First chartered accountant Kuber Sharma passes away

 Nepal's first chartered accountant (CA) and former tourism minister Kuber Prasad Sharma passed away today evening.

Sharma died of a heart attack in Kathmandu while undergoing treatment. He was associated with Nepali Congress for long before he founded Hariyali Nepal Party. Being close to the leaders like BP Koirala, Ganeshman Singh, and Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, he was a true socialist. But rising corruption and nepotism in the Nepali Congress distracted Sharma from the old party and in 2053 BS he founded Hariyali Nepal Party.

Sharma, who has a BCom and FCA, is Nepal's first chartered accountant apart from president of Rotary Club Kathmandu, chairman of the school management committee of Ratna Rajya Higher Secondary School, Baneshwor, and many more institutions.

He is survived by his wife and three daughters.

Prime Minister reshuffles cabinet, Poudel becomes finance minister

 Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reshuffled the cabinet and adding three minister in the vacant ministries.

The Prime Minister appointed Bishnu Poudel as new finance minister, whereas deputy prime minister and defence minister Ishwar Pokhrel has been removed from Defence Ministry and appointed to the minister for Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministries. But he is still the deputy prime minister. Prime Minister Oli has kept the Defence Ministry portfolio with himself.

The Finance Ministry, which was with Oli since Dr Yub Raj Khatiwada resigned earlier this month, has been given to Poudel, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Nepal Communist Party (NCP). Poudel will face huge challenges as finance minister in the time of crisis. But could Poudel dare to provide any remedy – facing from within the populist-party dictum – for employment creation, low morale of private sector and battered economy. However, by appointing Poudel as finance minister the ‘politically-smart’ Prime Minister ensured his majority in his party’s secretariat. As the Prime Minister Oli reshueffled the cabinet for his own benefit, his promises that a reshuffle in his administration will be ‘based on merit, system and performance’, has seen as his other promises.

Likewise, Pokhrel also faces criticism for failing to handle the Covid-19 pandemic as the coordinator of the High-level Covid-19 Crisis Management Centre. He also faces corruption allegations in the medical equipment procurement.

The Prime Minister has also appointed Parbat Gurung – who was minister for children, women and senior citizens – as minister for communication and information technology.

Pokhrel’s removal from the Defence Ministry is largely guided by his ‘not-so-good’ relations with the Nepal Army as he dragged the national defence force into controversy over the procurement of medical equipment to fight Covid-19.

The other faces in the cabinet include Krishna Gopal Shrestha as the minister for Urban Development and Lilanath Shrestha as the minister for women, children and senior citizens. Shrestha had once switched sides to Nepal briefly but this time he is rewarded for glorifying Prime Minister Oli.

Likewise, Lilanath Shrestha had contested against Pushpa Kamal Dahal from Siraha Constituency 5 in the 2013 Constituent Assembly (CA) elections from then CPN-UML but had lost by a small margin. Shrestha and Raghubir Mahaseth are the only two leaders, who won the elections for former UML in Province 2.

The cabinet reshuffle is going to start a new feud in the ruling as the another chair of the ruling party Puspa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal faction have been asking the Prime Minister to reshuffle the cabinet according to the recommendation of the party secretariat, but the Prime Minister reshuffled the cabinet on his own. Even party chairmen Oli and Dahal held a two-hour-long meeting on cabinet reshuffle today afternoon. The cabinet reshuffle is the Prime Minister’s prerogative, where the party has been unnecessarily trying to encroach his rights. 

“Dahal is not happy with the prime minister’s move,” according to a leader close to Dahal. “He has been trying to convince Oli for a Cabinet reshuffle as per the spirit of the recent decisions of party meetings,” the leader said, adding that Oli did not even discuss his plan to rejing the Cabinet.

Dahal had long been pressing Oli to recall all ministers and make fresh appointments based on merit and performance.

Panel recommends NAC privatisation

A task force has recommended the government to privatise the national flag carrier, apart from proposing immediate reform measures in 13 areas.
The report also recommended divestment of 49 per cent of Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) shares to Nepali and foreign investors and the public. The report has also suggested renaming NAC as Nepal Airlines Company Pvt Ltd, where the government would have 51 per cent stake, float 35 per cent shares for foreign or Nepali investors, 1.5 per cent shares for NAC staffers, 1.5 per cent for civil servants, six per cent for tourism entrepreneurs and five per cent for the public.
“NAC is operating under the Nepal Airlines Act-1962, while a lot has been changed in the aviation sector since last five decades,” former tourism secretary and coordinator of the task force – formed by the government on August 7 to bring reforms in NAC – Sushil Ghimire said, explaining the reason for the NAC’s inability to adapt to the changes. “NAC’s operation modality needs to be changed to make it competitive and commercially viable.”
Former tourism secretary Sushil Ghimire lead the team that includes chartered accountant (CA) Subodh Kumar Karna, management consultant Dim Prasad Poudel, captain Sudhir Sumsher Rai, and the tourism ministry’s joint secretary Buddhi Sagar Lamichhane.
Ghimire – submitting the report to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation today also said that the national flag carrier should uphold its corporate social responsibility (CSR), even if it is transformed into a profit-oriented company. “NAC should be operated under public-private partnership model,” he added.
The Ghimire-led committee is the seventh in two decades. Earlier too, many studies have been conducted and they have also recommended privatisation of NAC but the successive governments have not yet dared to reorganise the ailing government entity.
However, tourism minister Yogesh Bhattarai – speaking at a press conference after receiving the report from the task force – directed the ministry to take action based on the recommendations by setting a timetable.
The NAC – which is on the brink of bankruptcy due to debts and a poor operation plan – has been facing financial crisis and the report has recommended the ministry to bring help the government entity to improve its financial health. According to the report, NAC’s total loss stands at Rs 5.21 billion, while has a debt burden of Rs 40 billion. “Its total assets amount to Rs 3.60 billion.”
NAC has failed to pay its installments for the last three quarters due to deepening financial crisis. But the report also suggested the government to renegotiate NAC’s interest rate as it is higher than the market rates. It has been paying an interest of Rs 3 billion annually to its lenders. “Lenders' investments are at risk since the corporation has already defaulted on three instalments,” according to the report.
NAC lenders – the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and Citizen Investment Trust (CIT) – are state-owned entities but they have levied a high interest rate of 10.50 per cent, though the current market interest rate revolves around 6 per cent to 7 per cent.
Apart from recommending the NAC to conduct sector analysis, improve its fleet and flight management, the report has also urged to focus on human resource management as the national flag carrier lacks manpower. “The NAC has neither been able to offer attractive wages to new recruits nor has it given good raise to its current staff due to ailing financial condition,” the report reads, suggesting NAC to utilise information communication technology (ICT), conduct due diligence audit, upgrade its accounting system into Nepal Financial Reporting Standard (NFRS), analyse performance indicators, invest more in infrastructure including transit cargo store, passenger transit hall, hangar, helicopter service, catering services and establish flight training institutes.
Recommending the corporation to immediately add two Airbus 320 aircraft to fly to newly-identified destinations, the report asked the NAC to find out suitable destinations through sector analysis. “The additional aircraft will add flight frequency in the destinations where the NAC is making profit, and operate flights to NAC-identified destinations Riyadh, Seoul, Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo, and Australia where the passenger flow is high,” the report reads, suggesting the NAC to procure aircraft directly from manufacturer as it maintains transparency and makes the work easier. “The NAC should include a representative of the government or the Finance Ministry in the NAC’s committee while negotiating to procure aircraft.”
The first report – prepared by a high-level committee led by former chief secretary Damodar Prasad Gautam in February 2002 – had also suggested purchasing aircraft directly from the manufacturer to prevent financial irregularities.
Another report by a committee – in August 2002 – led by economist Shankar Sharma had also suggested to either give 60 per cent shares to a foreign strategic partner and the rest was to be divided between NAC (10 per cent), tourism entrepreneurs (10 per cent), corporation employees (5 per cent) and public (10 percent), or dissolve the corporation, establish a new company and then allocate 60 per cent shares to a foreign airline.
Likewise, a report prepared by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) in September 2004 had suggested a parent-subsidiary model. The parent company would look after international operations while the subsidiary would look after domestic operations. It had also suggested to gradually privatise the NAC.
In January 2010 too, another committee led by joint secretary at the Tourism Ministry Murari Bahadur Karki, suggested a company model, with 51 per cent shares going to the management partner and 49 per cent to the government.

