अर्थतन्त्रमा सुधार गर्ने गुमेको अवसर

 इतिहासकै सबैभन्दा बलियो तथा करिब दुईतिहाइको प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीको सरकार प्रतिनिधिसभाबाट सोमबार विश्वासको मत लिन असफल भएपछि अर्थतन्त्रलाई पुनर्जीवन दिने सुनौलो मौका गुमाउँदै स्वतः पदमुक्त भएको छ ।

संसद्मा विश्वासको मत लिने प्रस्ताव बहुमतले अस्वीकृत भएपछि प्रधानमन्त्री ओली स्वतः पदमुक्त भएका हुन् । संसद्मा जम्मा उपस्थित संख्या २ सय ३२ जनामा प्रस्तावको पक्षमा ९३ मत परेको थियो भने विपक्षमा १ सय २४ मत तथा प्रस्तावमा मत दिन्नँ भन्नेमा १५ मत परेको थियो । सबैभन्दा ठूलो दल एमालेका १ सय २१ सांसद छन्, तर एमालेको माधवकुमार नेपाल पक्षका सांसदहरू बैठकमा अनुपस्थित भएपछि उनको पक्षमा ९३ मत मात्र परेको हो । प्रधानमन्त्री पदमा कायम रहन ओलीले १ सय ३६ मत पाउनुपर्ने थियो । यदि एमालेको माधवकुमार नेपाल पक्षका २८ सांसदहरूले मत दिएको भए प्रधानमन्त्रीको १ सय २१ मत हुने थियो । अर्थात् १ सय ३६ मत पुग्ने थिएन । नेपाली कांग्रेस, नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र, जनता समाजवादी पार्टीका बाबुराम भट्टराई–उपेन्द्र यादव पक्ष, राष्ट्रिय जनमोर्चाले विपक्षमा मत दिएका छन् भने जसपाको महन्थ ठाकुर–राजेन्द्र महतो पक्षका सांसदहरू भने तटस्थ बसे ।

ओली सरकार ढलेसँगै एकपटक फेरि राजनीतिक अस्थिरताले मुलुक कता जाला भन्ने प्रश्न उठेको छ । राजनीतिक स्थिरता तथा करिब दुईतिहाइ बहुमत भए तापनि ओली सरकारले विगतका तीन वर्षमा आशातीत आर्थिक वृद्धि तथा जनजीविकामा सुधार गर्न सकेन । २०७४ सल फागुन ३ गते प्रधानमन्त्री बनेका उनको कार्यकालमा लगातार तीन वटा बजेट ल्याएर पनि अर्थतन्त्रमा खासै कुनै परिवर्तन गर्न नसकेका कारण निवर्तमान अर्थमन्त्री डा. युवराज खतिवडाको धेरै आलोचना भएपछि उनलाई अमेरिकाको राजदूतमा नियुक्त गरियो । उनको कार्यकालको पहिलो आव २०७४-७५ मा ७.३७ प्रतिशत आर्थिक वृद्धि भएकोमा २०७५-७६ मा ६.३९ प्रतिशत तथा गत आर्थिक वर्षमा कोरोना कहरका कारण २.२१ प्रतिशत ऋणात्मक आर्थिक वृद्धि भएको थियो भने चालू आवमा केन्द्रीय तथ्यांक विभागले ३.९८ प्रतिशत आर्थिक वृद्धि हुने र कोरोनाको दोस्रो लहरको कहर बढ्दै गए घट्न सक्ने अनुमान गरेको छ । यसरी २०७४ फागुनमा प्रधानमन्त्री भएका केपी शर्मा ओलीको तीन वर्षभन्दा अलिक बढी समयको कार्यकालमा औसतमा ५ प्रतिशतभन्दा कमको हाराहारीमा मात्रै आर्थिक वृद्धि भएको देखिन्छ ।

यता, केपी ओलीको सरकार ढलेपछि विपक्षीले आफूले सरकार बनाउन पाउनुपर्ने भन्दै तीन नेताको हस्ताक्षरमा राष्ट्रपतिसमक्ष दाबी पेस गरेका छन् । संविधानसभाको निर्वाचनपछि मुलुकमा राजनीतिक लडाइँ सकिएको र अब आर्थिक क्रान्तिको नेतृत्व गर्ने दाबीसहित करिब दुईतिहाइको सरकार बनाएको नेपाल कम्युनिस्ट पार्टी (नेकपा) का प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले समृद्ध नेपाल सुखी नेपालीको नारा गुन्जाउँदै हिँडे पनि अन्ततः भ्रष्टाचारमा चुर्लुम्म डुबेको, कोरोना महामारीमा नागरिकको सुरक्षाका लागि केही पनि नगरी आफैंले अनुशासनहीन काम गर्दै हिँडेको लगायत आरोप लगाउँदै संसद्मा प्रमुख प्रतिपक्षी नेपाली कांग्रेसका सभापति शेरबहादुर देउवाले प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई चुनावी प्रतिबद्धताको याद दिलाए । प्रधानमन्त्रीले विश्वासको मत लिने प्रयोजनका लागि बोलाइएको प्रतिनिधिसभाको विशेष अधिवेशनको दोस्रो बैठकलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै सरकार मुलुकमा समृद्धि ल्याउन असफल भएको, शान्ति–सुव्यवस्था कायम गर्न नसकेको तथा संविधान मास्न केन्द्रित रहेको पनि उनको आरोप थियो । मुलुकमा भ्रष्टाचार मौलाएको भन्दै देउवाले घरघरमा ग्यासको पाइप, कसैले रोजगारीका लागि बाहिर जानु नपर्ने भनेर गरेका भाषणको याद दिलाएका थिए ।

व्यापारिक घराना पोस्न प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले जनताको जीवनलाई दाउमा राखेको आरोप लगाउँदै देउवाले कमिसनको लोभमा खोप रोकेर सरकारले जनताको जीवनलाई दाउमा राखेकोमा जनताको जीवन दाउमा राख्न नमिल्ने तथा खोप नपाउँदा र अक्सिजन नपाउँदा जनता मरेको पनि स्मरण गराए । विगत २४ घण्टामै सोमबार १ सय ३९ जनाले कोरोनाका कारण ज्यान गुमाएको स्वास्थ्य मन्त्रालयले जनाएको छ । यो संख्या हालसम्मकै उच्च हो । औषधि नपाएर जनता मर्दैनन् भन्ने आफ्नै प्रतिबद्धता प्रधानमन्त्रीले बिर्सेको पनि उनले बताए ।

देउवाले नेपालको कूटनीतिक क्षमता कमजोर भएको, विगतमा भएका सहमति, सम्झौता कार्यान्वयन नभएका कारण देशको विश्वसनीयतामा ह्रास आएको, प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले अधिनायकवाद र सर्वसत्तावादी चरित्र देखाएको, संविधान, विधि र पद्धतिलाई नै समाप्त पार्ने काम गरेकाले मुलुक राजनीतिक जटिल अवस्थामा पुगेको टिप्पणी पनि गरे । स्वयम् मन्त्रीहरू नै कमिसनको खेलमा लागेको, कोभिड–१९ को रोकथाम र नियन्त्रणसँग सम्बन्धित सामग्री, औषधि र खोप खरिदमा अनियमिता भएको, राष्ट्रिय गौरवका महŒवपूर्ण योजनाहरू आर्थिक अनियमितता र भ्रष्टाचारका कारण अलपत्र पर्दा पनि प्रधानमन्त्रीले भ्रष्टाचार नियन्त्रणमा कदम चाल्नुको सट्टा अनियमितताको बचाउ गरेको आरोप पनि देउवाले लगाए ।

यस्तै, नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्रका अध्यक्ष पुष्पकमल दाहाल ‘प्रचण्ड’ले प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीलाई विश्वासको मत माग्ने नैतिक अधिकार नभएको बताए । प्रतिनिधिसभा बैठकलाई सम्बोधन गर्दै प्रचण्डले प्रधानमन्त्रीले संविधानलाई आईसीयूमा पु-याएको आरोप लगाए । प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीलाई संघीयताविरोधीको संज्ञा दिँदै दाहालले संवैधानिक संरचना कब्जा गर्न संसद् बोलाइसकेपछि पनि विधेयक ल्याएर संवैधानिक आयोगमा मान्छे भर्ना गरेको पनि बताए । बजेट अधिवेशन छल्दै अचानक विश्वासको मत लिन संसद् बोलाएकोमा पनि दाहालले प्रधानमन्त्रीको नियतमाथि शंका व्यक्त गरे ।

बैठकमा आफूलाई विश्वासको मत दिन आग्रह गर्दै प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले विकास निर्माण, पूर्वाधार, सडक निर्माण, पुल, धरहरा पुनर्निर्माण, सिँचाइ आयोजनाहरूलगायतको फेहरिस्त प्रस्तुत गरे । उनले आफ्नो नेतृत्वको सरकारले जनजीविकाका सवालमा नयाँ कामहरू गरेको दाबी गर्दैै सरकारले राष्ट्रियता, राष्ट्रिय स्वाधीनता र सार्वभौमसत्ता अक्षुण्ण राख्ने सवालमा उपलब्धिमूलक काम गरेको पनि बताए । सरकारले असाधारण र दूरगामी महŒवका काम गरेको र मान्छे बस्न लायकको देश बनाउनुका साथै हेर्न लाज नहुने समाजको निर्माण गरेको दाबी पनि उनको थियो ।

“प्रधानमन्त्रीमाथि हिलो छ्याप्ने र सरकारमाथि हिलो छ्याप्ने तथा कोभिडविरुद्धको औषधि खरिदमा भएको भनिएको भ्रष्टाचारको नाममा कुरा उछाल्ने र नभएका कनेक्सन अनुचित ढंगले देखाउने खालका क्रियाकलाप भए,” ओलीले गुनासो गरे ।

यस्तै, संघीय समाजवादीका नेता उपेन्द्र यादवले प्रधानमन्त्री ओलीले पटक–पटक धोका दिँदै आएका कारण फेरि पनि धोका दिने बताए । यादवले जुन संसद्माथि आफैंलाई विश्वास छैन, त्यही संसद्मा कसरी विश्वासको मत लिनुहुन्छ भन्ने प्रश्न गर्दै प्रधानमन्त्रीलाई संघीयता समाप्त पार्ने काम गरेको आरोप लगाए । बितेका तीन वर्षमा संघीयतालाई संस्थागत नगरेर केन्द्रीकृत मानसिकतामा मुलुक चलाएको पनि आरोप लगाए ।

सरकार गठन कि प्रतिनिधिसभा विघटन ?

