After the promulgation of the Constitution of Nepal in 2072, the slogan of Singha Durbar has been raised in villages to establish the recognition that the authority that was in Singha Durbar yesterday has now reached the villages.

In some cases, whether it is worthwhile or not has also become a subject of discussion.

Samagra Media Pvt. Ltd. has recently published the book 'Singha Durbar in the Villages'. While the government is saying that Singha Durbar has reached the villages, this book, edited by journalist Apsara Gautam on behalf of Media Pvt. Ltd., has really given a glimpse of Singha Durbar reaching the villages. 

It can be said that the book has done a job of connecting the relationship between villages and Singha Durbar. When the people complain, there are not few people who criticize that even though the authority of Singha Durbar has gone to the villages, corruption and irregularities have also gone along with it.

This book also covers the complaints, possibilities and challenges of local governments. This book, which has collected the experiences of the ministers, provincial Chief Ministers, provincial Speakers, provincial heads, as well as the incumbent and outgoing representatives of the local level who run the local government from Singha Durbar, can be said to have made an attempt to strengthen federalism and the local level, even if it is a little.

In the introduction to the book, Dr. Pushparaj Kandel, former vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, has written, “Yesterday’s local bodies were also strong, but they should have been accountable to the federal government. Local governments should pay attention to the aspects of good governance and coordination to properly fulfill the responsibilities given by the constitution. They should pay attention to the interests and priorities of the general public rather than personal matters.” Kandel has suggested that local governments should work by keeping the interests of the people at the center. He has said that local level representatives should rise above personal interests and work.

Local level expert Balananda Poudel has also written about the book – “Since the ward chairperson is the member of the executive committee, the ward chairperson is the member of the ward assembly, and the ward chairperson is the representative of the ward in the legislative body, and the ward should be made a unit of implementation rather than a planning unit. It seems that the development plan model needs to be changed a little now. It seems that the framers of the constitution have more trust in the local government.” He has also mentioned that the local level was given more power when making the constitution.

Regarding the local level and federalism, former National Assembly member and federalism expert Khimlal Devkota says, “The local level is the foundation of democracy. Due to its proximity to the people, the local level is also called the local government. The local government delivers state-provided services to the doorsteps of the people. Local governments are under the direct supervision and control of the people. The constitution has empowered the local level. The rights of the local level are in the schedule of the constitution.” (Page 111) As Devkota said, the local level is the government there because the local level provides services to the citizens at their doorsteps. Since the central government in Singha Durbar cannot only look at the wards there and understand what inconveniences are there, if the problems there cannot be solved there, it is the local government that takes the initiative to bring them to the central government and find a solution.

The book, which includes 32 articles by various experts and the names of the provinces along with the names of the districts and local levels, is compiled in 312 pages. Editor Gautam said in the publication, “Since the local level is the main base area for the development of the Nepali people, we have presented various materials related to the local level in the book, including complaints, problems, possibilities, policy making, plans, budgets, employment, suggestions, etc.” The book also includes articles by the then Minister of Federal Affairs and General Administration, Chief Ministers of provinces other than Madhes and Karnali Provinces, Speaker of Madhes Province, and Provincial Chief of Karnali Province, thus diversifying the book. By including the views of those who run the government as well as those who implement the constitution, it is easy to understand what their understanding and views are after reading the book.

The ideas expressed in the book suggest that after being elected to a local or any government, those representatives should rise above the party and work, and that there should be a sense of mutual coordination in the minds of those who run the Singha Durbar from door to door. If we all work together to create employment opportunities in the country, it can create an environment where young people who have gone abroad feel that their future is guaranteed when they return to their country and that they can spend their future in Nepal. It has been emphasized that everyone needs to pay attention to the fact that the country does not become like a senior citizen center after a few years due to citizens who wander around thinking that there is no future here due to the situation where those who come to power only share disappointment.