Industrialist Golchha passes away

Former president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce Industry (FNCCI) and vice chair of Golchha Organisation Diwakar Golchha passed away Tuesday night while undergoing treatment in India. He was 67 and undergoing a kidney transplant in Chennai. He is survived by his two sons.
The Golchha organisation that owns Hulas CGI sheets, Wires, Shree Ram Sugarmill and many more is one of the leading business organisation in Nepal and has contributed to the industrialisation of Nepa. Golchha, also the former vice president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI), was a parliamentarian in the first Constituent Assembly (CA) in 2008 from Nepali Congress (NC) party. The elder brother of its incumbent first vice-president Shekhar Golchha, Diwakar was elected to the first Constituent Assembly (CA) in 2008 by Nepali Congress (NC) through proportional representation system.
His body will be brought to Kathmandu on Wednesday and will be cremated on Thursday, according to the family.
Meanwhile, Nepali Congress has expressed grief on the passing away of industrialist Golchha. Issuing a press note, the NC said that Golchha's demise is a huge loss to the country's industrial sector. "The country has lost honest and competent industrialist," the NC said in the press note. The party has also paid tribute to the departed soul while expressing condolence to the bereaved family members and relatives.

राजनीतिक स्थायित्वले समृद्धि देला ?

अन्ततः संघीय संरचनामा जाने कसरतमा संविधानसभामा सुरु भएको बहसको पटाक्षेप गर्दै नेपाल संघीयतामा प्रवेश गरेको छ । बिहीबारको प्रतिनिधिसभा तथा प्रदेशसभाको निर्वाचनले करिब ७ दशकदेखिको राजनीतिक संक्रमणको अन्त्य पनि गरेको छ । यसबाट लामो समयदेखि ’पर्ख र हेर’ को मनोभावमा रहेका निजी क्षेत्र अब राजनीतिक स्थायित्वले समृद्धिको यात्राको बाटो कोरेको बताउँछन् । राजनीतिक दलहरूले भनेझैं अब राजनीतिक लडाइँको पटाक्षेप भएको त छ, तर आर्थिक क्रान्तीको बाटो पनि सहज भने छैन । विगतमा राजनीतिक स्थिरता नभएर लगानीयोग्य वातावरण भएन भन्ने निजी क्षेत्रको गुनासो केही हदसम्म अब हट्नेछ । निर्वाचनको परिणामपछि नयाँ संविधानअनुसार बन्ने नयाँ सरकारलाई कम्तीमा २ वर्षसम्म हटाउन पाइने छैन । यसबाट पछिल्ला करिब २ दशक लगातार अस्थिरता तथा अनिश्चयका कारण हच्किएको निजी क्षेत्रमा अर्थतन्त्रमा केही सुधार हुन्छ भन्ने विश्वास छ ।
तर, के राजनीतिक स्थिरतामात्र आर्थिक उन्नतीको लागि आवश्यक शर्त हो त ? अर्थविद् विश्व पौडेल भन्छन्, “हैन, राजनीतिक स्थिरता एउटा शर्त हो तर यो नै सम्पूर्ण सत्य भने होइन ।” उनका अनुसार नेपालमा राजनीतिक स्थिरता पहिले पनि थियो । तर, राजनीतिक स्थिरतासंगै उपयुक्त आर्थिक नीति तथा कानुन नभएकोले नेपालको आर्थतन्त्र घिटिघिटि गरेर अगाडि बढ्यो ।
नेपालको इतिहासमा धेरै स्थिर राजनीतिक समय थिए । जस्तै, २०१७ सालदेखि २०४६ सम्म पञ्चायत कालमा राजनीतिक स्थिरता त थियो तर, पंचायतकालीन ३० वर्षमा नेपालको आर्थिक वृद्धि भने औषत ३.१३ प्रतिशतमात्र थियो । साथै तीन दशकमा ६ पटक आर्थिक वृद्धिदर नकारात्मक रहेको थियो । २०४६ सालपछि प्रजातन्त्रको आगमन तथा विश्वमा चलेको आर्थिक स्वतन्त्रताको लहर नेपालमा पनि भित्रियो । जसका कारण निजी क्षेत्रले खुलेर उद्योगधन्दा चलाउन पाए । नेपालमा विदेशी लगानी भित्रियो र यसले रोजगारीमात्र सिर्जना गरेन नेपालको प्रतिव्यक्ति आय पनि ह्वात्तै बढाउन मद्दत गर्यो ।
विश्व बैकका अनुसार २०१७ सालमा ५० अमेरिकी डलर हाराहारीमा रहेको नेपालीको प्रतिव्यक्ति आय ३० वर्षमा बढेर जम्मा १९३ अमेरिकी डलर बढ्यो । तर, २०४६ सालदेखिको पछिल्लो २७ वर्षमा नेपालीको प्रतिव्यक्ति आम्दानी बढेर ८५३ अमेरिकी डलर भएको छ । २०४६ सालको परिवर्तनपछि देशमा औद्योगिकीकरण भएका कारण रोजागरीमात्र बढेन २०४७ सालदेखिको पछिल्ला वर्षहरूको औषत आर्थिक वृद्धि ४.५ प्रतिशत रह्यो । अर्थात्, २०४६ सालपछिको सरकारले लिएको आर्थिक नीतिका कारण नेपालले १० वर्षे माओवादी विद्रोह, ९-९ महिनामा फेरिइरहने सरकार, रोजगारदाता तथा कामदारबीचको अप्रिय सम्बन्ध र उद्योगका लागि चाहिने न्यूनतम बिजुलीको चरम अभावका बाबजुद पनि आर्थिक वृद्धिको जग हल्लिन सकेन । भलै, अपेक्षित रूपको आर्थिक वृद्धि तथा रोजगारी निर्माण भने हुन सकेन ।
अब, देश संघीयतामा गइसकेपछिको अवस्थामा सही आर्थिक नीति लिएर आर्थिक वृद्धिपछिमात्रै वितरणमा ध्यान दिनुपर्ने पौडेलको भनाइ छ । “यदि लोकप्रिय बन्ने नाममा अब बन्ने सरकारले बिनास्रोत वितरणतिरमात्रै लाग्यो भने फेरि अर्को दुर्घटना हुने निश्चित छ,” उनी भन्छन् ।
यसका लागि अब बन्ने सरकारले नागरिकको आर्थिक स्वतन्त्रताको प्रत्याभूति गर्नु आवश्यक छ । जहाँ मानिस पुँजी निर्माण गर्ने स्वतन्त्र हुन्छन्, त्यो देशको आर्थिक उन्नति हुने हुनाले सम्पत्तिको अधिकार, दुई पक्षबीच करारको पालना, स्वतन्त्र न्यायपालिका तथा सुरक्षाको प्रत्याभूतिको कारण स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक हिँडडुल गर्न पाउने अधिकार, स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक पुँजी निर्माण गर्न पाउने अधिकार तथा स्वतन्त्रतापूर्वक व्यापार गर्न पाउने अधिकारको प्रत्याभूति हुन नसके करिब ७ दशक लगाएर प्राप्त भएको राजनीतिको स्थिरताको जगमा आर्थिक क्रान्ती गर्ने सपना तुषारापात हुन बेर लाग्दैन ।
आर्थिक स्वतन्त्रताअन्तर्गत सरकारले सबै नागरिकलाई बराबरको व्यवहार नगरी कसैलाई छुट वा सुविधा दिनेवित्तिकै त्यसले बजारमा एकाधिकारको सिर्जना गर्दछ र प्रतिस्पर्धाको घाँंटी निमोठ्छ । त्यसबाट सरकारले ‘क्रोनी क्यापिटलिज्म’ बढाउँछ र बजारमा नयाँ खेलाडी आउने वातावरण बन्दैन । पुरानामात्र बजारमा रहिरहने तर नयाँं सिर्जना र नवीन सोच स्थापित हुने वातावरण नबन्नासाथ लगानीकर्ता हतास हुन्छन् । त्यसैले संविधानसभामार्फत बनेको संविधानको कार्यान्वयन सुरु भएसँगै नेपालका विकास साझेदार, विदेशी तथा स्वदेशी लगानीकर्तामा छाएको उत्साह कायम राख्न पनि निर्वाचनपछि जुनसुकै दलको सरकार आएपनि निजी क्षेत्रलाई प्रतिस्पर्धी वातावरणमा काम गर्न दिनेमा नेपाल उद्योग परिसंघका अध्यक्ष हरिभक्त शर्मा आशाबादी छन् । जिम्मेवार राजनीति, सुशासन तथा नीतिगत र कानुनी सुधार, पूर्वाधार विकास र दृढ अठोट नभइ राजनीतिक स्थायित्वलेमात्र आर्थिक वृद्धि तथा समृद्धि प्राप्त नहुने उनको विचार छ ।
“अहिले हाम्रा छिमेकी देश औद्योगिकीकरणको दिशामा अगाडि बढिसकेका छन्, अब हाम्रो पालो,” उनी भन्छन्, “लम्बिँदो राजनीतिक संक्रमणकाल र अनिश्चितताबाट मुक्ति पाएपछि निजी क्षेत्रले पनि देशमा केही गरेर देखाउने छ ।”
निजी क्षेत्रले लगानी बढाउनासाथ देशमा रोजगारी बढ्ने र नेपाली युवाहरू वैदेशिक रोजागरीमा जाने क्रम घट्ने पनि उनको भनाइ छ । संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघको प्रतिवेदनअनुसार देशको बढ्दो बेरोजगारी सम्बोधन गर्न नेपालले प्रत्येक वर्ष ५ लाख ५० हजार रोजगारीको अवसर सिर्जना गर्न आवश्यक छ । त्यो क्रम बढ्दै गएर सन् २०२० सम्म प्रत्येक वर्ष ६ लाख ३३ हजार युवा बेरोजार हुने अवस्था रहेको प्रतिवेदनले जनाएको छ । रोजगारी सिर्जनाका लागि मुलुकभर समानुपातिक रूपमा विकास निर्माण तथा आर्थिक गतिविधि सिर्जना गरिनुपर्छ भने लगानीका लागि निजी क्षेत्रलाई उत्प्रेरित पनि गरिनुपर्दछ ।
संघीयताका कारण काठमाडौंकेन्द्रित अर्थतन्त्र विस्तारित भएर पक्कै प्रदेशमा धेरै नै रोजगारी सिर्जना हुनेछ । संयुक्त राष्ट्रसंघीय विकास कार्यक्रमले प्रकाशित गरेको नेपाल मानव विकास सूचकांक २०१४ अनुसार कुल गार्हस्थ्य उत्पादनमा जिल्लागत रूपमा हेर्दा काठमाडौंको योगदान १५.८ प्रतिशत छ । काठमाडौंपछि समग्र अर्थतन्त्रमा दोस्रो धेरै मोरङको ३.९ प्रतिशत, बाराको ३.३ प्रतिशत, झापा र रुपन्देहीको ३.२ प्रतिशत योगदान छ । यस्तै, कुल गार्हस्थ्य उत्पादनमा ललितपुरले २.९ प्रतिशत, सुनसरीले २.७ प्रतिशत, कास्कीले २.५ प्रतिशत, नवलपरासी र पर्सा जिल्लाले २.४ प्रतिशत र सबैभन्दा कम मुगुले ०.२ प्रतिशत एवं हुम्ला, डोल्पा, मुस्ताङ र मनाङको बराबरी ०.१ प्रतिशत योगदान छ । प्रादेशिक विभाजन गर्दा आर्थिकभन्दा राजनीतिक विषयलाई बढी महत्व दिइएकाले सबै प्रदेश र प्रदेशभित्रका एकाइहरूबीच समान आर्थिक अवस्था छैन । त्यसैले, देश अव संघीयतामा गइसकेपछि आर्थिक रूपमा सबल प्रदेश निर्माण गर्नुपर्ने दायित्व पनि राजनीतिक दललाई थपिएको छ ।

