As a continuation of my first article on the theme of a prosperous Nepal, this write-up shall further explain on concrete factors that need to be worked in restoring the health of the country. Or I want express more on my “Deca Da and Penta Niet model” of nation building. This article is limited to deal in details of my model. Therefore, I shall first introduce the major points.
I have already discussed some points of Decda Da (in Greek meaning ten yes) in my previous article. The ten things that we should focus on for the speedy development of the nation are: transportation, electrification, agriculture, herbal processing, tourism, industry sector, a smart bureaucracy, a completely reformed legal system, information and technology based education system and access of health to all.
Similarly, Penta Niet in Greek means five no. Those are: Over politicization of education, over politicization of health sector, over bureaucracy, over politicization of security forces and over politicization of judiciary. That means the state should free these sectors from being politicized.
At present, Nepal suffers seriously due to the politicization of five domains of public significance: education, health, civil service, security, and judiciary. These five domains have become chronic due to over politicized modus operandi. Nepal needs a visionary leadership strong enough to purge these domains from dirty politics.
First of all, political parties should reach a consensus in devising and implementing a system of good governance to regulate these domains.
But prior to this, we need to be familiar with some tangible and intangible foundations of the country. The country is built on the foundation of intangible elements: religion, language, culture, security, and civilization. Unfortunately, some foreign enemies in connivance with some national brokers have systematically and in a planned way started attacking our religion, language, culture, and civilization. The attack on these four elements started after the political change in 1990 and continued to intensify gradually.
This has been affected mostly in the name of religion; the targets being four tangible elements namely: population, security (especially army) and leadership. These four tangible elements will become much stronger only if the four intangible elements are protected from foreign attacks. Foreign diplomatic missions in Nepal are deliberately encroaching on our national integrity attempting to create division among our 126 indigenous ethnic groups through propaganda. Attempts are also made to penetrate into the national army. Finally, political leadership is being paralyzed alluring party leaders with monetary as well as other benefits depending on their individual interests.
Political leaders must commit themselves to protect our tangible and intangible elements at all cost. First, we need to identify the enemies within. Political leaders should first correct themselves through soul searching. They need to purge their party ridding it of cadres who are suffused with a vested interest and are disloyal towards the country and its people. Secondly, the state should purge bureaucracy from corrupt officials who are least concerned about the welfare of people or betterment of the nation.
Most importantly, we cannot heap all the blame on the leaders alone. It is the duty of all citizens to remain alert on political anomalies and raise voice against malpractices either by politicians or government officials. That is to say, we need an independent civil society not aligned to any party and that is committed to nothing else except the national interest.
In reifying my discussion as of yet, I now want to mention about three pillars that can safeguard four tangible and intangible elements. The three pillars are party leaders, press and intellectual community. Once these three pillars stand mighty with a harmonious relationship with each other, no foreign power can cause damage to the nation. If anyone of these three pillars deviates from honesty, credibility, and responsibility, the nation will suffer.
In recent history, political leadership headed towards gradual decline since 1990 mass movement. Prior to the mass movement, political leadership seemed committed towards the people and nation. It had vowed to change the fate of Nepal from a developing country to a developed country. However, post-1990 the leadership got indulged into money-making and in shameless acts of corruption. Eventually, politics infiltrated into every sector ruining the intellectual community as well. Press (journalists) and intellectual community (comprising of the professors and lawyers), rather than working as the watchdog and instead of timely intervention of the unfortunate incidents unfolding in the political sphere, vouched loyalty to political parties.
Rather than pointing out the faults committed by political leadership, much of the energy of the press is spent in covering sensational reports on glamour, crime, and sex.
As for the professors, they use orthodox teaching methods citing the same old texts for decades. They too have become mere party cadres. The situation has become such toxic that promotion of a professor is withheld no matter how genius he/she is unless one pledges loyalty to a political party.
Therefore, first and foremost, these three pillars acting as the foundation of the nation should grow healthy and vibrant.
The author is the Professor at the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.
Belt Road Initiatives (BRI), an ambitious initiative of the Government of Peoples’ Republic of China, is a plan to build a wide network of land and sea routes for global connectivity. Boosting global trade along with building infrastructure in countries where they are cannot afford by themselves is the main objective of the BRI concept.
BRI is a multidimensional connectivity project involving railways, roadways, seaways, airways, oil pipelines, power grids, transmission lines and internet among others.
Nepal can benefit from Chinese industrialists and businesspersons willing to invest in Nepal. However, they think that investment is at high risk here. Nepal must be able to clear this confusion.
To gain access to the seaports, landlocked Nepal should try to get the advantage of the Chinese access points. Among those, routes that are easy and operational throughout the year must be chosen as the links to connect Nepal with China. That will help us gain our access to the sea via China.
