Feb 02, 2024 - 

Each morning, I go on a walk around the Pashupatinath Temple Area. Many people, like myself, make the rounds for the exercise. We all share this common purpose, but we also witness things on a regular basis. The issue that keeps striking my mind is an infrastructural one— who should be responsible for improving the crumbling infrastructure of our city, Kathmandu? The answer immediately comes to me: I should be responsible. At least, that is how a transformational journey begins, and I have the will to take the first step.

Diving deep into the subject of electric poles scattered haphazardly, I feel that many "responsible" citizens in various positions of power and authority played a role in the current state of affairs. I firmly believe that planning, public expenses, and lack of manpower weren't issues during the installation of these electric poles. What lacked was the will to properly implement those plans initially. Then, we took the infrastructure for granted without providing after-service to ensure they are fully utilized and maintained. This was the problem with the first issue of traffic lights in the Kathmandu Valley as well (Read Here). The lack of will is where the line of responsibility can be clearly drawn in the case of Nepal's infrastructure. I have a desire to see these changes and the will to play my part in bringing them about. What I want for you is to join me in this journey of change. It starts within our hearts and minds.

These poles, which I cannot emphasize enough, are not just functional units of our infrastructure but also symbolic. They represent a public waste of our tax money and a vulgar display of misuse. Every rupee invested in these infrastructures was earned through our blood and sweat. While we may not feel this on a personal level, as a population, we have been working hard to earn money that is going to waste. I could have simply taken a walk and turned a blind eye to the issue, but as a Nepali citizen, I am simply not built that way. Turning a blind eye is not an option for bringing about necessary changes. Someone must look, and look hard into the heart of the matter.

When I see these pictures, I see a culture of government waste and a lack of public oversight (I am reminded of people saying "सरकारी सम्पत्ति त हो"). Those things you see, my dear reader, aren't someone else's property but your own. We do not let our property go to waste. Take a good look at these pictures, and hopefully, you will realize that we have been cheated not by someone else but by our own lack of will to create and demand changes to what needs changing.