नेपाली कांग्रेस, नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र र जनता समाजवादी पार्टीले राष्ट्रपति विद्यादेवी भण्डारीलाई संविधानको धारा ७६ को उपधारा २ बमोजिम प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त गर्ने प्रक्रिया प्रारम्भ गर्न आग्रह गरेका छन् । प्रधानमन्त्री केपी शर्मा ओलीले प्रतिनिधिसभाबाट विश्वासको मत नपाएपछि अब अर्को सरकार गठनका लागि बाटो खुलेको छ । नयाँ सरकार गठनका लागि तीनवटा विकल्प छ । संविधानको धारा ७६ मा दुई वा दुईभन्दा बढी दलको समर्थनमा बहुमतको सरकार, सबैभन्दा ठूलो दलको नेताको नेतृत्वमा अल्पमतको सरकार र कुनै सांसदको नेतृत्वमा बन्ने सरकार गरी तीनवटा सरकार बन्न सक्ने संविधानको परिकल्पना छ ।

सुरुमा राष्ट्रपतिले संविधानको धारा ७६(२) बमोजिम संयुक्त सरकार बनाउन दलहरूलाई आह्वान गर्नुपर्छ । यो धाराअनुसार प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त हुन १३६ सांसदको समर्थन चाहिन्छ । हाल २ सय ७१ सदस्य कायम रहेको प्रतिनिधिसभामा सबैभन्दा ठूलो दल नेकपा एमालेको १२१, नेपाली कांग्रेसको ६३ (दुई निलम्बित), नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्रको ४९, जनता समाजवादी पार्टीको ३४ (दुई निलम्बित), राष्ट्रिय जनमोर्चा, नेपाल मजदुर किसान पार्टी, राष्ट्रिय प्रजातन्त्र पार्टी र स्वतन्त्र १÷१ सांसद छन् । एमालेबाहेकको दलले सरकार बनाउनका लागि नेपाली कांग्रेस, नेकपा माओवादी केन्द्र र जनता समाजवादी पार्टीका सांसदको समर्थन आवश्यक पर्छ । यसै क्रममा सोमबारै तीनै दलले राष्ट्रपतिसमक्ष आफ्नो दाबी प्रस्तुत गरिसकेका छन् । यसरी बनेको संयुक्त सरकारको प्रधानमन्त्रीले नियुक्त भएको संसद्मा ३० दिनभित्र विश्वासको मत लिनुपर्छ । विश्वासको मत लिन नसकेमा सरकार निर्माणको अर्को प्रक्रिया सुरु हुन्छ ।

यदि त्यो प्रक्रियामा शेरबहादुर देउवाले संसद्मा ३० दिनभित्र विश्वासको मत लिन नसके संविधानको धारा ७६(३) अनुसार दोस्रो विकल्पमा प्रतिनिधिसभाको सबैभन्दा ठूलो दलको संसदीय दलका नेता नै प्रधानमन्त्री बन्न सक्छन् । हाल संसद्मा सबैभन्दा ठूलो दल नेकपा एमाले छ । जसअनुरूप संसदीय दलको नेता केपी शर्मा ओली नै फेरि प्रधानमन्त्री बन्नेछन् । यसरी नियुक्त भएका प्रधानमन्त्रीले पनि संसद्मा ३० दिनभित्र विश्वासको मत लिनुपर्ने हुन्छ । विश्वासको मत लिन सकेनन् भने सरकार गठनको अन्तिम विकल्पको रुपमा धारा ७६(५) अनुसार संसद्को कुनै पनि सदस्य प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त हुन सक्छ । तर, ती सांसदले संसदको विश्वासको मत पाउने आधार राष्ट्रपतिसमक्ष प्रस्तुत गर्नुपर्नेछ । यदि कुनै पनि सांसदले विश्वासको मत पाउने आधार प्रस्तुत गर्न सकेनन् भने कामचलाउ अवस्थामा रहेको अल्पमतको प्रधानमन्त्रीले प्रतिनिधिसभा विघटन गर्न सक्नेछन् । तर, यदि विश्वासको मत पाउने आधार पेस गर्ने सांसद प्रधानमन्त्री नियुक्त भएमा ३० दिनभित्र विश्वासको मत लिनुपर्नेछ । विश्वासको मत लिन सकेन भने उसले पनि संसद् विघटन गर्न सक्नेछ । यसरी हेर्दा, कामचलाउ प्रधानमन्त्री ओली फेरि पनि संसद् विघटन गरी निर्वाचनमा जाने देखिन्छ । आफ्नो विश्वासको मतको प्रस्तावका सम्बन्धमा सदनमा आएको जिज्ञासाको जवाफ दिँदै उनले संसद्को स्थायित्वका लागि आफूलाई मतदान गरी संसदलाई बचाउन आग्रह गरे । उनले भने, “संसद् विघटन होला कि भन्ने चिन्ता छ । मत दिनुहोस् न, कसरी विघटन हुन्छ ?” अर्थात् उनले घुमाएर आफूले विश्वासको मत नपाए फेरि संसद् विघटन गर्ने चेतावनी दिए ।

Fifth Nepal-India Joint Commission meeting concludes

The fifth meeting of Nepal-India Joint Commission concluded successfully here in Kathmandu today.
Foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and his Indian counterpart minister of external affairs Dr Subrahmanyam Jaishankar co-chaired the meeting, leading their respective country.
During the meeting that started with opening remarks by the two foreign ministers, both sides reviewed the entire gamut of bilateral relations with specific focus on the areas of connectivity and economic partnership, trade and transit, power and water resources sectors, culture, and education, according to a press note issued by the Foreign Ministry.
Likewise, the two ministers, on the occasion, emphasised the importance of tourism in socio-economic development and agreed to enhance their cooperation in tourism sector, particularly in the context of Visit Nepal Year 2020. “Nepal on the occasion, requested for additional air entry routes to Nepal but India replied that discussion which are underway between the civil aviation authorities of the two countries will yield positive results,” according to an official at the meting.
The Joint Commission – being held after a long interval of three years – expressed happiness over the momentum generated in the overall aspects of Nepal-India relations following the exchange of high-level visits in the past two years. The visit of Dr Jaishankar, India’s newly appointed external affairs minister, is the first high-level visit from India since the reelection of Narendra Modi earlier this summer.
“The Joint Commission meeting also expressed satisfaction over progress in three new areas – Raxaul-Kathmandu Electrified Rail Line, Inland Waterways and New Partnership in Agriculture – agreed during the visit of Prime Minister Oli to India in April 2018,” the press note reads, adding that matters related to cooperation in international, regional and sub- regional fora were also discussed. “The meeting expressed happiness at the progress made in the bilateral projects like Motihari- Amlekhgunj Petroleum Products Pipeline, four segments of Hulaki Roads, and post-earthquake reconstruction of private housing in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts which have been completed.”
They expressed happiness over progress made in Jayanagar-Janakpur and Jogbani-Biratnagar sections of cross-border railway projects and Integrated Check Post in Biratnagar. The Joint Commission meeting also agreed to expedite the early completion of remaining bilateral projects.
Noting that inundation is a serious problem for people living in border areas, the Joint Commission meeting agreed to take action on the recommendations made by a joint team comprising of officials from both side.
The two ministers, on the occasion, witnessed the signing and exchange of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and Department of Food Technology and Quality Control of Nepal on food safety and standards. They also witnessed handing over of two cheques – for Tarai Roads Project and Post-earthquake Reconstruction Project.
Indian ambassador to Nepal Manjeev Singh Puri handed over a cheque of Rs 2.45 billion as reimbursement for housing reconstruction in Nuwakot and Gorkha districts to chief executive officer of National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) Sushil Gyawali, and another cheque of IRs 80.71 crore – that is a part of India's commitment of IRs 500 crores – for strengthening road infrastructure in the Tarai Region to infrastructure secretary Devendra Regmi, on the occasion.
Meanwhile, Gyawali hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Indian counterpart and his delegation.
Dr Jaishankar arrived in Kathmandu today to take part in the meeting, and is scheduled to depart for New Delhi tomorrow.
Before the meeting, Dr Jaishankar paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli, and discussed on various issues of mutual interests on the occasion. He is also paying a courtesy call to the President Bidya Devi Bhandari tomorrow morning.
The Nepal-India Joint Commission was founded in June 1987. Its meetings are held alternately in Nepal and India. But the last meeting of the Joint Commission was held in New Delhi in October 2016.