Since there is no well-developed road network in Nepal, they are doubtful about the business transactions and the whole import-export mechanism. Hence, Nepal should take genuine interest and initiation towards these, and both the countries should be connected via the road network in the first phase.
After road, Nepal must emphasize bilateral trade for which Nepal must produce enough goods to export to China. Nepal can benefit from China in the areas of trade, investment, and tourism the most. Chinese people, who have heard of Nepal, want to visit this country. Many, however, do not know about Nepal. Therefore, Nepal should work together with China to attract Chinese visitors and investors.
To gain access to the seaports, landlocked Nepal should try to get the advantage of the Chinese access points. Among those, routes that are easy and operational throughout the year must be chosen as the links to connect Nepal with China. That will help us gain our access to the sea via China.
Three mediums – road network ‘connectivity,’ business and trade are the bases of Nepal’s prosperity. Road and railway connectivity are very important for Nepal.
Infrastructure development under BRI will open up more economic opportunities for Nepal. If the connectivity is maintained with Asia and Europe as per the vision of this new Silk Road, it will open up more doors for business, tourism, and cultural exchanges. BRI will reduce the time and cost in Nepal’s international trade.
The government of Nepal signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on May 12, 2017, with China to participate in the ambitious BRI, which aims at promoting cooperation on promoting connectivity of facilities, trade connectivity, financial integration and connectivity of people between the two neighboring countries.
There is a need for enhancing policy coordination, connectivity, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people contact for realizing the goal of better connectivity.
Infrastructure development under BRI will open up more economic opportunities for Nepal. If the connectivity is maintained with Asia and Europe as per the vision of this new Silk Road, it will open up more doors for business, tourism, and cultural exchanges. BRI will reduce the time and cost in Nepal’s international trade.
The grand plan which China has unveiled by investing one trillion dollars in infrastructure along the BRI corridor is a great opportunity for countries that desperately want to break free from underdevelopment and poverty.
Nepal is strategically in a very important geo-location and can act as the bridge between two major trans-Asian railway networks. India and China will link their networks sooner or later.
Silk Road provides a unique opportunity for development of Nepali tourism and for connecting Nepal to the several ancient Buddhist sites along the route. This includes the development of rail network from Tibet to Kathmandu and from Kathmandu to Patna, India.
BRI can be a great opportunity for Nepal to play the role of a bridge between two big countries and to have global connectivity. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) into the country with flexible policies and legislation could lead to the economic transformation of this developing country.
Therefore, Nepal should plan, design and start building infrastructures directly linked to the BRI projects. BRI can be an opportunity for Nepal to transform from a ‘land-locked’ county to a ‘land-linked’ country.
A developed and prosperous Nepal can be built on the foundation of hydropower, tourism, and agriculture. To best utilize these natural resources, a huge investment in mega infrastructural projects is required. Development of those sectors is only possible through a wide network of seas and land routes across many countries. For example, there is a possibility and technical feasibility to generate 42,000 MW electricity from various rivers of Nepal. With access to dozens of countries through BRI, the produced electricity can easily be sold in the global market.
There will be a positive environment for FDI wherein the confidence of international investors increases along with access to a wide network. Nepal can benefit from FDI and can be a user of global products. Nepal is in dire need of investment for infrastructure development, which the country cannot afford perhaps for years.
Therefore, Nepal should plan, design and start building infrastructures directly linked to the BRI projects. BRI can be an opportunity for Nepal to transform from a ‘land-locked’ county to a ‘land-linked’ country.
Dr. Shrestha is former Secretary of the Government of Nepal.
(Views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance).
Despite its small size in terms of economy and geography, Nepal’s relation with its neighbors — China and India — is shaped by ancient ties. Given the way Bollywood and Indian soap operas are popular in Nepal, and thanks to some Indian cultural traits resembling that of Nepal, one could be duped to an impression that Nepal’s bond with India is much stronger. While that may be true, Nepal nonetheless has a strong foundation of bilateral relation with China. This write-up delves into the foundations that have shaped Nepal China relations.
Cultural ties
The history of Nepal-China relation is almost primordial and is held by the mythical story of Manjushree. The story goes that when this mythical figure came to the Kathmandu Valley, it was a big lake. Through his mystic sword, he cut the Chovar hill, drained off the water making it inhabitable. Whether the mythical story holds gravity but it is true that Buddhism entered China from Nepal.
Trade has been another binding ties between the two countries with ancient civilization. Tea originating from China was traded to far away countries via Nepal.