अन्योलमा आर्थिक क्रान्ति

दिगो राजनीतिक स्थायित्व, आर्थिक उन्नति र दह्रो राष्ट्रिय एकतामार्फत मुलुकलाई समृद्धिको बाटोमा अग्रसर गराउने वाचा गरेर संविधानसभाबाट ‘नेपालको संविधान २०७२’ जारी भएको एक वर्ष भएको छ । तर, एक वर्ष बित्दा पनि देश राजनीतिक मुद्दामै अल्झिरहेकाले निजी क्षेत्र र आर्थिक क्रान्ति अझै अन्योलग्रस्त छन् ।
करिब सात दशक लामो राजनीतिक संक्रमणकाल पार गरेर संविधानसभाबाट दुई तिहाइभन्दा बढी मतले अनुमोदन भएको संविधानले सार्वजनिक, निजी र सहकारी क्षेत्रको सहभागिता तथा विकासमार्फत उपलब्ध साधन र स्रोतको अधिकतम परिचालनद्वारा तीव्र आर्थिक वृद्धि हासिल गर्ने जनाएको छ ।
त्यसैले संविधान आउँदा आर्थिक क्रान्ति र समृद्धिको ढोका खोल्ने आशा गरेको निजी क्षेत्र एक वर्षमै अन्योलग्रस्त हुनु भनेको शुभसंकेत भने पक्कै होइन । संविधान आयो, स्थायित्व आएन भन्ने निजी क्षेत्रको गुनासो छ । ‘स्थायित्व नभएकाले आर्थिक क्रान्तिको बाटो अझै खुलेन,’ नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघका अध्यक्ष पशुपति मुरारका भन्छन्, देश अझै पनि राजनीतिक मुद्दाकै वरिपरि घुमिरहेको छ, यसबीच विभिन्न सरकारी निकायबाट निजी क्षेत्रलाई दुःख दिने, दुव्र्यवहार गर्ने काम भइरहेको छ । असहज परिस्थितिबाट थिलथिलो भएका उद्योग–व्यवसायमाथि राजस्व, प्रहरी–प्रशासन लगायत निकायबाट दुःख दिने, दुव्र्यवहार गर्ने कार्य झन् बढिरहेको छ ।’
नयाँ संविधान आएपछि देशमा कानुनी राज हुने र लगानी बढ्ने अपेक्षा गरिएको भए पनि निजी क्षेत्रका लागि आवश्यक लगानीको वातावरणमा सुधार हुन चाहिने प्रमुख तŒव कानुनी राजको कुनै प्रत्याभूति नभएको निजी क्षेत्रको गुनासो छ ।
नेपाल उद्योग परिसंघका अध्यक्ष हरिभक्त शर्मा पनि कानुनी राजको प्रत्याभूति नभई लगानी नबढ्ने बताउँछन् । ‘सबैलाई बराबर कानुन लाग्ने भएपछि मात्र लगानीको वातावरण बन्छ,’ उनी भन्छन् ।
शर्माका अनुसार संविधान त आयो तर यसको कार्यान्वय कहिले र कसरी हुन्छ अझै पत्तो छैन । ‘एक वर्षमा संविधान कार्यान्वयन नै हुन सकेको छैन,’ उनी भन्छन् ।
नेपालमा प्रत्येक राजनीतिक दल तथा प्रधानमन्त्री आर्थिक क्रान्तिको सुरुवात भयो भन्छन् किनकि यो एउटा विकाउ नारा भएको छ । तर, जबसम्म आर्थिक मुद्दाले प्रमुखता पाउँदैन, तबसम्म नाराबाजीले काम नगर्ने उनको विश्लेषण छ । अर्थतन्त्रलाई प्रमुख मुद्दा बनाउन ढिला भइसकेको उनको विचार छ ।   
लगानीको वातावरणमा जसरी कानुन पालना महŒवपूर्ण छ, त्यसैगरी समयसापेक्ष कानुन बनाएर उद्योगी–व्यवसायीलाई लगानी गर्न अभिप्रेरित गर्न पनि आवश्यक छ । एक वर्षबीच केही कानुन पनि नबनेका होइनन् । निजी क्षेत्रले लामो समयदेखि माग गर्दै आएको विशेष आर्थिक क्षेत्र ऐन संसद्बाट पारित भएको छ । तर, उद्योग व्यवसाय सञ्चालनका लागि निजी क्षेत्रले बारम्बार माग गर्दै आएको लगानीमैत्री नयाँ औद्योगिक व्यवसाय ऐन, विदेशी लगानी तथा प्रविधि हस्तान्तरण ऐन, ट्रेड युनियनसँग भएको सहमतिका आधारमा श्रम ऐन बनेका छैनन्, कानुन र कालोबजारी ऐनजस्ता पुराना ऐन  संशोधन भएका छैनन् । अझै पनि विभिन्न माग राख्दै मजदुर युनियनले उद्योगमा तालाबन्दी गरिरहेका छन् । जसले लगानीको वातावरण बनाउनभन्दा पनि बिगार्ने काम गरिरहेको छ ।
सरकार राजनीतिक मुद्दामा अल्झिरहेकाले संविधान जारी हुँदा नै निजी क्षेत्रको विशेष चासो रहेका मुद्दामा प्रवेश गर्ने समय पाएको छैन । मुरारकाका अनुसार त उद्योगी–व्यवसायीका लागि झन् बितेको एक वर्ष नराम्रो भएको छ । संविधानमा लेखिएअनुरुप समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र कसरी अगाडि बढ्छ, त्यो निजी क्षेत्रको चासोको विषय रहिआएको थियो । तर, सरकारको क्रियाकलापबाट झन् त्यो अन्योलग्रस्त देखिएको छ ।
शोषणरहित समाज निर्माण गर्न राष्ट्रिय अर्थतन्त्रलाई आत्मनिर्भर, स्वतन्त्र तथा उन्नतिशील बनाउँदै समाजवादउन्मुख स्वतन्त्र र समृद्ध अर्थतन्त्र विकास गर्ने राज्यको आर्थिक लक्ष्य हुने नयाँ संविधानमा उल्लेख छ । निजी क्षेत्रलाई आश्वस्त पार्दै प्रमुख तीनवटै दलका नेताले संविधानमा जे लेखिए पनि हालकै खुला बजार अर्थतन्त्रअनुरुप नै अर्थतन्त्र अघि बढ्ने बाचा गरेका छन् । तर, त्यसको नीतिगत रूपमा अझै सम्बोधन भएको छैन ।
संविधानले अर्थ, उद्योग र वाणिज्यसम्बन्धी नीतिमा सार्वजनिक, निजी र सहकारी क्षेत्रको सहभागिता बढाउने र सहकारीलाई प्रवद्र्धन गर्दै राष्ट्रिय विकासमा अत्यधिक परिचालन गर्ने भने पनि विगतदेखि नै सहकारीको स्वेच्छाचारिताले अर्थतन्त्रमा असर परिरहेको छ । नयाँ सहकारी ऐन ल्याउन कोसिस गरिरहेका पूर्वमन्त्री चित्रबहादुर केसीको भनाइ मान्ने हो भने त सहकारी झन् सामन्तवादी जमिन्दारीतिर उन्मुख भइरहेको अवस्था छ । सरकारले नयाँ संविधान कार्यान्वयमा सहकारीको भूमिका तथा यसबाट नागरिकमा परेको नकारात्मक प्रभावलाई कसरी सामन्जस्य गर्छ, त्यो पनि हेर्न बाँकी छ ।
यस्तै, आर्थिक क्षेत्रका सबै गतिविधिमा स्वच्छता, जवाफदेही र प्रतिस्पर्धा कायम गर्न नियमनको व्यवस्था गर्दै सर्वांगीण राष्ट्रिय विकासमा प्रोत्साहन र परिचालन गर्ने, उपलब्ध साधन, स्रोत तथा आर्थिक विकास प्रतिफलको न्यायोचित वितरण गर्ने र तुलनात्मक लाभका क्षेत्र पहिचान गरी उद्योग विकास र विस्तारद्वारा निर्यात प्रवद्र्धन गर्दै वस्तु तथा सेवाको बजार विविधीकरण र विस्तार गर्ने नयाँ संविधानमा उल्लेख छ ।
तर, राजनीतिक संरक्षणमा नियामक निकायलाई कमजोर र पंगु बनाउने काम बन्द भएको छैन । बैंक तथा वित्तीय संस्थासम्बन्धी कानुनमा संशोधन तथा एकीकरण गर्न बनेको विधेयकमा सभासदबाट आफ्नो पद र ओहदा दुरुपयोग गरी प्रभाव पार्न अझै हरसम्भव प्रयास भइरहनु यसको ज्वलन्त उदाहरण हो ।
सरकार कसरी राजनीतिक आवरणमा मौलाएको छद्मभेषी निजी क्षेत्र र त्यसले सिर्जना गरेको कालोबजारी, कृत्रिम अभाव र कालोधन थुपार्ने होडबाजीलाई नियन्त्रण गरी संविधानमा लेखिएझैं राष्ट्रिय अर्थतन्त्रलाई प्रतिस्पर्धी बनाउन लागिपर्छ, त्यो हेर्न बाँकी छ । व्यापारिक स्वच्छता र अनुशासन कायम गरी उपभोक्ताको हित संरक्षण गर्ने तथा राष्ट्रिय अर्थतन्त्रको विकासका लागि राष्ट्रिय उद्योग–धन्दा र साधन स्रोतको संरक्षण र प्रवद्र्धन गरी नेपाली श्रम, सीप र कच्चा पदार्थमा आधारित स्वदेशी लगानीलाई प्राथमिकता दिने विषय पनि व्यवहारमै हेर्नुपर्छ ।