Concor to lose monopoly on India-Nepal cargo movement

Container Corporation of India (Concor) is going to lose its monopoly of being the only player to move container trains between India and Nepal after the revision of India-Nepal Rail Service Agreement (RSA).
The recent revision of RSA has allowed the private players to move the containers between India and Nepal that has been monopoly of Concor since last fifteen years.
Kathmandu-New Delhi agreed to allow private container train operators – to carry goods including food, clothes, building material, cement, furniture, wood, crockery and cutlery to Nepal – after the revision of the RSA on June 5 and 6 talks in New Delhi.
In 2004, when the RSA was finalised, Concor was the only container train operator but in 2006-07, Indian Railways opened up the market, allowing other operators to run container trains, and giving Nepal also the option. Many a companies – including those backed by Adani Group, Port of Singapore Authority and Dubai Port World – have shown interest on ferrying to and fro Nepal.
Nepal traders and India’s Association of Container Train Operators (ACTO) both had long sought the opening up of the route for all operators but the RSA revision has been a long due.
The entry of new players will not only introduce competition for Concor but also force it to lower freight charges, making the imports cheaper to Nepal, the traders said, adding that Indian Railways has but earlier resisted moves to open up the route to private Indian container train operators.
The monthly traffic between India and Nepal comprises 13 to 14 container trains each way.

Nepal-India agree to consider waterways as ‘trade route'

Nepal and India today agreed to declare inland waterways as one of the ‘trade routes’ in Nepal-India Trade Treaty revision.
The bilateral trade treaty review meeting between the joint commerce secretaries of Nepal and India – that concluded in Pokhara today – has agreed to identify inland waterways as trade route in the trade treaty revision, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ravi Shankar Saiju confirmed. Saiju led the Nepali team in the discussion with his Indian counterparts. "Apart from the new addition of waterways, the two sides also discussed about enhancing cross-border air and railway connectivity."
The Indian authorities have also been positive towards the re-export of goods from Nepal to India and vice-versa, he said, adding that they have expressed the commitment to raise this issue with the Indian government and introduce re-export provision. "If this provision is introduced, Nepal can import goods from third countries via agencies of different multinational companies located in India." Importing goods from Indian agencies of global brands will help reduce the transportation cost for Nepali importers, he added.
Likewise, the trade treaty review meeting has also concluded that India will address Nepal’s agenda to drop the zero-tariff facility on Indian agricultural goods and some other primary products. "Indian authorities have sought details from Nepal on the call to levy customs tariff on such products," Saiju added.
The Nepali side has tabled the agenda of dropping the zero-tariff facility on Indian agricultural goods and some other primary products due to increasing import of Indian goods – especially agricultural products that are enjoying zero-tariff facility – widening the trade deficit with India, and also affecting the market for Nepali goods. But the Nepal government opins that the Indian authority should give continuity to the zero-tariff export facility for previously listed Nepali products in Indian market.
Ending the zero-tariff facility for Indian agricultural goods and some other primary products is expected to help reduce the widening trade deficit between the two neighbours.
Nepal and India had agreed to review the trade treaty along with the transit treaty and Railway Service Agreement (RSA) between the two countries last April. The two countries revised the trade treaty last time in October 2016 without any changes to the 2009 treaty.
Likewise, during the meeting Nepal has also proposed India to allow two additional seaports to trade with third countries. "Nepal has proposed the India to allow Mundra port (Gujarat) and Dhamra port (Odisha) for third country trade," Saiju said, adding that the Indian side has responded positively on Nepal's request.
Nepal currently uses two seaports – Visakhapatnam Port (Andrapradesh) and Haldia Port (Kolkata) – to trade with third countries.
Kathmandu will soon propose the draft of the revised trade treaty to New Delhi. "The next meeting will discuss about revising the trade treaty as Nepal will present India about what provisions precisely Nepal wants to amend in the existing trade treaty," he added.

Kathmandu is Lonely Planet’s new 5th top city

Kathmandu is one of the top 5 travel destinations, according to Travel Guidebook Lonely Planet.
The Travel Guidebook listed Kathmandu as the 5th top travel destination among the ‘ten cities primed to capture travelers’ imaginations' in 2019. The Lonely Planet has revealed its ten picks for the best travel destinations and experiences for the next year.
Capital of Denmark Copenhagen is the top destination, followed by Shenzhèn of China, Novi Sad of Serbia and Miami of Florida tops the list. Kathmandu is the fifth top travel destination, according to the Lonely Planet that lists Mexico City of Mexico, Dakar of Senegal, Seattle of Washington, Zadar of Croatia and Meknès of Morocco are also in the top 10. Seville, the capital of Spain’s southern Andalucía region, was the global travel guidebook’s top destination for 2018.
"In the aftermath of the 2015 earthquake, news reports from Kathmandu showed a city broken and in mourning, but today the narrative is all about reconstruction and rejuvenation," Lonely Planet describes, adding, "Sure, there’s work to do restoring the magnificent monuments that crumbled during the disaster, but historic sites are being returned to their former glory, and moves to calm the city’s infamous traffic, smog and noise have made Kathmandu more liveable than it has been in decades."
There’s even reliable electricity and wi-fi as bonus creature comforts in the atmospheric and maze-like alleyways of the old city, the description further reads.
According to Lonely Planet, Sri Lanka, Germany and Zimbabwe are the top 10 countries to visit in 2019, whereas Egypt’s Southern Nile Valley is the best value destination.