Nepal and China were also engaged in the practice of sending religious envoys to each other. As per the practice, in 306 A.D. Tsen Tsai as an envoy from China arrived in Nepal and had an audience with the king. In succession to such practice, Fahien as religious envoy came to Nepal in 406 A.D.
Huen Sang, a Chinese monk with the same status visited Nepal in 627 A.D. and was received well in the royal palace. That Nepal-China relation was smooth during the Lichhavi period is justified by the fact that king Anshuverma had arranged his daughter Bhrikuti to marry Tibetan King Shrong Chen Gampo.
(The Licchavi princess Bhrikuti Devi, known to Tibetans as Bal-mo-bza’ Khri-btsun, Bhelsa Tritsun (‘Nepali consort’) or, simply, Khri bTsun (“Royal Lady”), is traditionally considered to have been the first wife of the earliest emperor of Tibet, Songtsen Gampo (605-650), and an incarnation of Tara. She was also known as “Besa,” and was a princess of the Licchavi kingdom of Nepal).
Similarly, on request of the Tibetan king, Lichhavi king Jaya Bhimdev sent a team of 80 builders and carpenters led by Balbahu (Araniko) to Tibet. Chinese Emperor Kublai Khan was impressed by the artistic monasteries built by the Nepali team of artists. He asked the team to visit China to build several similar monasteries. A Nepali team of artists in 1262 A.D. reached Peking of China for that purpose. In 1271 A.D., they built a structure what we now call the White Pagoda. They built several other Chaityas there.
Trading friendship
Trade has been another binding tie between the two countries with ancient civilization. Tea originating from China was traded to far way countries via Nepal. Tea commerce from the Sichuan area reached Lhasa, Tibet (then an independent country), Nepal, Burma, and India. Of course, tea also made to other Asia Pacific countries, including Japan, where tea gained its unique culture called ‘Tea Ceremony.’
Silk-road also served as the lifeline to Nepal’s relation with the northern neighbor. Nepal then prospered from its trade of commodities from salt to gold. Nepal also imported wool from Mongolia, China, and Tibet. The temples with gold-plated roofs in Kathmandu hint that there had been a huge flow of gold into Nepal from those countries.
The king impressed by the visitors’ greatness gave them a good send-off with notable gifts. Shortly after the king was assassinated by his Chief of the Army Arunashwo and unceremoniously took the gifts back, sending the visitors with dishonor.
Although it is not easy to assert the exact date of start of the relations between the two countries based on what little evidence there is, we find the relation dated more than 2000 years far back. The two countries enjoyed social, economic and religious ties.
Diplomatic relations
Besides connectivity, through trade, the two countries also boast of historic diplomatic exchanges. During the rule of king Narendra Dev (643-690 A.D) Chinese envoys Lee Payo Chhen and Wang Tse visited the palace of the king of Kannauz of India.
The king impressed by the visitors’ greatness gave them a good send-off with notable gifts. Shortly after the king was assassinated by his Chief of the Army Arunashwo and unceremoniously took the gifts back, sending the visitors with dishonor.
They thus entered Nepal and saved their lives. Once the king of China learned about the incident, he immediately approached Nepal and Tibet to set Arunashwo right. 7000 cavalries from Nepal and 1,200 soldiers from Tibet marched for help. The united troops reached Kannauz, attacked the king, held him captive, brought him to China, and later hanged him to death.
Because Nepal-China relation remained cordial all through during the Malla era (1200-1769 A.D.), Nepal was able to wield its influence over Tibet which eased the trade of salt and gold. The trade contributed to the sound economy of Nepal. This is the reason why the period is called the ‘Golden Age.’ Nepal is also called as the ‘Country of Temples’ with golden roofs, which was possible due to the Nepal–China trade lubricated by corresponding diplomatic relationship. The Shah Kings also maintained smooth relations with China.
The need of the hour
Even as the relationship between these two countries is nourished by rich historical, cultural and diplomatic reciprocity, people-to-people relation is not as vibrant. The high Himalayas and a chain of difficult terrains with round the year cold climate hinder people-to-people relation between the two countries.
All Nepalese cannot afford to travel to and from China by airplane. Diplomatic visits alone do not connect the people. Therefore, linking Nepal and China through ropeway, railway and road would prove effective in further strengthening the existing ties. China can excel people-to-people relationship by encouraging young Nepalese students to study at its universities by offering scholarships. This shall allow Nepalese youth to practically understand and feel China. As part of Nepal, it should ease the travel of Chinese tourists visiting Nepal by promoting Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Buddha.
As against the case of India, language stands as another impediment in people to people relationship between these neighbors. Nepal needs to consider by including the Chinese language in the school curriculum and so should China to do away with the language barrier.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA), the anti-corruption watchdog, has been formed to investigate into corruption cases mainly by government officials abusing their authority.