राजनीतिले अर्थतन्त्र डो¥याउने कि अर्थतन्त्रले राजनीति भन्ने बहस गर्न राजनीतिक दलले फुर्सद पाएका छैनन् । संविधानले राष्ट्रिय अर्थतन्त्रको विकासका लागि स्वदेशी लगानीलाई प्राथमिकता दिने, राष्ट्रिय हितअनुकूल आयात प्रतिस्थापन, निर्यात प्रवद्र्धनका क्षेत्रमा वैदेशिक पुँजी तथा प्रविधिको लगानी आकर्षित गर्दै पूर्वाधार विकासमा प्रोत्साहन एवं परिचालन गर्नेमा जोड दिने पनि उल्लेख गरेको छ । तर, त्यसअनुरुप ऐन, नियम तथा सरकारी नीति बन्ने र बनाउने काम नहँुदा लगानी कसरी बढ्छ र रोजगारी कसरी सिर्जना हुन्छ भन्ने प्रश्न अझै टड्कारो छ ।
गएको आर्थिक वर्ष विविध कारणले आर्थिक वृद्धिदर ०.७७ प्रतिशतमा खुम्चियो । देश झन् गरिबीतिर उन्मुख हँुदै छ । राजनीतिक दलका नेताले के बुझ्नु आवश्यक छ भने गरिब देशका नेताको कुनै पनि देशमा सम्मान हुन्न । त्यसैले अब छिटोभन्दा छिटो संविधान कार्यान्वयन गरेर राजनीतिक दल आफैँले वाचा गरेको आर्थिक समृद्धिको बाटो खोलेनन् भने उनीहरू आफ्नै पनि सम्मान कतै हुन्न ।

Private sector suggests premier to seek implementation of earlier agreements with India

The private sector has suggested Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli to seek assurance of implementation of previous agreements with India during the latter's visit scheduled for next week.
Asking the 'nationalist PM Oli' to focus on improving relations with the southern neighbour and lure more Indian investment into the country, the private sector today at the meeting with him and prominent ministers of his cabinet at PM's official residence Baluwater, also recommended the premier to seek assurance of implementation of Pancheswar Multipurpose Project to harness Nepal’s water resources for the benefit of both the nations and better utilisation of line of credit facility extended by India.
Signing the Mahakali Treaty and Pancheswar Multipurpose Project, more than 2 decade ago, the incumbent premier Oli had then claimed that Nepal would get Rs 130 billion annually from India from the project. However, in last almost 25 years down the line, thousands of cubic metres of water has flown down the Mahakali river but the country has not received a single penny but is reeling under acute shortage of electricity as the power cut has reached 13 hours a day, currently.
Likewise, the country is facing shortage of essential drugs and fuel due to blockade by India since – against the Nepal's right to land-locked country – last four months after the promulgation of Constitution by the Constituent Assembly (CA) on September 23.
Thus, the private sector asked the premier to ensure free and smooth trans-shipment facility for Nepal from India as a land-locked country. Some 20,000 industries have been closed and around 400,000 have been employed due to Indian blockade since last months that created shortage of raw materials and petroleum products through Nepal-India border customs. Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) is the sole petroleum products suppliers to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC). But the IOC has not been supplying petroleum products, according to the agreement saying that it has no orders from Indian government to supply fuel to Nepal.
The visit is also expected to clarify on the bilateral agreements as time and again Nepal has been blocked the essential supplies including petroleum products and medicines despite the bilateral agreements, regional and sub-regional agreements, and global agreements including Nepal's right to land-locked countries.
The premier had invited the private sector for consultation on pertinent issues that need to be raised during his visit to the southern neighbour scheduled from February 19 to 24.
According to Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) president Pashupati Murarka, the prime minister also asked for an integrated proposal from the private sector.
"The government has also identified matters that need to be raised during my visit to India, and we will also integrate the proposal from the private sector during the talks," Murarka quoted the prime minister as saying during the talks with Private sector representatives including FNCCI, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC), Nepal-India Chamber of Commerce and Industry (NICCI).
The prime minister also told the private sector that his visit will be focused on improving and strengthening bilateral ties with India. Deputy prime minister and foreign minister Kamal Thapa, finance minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel, commerce minister Deepak Bohara, industry minister Som Prasad Pandey and high-level bureaucrats were present during the meeting.
A 15-member private sector team will also be part of the Prime Minister’s delegation to India. Apart from New Delhi, Oli is also scheduled to visit the economic capital of India, Mumbai.