क्रोनी पुँजीवादबाट क्रोनी समाजवादतर्फ

अघिल्लो शुक्रबार काठमाडौंमा सम्पन्न कारोबार इकोनोमिक कन्क्लेभ–२०१८ का लागि भारतबाट अतिथि वत्ताका रूपमा निम्त्याइएका पाहुना भारतीय जनता पार्टीका आर्थिक मामिलासम्बन्धी प्रवक्ता गोपालकृष्ण अगरवालले आफ्नो मन्तव्यका क्रममा क्रोनी क्यापिटलिज्मबाट जस्तै क्रोनी सोसियलिज्मबाट पनि बच्नुपर्ने बताए । नेपालको संविधानमा समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र लेखिएको परिप्रेक्ष्यमा उनको उक्त भनाइ निकै अर्थपूर्ण छ । किनकि नेपालका पछिल्ला आर्थिक क्रियाकलाप तथा परिवेश गम्भीरताका साथ केलाउने हो भने, नेपालमा साँच्चै ‘क्रोनी’ समाजवाद अर्थात् नेताका असोपासेलाई मात्र समाजवाद आउने छनक देखिन थालेको हो कि भन्ने आभास पाइन्छ ।
सत्ता र शक्तिको निकट रहेर आर्थिक नीतिलाई प्रभावित पार्दै एउटा वर्गले मात्र फाइदा लिएको भन्दै ‘क्रोनी’ पुँजीवाद अर्थात् आसेपासे पुँजीवादको विरोधका स्वर सुनिन थालेको नेपाली समाजमा अगरवालले ‘क्रोनी’ समाजवादबाट पनि बच्नुपर्ने विचार व्यक्त गर्दा कतिपयलाई आश्चर्य लागेको हुन सक्छ र कतिपयलाई असान्दर्भिक पनि । किनकि संविधानमा समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र लेखिए पनि हाल सरकारका व्यवहार र तथा नीतिनिर्माण तहमा भइरहेका कुरा हेर्दा कतै पनि तालमेल छैन । संविधान अक्षरशः पालना गर्ने/गराउने क्रममा निर्माण भइरहेका कुनै पनि कानुनले स्पष्ट रूपमा अर्थतन्त्र कता डोराउने हो, ठ्याक्कै दिशा स्पष्ट पारिसकेको अवस्था पनि छैन । संविधान प्राप्तिपछिको पहिलो तथा करिब दुईतिहाइको सरकारको नीति तथा कार्यक्रम र बजेट केलाउने हो भने पनि समाजवाद वा पुँजीवाद कता जाने, बाटो किटानी छैन । कतै समाजवाद हो कि हो कि जस्तो कतै घोर पुँजीबादि भनेर गाली गरिने नेपाली कांग्रेसका नेता तथा पूर्वअर्थमन्त्री डा. रामशरण महतकै विगतका बजेट तथा कार्यक्रमको निरन्तरताजस्तो तथा डा. गोविन्द केसीको माग तथा अनशनका क्रममा देखिएका परिदृश्य तथा व्यवहार अनि सम्झौतापछि पनि भइरहेको सरकारी छलकपट हेर्दा त झन् कतै–कतै कसै–कसैलाई पुँजीवादभन्दा पनि अत्यन्त उदार व्यक्तिविशेष हेरेर गरिने ‘पञ्चायतकालीन लाइसेन्स राजको झैं उदार व्यवहार’ पनि देखिन थालेका छन् । कुनै एउटा वादको घुम्टो ओढाउँदैमा कुरूप विचार सुन्दर हुन सक्दैन । विचार कुरूप भएपछि त्यसले दिने परिणाम पनि निश्चय नै सुन्दर हुँदैन । किनकि ढिलोचाँडो कुनै पनि वादको अन्तिम परीक्षण नागरिकले आफ्नो जनजीविका कत्तिको सहज र सरल भएको छ, आफ्नो जीवनस्तर उठ्यो कि उठेन, त्यसबाट गर्छ नै ।
समाजवादलाई एउटा आदर्श आर्थिक तथा राजनीतिक प्रणाली मान्ने हो भने राज्यले उत्पादनका साधनहरू नियन्त्रण गर्छ र नागरिकहरूलाई न्यायपूर्ण ढंगले वितरण गर्छ भन्ने मान्नुपर्ने हुन्छ । तर, वितरणको कुरा आउनेबित्तिकै नागरिकभन्दा पहिला कार्यकर्ता आउने होला । किनकि स्वतन्त्र नागरिकको परिकल्पना त यस प्रणलीमा पाइँदैन । समाजवादी राज्य प्रणालीमा व्यक्तिगत सम्पत्ति तथा व्यक्तिगत अस्तित्वको कुनै महत्व हुँदैन । साथै, समाजवादमा त नागरिकको आधारभुत आवश्यकताहरू जस्तै गाँस, बास, कपास, शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, रोजगारी, सुरक्षा आदि समान ढंगले वितरण गरिने र प्रत्याभुत गराइने हुन्छ । त्यसो भए डा. केसीले किन पटक–पटक अनशन बस्नुप¥यो त, प्रश्न सोध्न त पाइन्छ नि ?
त्यसैले पनि राजनीतिक दलका उच्च तहबाट आएका अभिव्यक्ति तथा व्यवहारमा समानता नभएपछि बजारले हाल सकारात्मक वा नकारात्मक कुनै प्रतिक्रिया नगरी बसेका अवस्था छ । किनकि राजनीतिक दलहरूको घोषणापत्रको सार तथा उनीहरूको भाषण विश्लेषण गर्ने हो भने नेपालमा राजनीतिक मुद्दा अब सकिए तथा आर्थिक समृद्धिकै दिशामा लाग्छौँ भन्ने भाव देखिन्छ । तर, समाजमा अब केही होला कि भन्ने आशा जगाउने त्यो घोषणापत्रको मसी सुक्न नपाउँदै व्यवहारमा ठीक उल्टो काम हुँदै जाँदा त्यो आशा छिटै निराशामा परिणत हुने खतरातर्फ मुलुक धकेलिएको छ ।
हाल समाजको सतहमा देखिएका ससाना राजनीतिक–सामाजिक असन्तुष्टिहरूले तत्कालै राजनीतिक आन्दोलन हुने तथा सरकारलाई काम गर्न नै नदिने लक्षण पनि छैन । त्यसैले अब सरकारलाई कुनै पनि वाद आदिको बहानामा नागरिकको जीवनमा परिवर्तन ल्याउन रोक्ने अधिकार पनि छैन, त्यो बहाना पनि चल्दैन । तर सरकार अलमलिएको छ अनि अत्तालिएको छ किन ?
संघीय गणतन्त्र नेपालको संविधानले प्रत्येक नेपाली नागरिकलाई आफ्नो योग्यता तथा क्षमताअनुसार आफूले रोजेको पेसा व्यवसाय गरेर जीवनयापन गर्ने स्वतन्त्रता दिएको छ, तर पनि संविधान लेखिने बेला भिन्न–भिन्न दर्शनका राजनीतिक दलहरूले सम्झौताको दस्तावेजका रूपमा संविधानमा समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र लेख्न बाध्य भएताका नेताहरूले देशमा भएका उद्योगधन्दा बन्द गर भनेका छैनन्, उल्टो लगानी बढाउनुहोस् बाह्य लगानी पनि चाहिन्छ भन्दैछन् । तर, पछिल्लो उदाहरण हेर्ने हो भने उद्योगमन्त्रीको लहडका कारण निम्बस समूहअन्तर्गतको तेल उत्पादन गर्ने एउटा उद्योग २२ दिनसम्म बन्द भयो र फेरि खुल्यो । उद्योग किन बन्द भयो र किन खुल्यो ? यसबाट राष्ट्रिय पुँजीपति वर्गको विकास कसरी भयो वा कति राष्ट्रिय पुँजी निर्माण भयो ? कति नयाँ रोजगारी सिर्जना भयो ? सरकारलाई आउने राजस्व कति बढ्यो ? यसको लेखाजोखा समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्र निर्माणमा लाग्नुभएका विद्वान्हरूले पक्कै गर्नुभएको होला ।
अझ यसभन्दा पनि गम्भीर कुरा, यस प्रकरणबाट उद्योगीले के पाठ सिक्ने ? उद्योग बन्द गरेर सहजै नाफा हुने गरी विदेशबाट सामान ल्याएर नेपालमा बेचेर कमिसन मात्र खाएर बस्दा अर्थात् बामपन्थी पदाबलिमा ‘दलाल पुँजीवाद’को बाटोमा जान राज्यले उत्प्रेरित गरेको अर्थमा बुझ्ने हो कि ? त्यसो हो भने पनि ठीकै छ । उद्योगीहरूलाई घाटा हुँदैन, उनीहरू धमाधम आफ्ना उद्योग बन्द गरेर व्यापारतिर लाग्छन् । कमिसन खाएर सहज रूपमा व्यापारमात्र गर भन्दै सरकारले त्यही अनुरूप व्यवहार गर्दाको मूल्य उद्योगीहरूले चुकाउन पर्दैन, त्यसको मूल्य त देश र नागरिकले चुकाउनुपर्ने हुन्छ । नेपाली उद्योग बन्द गरेर देशमा भएका युवालाई मलेसियाका जंगल तथा अरबका खाडीमा श्रम गर्न पठाउँदा कति राष्ट्रिय पुँजीको विकास हुन्छ र कति वर्षमा समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्रबाट पूर्ण समाजवादमा पुगिन्छ, विद्वान्हरूले यसको पनि राम्रै होमवर्क गर्नुभएको होला ।
समाजवादी सिद्धान्त जन्मेपछि साम्यवादी सिद्धान्त आएको हो । कम्युनिस्ट सिद्धान्त दर्शन भनेको साम्यवादी व्यवस्था हो । त्यसैले पनि हाम्रा नेतागणले समाजवाद हुँदै साम्यवादमा जाने भन्न छोड्नुभएको छैन । गएको १ सय वर्षमा विभिन्न देशमा साम्यवादको विभिन्न तरिकाले व्याख्या गर्दै आएको पाइन्छ । यसमा राजा हुँदैन, एकदलीय शासन व्यवस्था हुन्छ । लोकतन्त्र, प्रजातन्त्र हुँदैन, कुनै विपक्षी पार्टी हुँदैन, नेता हुँदैन । घर, गाडी निजी केही हुँदैन । सबै ३ करोड नेपाली नागरिक, सबै जनताका प्रतिनिधि । कताकता हामीले बालककालमा सुनेको ‘सबै नेपाली पञ्च सबै पञ्च नेपाली’ भन्ने नाराझैं । तर, यसबाट नेपालको समृद्धिको सपना साकार कसरी हुन्छ र कसरी सुखी नेपाली समृद्ध नेपाल बन्छ, यसमा पनि विद्वान्हरूको निश्चिय नै पनि ठोस राय होला नै । नागरिकले कहिले त्यो थाहा पाउने हो, कसरी थाहा पाउने हो ?
अझ समाजवादी अर्थव्यवस्थामा श्रमलाई महत्व दिइन्छ भने पुँजीवादी अर्थव्यवस्थामा पुँजी लगानीकर्ताको महत्व हुन्छ । अब पुँजीवाद नमानिसकेपछि किन भारत तथा चीनसँग विवादास्पद सम्झौता गर्दै राष्ट्रको सम्पत्ति दोहन गर्न दिने ? व्यक्तिगत सम्पत्तिको अधिकार नहुने, पुँजीको विकासलाई महत्व नदिने तथा निजी उद्योग र कम्पनी निर्माणमा रोक लगाउने हो भने मानिसले किन आफ्नो योग्यता र क्षमताले भ्याएसम्म काम गर्ने ? लटरपटर तथा टालटुले काम गरेर राज्यले जीवनयापनको ग्यारेन्टी गर्छ भने किन एउटा मानिस अर्कोभन्दा बढी मेहनत गर्छ । राज्यले जे दिन्छ त्यहि खाने र समृद्ध नेपालको सपना देखिरहने ।
समस्या मात्र होइन, समाधानको पनि कुरा गरौं । अब, वादका विवाद छोडेर नेपालमा भएका उद्योगीहरूले हाल कति रोजगारी सिर्जना गरिरहेका छन्, अब रोजगारी दोब्बर बनाउन के के नीतिगत समस्या छन्, ती तत्काल समाधान गर्दा समाजवाद उन्मुख हुन पक्का मद्दत मिल्छ र राष्ट्रिय पुँजीको विकास तथा राष्ट्रिय पुँजीपति वर्गको पनि विकास हुन्छ । होइन भने, उग्र बामपन्थी धारबाट सीधै उग्र दक्षिणपन्थी धारतिर जाने र आसेपासे पुँजीवादबाट आसेपासे समाजवादतिर लाग्ने खतरा टड्कारो देखिन्छ ।
हाम्रा नेतागणले नेपाली जनताको जीवनस्तर उठाउने, धनी र गरिब, सहर र गाउँबीचको असमानता हटाउने र विकासित र समृद्ध नेपाल बनाउने प्रण नै गरेर राजनीति गरेको हो भने पञ्चायतदेखि गणतन्त्रसम्मको कालखण्डमा किन उस्तै घटनाहरूको पुनरावृत्ति हुन्छ, किन तन्त्र फेरिएपिच्छे मोटाघाटा, सुकिलामुकिला र चिल्ला गाडी चढ्नेहरूको नयाँ जमातको ताउर–माउर देखिन्छ र किन नागरिकले संविधानप्रदत्त आफ्नो पेसा–व्यवसाय गरेर खान पाउने अधिकार खोसिन्छ ?
कार्ल माक्र्स र फ्रेडरिक एगेंल्सले सन १८४८ मा प्रकाशित गरेको कम्युनिस्ट घोषणापत्रमा पहिलो पटक वैज्ञानिक समाजवाद के हो भन्ने स्पष्ट पारिएपछि सायदै नेपालमा झैं संसारमा यसको दुरुपयोग भएको होला । त्यसैले समाजवादउन्मुख अर्थतन्त्रको नाममा अब क्रोनी समाजवाद नआउला भन्न सकिने स्थिति छैन, त्यसैले समाजवादउन्मुख जनवादको सिद्धान्त लेख्ने कसरतमा रहेको नेकपा (नेकपा) सुरुवाती चरणमै दिग्भ्रमित तथा दोहोरो चरित्रको हुँदा नेपालमा क्रोनी समाजवादको जग बसाउने तारतम्य हुन लागेको त हैन ? प्रश्न संवेदनशील, गहन र दूरगामी महत्वको छ । उत्तर आउने दिनमा सरकारको चालचलन, व्यवहार तथा क्रियाकलापमा निर्भर रहन्छ नै ।

