First interview over

[NaNoWriMo Day 9]

[Warning: This is poorly written and completely unedited. I just want to get a novel written soon.]

"Welcome Back! This is Kasthmandap Television, and you are watching Politicians and Politics. I'm talking to Mr. Raul Adhikary, who is running for the member of the upper house from Kathmandu Valley. Before the break, Mr. Adhikary was telling us about the issues caused due to differences in social attitudes and what the law states," the presenter said. "Now, you were saying before we left that creating laws is by itself not enough, and you need institutions, besides the court system and the police, to make sure they are implemented. I want to ask you: do we not have these institutions now? How different would we see things with you in power? And if we do not have these institutions, why do we  not have these, and how do you plan to over come these issues," the man asked, looking straight into Raul.

"As I alluded to earlier," Rahul started, and cleared his throat. He took a sip from the glass of water in front of him. "As I stated earlier, the institutions are the ones that are already ther at a local level, that need to be empowered more. We have schools, we have a cadre of very well-trained health workers, and maternal workers. Teachers are government employees, but students are also great resources. In addition to that, all our political parties have significant presence in each and every small town. If social changes were really desired, and the intention to implement laws really strong, we only have to empower those institutions more. Make sure students and teachers understand that such and such practice is wrong, encourage them to encourage certain behavior by giving out scholarships, for example. When they go on regular runs, encourage the health workers to talk about issues. Work with non-profits, that we have so many of, so that they favor the implementation of their programs more towards areas that are in greater compliance. And currently, the issue seems to be that the government seems to consider implementing the laws and getting the news out in national and international media enough of an achievement. Actually following through passing laws is the hard part, but that's also were the real rewards are. So, to answer your question directly, I propose empowering existing structures greater to align with the government's implementation of rules. Why has that not happened? Because law passing is considered an end to itself, and there does not seem enough political willingness to convince the local institutions to be shareholders in the implementation. It's not the police or the government that is the law: each and every citizen, organization, local institution has a significant part to play, and I plan to get it very much clear, which governments to date have not looked at," Raul said. He had settled into quite a pace by now. He glanced at the clock behind the main camera. Forty-five minutes, it had been forty five minutes. For a first television interview, this had been going particularly well.

"Now you're talking about empowering local institutions more as a part of legal implementation. Isn't this against the spirit of decentralization and the federal structure that has been recently created? To put it in different words, isn't what you're proposing the job of local governments? If the central government were to participate in such tasks, what would be the mandate of local governments," he asked. Raul wondered if it was him, or if the interview was coming to an end, but the questions seemed to be getting simpler, and the interviewer appeared to be more listless.

"That's true, the country has gone federal, with the intention of empowering political structures at the local level greater. That only makes our task simple in the future. Regardless of left or right, it is the duty of all the political institutions in the nation to follow and implement the national laws. So we will have independent political units who understand the local situation better, helping us in our implementation tasks. Additionally, let me add one more point..." Raul hurried, as the interviewer seemed intent on asking the follow-up question, "...additionally, what we have now is political decentralization, and that is great. But the institutions I'm talking about empowering aren't necessarily political units -- non-profits, for example, or health workers, and so forth, so it would involve empowering other non-political units too. We want to get as close to the people, and convince them that the laws are meant to protect everyone, and everyone who can help us do that is even better. It would be exactly in the spirit of decentralization, in fact!"

The presenter nodded. "Does this mean that you consider local political structures, even if they are not from your party, to be compliant to the requirements of the central government," he asked, folding the paper he was holding.

"Of course, all the state governments and local governments are under the sovereign of the national government. They are expected to implement national laws, and the police force, and security forces exist to make sure that they happen. They are allowed to draft and pass laws in addition to the existing federal regulations, but they cannot be in conflict with existing national rules, " he said. This was too easy. He shouldn't have told the presenter to go easy on him. This had been a chance to be seen on the screen, but he'd just stated the obvious political facts -- given no real reason for prospective voters to look at him. He would have to shake up more interesting drama for the next interview.

The presenter sighed. "We have time for about one final question and a quick response," he said. "Ten years from today, what difference would people find if people elected you than if did not elect you?"

"Better implementation of existing rules, a move forward a more equitable society, and a more rule-based and institution-based society. The cult of personality would be over, and we would have robust empowered institutions, that could survive even bad partners. People could count on the system more. I'm not promising Switzerland or Singapore. I'm promising a Nepal, clean, mountain, cool, and rich in language and culture as we have now, but more organized and with trustworthy people. An obvious result of empowered institutions is lesser corruption, and better business environment. I truly believe these are not difficult to achieve, just need a re-calibration in our trajectory, and I will bring out those re-calibrations faster," he said, ending with a big gulp of air.

The presenter smiled, noticing the inexperienced post-interview gasp. "That was Raul Adhikary, who is running for the upper house membership this election. If you agreed with his views and live in Kathmandu, you should consider voting for him. This is Basanta Rai, and you are watching Kasthmandap television. I will be back in Politics and Politicians, talking to yet another political guest. Until then, goodbye!"