Private sector mourns death of former PM Koirala

The private sector has expressed grief at the demise of former Prime Minister and Nepali Congress (NC) president Sushil Koirala. Koirala, 77, passed away today morning at his residence. The private sector was stunned by Koirala's sudden demise, they said.
Issuing separate statements, the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI), Nepal Chamber of Commerce (NCC) and Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) described Koirala's passing away as 'a great loss' to the nation.
According to the president of FNCCI Pashupati Muraraka, the country has suffered an unbearable loss. "Koirala had a significant contribution to the democratic movement with commendable leadership," he said, adding that the private sector will always appreciate his contribution of leading the country through the transition and promulgation of a new Constitution. It was Sushil Koirala, who drivered the promulgation of a new Constitution through the Constituent Assembly, despite a huge pressure from in and out of the country.
The FNCCI also claimed that Koirala was always concerned for the economic development of Nepal. "Now the implementation of the new Constitution and lead the country towards a prosperous future rests on the political parties," the umbrella organisation of the private sector said, adding that Koirala had played a legendary role in the democratic movement and especially in institutionalising democratic republic in the country. “During meetings with the private sector, Koirala used to encourage the private sector to make investments and attract foreign investment as well."
The biggest achievement of Koirala's political career was the promulgation of the Constitution on September 20, 2015. In his capacity as the Prime Minister, Koirala played a crucial role in generating political consensus for the statute’s endorsement despite various pressures.
Under his leadership, the Nepali Congree (NC) re-emerged as the largest party with the highest number of votes. Koirala led the government from February 2014, after the election to the second Constituent Assembly (CA). He was elected as the NC party president in September 2010.
Koirala, when was the premier, used to say that Nepal would embark on a economic development journey and the government’s focus would shift towards economic development once the Constitution was promulgated.
According to CNI, the country lost an honest and simple person with a clean character. "Koirala was a strong supporter of independence, democratic values and liberal economy," it further said, adding that Koirala’s death has not just created a void on the political front but also on the economic front.
The chamber has also lauded Koirala’s role in uniting the political parties for the promulgation of the new Constitution. "The people’s hopes of seeing a new constitution through the Constituent Assembly was fulfilled during his tenure,” according to president of chamber Rajesh Kazi Shrestha.
The supporter of open market and free economy, Koirala firmly believed open market and free economy play a crucial role for country's development and prosperity.
According to the chamber, Koirala always played an inspirational role for the country’s private sector. "Koirala believed that the sustainable development of the country was possible only through an open market, liberal economy and private sector," the NCC said, adding that he always believed the nation will prosper with private sector-led economic growth.
Though, he did not have much knowledge about economics, and was not aware of how it exactly functioned, he was keen on attracting domestic and foreign investments for employment generation and economic development of the country. He also used to say that the country’s resources have to be used properly so that prosperity could be shared.
Going against the tide, he also made some bold decisions like signing power trade deal with India during his 20-month reign from February 2014 to October 2015. Likewise, the signing of two agreements on development of 900MW Upper Karnali and 900MW Arun-3 hydroelectric projects worth over $2 billion was also possible under Koirala's premiership.
Koirala’s government also revived talks on construction of 5,600MW Pancheshwar Multipurpose Project after a hiatus of almost two decades; allowed at least three foreign companies to establish cement plants worth tens of billions of rupees; and lured billions of rupees of investment in the hotel sector. Koirala, however, did not sign any agreement that was against the national interest, despite pressures from within and outside his party.
During his tenure as Prime Minister Nepal's received a record Rs 270.60 billion foreign aid commitments in fiscal year 2014-15. Koirala also supported the process of revising or framing around three dozen policies and Acts to attract foreign investment and protect the interest of investors.
The Koirala government was also hailed by the international community as it was quick in responding the devastating earthquake of April 25 and mobilised the National Planning Commission -- chaired by him -- to conduct Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA). An International Conference on Nepal's Reconstruction (ICNR) on the basis of PDNA helped Nepal receive funding commitment of $4.1 billion for reconstruction and rehabilitation works from the international community.
The international community, including Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has also mourned the sudden demise of Koirala.
NRNA president Shesh Ghale, in a statement, said that Koirala’s death had stunned the association. "We have lost our parent, who always remained helpful and guided the NRNA in its movement," he is quoted in the statement. "Koirala’s demise has caused an irreparable loss to the nation."

सरकारलाई अर्थशास्त्रीको सुझाव- ‘नाकाबन्दीबारे बोल, श्वेतपत्र जारी गर’