ADB brings down growth projection to 5.5 per cent

Bringing the government's economic growth estimation – of 8 per cent – to lower side, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) claimed that Nepal’s economy is expected to grow by only 5.5 per cent in the current fiscal year 2018-19, down from 5.9 percent a year earlier
According to the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Nepal Macroeconomic Update – released today – the growth forecast represents a continued trend reversal but is substantially higher than the average rate of 4.3 per cent in the last 10 years from fiscal 2009 to 2018.
The agriculture sector is expected to grow at a rate of 3.5 per cent in 2019, up from 2.8 per cent in 2018 on the back of an anticipated bumper harvest supported by a good monsoon, it further reads, adding that the monsoon season that usually lasts from June to September has so far been normal this fiscal year. "The paddy acreage is reported to be above 95 per cent because of timely and well-distributed rainfall."
Likewise, the industrial sector is expected to expand by 7.2 per cent in the fiscal year 2018-19, buoyed by improved electricity supply. The 456 MW Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project is expected to be completed within this fiscal year. The addition of electricity produced by the plant to the national grid will relieve Nepal from relying on power imports from India during the wet season.
The manufacturing subsector is expected to do well with the end of load-shedding since May 2018, the ADB said. And the services sector will likely grow by 6.1 per cent with the expansion of wholesale and retail trade, financial intermediation and travel and tourism subsectors.
According to the ADB, inflation is projected to rise to 6 per cent in the current fiscal year from 4.2 per cent, partly reflecting higher inflation expected in India, a modest rise in oil prices, and higher government expenditure under the new federal structure.
The expansionary budget for this fiscal year, an increase of 25.7 percent, and higher government expenditure under the new federal structure will raise inflationary pressure, it said.
Though revenue collection of Rs 731.4 billion amounting to 24.3 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) slightly exceeded the budget target in the last fiscal year, the fiscal deficit widened to 6.7 per cent of GDP with the rise in government expenditure compared to the previous year.
While capital expenditure increased by 28 per cent in the last fiscal year with the execution rate reaching 79.7 per cent, the hasty nature of spending has continued, undermining the quality of capital projects, the report adds, "While remittance has shown a healthy growth, a substantial rise in the near future is unlikely to offset the rise in the trade deficit, leading to further widening of the current account gap."
Releasing the report ADB’s principal economist for Nepal Sharad Bhandari said that growth will be supported by expectations of greater political stability following the 2017 elections, normal monsoon and efforts to accelerate implementation of mega infrastructure projects.”
The limited capacity at sub-national levels and challenges to smooth implementation of federalism may pose risks to growth, he added.
"Some of the major issues affecting smooth implementation of fiscal federalism are slow progress in requisite legislation and deployment of staff, the need for further clarification of mandates and responsibilities of the three tiers of government, and inconsistencies in revenue mobilisation regarding fees and taxes at the local level," the ADB report reads. "Nepal increasingly faces the risk of external sector instability due to a rising trade and current account deficit. The current account deficit of $2.4 billion (8.2 per cent of GDP) in fiscal year 2017-18 is significantly higher than the deficit of $95.7 million, or 0.4 per cent of GDP, a year earlier."

Home Ministry claims to take action against notorious contractors

Home Minister Ram Bahadur Thapa today claimed to take action against those contractors, who fail to complete their task within the deadline.
Addressing a press conference – on the occasion of completion of his 100-day in the cabinet – at the ministry today he warned of stern action against anyone who violates the law regardless of their status.
Though, he has been making claims of taking action against the erring contractors, two of the contractors – namely lawmaker Hari Narayan Prasad Rauniyar (chairman of Pappu Construction) of the ruling Sanghiya Samajbadi Forum-Nepal and Sharada Prasad Adhikari (chairman of Shailung Construction), who is the landlord of Nepal Communist Party (NCP) co-chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal are in the news for their notorious acts.
The number of projects of these two contractors' have seen delays and time and cost over run and they have been misusing their power to get away with it.
“We have already made it clear that whoever violates the agreement and misuses the state coffers are criminals," he said, adding that the issue is under the jurisdiction of the law.
The government’s crackdown on non-performing and under-performing contractors will be continued, the minister asserted, though the contractors have been claiming that they have been targeted for political motive, and amassing the wealth like the government did with the transporters.
Asked on the on the gold smuggling case, the home minister said that ‘big fish’ of the gold smuggling racket have become restless as the investigation into the case nears its conclusion. "We have arrested some small and medium 'fish'," he said, being hopeful that the government will get hold of the big fish behind the gold smuggling.
Though, he admitted that some elements are trying to influence the ongoing investigation into the case, the case under trial at the Biratnager Court has been scripted to save what the minister said 'big fish'. The main accused including Chudamani Upreti aka Gore and DSP Shyam Khatri have surrendered to the court asking to save their life as they have been under threat. They however have denying their involvement in the gold smuggling and murder of Sanam Shakya claimed that they are innocent.
Minister Thapa said the deadline of the probe committee could be extended, if necessary, but the government is reaching a conclusion soon. The extended deadline of the probe committee is coming to an end on June 14.

Experts emphasis inland waterways for trade

Experts emphasised on the need to promote navigational usage of inland waterways in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins for swifter and easier trade, and also called for establishing of an institution to govern water transport in Nepal to develop navigation as an alternative mode of transport here.
Speaking at a National Policy Dialogue on ‘Promoting Navigational Usage of Inland Waterways in Ganga and Brahmaputra Basins’ here today, they said such an institution could look into the viability and prospects of inland waterways for trans-boundary connectivity, and Nepal can reap the benefits by getting linked through water with Bangladesh and India via the Ganges river basin as both these countries have a functional inland water transport system.
Organised by South Asia Watch on Trade, Economics and Environment (SAWTEE), the meeting also unveiled a study report on prospects of inland waterways in Nepal apart from discussing on prospects of navigation. They also recommended on expanding tradable benefits of trans-boundary water and on prospects of inland waterways in Nepal to Ganga and Brahmaputra river basins from Nepal’s Koshi river basin and Gandak river basin, where water transport is currently limited to boats used for river crossing.
"By getting linked to the Ganges River through inland waterways, Nepal can get access to Haldia port," the study report reads, adding that the waterway access will facilitate domestic trade and bring down trading cost. "The cost of freight per tonne per kilometre is around Rs 2.26 by railways, whereas the cost to transport the same cargo over the same distance via road shoots up to Rs 4.1, while it would cost only Rs 1.7 through inland waterways."
Addressing the panel, executive chairman of SAWTEE Posh Raj Pandey said that the government should undertake a comprehensive feasibility study of rivers to assess navigability and identify sites for possibility of upgrading existing traditional boats. "The study shows that there is prospect of inland waterways that can be promoted for navigational usage," he said, adding that the government should, however, form laws and guidelines to regulate inland waterways and define the socio-economic and environmental impact of inland waterways.
He also urged policy-makers to take advantage of India’s aggressive push into inland waterways by developing navigation within Nepal so that Nepal could be ready to access the high seas through the waterways.
Former secretary of the then Ministry of Water Resources Dwarika Nath Dhungel and joint secretary at Water and Energy Commission Secretariat under Ministry of Energy (MoE) Madhav Belbase, on the occasion, said that a comprehensive study by the government on inland waterways and its prospect for navigational usage has to be carried out.
Dhungel, also an expert on water resources, said that some attempts had been made two decades ago to develop a multi-modal transport system to connect the hilly areas. "But impetus on road construction had diverted the focus to developing only surface transport," he said, adding that a study was needed to gauge how complementary water transport would be to surface transport, especially in terms of long-haul transport.
"Promoting domestic inland waterways for navigational usage is not so easy," Belbase said, adding that a separate institution has to be formed to study the prospects of inland waterways in Nepal and its benefits in the country’s trade. "Nepal’s water resources is dependent on rain during the four months of monsoon," he said, adding, “If we were to consider commercial navigation, then maintaining of the depth and the channel would be crucial. So without constructing dams, we cannot expect to develop a waterway."
Informing that any type of additional mode of transport is a boon to every sector in Nepal former president of Freight Forwarders’ Association of Nepal Rajan Sharma urged the government to play a proactive role in identifying prospects of linking inland waterways to international trade. "Water transport was considered to be the cheapest form of transport but cost of insurance and liabilities coverage, and of cargo handling at harbors added to the cost of trading," he said, adding that considering the cost of transporting cargos through river for landlocked countries like Nepal, the cost of freight movement depends on the transit providing country as well.
On the occasion, executive director of the Institute for Social and Environmental Transition (ISET-Nepal) Ajay Dixit said domination of political economy of automobile and surface transport in Nepal had stunted development of alternative modes of transport. He also said that commercial navigation may be possible in the lower stretches of large rivers. "But it would require massive river engineering, be it constructing embankments or canalising the river,” he added.
Likewise, a research officer at SAWTEE Dikshya Singh said a comprehensive feasibility study of the rivers to assess navigability, the upgrading of existing traditional boating services at the rivers, and identifying the possibility of multi-modal transport system internally would be the first steps that should be taken to develop water navigational services in Nepal.