Corruption remains a major obstacle to Nepal’s development. CIAA was conceived as a measure to counter corruption. Though conceived during the Panchayat period, it materialized in February 1991 after the restoration of democracy.
As stipulated by the CIAA act, any government official amassing property higher than the proportion of his/her salary is considered being indulged in corruption. In such a case, it is necessary to reveal the source of income to ascertain one’s non-involvement in corruption.
However, with the appointment of a capable person as the Chief Commissioner, there have been indications of efficacy. The anti-corruption body is gradually picking up its momentum as well as gaining public trust.
Given its history, CIAA has not been as effective as should have been due to the acute shortage of efficient human resources. To recall, the CIAA got a full shape only in 2002 after the appointment of all commissioners.
That was not enough. The CIAA was in short of logistics ranging from human resources as well as a well-equipped office building. Hence, most of the time was consumed in training the officials besides preparing ‘decisive mode’ of the investigation.
Unfortunately, when a well-equipped CIAA was about to spring into full swing, the anti-corruption body’s privileges were truncated during the authoritarian rule of the ex-king Gyanendra.
The failure to appoint the Chief Commissioner for a long time after the establishment of a federal system hampered the CIAA’s mission.
Later, thanks to the demeanor of a single person, the CIAA nearly got into the verge of collapse. That was the consequence of a wrong decision by the political heads in appointing a wrong person to the post.
However, with the appointment of a capable person as the Chief Commissioner, there have been indications of efficacy. The anti-corruption body is gradually picking up its momentum as well as gaining public trust.
For its effective functioning, the CIAA needs the support of the judiciary. Currently, we have a scenario where CIAA files a case against a government official on corruption charges and gets released on bail from the court. Such a situation will weaken the case. Therefore, the court should equally be committed to curbing corruption.
To recall, Prime Minister KP Oli has committed zero tolerance against corruption. Therefore, he should provide full-fledged support to the CIAA by taking initiatives to involve the body to probe into corruption cases without being bias. In fact, he should extend his cooperation to the CIAA to prepare the file against any government authority. Unfortunately, issues related with the cabinet decision, court and the Nepal Army do not come within the ambit of CIAA. The CIAA should be given the rights to investigate issues of corruption and the cabinet decisions as well.
the newly promulgated constitution has curtailed some rights of CIAA. It is, therefore, high time that the CIAA be fully empowered to battle against rampant and deep-rooted corruption in the country.
Prosperous Nepal has become a buzz word in every nook and corner of this country. It appears as if people from all walks of life possess expertise in making Nepal a prosperous country. However, merely talking about prosperity does not yield results. Practical prosperity requires an integrated approach to development resulting in economic growth.
In my writing ranging in three series, I attempt to present my ideas into making Nepal a developed country in a short period.
Most of the models developed for nation building are lengthy and difficult to be understood by common people. A development model should be based on our natural resources and the country’s situation.
My model of nation-building is based on “three pillars” that will drive Nepal in the right direction on time.
Most of the models developed for nation building are lengthy and difficult to be understood by common people. A development model should be based on our natural resources and the country’s situation.
As per this model, politicians should embrace “Deca Da (ten yes) and Penta Niet (five no) model of nation-building effectively and efficiently. Firstly, let me elucidate “Deca Da” model of nation building before I jump over to “Penta Niet” model of nation-building.
Deca Da Model of Nation Building:
This model has ten modules of nation-building based on Nepal’s reality and necessity.
Transportation: A nation without connectivity via land road, waterways or air routes is a nation in development doldrums. That is why Nepal should be connected via roads so that mobility of goods and people will be circulated from one point of origin to another point of transport. Transportation is very important for Nepal’s integrated development.
America developed faster than Russia because of proper synchronization of transportation and electrification. Nepal should learn this lesson from America.
Electrification: Electrification means energy produced from renewal and non-renewable resources like solar, wind, water, biomass, and geothermal, oil, natural gas, coal, and nuclear energy sources. Since civilizations and innovations got enhanced with the invention of electricity, electrification should go hand in hand with transportation.
America developed faster than Russia because of proper synchronization of transportation and electrification. Nepal should learn this lesson from America. Since Nepal is endowed with 6000 freshwater rivers, Nepal’s development planners should incorporate transportation alongside electrification.
For this, we can commence the construction of mega transportation and mega hydro projects in three working shifts in a day with each shift comprising eight hours. Such projects can employ thousands of Nepali jobless young generation. If it happens, no young Nepali individual has to look for scorching Gulf countries for minimum wages without personal security.
