and help the government in this way, it can be successful more quickly. This government is a servant government of the people. The guardian is the government. Based on this belief, we worked that people's blood should not be allowed to flow due to disasters and other reasons.

It was our basic belief that not a single citizen should lose his life due to the negligence of the government. But despite all these preparations, tragic incidents have occurred in some places. Some citizens lost their lives due to landslides, road accidents, etc. The government is sad about it. We have just come from witnessing the death of young people in the insurgency. The government had prepared with the assumption that there should be no further damage. For this reason, it has been found that the sense of humanity has been awakened in the citizens.

In October last year, around 200 people lost their lives due to heavy rains, floods and landslides. This time also the damage has been done but not as much as last year. What was the difference between the functioning of the then government and this government?

The previous government had governmental arrogance. It was a ruling government. It is the guardian government. We have prepared with citizen service at the center. Our strong point is the reason why those who are in the cabinet have come with the sacred feeling that they should do something as citizens themselves. Then it seems that citizens have praised us in public and on social media because our performance is also good. What was there other than the spirit and sincerity of the minister in the government to do something?

We were not elected people. We had no numbers. We were not even proud that we had so many people. Our 'legitimacy' was 'performance'. We were not even allowed to fail in this disaster. This is the reason why we are successful. This government should have cooperated with the citizens, and it has done that. If this government failed, the country had no other option.

This government is the government of all of us. It is a cooperative government. It believes in cooperation between citizens and government. All of it is given to citizens. Therefore, between the leadership of last year and now, and the issue of ideology is different. Its culture is different.

This time there has been a huge loss in Elam. Why did that happen? What is the government's analysis?

There was no big landslide expected. Ilam was a district with no risk of major landslides. Even earlier, there were few landslides in Elam. It was understood that the area was safe. Similarly, landslides are usually sudden and unpredictable. There may be a notice to go but the place is not specified, so one has to bear the loss even if one does not want to. As the water suddenly concentrated towards the Ilam area, we were forced to suffer an unexpected loss.

What happened in Elam was tragic. The Ministry of Home Affairs and other mechanisms have been vigilant in protecting and rescuing Jiudhan. I have asked for rescue and relief work to be carried out without any reduction. If necessary, I have given permission to the CDO to bring a helicopter for rescue. Our security forces along with the Disaster Management Authority are on high alert. After the tragic events that happened, the situation was beyond the control of the government. Now the government is on 24-hour alert for rescue at the place of the incident.  Since the activation of the

staff mechanism, inter-ministerial coordination has become more agile. How is it possible? There was no unhealthy competition after

worked at a pace. No one had any political ambitions. Perhaps this is the reason why there was good coordination between all ministries and agencies of the government. The primary responsibility rested with the Ministry of Home Affairs and subordinate authorities. He played a leading role while others supported him. Security forces were mobilized.

All agencies of the state showed vigilance in fulfilling their obligations. In time, everyone also showed activity. For example, the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology under the Ministry of Energy gave us an official notification of the forecast in time, due to which we were able to exercise caution everywhere. Experts from the private sector also supported. All were united by one feeling. Some were automatically activated to work naturally, while others were activated.

  What lesson will the preparation and experience teach for the coming days?

This year's big rain is almost over. It seems that preparations should be made for the coming monsoon now. Everything doesn't happen at once, it takes time to prepare. Time-consuming work is delayed when it is timed to prepare. Some things are learning by doing. Not everyone is an expert, it's just expanding and building. He is an expert in some things. There are also those outside the

state. Those outside the mechanism should also be consulted. It is important to be on time. Not at the last minute. Some organizations even have decades of experience. Which may have worked in disaster since before our systems were born. That's why there should be cooperation. This is what we focused on and prepared for.

 Sudan Gurung's participation in the disaster authority meeting is being criticized. A question has been raised as to how a non-governmental person gave instructions to a government person. How is the government of Nepal and the Ministry of Home Affairs looking at it? The

was a meeting at the disaster authority on Saturday. He was also called there. He was called because of his expertise in disasters. He has more expertise than others. The government has taken it as he stated his words in the discussion aimed at using the same. Those who have more experience are accepted by the government. He did not give instructions.