US calls for free, fair and transparent polls in Nepal

The United States has urged all the stakeholders to create necessary conditions to ensure that the people of Provinces 1, 5, and 7 are given the opportunity to peacefully exercise their democratic right to elect local representatives during the second phase of local elections scheduled for June 28.
"We call on all parties to mutually respect the freedom of nonviolent expression and assembly, and individual voters’ rights as laid down in Nepal’s laws and constitution," reads a statement issued by the US Embassy in Kathmandu today.
"We also call on the security forces to exercise restraint and comply with existing national and international standards while discharging their duties,” the note adds.
Meanwhile, the United States has also expressed its commitment to working with all stakeholders for a peaceful, inclusive, broadly-supported, and credible election process.
Elections are citizens’ right to express their political will in line with the laws and constitution of Nepal and Article 21 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
Likewise, the United Kingdom has also reiterated its commitment to work for a peaceful, inclusive, broadly-supported, and credible election process in Nepal.
Both the countries have urged all Nepali stakeholders to work to create necessary conditions to ensure that the people of Provinces 1, 5, and 7 are given the opportunity to peacefully exercise their democratic right to elect local representation during the second phase of local elections scheduled for June 28.
In a statement issued by British Embassy in Kathmandu, the UK has urged all parties to continue to work to create the conditions for peaceful, inclusive, broadly-supported and credible local elections in Province 2 to complete the local election process.  "We urge the security forces to exercise restraint and comply with existing national international standards when carrying out their duties," reads the statement.

Decent work agenda key pillar of fair globalisation

Decent work agenda promoted by International Labour Organisation (ILO) constitutes a key pillar of fair globalisation where everyone becomes a winner, said president Bidya Devi Bhandari addressing the 106th session of ILO conference in Geneva today.
"This goal can be achieved, if every state accords due regard to the dignity and value of work," she said, adding that the governments should create an environment for sharing best practices and promoting innovative ideas to make work more dignified.
The President, reminding the world leaders of an ambitious 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the year 2015, said that it was a matter of satisfaction that all pillars of the Decent Work Agenda were duly integrated in the 2030 Agenda. "It has also rightly identified gender equality both as an objective as well as a means for realising the goals, she hailed.
She also hailed the role of trade unions in maintaining harmonious industrial relations and peace ultimately contributes to the economic development and prosperity of society at large.
Appreciating ILO for electing Nepal in the Governing Board, she said, "As ILO approaches its 100th anniversary in 2019, I commend it for making ‘Women at Work’ as one of the centenary initiatives."
However, according to ILO, Nepal has the highest Female Labour Force Participation Rate in the South Asia region. Nepal's global ranking in this pillar is 17th.
The President said compared to situation few decades ago, women are more educated and trained now. "They have better access to labour market, represent in increasing number in parliaments and have more leadership role in governments and enterprises," she said, adding that the goal, however, towards realising full gender equality is yet to be achieved. "
Societies cannot stand a long time on the shaky foundation of discrimination and inequality."
The President also informed that Nepal was on a transition from conflict to peaceful political transformation alongside the endeavours to transform from conservatism and outmoded social structures.

National Geographic lists Pokhara as Best Spring Trips 2017

Pokhara has made it to the list of the destinations not to be missed in the spring of 2017.
The National Geographic travel magazine has recommended 12 destinations around the world to visit in this spring and Lake City Pokhara of Nepal finds its place on its list of Best Spring Trips 2017.
The UK-based popular travel publication with a theme ‘Hit a travel high in the beauty of this Himalayan city’ has described Pokhara as a hidden gem for adventurous travellers.
“Soaring over the Pokhara City delivers adrenaline-junkie Himalaya views without the hiking,” it writes, adding that Pokhara – a gateway to Nepal’s Annapurna region – is considered one of the world’s top spots for paragliding due, in part, to jaw-dropping views of glaciers, lakes, and snow-covered peaks. "No experience is required to ride on a sunrise paragliding tandem flight."
Options include the relatively tame Cloud Buster (20- to 30-minute) scenic flight, a longer (45- to 60-minute) Cross-Country tour, and the spinning-and-spiraling Acrobatic Flight, it further writes. "Before launching from Sarangkot (2,000 feet above the Pokhara Valley), snap a picture of Pokhara's majestic mountain triple crown-26,795-foot Dhaulagiri, 26,040-foot Annapurna II, and 26,781-foot Manaslu," it adds.
The other destinations that are made it to the list include Cape Town of South Africa, Eastern Europe, Central Park, Olympic National Park, Philadelphia of USA, Suzhou of China, Great Barrier Reef of Australia, Balloon Rally of Washington, USA, Los Glaciers National park of Argentina, Aogashima of Japan and Bubble Lodges of France.

South Korea increases quota for Nepalis more than threefold

South Korea – the most lucrative destination of Nepali migrant workers – has increased quota for Nepali migrant workers for 2018 by more than three fold compared to this year.
Korea – which is taking 3,100 Nepali migrant workers through Employment Permit System (EPS) in 2017 – has decided to increase the quota to 10,200 for 2018.
According to EPS Center, the Korean Human Resource Department has informed that the Korean government will take 10,200 Nepali migrant workers in 2018. Among the 10,200 workers, Korea has been seeking 6,200 workers for the agriculture sector and 4,000 for production sector.
The Centre also informed that it is planning to open applications for Korean language test from March 22 to March 31 and conduct the exam by mid-June.
According to the Centre, the candidates can apply online from this year. Because of the online facility, the candidates do not have to stay in queue for hours to submit their application like earlier years.
South Korea has been taking Nepali migrant workers every year through EPS. Nepali youth have been taking Korean Language Test to get listed in the roaster, from where the Korean Human Resource Department selects them in various sectors.

WTO’s Trade Facilitation Agreement enters into force

A major milestone for the global trading system has been reached today, when the first multilateral deal concluded in the 21 year history of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) entered into force. In receiving four more ratifications for the Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA), the WTO has obtained the two-thirds acceptance of the agreement from its 164 members needed to bring the TFA into force.
Rwanda, Oman, Chad and Jordan submitted their instruments of acceptance to WTO director general Roberto Azevêdo, bringing the total number of ratifications over the required threshold of 110. The entry into force of this agreement, which seeks to expedite the movement, release and clearance of goods across borders, launches a new phase for trade facilitation reforms all over the world and creates a significant boost for commerce and the multilateral trading system as a whole.
Full implementation of the TFA is forecast to slash members' trade costs by an average of 14.3 per cent, with developing countries having the most to gain, according to a 2015 study carried out by WTO economists. The TFA is also likely to reduce the time needed to import goods by over a day and a half and to export goods by almost two days, representing a reduction of 47 per cent and 91 per cent respectively over the current average.
Implementing the TFA is also expected to help new firms export for the first time. Moreover, once the TFA is fully implemented, developing countries are predicted to increase the number of new products exported by as much as 20 per cent, with least developed countries (LDCs) likely to see an increase of up to 35 per cent, according to the WTO study.
DG Azevêdo welcomed the TFA's entry into force, noting that the Agreement represents a landmark for trade reform. "This is fantastic news for at least two reasons," he said, "First, it shows members' commitment to the multilateral trading system and that they are following through on the promises made in Bali. Second, it means we can now start implementing the Agreement, helping to cut trade costs around the world."
It also means we can kick start technical assistance work to help poorer countries with implementation, he said, adding that it would boost global trade by up to $1 trillion each year, with the biggest gains being felt in the poorest countries. "The impact will be bigger than the elimination of all existing tariffs around the world."
But, he said, this is not the end of the road. The real work is just beginning and it is the biggest reform of global trade in a generation, according to him. "It can make a big difference for growth and development around the world. Now, working together, we have the responsibility to implement the agreement to make those benefits a reality.”
The agreement is unique in that it allows developing and LDCs to set their own timetables for implementing the TFA depending on their capacities to do so. A Trade Facilitation Agreement Facility (TFAF) was created at the request of developing and least-developed countries to help ensure they receive the assistance needed to reap the full benefits of the TFA and to support the ultimate goal of full implementation of the new agreement by all members.
Developed countries have committed to immediately implement the agreement, which sets out a broad series of trade facilitation reforms.
Spread out over 12 articles, the TFA prescribes many measures to improve transparency and predictability of trading across borders and to create a less discriminatory business environment. The TFA's provisions include improvements to the availability and publication of information about cross-border procedures and practices, improved appeal rights for traders, reduced fees and formalities connected with the import/export of goods, faster clearance procedures and enhanced conditions for freedom of transit for goods. The agreement also contains measures for effective cooperation between customs and other authorities on trade facilitation and customs compliance issues.
Developing countries, in comparison, will immediately apply only the TFA provisions they have designated as 'Category A' commitments. For the other provisions of the agreement, they must indicate when these will be implemented and what capacity building support is needed to help them implement these provisions, known as Category B and C commitments. These can be implemented at a later date with least-developed countries given more time to notify these commitments. So far, notifications of Category A commitments have already been provided by 90 WTO members.
As of today,  WTO members including Nepal, Hong Kong China, Singapore, the US, Mauritius, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, Botswana, Trinidad and Tobago, the Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Niger, Belize, Switzerland, Chinese Taipei, China, Liechtenstein, Lao PDR, New Zealand, Togo, Thailand, the European Union – on behalf of its 28 member states – the  the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Pakistan, Panama, Guyana, Côte d’Ivoire, Grenada, Saint Lucia, Kenya, Myanmar, Norway, Viet Nam, Brunei Darussalam, Ukraine, Zambia, Lesotho, Georgia, Seychelles, Jamaica, Mali, Cambodia, Paraguay, Turkey, Brazil, Macao China, the UAE, Samoa, India, the Russian Federation, Montenegro, Albania, Kazakhstan, Sri Lanka, St Kitts and Nevis, Madagascar, the Republic of Moldova, El Salvador, Honduras, Mexico, Peru, Saudi Arabia, Afghanistan, Senegal, Uruguay, Bahrain, Bangladesh, the Philippines, Iceland, Chile, Swaziland, Dominica, Mongolia, Gabon, the Kyrgyz Republic, Canada, Ghana, Mozambique, Saint Vincent & the Grenadines, Nigeria, Rwanda, Oman, Chad and Jordan have accepted the TFA.
The acceptance process involves WTO members ratifying a Protocol of Amendment to insert the TFA into Annex 1A of the WTO Agreement. Members who have not done this are still required to do so.