Agriculture: Agriculture is the backbone of Nepali economy. Agribusiness and agro-based industries should be given due priority. It is high time that the country began modern agriculture based on genetic engineering along with agricultural diversity and commercialization.
The state should act as a medium of supply chains of agricultural products so that the “bichaulia” (broker or commission agents) system will cease to exist and the farmers and the customers will be benefited eventually. This will create a lot of employment opportunities within the agricultural domain. Nepal can become a world destination for “mountain organic agriculture” for carrying out research activities.
The country can export value-wise rather than quantity-wise medicinal products to China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the USA.
Herbal processing: Nepal is endowed with medicinal plants and animals. We can have state of art laboratories in every province where primary collection and processing of medical products can be carried out.
The country can export value-wise rather than quantity-wise medicinal products to China, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and the USA. Nowadays, more than 80 percent of Nepal’s raw materials for medicinal products are exported to India with very low returns. Nepal’s medicine industry can generate jobs, money, and prestige.
Tourism: Nepal is naturally a gifted nation with fascinating tourist destinations along with warm and hospitable people. What we need is an integrated development model and a sober team of tourist professionals to serve the tourists.
Tourism can develop and prosper only if we welcome tourists at the airport with sober manner, drive them to the hotel through no-bumping, no dusty and no-noisy roads, excellent facilities in the hotel along with hot and cold water supply, delicious dinner, cozy rooms and excellent breakfast and care, smooth and timely transportation services, and attractive gifts will increase the number of the tourists. What has to be understood is that tourism cannot prosper with mere slogans or speeches.
Nepal can franchise an internally acclaimed brand to unique products from Nepal that will become popular globally. Most of the SMEs must be based on our local need and availability of natural resources. We can also promote local, traditional and indigenous knowledge, skills and techniques/technologies via the process of industrialization.
Industry: Nepal has to accelerate the pace of industrialization in tandem with the 21st century. Modernization and industrialization are intertwined like two sides of a coin. Nepal can set up SME (small and modicum entrepreneurship) in remote parts of the country depending on the locally available natural resources.
Nepal can franchise an internally acclaimed brand to unique products from Nepal that will become popular globally. Most of the SMEs must be based on our local need and availability of natural resources. We can also promote local, traditional and indigenous knowledge, skills and techniques/technologies via the process of industrialization.
Smart bureaucracy: Young and IT-friendly dynamic new generation should be staffed in bureaucracy to ensure smooth and efficient delivery. This shall do away with red-tapism. People-friendly and nation-friendly smart bureaucracy is a must to materialize good governance in Nepal.
Effective market regulation with sufficient salary for civil servants depending on national and international financial performance should be implemented to create a sense of change in the bureaucratic performance. If a bureaucrat indulges in corruption and lethargic performance even after providing sufficient facilities, the government’s anti-corruption body should take stern action immediately against a corrupt and non-performing bureaucrat. Bureaucracy should be free from political meddling.
(To be continued)
The author is the Professor at the Central Department of Zoology, Tribhuvan University.
Views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.
Forest conversion is blamed as one of the several bottlenecks affecting the timely completion of major infrastructure projects in Nepal, especially in the energy and transportation sectors.
Each year 292-519 ha (average 212 ha for the period 2006-2016) of forest land has been handed over for infrastructure development. The cumulative forest handover for non-forestry purposes so far has been more than 17,000 ha, which accounts for more than 15 percent of the forest-encroached areas in the country.
Similarly, the second international airport project in Nijgadh, at present, seems hell-bent in felling a large number of trees. As of yet, there is no clear plan on how the loss of trees and biodiversity would be mitigated.
The area of forest being utilized for infrastructure development is growing even more in recent years. In the last two years, the average forest land handed over for development purpose has remained 492 ha/year.
Tense situations surface at times over this issue between the Ministry of Forests and Environment (MOFE) and the “Brown” sector agencies. Take the case of Arun 3 and Upper Karnali where the Prime Minister had intervened on the behalf of the hydropower companies forcing MOFE for a very unfair deal.
Similarly, the second international airport project in Nijgadh, at present, seems hell-bent in felling a large number of trees. As of yet, there is no clear plan on how the loss of trees and biodiversity would be mitigated.
Replacement planting is a major issue and needs to be addressed seriously to ease the forest conversion bottleneck. It needs to be addressed on four major fronts: harmonizing government procedures, revisions of the legal framework, setting up of an efficient mechanism of fund flows in regards to compensation money, and raising awareness and capacity building of developers and officials of government agencies.
The new guidelines will fully come into force after the NPV standards are adopted by the MOFE. The one-time compensation amount received by the federal government based on Net Present Value Standards would be channelled directly for the purpose of plantation and management.
