The citizen question bank
Ask. Measure. Follow up.
Don't ask only what your government plans to build. Ask what economic result it will produce. These are the questions a Madhesh Next chapter puts to those in office — and publishes the answers to.
Ask
Put one question, in writing, to the office that can answer it. In public if you can.
Measure
Write down the answer and the date. An answer without a number is not yet an answer.
Follow up
Ask the same question next year. The comparison is where accountability actually happens.
Anyone can use this list. Take one question to your ward office, your municipality, your district, or your provincial representative. Ask it plainly. Write down what you are told, and when.
A useful answer has a number in it, a source, and a date. An answer that has none of those is not an answer — it is a cliche, and the polite next question is simply: how many?
Send us what you are told and we will publish it, with the date and the office that said it. Over time, that record is the campaign.
यो सूची जोसुकैले प्रयोग गर्न सक्छ। एउटा प्रश्न आफ्नो वडा कार्यालय, पालिका, जिल्ला वा प्रदेश प्रतिनिधिकहाँ लैजानुहोस्। सोझै सोध्नुहोस्। जे भनियो र कहिले भनियो, टिपेर राख्नुहोस्।
उपयोगी उत्तरमा सङ्ख्या, स्रोत र मिति हुन्छ। यी तीनै नभएको उत्तर उत्तर होइन — त्यो घिसिपिटी वाक्य हो, र त्यसपछिको शिष्ट प्रश्न सरल छ: कति?
तपाईंले पाएको उत्तर हामीलाई पठाउनुहोस् — मिति र भन्ने कार्यालयसहित हामी प्रकाशित गर्नेछौं। समयक्रममा त्यही अभिलेख नै अभियान हो।
Jobs
1. How many jobs were created in this municipality last year, and in what kinds of work?
A real answerA number, broken down by sector, and a sentence on how it was counted.
Not an answer“Many youths have benefited.”
2. How many jobs did this project create — during construction, and after it opened?
A real answerTwo separate numbers, with the contractor's payroll as the evidence.
Not an answer“The project will bring prosperity to the region.”
3. How many people from this ward left for foreign employment last year, and how many came back?
A real answerWard records set against labour permit data — both directions, not just departures.
Not an answer“Migration is a national problem.”
4. Of the jobs created here, how many went to people who actually live here?
A real answerThe share of local hires, and where the rest came from.
Not an answer“Employment opportunities were provided.”
Enterprise
5. How many new businesses were registered here last year — and how many of the previous year's are still operating?
A real answerTwo numbers: registrations, and renewals a year later. Survival is the real test.
Not an answer“Business registration is increasing.”
6. How long does it take, in days, to get a business licensed and actually operating here?
A real answerA median measured on real applications from the last year — not the rule book's answer.
Not an answer“The process is very simple.”
7. What are the three things that most often stop a business from opening here?
A real answerThree named obstacles, taken from applicants who gave up.
Not an answer“We provide all necessary support.”
8. What are we producing competitively — and who buys it?
A real answerProducts, volumes, buyers and prices. A buyer's name is worth more than an adjective.
Not an answer“This area is agriculturally rich.”
9. What could we sell across the border that we do not sell today?
A real answerA shortlist, with today's prices at the nearest Indian market.
Not an answer“We have great export potential.”
Budget and spending
10. How much local government money went to economic development last year, as a share of the total?
A real answerA percentage and the line items behind it.
Not an answer“Development budget has been duly allocated.”
11. What changed because of last year's budget?
A real answerOne named indicator, before and after.
Not an answer“Development works were completed.”
12. How much of the allocated budget was actually spent, and how much lapsed?
A real answerAllocation against expenditure, for each economic heading.
Not an answer“The budget was properly utilised.”
13. How much revenue did the local economy generate for this municipality — and is it growing?
A real answerInternal revenue by source, for three years side by side.
Not an answer“Revenue collection is satisfactory.”
Skills and education
14. What skills do local employers actually need — and who asked them?
A real answerA survey of employers, with the date it was done.
Not an answer“We conduct skill development trainings.”
15. How many people were trained here last year, and how many are working in that skill today?
A real answerTrained against employed, followed up at least six months later.
Not an answer“Hundreds of participants received training.”
16. What do our campuses teach, and how many graduates found work in this district?
A real answerA tracer count for one graduating batch.
Not an answer“Our results are excellent.”
Investment and infrastructure
17. What is our municipality doing to attract investment — specifically, this year?
A real answerNamed actions: land identified, permits streamlined, investors met.
Not an answer“Investors are always welcome here.”
18. What land or space is available for enterprise here, and on what terms?
A real answerLocations, area, price or lease terms — written down and public.
Not an answer“Land is available if needed.”
19. How many hours of power and water did businesses here lose last month?
A real answerHours, by ward, from the utility's own logs.
Not an answer“Supply is generally regular.”
20. What infrastructure is being built here, and what economic result is it expected to produce?
A real answerA target with a number and a date, recorded now so it can be checked later.
Not an answer“It will boost the local economy.”
21. Which municipality do we compare ourselves to — and are we ahead or behind?
A real answerA named neighbour and one number for each of you.
Not an answer“Every municipality has its own situation.”
Add your question
This bank grows. If there is a question your municipality should be answering and it is not here, send it — and send the answer if you get one.