मधेस आन्दोलन र नाकाबन्दीबाट देशको अर्थतन्त्र र सर्वसाधारणको दैनिकीमा परेको नकारात्मक असरबारे श्वेतपत्र जारी गर्न अर्थविदहरूले सरकारलाई सुझाव दिएका छन्। करिब तीन महिनायता तराई–मधेसमा चलिरहेको आन्दोलन र महिना दिनभन्दा लामो समयदेखि भारतले लगाइरहेको नाकाबन्दीले आपूर्तिजन्य समस्या सिर्जना भई सर्वसाधारणको दैनिक जीवनयापनदेखि अर्थतन्त्रसम्म नराम्ररी प्रभावित भएको औंल्याउँदै उनीहरुले नाकाबन्दीबारे बोल्न र तत्काल श्वेतपत्र जारी गरेर नागरिकलाई देशको राजनीतिक तथा आर्थिक स्थितिबारे यथार्थ जानकारी गराउनुपर्ने औंल्याएका हुन्।
वरिष्ठ अर्थशास्त्री विश्वम्भर प्याकुरेलले ऐतिहासिक संविधानसभाले संविधान जारी गरेपछि देश आर्थिक मुद्दामा प्रवेश गर्ने र समृद्धिको सपना छिट्टै पूरा हुने जनअपेक्षा विपरीत अहिले सरकार र जनताबीच दुरी बढ्दै गएको बताए। ‘दैनिक जीवनयापन कठिन हुने गरी नाकाबन्दी हुँदा पनि सरकार नबोलेकाले सरकारकै वैधानिकतामा संकट आउने अवस्था भइसकेको छ,’ प्याकुरेलले अन्तर्क्रियामा भने, ‘त्यसकारण पनि सरकारले छिटोभन्दा छिटो श्वेतपत्र जारी गरेर आफ्ना नागरिकलाई विश्वासमा लिनुपर्छ।’
सरकार तथा आन्दोलनकारी तराई–मधेस केन्द्रित राजनीतिक दल दुवै पक्षका बेवास्ताले अर्थतन्त्र पूर्ण रुपमा धराशयी हुने औंल्याउँदै उनले सर्वसाधारणको जीवन कष्टपूर्ण हुने मात्र होइन, चालु संकट लम्बिए नेपाल असफलराष्ट्र हुन सक्ने औंल्याए।
दुई महिनाभन्दा बढी समयदेखि तराई–मधेस क्षेत्रलगायत देशका अधिकांश उद्योग बन्द भई बेरोजगारी बढ्दै गएको, आपूर्तिजन्य समस्याका कारण दैनिक उपभोग्य सामान अभाव भई उच्च मूल्यवृद्धि भएको तथा सरकारले आफ्नो सीमाको रक्षा पनि गर्न नसकेको भनी वैधानिकताको प्रश्न उठ्दा देशै असफल राष्ट्र हुनसक्ने खतरा बढ्दै गएको प्याकुरेलको विश्लेषण छ।
सर्वसाधारण नागरिकको सरकारमाथिको विश्वास घट्दै जाँदा पनि सरकार अझै चुपचाप रहेको औंल्याउँदै उनले यथाशीघ्र श्वेतपत्र जारी गर्न सुझाए।
प्याकुरेलका अनुसार हाल नेपाल असफल राष्ट्र हुने र बिस्तारै अर्थतन्त्र ‘कोल्याप्स’ हुने बाटोतिर गइरहेको छ।
उनका अनुसार आन्दोलन तथा नाकाबन्दीका कारण तेस्रो मुलुकबाट नेपाल आयात भएका सामानको कलकत्ता बन्दरगाहमा दैनिक ४ करोड विलम्ब शुल्क तिर्न बाध्य हुनुपरेको छ। नेपाल उद्योग वाणिज्य महासंघका अनुसार बन्दका कारण मात्र अर्थतन्त्रले प्रतिदिन २ अर्ब घाटा बेहोरिरहेको छ।
हालसम्म अर्थतन्त्रमा करिब १ सय ६० अर्ब रुपैयाँभन्दा बढीको घाटा भइसकेको औंल्याउँदै प्याकुरेलले अहिले मौद्रिक घाटा मात्र नभएर मुलुक सामाजिक तथा राजनीतिक रुपमा पनि असफल राष्ट्रको बाटोमा हिँडिरहेको बताए।
नाकाबन्दीका कारण सरकारले २५ अर्बभन्दा बढी राजस्व गुमाइसकेको छ।
यस्तै, बन्द, हडताल अन्त्य नभए वित्तीय क्षेत्र धराशयी हुनेछ र राज्य नै असफल हुनेछ भन्दै नेपाल बैंकर्स संघका अध्यक्ष उपेन्द्र पौडेलले बन्दका कारण औद्योगिक उत्पादन घटेको र २–३ महिनाको बन्द, हडतालले सर्वत्र असर गरिरहेको बेला बैंकिङ क्षेत्र पनि अछुतो नरहेको बताए। ‘यस्तो स्थितिमा कसरी अघि बढ्ने भनेर सरकारले स्पष्ट रोडम्याप बनाउन सकेको छैन,’ अन्तर्क्रियामा पौडेलले भने।
राष्ट्रबैंकको निर्देशनअनुसार ५ प्रतिशतभन्दा बढी एनपिए (निष्त्रि्कय कर्जा) हुनु हुँदैैन। एनपिए राष्ट्रबैंकले तोकेको मापदण्डभित्र राख्न गुणस्तरीय कर्जा प्रवाह गरिनुपर्छ। ‘अहिलेको प्रतिकूलताले कर्जाको गुणस्तर कायम गर्न समस्या पर्नेछ,’ उनले भने।
तत्कालका लागि राष्ट्रबैंकले कर्जाको ब्याज र किस्ता तिर्ने समयसीमा केही बढाएको छ। ‘त्यसले ऋणीलाई केही राहत पुगे पनि लामो समय यस्तै अवस्था रहने हो भने उनीहरुलेे कसरी ऋण भुक्तान गर्न सक्लान् र?’ पौडेलले प्रश्न गरे, ‘यसले बैंंकिङ क्षेत्रलाई नै असर गर्नेछ।’
लगानीकर्ताले विश्वास गुमाएर कर्जा प्रवाह नहुँदा अर्थतन्त्रका धेरै क्षेत्रमा यसको असर पर्ने र समग्र अर्थतन्त्र खुम्चने उनको भनाइ छ।
राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोगका पूर्वसदस्य चन्द्रमणि अधिकारीले भारतले अहिले गरेको नाकाबन्दी २०४५ सालभन्दा फरक भएको बताए। ‘घोषितभन्दा अघोषित नाकाबन्दी खतरापूर्ण हुन्छ,’ उनले भने, ‘घोषित नाकाबन्दीमा अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय निकायले अनुगमन तथा अवलोकन गर्छन्। अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय काम गर्न थाल्छन् तर अहिले अघोषित नाकाबन्दी भएकाले त्यो अवस्था पनि छैन। यसैले अहिलेको अवस्था जटिल छ। यसको समाधान निकाल्न पनि गाह्रो हुन्छ।’
उनका अनुसार अहिलेको नाकाबन्दीले काठमाडौंलाई समस्यामा पार्न खोजिएको छ। ‘काठमाडौं समस्याग्रस्त भइसकेपछि मुलुक असफल राष्ट्रतर्फ जाने खतरा हुन्छ,’ उनले भने, ‘सबैतिर नकारात्मक असर पर्दै गएको छ। ४ लाख औद्योगिकसहित १० लाख मजदुरले काम गुमाएका छन्।’
दैनिक कमाएर गुजारा गर्नुपर्ने ती मजदुरले आफनो आम्दानी गुमाए भने अर्कोतिर मूल्यवृद्धिले अर्को समस्या थपेको छ। वैशाखमा आएको भूकम्पका कारण वृद्धिदर झन्डै तीन प्रतिशतमा झर्योत, अधिकारीले भने, ‘भूकम्पले पुँजी (७ खर्ब रुपैयाँ) नोक्सान भएको छ। यो सञ्चित धनसम्पत्ति थियो।’ उनका अनुसार नाकाबन्दीलेे आम्दानी र सञ्चित धन दुवै नोक्सान भइरहेको छ।
नेपालको कुल गार्हस्थ उत्पादन २१ खर्ब २४ अर्ब रुपैयाँ हो। भूकम्प र नाकाबन्दीका कारण झन्डै १० खर्ब रुपैयाँ नोक्सान भइसकेको अवस्थामा हालको दुई महिनामा अर्को १० खर्बको नोक्सान भई अर्थतन्त्र नै नकारात्मकतर्फ जाने खतरा बढ्दो रहेको उनको भनाइ छ। ‘यी सबै कुराले गर्दा मुलुक असफलतातिर जान खोजेको हो कि भन्ने खतरा बढेको छ,’ उनले भने, ‘त्यसैले सरकारले सबै समस्यालाई समेटेर श्वेतपत्र जारी गर्नुपर्छ। यसको जानकारी आम सर्वसाधारणलाई दिनुपर्छ।’
आर्थिक, सामाजिक क्षेत्रमा असर परेको जानकारी श्वेतपत्रमा उल्लेख गरेपछि जनताले पनि दैनिक जीवनयापनका विकल्पबारे सोच्न सक्ने अधिकारीको धारणा छ। समस्या समयमै समाधान गर्नतर्फ नसोच्ने हो भने मुलुकबाट पुँजी पलायनको डरलाग्दो समस्या उत्पन्न हुने भन्दै उनले नेपाली लगानीकर्ताले तत्कालका लागि अन्यत्र लगानी नलगे पनि नेपालमा लगानी गर्न तयार विदेशी कम्पनीले आफ्नो लगानी अन्य मुलुकमा लैजान सक्छन्।
नेपाल राष्ट्रबैकका पूर्वगभर्नर दीपेन्द्रबहादुर क्षत्रीले नाकाबन्दीको असर भौतिक र मनोवैज्ञानिक हुने बताए। ‘मनोवैज्ञानिक असर दीर्घकालीन किसिमको हुन्छ,’ उनले भने, ‘मनोवैज्ञानिक असर गैरआर्थिक लाग्ला तर त्यसको प्रभाव आर्थिक रुपमा पनि प्रत्यक्ष रुपमा पर्छ। जस्तो हामीले औषधिमा ३०/४० प्रतिशत आत्मनिर्भर भयौं भन्यौं तर त्यही औषधि उत्पादन गर्न चाहिने कच्चा पदार्थ भारतबाट ल्याउँछौं। औषधि उत्पादनमा पनि नाकाबन्दीको असर देखिन थालिसक्यो। ठूला अस्पतालका सघन उपचार कक्षमै उपचार दिन नसक्ने अवस्था भइसक्यो। उपचारै गर्न नसक्ने अवस्था भएपछि त्यसको असर कस्तो पर्ला?’
नाकाबन्दीले कालोबजारियालाई भने मस्त मौका मिलेको उनले बताए। नाकाबन्दीका नामले इन्धनको मात्रै होइन, दैनिक उपभोग्यदेखि सबैजसो सामानमा कालोबजारी गरिएको उनले बताए। ‘सरकार कमजोर भएर यस्तो भएको छ भनेर सर्वसाधारणले भन्या छन्,’ क्षत्रीले भने, ‘सरकारप्रति जनताको यस्तो अविश्वासले त हाम्रो सार्वभौमिकतालाई नै जोखिममा पर्छजस्तो छ।’