MOFE has achieved a milestone by the adoption of the revised Forest Guidelines in 2018 with the provision of land-for-cash compensation mechanism. Equally important, MOFE is also preparing to launch a compensation computation system based on NPV (Net Present Value) standards and for replacement plantings and their management.
Previously, paying compensation for the use of the forest for infrastructure development was quite cumbersome. The developers were required to buy equivalent private land and hand them over to the government after planting trees and managing the plantations for five years.
The new guidelines will fully come into force after the NPV standards are adopted by the MOFE. The one-time compensation amount received by the federal government based on Net Present Value Standards would be channelled directly for the purpose of plantation and management.
The federal government will keep the annual lease-royalty for the forest land, but the NPV payments will directly be made available to the respective provinces. The Authority Act and the Provincial Act/Regulations will spell out how this amount would be spent and which body in the Province will be responsible for.
To address the issue of replacement planting, a concept of an independent authority has been developed in consultation with government agencies, donor partners and other concerned stakeholders. It addresses the unique problem of forest diversion to non-forestry use and the compensation plantations and their management.
The National Plantation and Forest Product Development Authority (NPFPDA) has been proposed to be created by integrating three organizations of MOFE namely: Timber Corporation of Nepal (TCN), Forest Product Development Board (FPDB), and Herbs Production and Processing Company Limited (HPPCL).
The pre-feasibility study, recently completed, confirmed that the Authority would be financially viable and technically feasible, and would support the respective governments in all three tiers in the execution of plantations, their long-term management; forest harvest and product delivery; promotion of herb-based industries; and biodiversity conservation in the country, among others.
The interim measure being adopted by MOFE will integrate TCN and FPDB only to address the immediate need of forest harvest and maintaining the functioning of these organizations before they are finally integrated into NPFPDA.
While MOFE agrees to implement this modality on a long-run, it is currently working on an interim arrangement before the NPFPD Act is tabled at the Parliament. Details for drafting the bill for NPFPDA has been prepared by a team consisting of prominent legal experts by following a rigorous consultation.
The interim measure being adopted by MOFE will integrate TCN and FPDB only to address the immediate need of forest harvest and maintaining the functioning of these organizations before they are finally integrated into NPFPDA.
NPFPDA would proactively look for barren public land, degraded forest land or procure private land to create forest blocks (larger than 250 ha in a location) in each province. Also, under consideration has been to create forest land banks in each province for developers who prefer to pay their compensation in land.
With the adoption of this new vision, MOFE would not only accomplish an effective solution to the problems associated with the forest conversion for infrastructure development in the country but also would be launching a new era of an organized commercial plantation in Nepal’s forestry to provide a sustained supply of forestry resources to forest-based industries.
(The writer is former government secretary)
Views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.
The existing 753 local bodies got elected in three phases in June 2017. As per the current federalized Constitution of Nepal, they have been vested with exclusive jurisdiction over 22 different areas of governance ranging from municipal police to health and education, preservation and development of local language, culture, fine arts, and concurrent jurisdiction in over 15 more such areas.
Local bodies today remain one of the most powerful local governance institutions equipped with constitutionally provided authority to improve almost all facets of the life of the local citizenry.
Dysfunction characterizing the local bodies remains a conundrum that, as will be explained below, directly results from the shoddy nature of Nepal’s current breed of politicians and their populist shenanigans.
However, paradoxical as it may sound, even after over a year and half of having come into existence, the local bodies continue to lean helplessly on the central government to depute necessary officials to render them functional. Such a sorry state of local bodies seriously questions their autonomy under the federal arrangement.
Dysfunction characterizing the local bodies remains a conundrum that, as will be explained below, directly results from the shoddy nature of Nepal’s current breed of politicians and their populist shenanigans.
To begin with, the restructuring of the local bodies has been delinked from the rich and long history we have in Nepal. For instance, the first nationwide network of local bodies, then called Panchayats-village, Nagar, district and zonal — were laid down as long back as 1962 under the then party-less Panchayat. Steady reforms continued on it based on administrative experiences such as the abolition of the Zonal Panchayats and widening of the electorate for the election of Village Panchayats to better represent the grassroots.
Unfortunately, the Panchas became obscenely corrupt and arrogant that they seemed to take corruption as their birthright due to the fact the unique political system that earned fame internationally depended on their sole support at all levels.
Since the country was getting nowhere, new legislation on decentralization came into effect in 1982. The legislation introduced the novel institution of user groups at the grassroots. These groups were exclusive organizations of the users of a given infrastructure or service, with full authority to plan, implement and continuously manage them.