Political instability, lack of vision led to wasted generations

For anyone born on February 18, 1951, the day democracy came to Nepal, it has been a lifetime wasted by political instability decade after decade and lack of economic vision among successive leaders.
Countries like South Korea and China that were at about the same level as Nepal some 66 years ago have excelled along the path of economic development but Nepal has lagged woefully behind.
In 1965, Nepal's per capita income stood at $65, and South Korea's at $105.  "While Nepal's per capital income increased by only 12 times to $766 in the last 50 years, South Korea's increased more than 300 times to $34,000," said former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal.
The couple of years from 1951 to 1957 were an ideal period for economic development but Nepal could not take advantage of this due to the ongoing aftereffect of the 104-year Rana regime, he added.
Since then, Nepal has not seen continuous growth due to political and policy instability, according to a member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Swarnima Wagle. "In the 1985 to 1994 decade – the last years of the Panchayat regime and early years of restored democracy – Nepal witnessed a spurt in economic growth," he said, adding that the average economic growth then stood at 5.2 per cent, the highest to date. "This also proves that the economy needs a liberal policy to grow," he said.
In the autocratic Panchayat regime the average economic growth stood at 1.9 per cent, whereas during a decade of insurgency it stood at 4.1 per cent.
Another economist, Bishwa Poudel, seconds the view. "Personal and economic freedom are key to development," he said. Economic growth has not been consistent also because of the Maoist insurgency, he further said, adding that the economy was faring well enough until the insurgency kicked in back in February, 1996.
The decade-long armed insurgency dragged down economic growth, fuelling massive migration and industrial downslide. Industrial growth that had recorded a high of 9 per cent skidded continuously to around 6 per cent due to the disruptions created by the Maoists. When they came to power in 2006, the Maoists claimed that they had become converts to liberal economic policy, but they have only promoted crony capitalism. They have forced industrialists to shift to trade rather than open new industrial ventures and risk getting mired in labour disputes.
Chronic power outage, running labour disputes backed by the Maoist party, policy inconsistency and lack of connectivity pushed up the cost of industrial production. Industrialists turning to trade instead has hampered employment generation and also rendered the economy lopsidedly import-dependent.
However, Wagle claims that all is not lost yet. "There has been an increase in life expectancy, the literacy rate has risen and people have more social security," he said adding that there has, however, to date been no big push factor in the economy, which is the need of the hour.
Wagle also opined that Nepal can recreate the magic of its post-liberal economic era, when growth touched 7.2 per cent, with a second generation of reforms.
Former finance minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat, who is the eproponent of the liberal economy, said the economy is afloat thanks to the economic reforms that he brought about during the 1990s, and it's time for second generation economic reforms to create the push needed for the country to graduate to a developing-country status by 2022 and to middle-income status by 2030.

Nepal still remains mostly an unfree economy

Even though it has improved in ranking, Nepal still remains a mostly unfree economy, according to a report from an American think tank.
From its rank of 152, with a score of 51.2, in the Economic Freedom Index 2016, Nepal has jumped to 125 with a score of 54.1 in the Economic Freedom 2017 report published by The Heritage Foundation today.
“However, Nepal’s economy lacks the entrepreneurial dynamism needed for stronger economic growth and long-term development,” it said, adding, “Overall, weak reform efforts have failed to stimulate broad-based poverty reduction."
The state continues to hinder private-sector development, and political instability further weakens the capacity to implement economic reform or create a stable development environment, it added.
Overall, the static approach to economic management and development has been a serious drag on business activity, The Heritage Foundation said in its Index of Economic Freedom report. “Lack of transparency, corruption, and a burdensome approval process impede much-needed expansion of private investment and production."
The report has also noted that property rights are undermined by the inefficient judicial system, which is subject to substantial corruption and political influence.
It further added that property rights were not protected effectively in Nepal and it can take years to resolve property disputes. The law provides for an independent judiciary, but courts remain vulnerable to political pressure, bribery, and intimidation, it said, adding that there are numerous reports of corrupt actions by government officials, political parties, and party-affiliated organisations. "Corruption and impunity in general are problems within the Nepal Police and Armed Police Force.”
The index measures 10 freedoms – from property rights to entrepreneurship – in 186 countries. The report says the top individual income and corporate tax rates in Nepal are 25 per cent. “Other taxes include a value-added tax and a property tax," it said, adding that the overall tax burden equals 16.1 per cent of total domestic income. "Government spending in Nepal amounted to 18.7 per cent of total output (gross domestic product) over the past three years, and budget surpluses averaged 1.5 per cent of GDP. "Public debt is equivalent to 28.7 per cent of GDP.”
Among South Asian countries, the report ranked Afghanistan (163), the Maldives (157), India (143), Pakistan (141) and Bangladesh (128) below Nepal (125), while Sri Lanka (112) and Bhutan (107) fared better. Hong Kong, Singapore and New Zealand topped the index which categorized 23 countries as repressed economies.
The report also noted that despite some progress in streamlining the process for launching a business, other time-consuming requirements reduced the efficiency of the regulatory system in Nepal.
“Nepal’s labour regulations remain obsolete, and underemployment persists," it said, adding that in the wake of the devastating 2015-earthquakes, Nepal has subsidised the rebuilding of homes, contingent on the use of earthquake-resistant methods and materials."
Trade, the report says, is important to Nepal’s economy – the value of exports and imports taken together equals 53 per cent of GDP. "The average applied tariff rate is 10.9 per cent," it said, adding that the judicial and regulatory systems impede foreign investment, and state-owned enterprises distort the economy.
The report also says that Nepal’s fragmented financial system remains vulnerable to government influence, and financial supervision is inadequate to poor.
The Heritage Foundation said in the report that economic freedom was a fundamental right and every human should have the right to control their own labor and property. “In an economically-free society, individuals are free to work, produce, consume, and invest in any way they please,” it said, adding that in economically free societies, governments allow labour, capital, and goods to move freely, and refrain from coercion or constraint of liberty beyond the extent necessary to protect and maintain liberty itself.

Bangladesh willing to invest $1 billion in Nepal's power sector

Bangladesh has shown a keen interest to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector.
According to the ambassador of Bangladesh to Nepal Mashfee Binte Shams, Bangladesh is ready to invest $1 billion in Nepal. "Bangladesh is open to pursue every possible collaboration in the power sector, be it investment or power trade between the two countries," she said at an interaction organised by Energy Development Council (EDC), in Kathmandu, today.
As the economy of Bangladesh is growing at the rate of over 7 per cent, it is a power hungry country, the ambassador said, adding that the current installed capacity of Bangladesh is 15,000 MW but 'still it is not enough'.
Bangladesh has projected its electricity demand to reach 20,000 MW in 2021 and 34,000 MW in 2030, according to the envoy. The Bangladesh government has already proposed to sign an umbrella Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Nepal. "Bangladesh is waiting for the positive response from the Nepal government," she added.
Shams also informed that private companies of Bangladesh are also interested in investing in Nepal's hydropower sector. "Bangladesh, with its huge electricity deficit, is actively exploring to generate electricity from wind, solar and other renewable sources," she said, adding that Bangladesh has been importing electricity from India as it has friendly relationship with New Delhi.
If Nepal has to export electricity to Bangladesh, the transmission line has to go through India, as a small section of India lies in between Nepal and Bangladesh. "India will have no problem, if Bangladesh imports electricity from Nepal," she added.
Recently, India has also said that it will have no problem, if Bangladesh imports electricity through its territory. Though, there has been cross border electricity trade – between Nepal-India, Bhutan-India and India-Bangladesh – the beginning of power trade with Bangladesh will materialise power trade in the South Asia region as a whole as the regional forum has been continuously discussing on regional power trade.
Despite relatively large energy resource endowed, comprising of hydropower potential of 294,330 MW; coal reserves of 108,961 million tons and 95 Trillion Cubic Feet (TCF) of natural gas and a large renewable energy resource base; South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) region is facing acute power shortages, leading to frequent and long power outages.
The spread of these resources as well as the demand pattern are highly skewed across the region, according to a study of the Japan-ADB and SAARC. "While the resource base in some countries far exceeds their projected demand, other countries do not enjoy this luxury," it reads, adding that this scenario provides a perfect environment for the development of these resources to meet the in-country demand as well as for cross border electricity trade within and with neighboring regions.
Many hydropower projects, including mega projects like Upper Karnali, Arun III and West Seti, are being developed by India and China. If things go as planned, Bangladesh will be the second South Asian country to invest in Nepal's hydropower sector.
Speaking on the occasion, Sujit Acharya, the chairperson of EDC, welcomed the interest of Bangladesh in Nepal's energy sector. He said that the council will put its effort in bridging the gaps among the authorities concerned.
Power investment summit in September
Chairperson of Energy Development Council (EDC) Sujit Acharya also announced that EDC was organising Power Investment Summit in September.
Around 100 investment-ready projects will be showcased in the summit, Acharya said, adding that deals will be made on the sport as the summit will see high-level delegates' participation.
On the occasion, ambassador Shams said that Bangladesh was willing to participate in the Summit. “Our energy minister would be delighted to come for the summit,” she added.