Government concerned over Indian blockade

Nepal has officially showed concern over 'India-imposed blockade' since last four days that has made the lives of Nepalis hard.
Foreign Ministry today – releasing a press note – said that the government is concerned over 'undue delay on the movement and clearance of cargo vehicles resulting in significant decrease in the flow of essential goods to Nepal from India via different border checkpoints for last few days.'
"It decreased flow has been noted particularly since September 23, whereas the security situation in Tarai has remained the same for more than a month and now has been improving gradually,” the ministry said in a statement.
Minister for Health and Population Khaga Raj Adhikari – who is officiating foreign
minister in an absence of foreign minister Mahendra Pandey – during his meeting with ambassador of India to Nepal at the Foreign Ministry in Singha Durbar yesterday, had informed about the fact and requested for necessary cooperation from Indian government for early release of cargo vehicles stuck at border checkpoints on the Indian side, according to the ministry.
A handful of vehicles – with perishable goods – were allowed to enter Nepal through Mechi and Dhangadhi check point. "Due to the blockade, Nepalis have begun to feel shortage of daily supplies on the eve of festive season,” the ministry said, further adding that as many as 29 cargo vehicles carrying perishable goods had managed to enter Nepal yesterday and the day before through Bhairahawa checkpoint.
The ministry also informed that 17 cargo vehicles, including three with petroleum products, through Mechi checkpoint and 25 cargo vehicles, including 20 with petroleum products, through Dhangadhi check point could enter Nepal, today.
"The situation of supply, however, has not improved ever since," it said, adding, "Not a single cargo vehicle could enter Nepal through Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Krishnanagar and Nepalgunj checkpoints until 5 pm today."
India has – showing its displeasure over promulgation of constitution through Constituent Assembly (CA) on September 20 – blocked cargo vehicles, including petroleum products, despite agreement to supply petroleum products to Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) by Indian Oil Corporation (IOC), the sole supplier of petroleum products to Nepal. India sent a 7-point recommendation to add in the constitution, which Nepali leaders rejected. The Indian bureaucracy has taken the issue as its prestige issue and entered into ego-war with a tiny landlocked neighbour Nepal.
"Hundreds of vehicles carrying petroleum products and other essential goods are awaiting clearance to enter Nepal on the Indian side of the border,” the statement added, “Tankers have not been filled up with petroleum products."
Large number of vehicles have not been allowed to enter the Indian side and due to which people in Nepali side have begun to feel shortage of daily supplies on the eve of festive season, the statement further read. "Given the friendly relations existing between the two countries, Nepal sincerely hopes that the India will take all necessary steps at the earliest to ensure uninterrupted entry of vehicles carrying essential supplies, including petroleum products, to Nepal as before. It also reiterated that there would not be any problem inside the Nepali territory for the transport vehicles and their personnel since arrangements are already in place for their security.
Though not permitting transit right to a landlocked country like Nepal is a breach of freedom of transit rights of landlocked countries. If India continues to impose embargo on Nepal, Nepal can lodge complaints in the multilateral trade mechanism as it is the right of landlocked country. The transit and free supply of consumables is Nepal’s right and India should facilitate it without any hindrance, according to the multilateral and bilateral agreement.

End of transition could lead to prosperity

If things go as planned, Nepal will get a new constitution on September 20 since it has been endorsed by overwhelming majority of two-thirds in the Constituent Assembly (CA) today.

The much-awaited supreme law of the country is expected to pave the way for a prosperous Nepal, according to business leaders, who, however, are still cautious about the Tarai unrest.

After continuous efforts of eight years, the CA finally approved the Constitution of Nepal 2015 by two-third majority today late evening. The promulgation of the new constitution on September 20 at 5 in the evening is expected to end the prolonged political transition that has bled the economy blue.
"It is indeed a historical moment," Pashupati Murarka, president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce (FNCCI) said. Stating that he was hopeful that the promulgation of new constitution will be the stepping stone for a prosperous Nepal, Muraraka said that the country will now move forward with economic agenda. "Political parties will now have no excuse to focus on economic agenda," he added.
Private sector, however, knows that constitution is not a magic wand. "But it can be a base for a stable and prosperous Nepal," Murarka said.
Business leaders also said constitution can be amended to address concerns of Madhes-based parties and other disgruntled forces. "The amendment process should be made easier," senior vice president of Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) Hari Bhakta Sharma said. He further said the new constitution should be the stepping stone toward a stable and prosperous Nepal. "The political parties should make clear that constitution is not an end, but a means to achieve economic prosperity," he said, adding that everyone should get a chance to earn a living and right to economic activities.
The constitution has ensured the right to economic freedom that can ensure people's access to economic opportunity. "Most of the ills of the society is also due to lack of opportunity," Sharma opined.
Everyday around 1,500 youths leave the country searching for greener pastures abroad due to lack of employment opportunity at home. The youths are the precious human capital – one of the assets of the country for development, according to pundits of development theory that states human capital, natural resources and capital as prerequisites for development of a country – have been wasting their productivity in foreign land.
More than 50 per cent of the population is youth – from age 15 to 35 – according to the recent census. The country also has abundant natural resources.
With the promulgation of new constitution, foreign investors will be eager to put their money into different projects in Nepal. It would, in turn, create more jobs within the country. More investment mean naturally more employment opportunity. The end of political transition will therefore create employment opportunities at home making the best use of youths.
More investment in mega projects and infrastructures will not only create employment opportunity but also push economic growth upwards. With increased investment, historical growth rate of 3.5 percent will also get a boost, according to business leaders.
Likewise, Nepal, which has set a target of graduating to a league of developing countries by 2022 from the current status of Least Developed Country (LDC), needs growth rate of more than 6 per cent growth which will no more be a distant dream.
The constitution is certainly not a panacea for all ills, but it can solve most of our problems, a hopeful Murarka said.

NPC mulling seven-year 14th plan

National Planning Commission (NPC) is mulling to make 14th 'five-year' plan seven year long.
During discussions on the Approach Paper for the 14th periodic plan today, some planning commission members proposed that the plan – that creates a structure, picks priority areas and sets targets for the country's economic development – be made a seven-year-long one for this time, according to planning commission vice chair Dr Govind Raj Pokharel.
"We have started discussions on the approach paper for the 14th plan from today," he said, adding that different members had put forward varied opinions.
The 14th periodic plan will start from the next fiscal year 2016-17.
Since, Nepal will have seven years to graduate to developing country from current Least Developed Country (LDC) status, some members proposed that we take this into account and align the periodic plan accordingly, Pokharel added.
Nepal is planning to graduate from its current LDC status to a developing country status by 2022.
Earlier, the planning commission had prepared Three-Year Interim Plans thrice due to prolonged political transition. The planning commission had brought three-year interim plans to align with constitution making process from the Constituent Assembly (CA). But historically, planning commission has been bringing five-year plan since almost six decades. But the planning commission has brought three year interim plans thrice since the second political movement of 2008.
The third Three-Year Interim plan (2013-14 to 2015-16) – also the 13th plan – aimed at preparing groundwork for Nepal to graduate to developing country status in the next 10 years from 2013 to 2022.
Though Nepal will technically graduate to developing country before 2022 – as it has already met two of the three criterion set for graduation – its sustainability has been under question, especially after the devastating earthquake of April 25, May 12  and series of aftershocks.
The earthquake floored many buildings – including world heritage sites, public buildings, schools, police posts and important infrastructure in addition to private buildings – pushing as many as a million people into poverty, according to the Post Disaster Needs Assessment (PDNA) report.
Out of the three criterion set by the United Nations Committee for Development Policy, Nepal has already met two – Economic Vulnerability Index (EVI) and Human Assets Index (HAI) – graduate to developing country. But it cannot meet per capita GNI threshold.

Constitution sans economic freedom will ignite conflict

Economists and entrepreneurs have said that constitution sans economic freedom will fuel social unrest in the country.
Asking lawmakers to replace 'socialism' in the draft constitution to avoid another conflict, they claimed that the country will see another revolution - due to increased rich-poor gap - if the economic issues in draft constitution are approved as it is.

The constitution must ensure economic freedom to every citizen, if the country aspires to become prosperous, according to president of Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pashupati Muraraka.
"Instead of socialism-oriented economy, the constitution must clearly spell liberal market economy," he said, adding that the draft has to replace 'socialism' with 'liberal economy' that can ensure greater economic freedom by creating opportunity and an improved quality of life. He further added that economic freedom will ensure right to choose how to produce, sell, and use your own resources respecting others' rights to do the same. "Only the economic freedom can drive the nation to prosperity."
Without engaging a person in production, a country cannot transform economically. For a person to engage in economic activities freely, the constitution must ensure economic freedom. The countries that are economically developed have adopted economic freedom ensuring the involvement of their citizens in production and sale. That has not only increased their income, but also improved their living standard and overall human development.
However, the draft has, by spelling socialism, back-tracked the liberal economic orientation that the country has been practicing post-1990, Muraraka suspected. As the draft constitution has repeatedly highlighted cooperatives instead of encouraging private sector, his doubt could be genuine. The private sector is indeed suspicious on what the political parties are by giving up the time-tested liberal economic policy.
The draft has created confusion by stating 'socialism-oriented economy' and private sector too, according to economist KeshabAcharya. Saying that the draft has mixed both private sector and socialism, creating more confusion, he said that the political parties might have made 'socialism' a meeting point as they follow different ideology. "It might have made their task easy, but country will have to pay for their convenience."
He suggested replacing 'socialism' with 'welfare state with economic freedom' that cannot only save from wasting many pages in the constitution but also clarifies where the nation is heading toward.

Nepal Chambers of Commerce (NCC) President Rajesh Kazi Shrestha also opined that the draft has undermined private sector as it gives priority to cooperatives and socialism.
Likewise, Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) president Narendra Basnyat said that only the private sector-friendly constitution can institutionalise political achievements and economic development.
National Planning Commission (NPC) member Dr Chandra Mani Adhikari seconded his thought. "Leaders from different political ideologies have compromised on socialism without defining it," he said, adding, "Since there is problem in both liberal market economy and socialism, the word 'socialism' should be replaced with 'progressive capitalism." Otherwise, it will create more confusion, he added.