The new policy required that all government grants were to be handed over directly to the user groups, thus depriving the Panchas of the authority to handle the money and the opportunity to skim some of it. It was premised that the user groups, in their collective enlightened self-interest, would prioritize the proper execution of the intended development projects without misappropriating the precious development grants.
However, since Nepalese society and its political culture remained staunchly feudal, the user group, too, were hijacked by the ubiquitous feudal forces at all levels of governance in the country.
The nationwide network of FUGs helped Nepal to recover its forest wealth that was destroyed over a period of 30 years beginning 1957, in a mere decade’s time.
Following the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990, there has been no effort to fend off the negative influence of the feudal forces on them, primarily because most leaders themselves like under the Panchayat system came from the ranks of the feudal elites in the country.
That said, however, when the Panchayat system was still around, two more user-owned institutions were introduced in Nepal that have gone on to make a major difference in the life and economy of the people even as they earned widespread plaudits for Nepal at the world stage too.
These two institutions have been the Forest User Groups (FUG) and mothers’ groups, both introduced in 1988, the former numbering more than 19,000 and the latter more than 52,000 all across the country at present.
The nationwide network of FUGs helped Nepal to recover its forest wealth that was destroyed over a period of 30 years beginning 1957, in a mere decade’s time.
Similarly, while the mothers’ groups and their female community health volunteers not only help Nepal in successfully promoting the access of women and children to basic health care in the communities, they also helped Nepal to emerge as the top performer in the attainment of the UN’s Millennium Development Goals in child survival and maternal mortality rate reduction in the world that concluded in 2015.
This long history of the evolution of local bodies in Nepal shows that when the institutions are user-owned at the grassroots, they are effective and deliver on the needs and aspirations of the people whereas those “elected” institutions at higher echelons have been historically corrupt whether they be Panchayat era district Panchayats or the VDC and municipalities of the post 1990 multiparty dispensation.
There is a sociological equation at work in the success of the grassroots user institutions. Since all the direct users of a certain service or asset, as in the case of the local forest or health services, are members of those organizations with formal authority to participate in their decision making, they are fully empowered to protect their stakes.
This has made the management of those user organizations highly transparent with all the rich and poor or high caste low caste members fully informed on the functioning of the organization. This has forced their leaders to remain accountable to the members. And it is this very user empowering equation that was conspicuously absent in the workings of the VDCs or the earlier village and district Panchayats.
Given such lessons of history, the recent structuring of the local bodies under the new federal system amounts to nothing less than the proverbial jumping from frying pan into the fire. While the erstwhile local bodies numbered around 4,000 in their heyday and were thus quite close to their communities, they remained corrupt in lack of empowered users.
The sad part of this story is that even the so-called ‘experts’ were complicit in this historic let down of the nation. By failing to learn from this rich history of local bodies in Nepal, they have clearly forfeited their qualification to be called ‘experts’.
But our new “federal” politicians who origin from among the ranks of the feudal elites in the village communities and are corrupt too, have reduced the number of local bodies to nearly one-fifth of what existed, thus making them five times more distant from the people and potentially aggravating the problems of lack of transparency and accountability.
However, even as these politicians are corrupt and irresponsible doing grievous wrong to the nation, they have further demonstrated their foolhardiness and mindlessness by belching out the misleading slogan that current model of federalism is about “Bringing Singha Durbar to the Communities.”
As the media reports have it, most of the heads of these new local bodies come from the ranks of the construction contractors who alone had the money to “buy” nomination tickets from various parties and spend stupendous sums of money to get elected.
The average cost of getting elected as Gaupalika (Village Municipality) chief was one 10 million rupees, and the cost for being elected as ward chairman was two million rupees, as per media reports.
The sad part of this story is that even the so-called ‘experts’ were complicit in this historic let down of the nation. By failing to learn from this rich history of local bodies in Nepal, they have clearly forfeited their qualification to be called ‘experts’.
This new structure is thus loaded with the potential for utter mismanagement and misappropriations of resources in their bid to recover their investment in getting elected as local bodies’ heads and members. The media is already replete with reports of misuse of authority and embezzlement of funds in various provinces.
At this point, we need to understand the reason behind the reluctance of civil servants to move to the deputed location. While most politicians go scot-free following massive corruption, those are the government officials who get caught and punished.
Although this is not the whole story in the reluctance of the government officials to be deputed to the local bodies, this certainly counts as the major factor at play in this regard. The local bodies will never deliver in their present form and therefore, must be restructured once again according to the lessons of our long experience in this country.
(The author is former government Secretary)
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.