Government told to start work for granting transit rights to India, China

Experts have proposed to the government start homework for granting transit rights to both the neighbors.
Presenting a paper entitled 'Toward a New Framework for Nepal's Trade and Industrial diversification' at the International Conference on Key Trends in China-Nepal-India Relations and New Development Strategy for Nepal,' jointly organised by South Asian Institute of Management (SAIM), Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) and Nanyang Technological University of Singapore, in Kathmandu today, former finance secretary Rameshwor Khanal said that the two neighbours – India and China – will, sooner or later, ask for transit rights. "Nepal should start homework right now to make sure that transit agreements would be in its favour,” he added.
He also proposed implementing connectivity infrastructure projects that support transit and trade diversification in the changed context of recent trade and transit blockade.
As the need of the hour is to diversify trade for a self-reliant economy, Khanal also proposed promoting energy-intensive industries, developing cross-border energy market and economic corridors along north-south transit routes, and promoting high value niche products and specialized services for trade diversification.
“Nepal has failed to diversify trade and transit even though each periodic plan – after the second periodic plan – has been emphasising on trade diversification, export promotion, foreign investment promotion,” Khanal said, adding that the country is still harping on trade diversification after six decades of the planned development practice.
Nepal started planned development practice from 1956 when over 95 per cent of its trade was with India. Trade with Tibetan Autonomous Region of China was confined to border region and most of it was bartering. Nepal had little to export to outside world then.
With foreign assistance, particularly from the then Soviet Union and China, critical manufacturing factories that aimed at import substitution were established in the decade following 1956. But following the calibrated reforms of 1985-86, policy reforms spanning all sectors of the economy were implemented between 1990 and 1992, he added. "The reforms led to trade diversification, growth of manufacturing sector, export growth, and some of the positive changes could also be seen lasting until 1998."
However, overall development policy did not support the trade and industrial policies started during the economic reforms of post-1990. Lack of continuity of reforms, weak institutions, and above all no infrastructure support held back the growth, Khanal said.
Commenting on his paper, chief executive of Investment Board Nepal (IBN) Radhesh Pant said that finance is not the problem for infrastructure development in Nepal. "Finance is the least of the problems," he said, giving examples of how foreign investors have been eager on putting money on Nepal's infrastructure development ranging from hydropower projects to cement factories.
Nepal needs huge investment in infrastructure development to meet the gap that can fuel economic growth, according to former member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Swarnim Wagle. Hailing Chinese approach to development, Wagle said that quick delivery of aid without strings attached will help infrastructure development in Nepal.
In his paper on 'Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and Infrastructure Construction in South Asian Countries', Prof Dai Yonghong, Director of Center for Myanmar Studies in Sichuan University and Deputy Director and Center for Nepal Studies in Sichuan University, highlighted benefits of Nepal as a transit economy. "It will help strengthening sub-regional cooperation between Sichuan-Tibet and SAARC, adjusting the area of cooperation, establishing Sino-Nepal FTA, and build Nepal overland trade route," he said, adding that it will also strengthen infrastructure development in border areas, apart from expansion of trade preferences and encourage investment, and expanding tourism cooperation, innovation and tourism business one-stop service mode.

Kathmandu more riskier due to informal building expansion, World Bank reports

Earthquake risk in Kathmandu is expected to double in next 2 decades due to informal building expansion, according to a new report by World Bank.
The report ‘The Making of a Riskier Future: How Our Decisions are Shaping the Future of Disaster Risk’ claims that earthquake risk in Kathmandu is expected to increase by 50 per cent by 2045 due to informal building expansion.
The new report has also warned that the world is ill-prepared for an increasing rise in disasters, spurred by climate change, rising populations and increasing vulnerability of people in large cities and unregulated housing.
It calls for a radical new approach to assessing risk, which takes into account extremely rapid changes in global disaster risk.
Using vulnerability curves developed through incremental dynamic structural analysis for each possible building configuration, a stochastic building expansion model was presented to simulate possible expansion sequences over the lifetime of a building. The model was then used to simulate an entire neighbourhood in the Kathmandu Valley area, and analysed to understand neighbourhood-level risk over time, based on a reproduction of the 1934 Nepal-Bihar earthquake that destroyed the city.
The researchers found that there is a significant earthquake risk linked with informal building expansion. While the risk is easy to overlook for a single building or short time frame, given enough time and scaled to entire neighbourhoods, the study revealed that the incremental expansion process can profoundly shift earthquake risk.
“Governments should consider policies to control the most dangerous expansions and/or should develop design guidelines for expanding safely,” the report reads, adding that both of these steps would have significant impact on reducing the future risk of cities.
It further said that the disaster risk of rapidly changing cities is predictable, even if it has significant uncertainty. Probabilistic hazard models can be combined with modern structural analysis tools, simulated building expansion, and other models to gain an understanding of the main trends in the disaster risk of cities.
“As part of efforts to ensure that cities are resilient to future disasters, these tools can serve as the basis for risk-informed urban planning and policy analyses that place urban environments on a trajectory to minimise future risk," it adds.
Annual total damages from disasters have been increasing for decades and models show that population growth and rapid urbanisation could put 1.3 billion people and $158 trillion in assets at risk from river and coastal floods by 2050, according to the report.
“With climate change and rising numbers of people in urban areas rapidly driving up future risks, there’s a real danger the world is woefully unprepared for what lies ahead," World Bank Group’s senior director for climate change John Roome has been quoted as saying in the media release issued today. “Unless we change our approach to future planning for cities and coastal areas that takes into account potential disasters, we run real risk of locking in decisions that will lead to drastic rises in future losses,” he said.
In examining literature and case studies from around the globe, the report cites studies showing that densely populated coastal cities are sinking and when coupled with rising sea levels, annual losses in 136 coastal cities could increase from $6 billion in 2010 to $1,000 billion in 2070.
It also cites research warning that in Indonesia, river flood risk may increase 166 per cent over the next 30 years due to rapid expansion of urban areas, while the country’s coastal flood risk could rise by 445 per cent.
Over 700 experts and thought leaders will gather in Venice in May end to examine the critical role of technological advances in disaster risk management. The 2016 Understanding Risk Forum, hosted by Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery (GFDRR), will showcase the latest innovations, exchange ideas and form partnerships on risk identification and assessment.

13th periodic plan misses most of the targets

Lack of a coherent framework while preparing an approach paper for the plan and persistence of political instability and policy inconsistency coupled with unprecedented natural shocks and a massive erosion of implementation capacity have resulted in the 13th periodic plan failing measurably and missing most of its targets.
The plan – that is coming to an end by July 15 – has only achieved targets that can be counted on one's fingertips during the plan period spanning the last three fiscal years, according to data from the National Planning Commission (NPC).
According to former member of the NPC Swarnim Wagle, the 13th periodic plan lacked basic maturity of preparation, raising a question mark over how realistic the targets were. "Likewise, the last three years also saw three different governments in a continuation of the political instability that contributed hugely to policy inconsistency," he said, adding that unprecedented shocks such as the devastating earthquake and the Indian blockade also played havoc with the targets. "The erosion of implementation capacity was likewise a key factor in missing most of the targets of the periodic plan," he added.
The 13 periodic plan – that commenced in fiscal year 2013-14 – had a target of preparing the base for the country's graduation to developing country status by 2022 from the current status of Least Developed Country (LDC). In preparing the base for the graduation, the plan targetted achieving 6 per cent economic growth on average in the three-year plan period. However, the government has failed to achieve the growth target as the average economic growth rate plunged to 2.92 per cent, according to the planning commission.
Reviewing the 13th plan, NPC vice chair Dr Yubraj Khatiwada said that the transitional plan has failed to achieve not only the economic growth target but also a host of other targets, including inflation reduction, average employment rate growth, poverty reduction, access to electricity, generation of electricity, drinking water supply and sanitation, enrollment in primary schools, irrigation and road connectivity.
"Though increased government spending in the social sector has helped achieve some of the targets under the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), low implementation capacity and absence of elected local bodies have made the achievement of the targets impossible," Khatiwada said, adding that low economic growth and less employment opportunity have left the country still more dependent on foreign employment.
The planning commission had targetted an annual increase of 3.2 per cent on average in employment in the last three fiscal years, but the achievement has been stuck below target at 2.9 per cent. Likewise, the plan has missed the poverty reduction and inflation targets. The plan had a target of bringing the poverty rate down to 18 per cent from 24.2 per cent but the current rate of poverty stands at 21.6 per cent, according to the panning commission. The government's failure in cracking down on spiraling prices has kept the average inflation rate at 8.8 per cent, which is above the plan target of 7 per cent.
Khatiwada attributed the misses to the devastating earthquake and border disruption that helped squeeze economic growth in the current fiscal year. The plan has, however, surpassed the targets in telephony penetration, including mobile phones, and in the area covered by forests. "The increase in telephony penetration has nonetheless failed to contribute to economic growth," Khatiwada added.
The 13th periodic plan was the third three-year interim plan following the second democratic movement that overthrew the monarchy and made Nepal the youngest republic in the world. Earlier, the planned development process that started some six decade back had been under five-year periodic plans, till the 10th plan.