Finance minister unveils post earthquake reconstruction budget of Rs 819.47 billion

Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat today presented a post-disaster reconstruction budget of Rs 819.47 billion for the next fiscal year 2015-16.
Presentation the budget at the Legislature Parliament, Mahat said that budget for the next fiscal year is 32.6 per cent more than the budget for the current fiscal year. "The government plans to mobilise Rs 475.01 billion (59 per cent) from revenue, Rs 2 billion from principal repayment, Rs 110.93 billion (14 per cent) from foreign grant, Rs 88 billion (11 per cent) from internal borrowing, and Rs 94.96 billion (12 per cent) from foreign loans," he said, adding that the current fiscal year's savings of Rs 48.56 billion will also be used to fund the budget. "The savings from the current fiscal year and principal repayment will make up four per cent."
The expansionary budget has earmarked Rs 484.27 billion (59.1 per cent) for recurrent expenditure, Rs 208.87 billion (25.5 per cent) for capital expenditure and Rs 126.33 billion (15.4 per cent) for financial management provisions.
With priority for reconstruction – after the devastating earthquake of April 25 and subsequent aftershocks – the budget aims to boost people’s confidence on government by prioritising relief, reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the aftermath of the devastating quake, he said, adding that the government has allocated Rs 74 billion for the National Reconstruction Fund, while Rs 17 billion is provided directedly to the concerned authorities until Reconstruction Authorities comes into operation. "The government will not let people of earthquake-hit region feel lack of budget."
Urging private sector to cooperate with the government in reconstruction campaign, Mahat said that National Reconstruction Authority will be given a full shape soon. Pledging to train government staff for disaster management, he said that heritage sites will be prioritised during the reconstruction to revive tourism. "The government will leave no stone unturned to revive tourism," he added.
The socialism-tilted budget – unlikely from Mahat's past six budgets – aims at exploiting internal resources to its maximum, progressing in economic and social index, effectively completing the reconstruction work by issuing reconstruction bonds, Mahat said presenting his seventh budget. The budget has doubled senior citizen allowance to Rs 1,000 per month from Rs 500, he added.
Likewise, the budget promised to train as many as 50,000 youth for reconstruction work.
It will help create employment opportunities, he said, adding that the government will also organise an Investment Conference in the next fiscal year to promote foreign investment.
Minister Mahat said the government is likely to mobilse only 93 per cent of the revenue target for the current fiscal year, due to the devastating earthquake of April 25. "The earthquake is likely to increase poverty," he said, adding that the government will, however, try to restrict it to 25 per cent. "The government is facing a serious challenge to maintain economic growth rate above eight per cent to graduate from the least developed countries (LDC) to the developing country by 2022."
However, the budget has targeted six per cent economic growth for the next fiscal year.
The budget has also pledged its support to Constituent Assembly (CA) for fast-track constitution writing and holding of local body elections, apart from supporting cement industry for access road construction, completing construction of Postal Highway within the next five years, continuing multi-year contract system, and arranging additional budget for projects and programmes facing budget deficiency on basis of their work progress.
Earlier, a meeting of the cabinet in the afternoon has endorsed the budget for the next fiscal year before presenting it to the House.

Government to present budget for next fiscal year on July 14

The government is going to present the budget for the next fiscal year 2015-16 on Tuesday.
Finance secretary Suman Sharma confirmed that finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat is presenting the budget for the next fiscal year in the Legislature-Parliament on July 14.
Nepali Congress joint general secretary and lawmaker Purna Bahadur Khadka also confirmed that the budget will be presented on Tuesday.
National Planning Commission (NPC) has revised the budget ceiling upward to Rs 841 billion – including Rs 106 billion for reconstruction after April 25 devastating earthquake that floored over 8,00,000 private and public buildings taking over 9,000 lives – from earlier Rs 735 billion.
The over Rs 841 billion-budget will focus on reconstruction – including the world heritage sites and infrastructures damaged by the earthquake – and revive tourism sector, apart from agriculture as usual, according to the finance minister Mahat.
Likewise, the budget for the next fiscal year is going to add Rs 1,000 allowance, that is provided to the civil servant currently, in the salary, whereas the salary itself could also be increased by 10 per cent.
Earlier, the government was planning to present the fiscal policy on July 15, but it has preponed for a day due to the lawmakers' schedule to go to their respective constituencies with the draft of Constitution to collect the suggestions.
The Finance Ministry has preponed the budget date for a day as the speaker of the House Subash Chandra Nembang requested the government to present budget as soon as possible to let the lawmakers have time to go to their constituencies soon. "The lawmakers will be going to their respective constituencies to collecting suggestions on the draft Constitution on July 17, after endorsing the budget presentation," Nembang said, adding that the discussion on the budget will start after the lawmakers return from their constituencies, after July 23.
The Constitution Assembly (CA) has directed the committee on Citizen Relation and Public Opinion Collection to submit the compiled report of suggestions on July 23.

PM to answer tomorrow
KATHMANDU: Prime Minister Sushil Koirala will respond the House tomorrow, according to the Parliament Secretariat. The premier will answer queries – being raised by the lawmakers during the discussions – over the Programme and Policy next fiscal year 2015-16, presented by the President on July 8. The premier was supposed to respond today, but it was postponed for a day as discussions could not end today. After the Prime Minister's answer on the Programme and Policy, the House will endorse it, informed Parliament Secretariat assistant spokesperson Sudarshan Kuinkel. The lawmakers have – during the discussions yesterday and today – registered over a dozen amendment proposals to the government Programme and Policy.

Conference addresses legacy of land issues in post-conflict Nepal

Experts concluded that formulation of a comprehensive Land Act could solve land issues.

Speaking at a conference on ‘Post Conflict Land Issues and Land Management in the Emerging Political Context’, jointly organised by International Organisation for Migration (IOM), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN Habitat) in conjunction with Ministry of Land and Reform Management and Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction, here today, they said that land issues have been entrenched in society – in Nepal – for centuries and were one of the root causes of the ten-year armed conflict. "Land reform is recognised as a crucial step in today’s peace building process, and the progress that the county made last November with the successful Constituent Assembly (CA) election has accelerated the public expectation that a solution benefitting all citizens will be reached," they added.

"Along with the peace building process, Nepal is also undertaking restructuring of its governance system," officiating secretary of the Ministry of Land and Reform Management Krishna Raj BC on the occasion said, adding that a suitable land act is the most important component for providing efficient service delivery.

"Nepal is on the way to building a peace process and has many more issues related to land that have to be addressed in this post conflict scenario," he said, adding that vision and commitment of the political parties is the most essential element in reaching a resolution on land issues.

Likewise, International Organisation for Migration officials shared their global experiences in land and property return mechanisms and programmes including the restitution of property rights to vulnerable populations and their impact on the peace process.

UNDP hosted a session in which political party representatives, together with civil society leaders, shared their visions of how the new government could address land issues, whereas UN Habitat highlighted the nexus between conflict and land management.

The conference – held as part of the project 'Catalytic Support on Land Issues' implemented in partnership with IOM, UNDP and UN Habitat with funding from the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund, a global UN multi-donor trust fund supported by over 50 international donors – aims at supporting the formulation of a comprehensive land act in Nepal.

Ambassador Russell Promotes Gender Equality in Nepal

US Ambassador-at-Large for Global Women’s Issues Catherine M Russell emphasised the US government’s commitment to preventing gender-based violence and advancing gender equality during her four-day trip to Nepal.

Ambassador Russell during her visit on February 7-11 heard from several civil society groups about the challenges girls and women face, including trafficking in persons, dowries, child marriage, schools without toilet facilities and others. She also visited a USAID-supported health programme for new mothers and their babies in Dhulikhel and traveled to Janakpur to meet with female community leaders and students.

“This form of violence often seriously jeopardises both the mental and physical health of women and girls,” ambassador Russell said, while meeting with organisations that are working to stop gender-based violence.

Addressing gender-based violence is not just a moral issue but also a security, public health, and economic one. “The results of the violence have significant direct and indirect economic costs for women, their families, their communities, and the nation,” she added.

Women’s entrepreneurship groups shared their successes in the pashmina, handicraft, tourism and agricultural sectors with Ambassador Russell.

Several female entrepreneurs who have recently attended US-funded exchange programmes and workshops shared their plans to grow their businesses. Russell underscored how important women’s economic participation is to overall economic growth.

Female members of the new Constituent Assembly (CA), Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare officials and the Janakpur chief district officer briefed Russell about the challenges facing women, government efforts to improve female political participation, and access to education.
Russell also spoke with several civil society groups and the government about their anti-trafficking efforts.