Kathmandu: Governance experts and youth leaders have expressed concern over the erosion of institutions, the weakening of civic space, and the prevalence of bad governance in Nepal. Despite government assurances of efforts toward good governance, experts argue that institutional erosion is impacting citizen freedoms and the overall democratic fabric of the country.

Ramesh Adhikari, a governance expert, highlighted the golden stage of the civil society movement in Nepal from 1990 to 2016 and expressed worry over the current shrinking civic space. He emphasized the need for accountability on the part of the government and called for a unified role of civil society and a vibrant media to foster citizen freedoms and promote good governance.

Pranav Bhattarai, another governance expert, noted that good laws with weak and ineffective implementations obstruct good governance in Nepal. He cited the misuse of the Local Government Operation Act, which delayed public services and derailed efforts toward good governance. Bhattarai also expressed concerns about the politicization of institutions, such as the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), leading to suppression, silence, and injustice.

Manushi Yami, a youth leader of the Nepal Samajbadi Party, criticized political leaders for being clueless about the value of digital civic space and highlighted the negative impact of prolonged political transitions. She argued that political parties, fueled by a false sense of ultimate power, contribute to the destabilization of systems and corrupt practices.

Shiromani Dhungana, an editor at nepallivetoday.com, admitted that the media sector needs restoration of public trust. He expressed concern about the unprecedented resource crunch in the media sector, which hampers its ability to function effectively. Dhungana also highlighted the issue of partition among journalists, tarnishing media professionalism.

Overall, the speakers called for cooperation from all sides to hold political parties accountable, restore good governance, and strengthen functional democracy in Nepal.