It has been barely two months since Balen Shah was inaugurated as the Prime Minister of Nepal, and his government has already begun working on various reforms and administrative changes. But how does the public perceive him? Are people supportive, critical, confused or simply hopeful?

This vox pop presents the opinions of people this reporter met along the route from Kausaltar to Koteshwor and their perspectives on the government, its performance and the direction they believe the country is heading toward.

Abhisekh Aryal, 20, Student

Regarding the squatters issue, I don’t really follow such news closely. However, I am a nature lover, so I really want the government to focus on cleaning and preserving rivers and nature. I don’t know much about what the government has been up to, but I want them to focus more on nature conservation. I have witnessed changes, even though they have been small. I have noticed improvements related to traffic as well. I just think that the public has very high expectations from Balen. How much can he really achieve in just five years? 

Sudarshan Upreti, 43, Shopkeeper

There are both good and bad sides to this government. Administrative work has been really great. There was a need to remove the squatters, but the removal should have been more systematic. Dressing up for various events is a personal choice, so I don’t really care about or follow it. However, when it comes to speaking in Parliament or with the media, it cannot be classified as a personal choice because he is our Prime Minister. The things he does should be addressed, even if not on a frequent basis. The public also has very high expectations from Balen. However, you can’t improve a country overnight. 

Subash Chand, 22, Student

The performance so far has been great—around 7.5 out of 10. Right now, they are focusing on good governance. The previous government talked about removing the squatters and providing them with land, but that was never achieved. However, the current government has already said that they will provide them with land and informed them about moving to another place. But they did not move there. There may have been some problems that I did not understand.

Despite everything, the government has been doing its work. From the promise of providing everyone with their pending driving licenses within a week, I think they are making smart moves. I also think it is a smart decision not to give many interviews, as that would only attract more controversies and debates. So, it is better to work quietly. I am also really glad that the current government is working in accordance with the law. There have been many changes. The Yatayat administration (transport management offices) is improving. Earlier, there used to be a lot of bribery, but nowadays workers are afraid of taking bribes. It has only been a few months, but I am really satisfied with the progress so far.

Raj Bhujel, 18, Student

This government is doing better than previous ones. This has reinforced my decision to stay in Nepal instead of going abroad. I have witnessed changes, such as the removal of squatters, which I believe was a step in the right direction because floods could have easily destroyed those areas. It is safer for everybody, and this had to be done one way or the other. Overall, I am satisfied. However, along with this, the expectations from Balen have greatly increased. I understand why he may avoid speaking too openly in interviews, Parliament, or the news media, as doing so would only create even higher expectations among the public. And if those expectations are not met in some cases, it could create many problems. Looking at these few months of work, as well as all the information I have, I do not see any strong reason to criticize him.

Tej Bahadur Karki, 52, Shopkeeper

It has only been a few months, so it may still be too early to make a final judgment. However, I  believe there was a mistake in the handling of the squatters’ issue. (Removed from informal settlements), where will the squatters stay in the monsoon season? It would have been better to give them a few months of prior notice. Apart from this, there have been quite a few positive changes. Government offices have become more efficient (after the start of a five-day workweek), but this may affect the education sector, including schools (my kids spend their weekly holidays playing, which has affected their studies). Prime Minister Shah should not undermine the Parliament, he should attend it and address it. 

Ankit Shrestha, 32, Ride-sharing

Compared to previous governments, this government is definitely doing better. Removing squatters (from informal settlements) was a good decision, but their issues should be handled more sensitively, especially in view of the oncoming rainy season. The criticism that PM Shah faces for his lack of interest in speaking is unfair. As he is there to deliver, why should he speak unnecessarily? I feel that this government will be able to bring about the changes that we have been seeking for so long. 

Achala Pokharel, 55

The current government is doing a really good job. We expect it to fulfill the hopes we had for both our previous government and the current one. Of course, this cannot happen overnight, but we still hope for change. It seems like things will go really well. There have been many changes, from trends in government offices to traffic rules. The previous government made multiple promises, only to leave most of them unfulfilled. So, when the current government is trying to work in favor of the people without speaking too much, it does not really seem like something people should complain about.

Indu Pokharel, 43

The new system has been working really well. In the case of the squatters, there were more Hukumbasi than Sukumbasi: people had built houses (by encroaching upon riverbanks etc) and rented them out, while the real Sukumbasi were not even living there. Giving them more time would not have solved the problem. Previous governments also tried to remove squatters, to no avail. Going forward, I think the government should focus first on education, then health and then the judiciary. Improving the judiciary system can trigger change in other sectors also. Government offices have also become much more service seeker-friendly. Progress begins with small changes like these, so I am excited to see what happens in the future.

Bishakha Ghimire 19, Engineering student

The government’s performance has been good so far. However, the Parliament was a mess. On one occasion, lawmakers were not maintaining discipline even when the Speaker was addressing the session. The squatters’ issue should have been handled in a more organized manner. Sukumbasi means people without land, yet some affluent individuals—with houses and properties in several places—were found living in squatter settlements. Such people should be identified and legal action initiated against them after conducting a detailed study.
People have also become more conscious about what they say in public. In buses, people used to tease girls openly, but such instances have gone down, thanks to a more efficient reporting mechanism that responds to our complaints more swiftly. One thing the government failed at was in initiating legal proceedings against powerful people. The government put in so much effort to arrest them, but these people managed to walk free on health grounds through judicial intervention. Still, arresting a former Prime Minister was no small feat. 

I believe women and child safety should be the first priority of any government. Since I am a student, I often travel through areas like Basantapur, Koteshwor and Baneshwor for work. I often come across children and other people who ask for money in Hindi, and if you do not oblige them, they start harassing you by commenting on your appearance or character. Issues like these need to be addressed. 

Overall, I think the government has done well so far, but there still is a need for stronger procedural management. 

Sushila Khatiwada, 70

It is way better than the previous government. However, tensions seem to be rising because of the removal of squatters from informal settlements. The intention was great and the government handled the problem better than previous governments did, but the removal should have been accompanied by more serious planning. Nowadays, in this neighborhood, I have noticed that government employees have become more punctual. They leave for the offices on time and stay there full time. I also feel that maybe PM Shah should have addressed the Parliament as speaking on important issues would not have been a bad thing. One thing I feel is that the state should continue its work without trying to create enemies. I just hope that this government continues while offending fewer people and keeping the public satisfied.

Chaya Devi Adhikari, 49

I feel like the government is trying to do good things, but at times its action seems a bit rushed. Maybe the government should take more time and move forward more carefully. That would create a smoother transition. I also feel like Balen Shah, as Prime Minister, should speak his mind more often because it would help the public understand what kinds of things he is working on and what his plans are. In the dispute between Sushila Karki and Balen, I feel like Sushila Karki should not have said those things publicly after previously acting positively toward him. Altogether, the government has made some progress, and I hope it continues to do better.