Dr Govinda KC began his 16th Satyagraha (hunger strike) in Ilam from January 9, 2019, in a public place. On the 6th day, he was moved to the Ilam District Hospital after Dr Surendra Bhandari and Dr Abhishek Raj Singh advised him to be admitted to the hospital where he continued his strike till the 10th day.
Due to his deteriorating health condition, doctors at Ilam Hospital and a medical team from the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences recommended that Dr KC be immediately brought to Kathmandu. Dr. KC, however, remained adamant to continue his hunger strike in Ilam. Considering the exigency, a team comprising of former Chief Justice Sushila Karki, former Speaker of the House of Representatives Daman Nath Dhungana, former Vice-Chancellor of Tribhuvan University Kedar Bhakta Mathema, Dr Abhishek Raj Singh and Dr Surendra Bhandari visited Dr. KC and requested him to move to Kathmandu. When Dr KC showed his willingness, it was already 9 pm. Therefore, chances of moving him to Kathmandu were slim.
When the team reached Ilam at around 7:30 pm, the environment was tense and panicking. Dr KC’s health was critical. Therefore, a whole night wait could turn costly. Therefore, we contacted the concerned authorities in Kathmandu for the arrangement of a night vision helicopter. Former ministers Narayan Kaji Shrestha and Gagan Thapa supported the team to arrange the helicopter, which, however, could land only at Bhadrapur Airport. Another challenge before us was to bring Dr KC safely to Bhadrapur in an ambulance. The medical team from Dharan made the arrangements. Finally, Dr KC was brought to Bhadrapur amidst huge warmth and love of the Ilam folks.
The CDO of Jhapa handled the situation proficiently and made arrangement to lift Dr KC to Kathmandu safely. Dr KC was rushed to the Teaching Hospital from the Tribhuwan International Airport at around 3 am and was admitted to the ICU.
Reasons for the 16th Satyagraha
Dr KC has fought for years demanding reforms in the medical sector. Among several problems persistent in the medical sector, Dr KC basically raised the following issues:
First: Dr KC’s demand was to comply with the Mathema Committee Report that baring the previous affiliation, no university should be permitted to grant affiliation to more than five medical colleges. Agreeing to this demand during Dr KC’s 14th Satyagraha, the Sher Bahadur Deuba government had passed an ordinance, which was given continuity by the K P Oli-led government formed after the general election. However, the Oli government was reluctant to enact a law, i.e. the National Medical Education Act. The Oli-led government reached an agreement with Dr KC to enact a law in line with the ordinance during the latter’s 15th Satyagraha. However, the Oli-led government tabled the Bill in the Parliament by ignoring some of the key points of the ordinance prompting Dr KC to initiate the 16th Satyagraha.
Second: Dr KC’s second demand was to establish at least one medical college in each province to ensure health facilities to the people of the rural areas as well as to provide an opportunity for genius students to study medical science. The government, however, did not pay much attention to it. Instead, the government took an obsessive position in giving affiliation to private medical colleges. The government’s insistence in making medical education as a rent-seeking sector dismissed Dr KC’s demand for the access of the poor, needy and genius people in medical education. This stark difference between Dr KC and the government showed that the Oli government made a clear departure from the national interest by renouncing the pro-poor policy.
Third: Dr KC’s other demand was to improvise the medical services at the remote areas by deputing MBBS doctors. However, the government continued to depute junior level health professionals in those areas. Dr KC’s demand was also to provide MBBS education opportunities to junior health professionals. However, the government failed to act towards this end despite the fact that political leaders visit expensive medical facilities abroad even for minor diseases at taxpayers’ money.
Fourth: Dr KC wanted that the spirit of the Mathema Committee Report — the foundation and source of the National Medical Education Bill — be reflected in the preamble of the Bill itself. But the government failed to comply with this demand.
How was the bill passed?
The 16th Satyagraha of Dr. KC is a testimony to how adamant and blind-sided the Oli-led government is to the democratic process. The government tabled the National Medical Education Bill as a government bill to the Lower House (House of Representatives).
Even before the Bill could be discussed and voted in the parliament, Speaker Krishna Bahadur Mahara and other Members of the Parliament, against the fundamental parliamentary values and processes, had announced that the parliament would endorse the Bill. As per the standard practice, until a bill is discussed and voted, it cannot be said whether the Bill would be endorsed or not. The Speaker and the government-affiliated MPs blatantly undermined the autonomy of the parliament. Moreover, even though the parliamentary rules forbid discussing and approving any public bills on Friday, the Bill was tabled for discussion, and without any discussion, the Speaker declared the approval of the Bill on Friday, January 26, 2019. The bill was also passed by the Upper House amidst huge protest and opposition.
Dr KC has requested the President not to give assent to the bill that has defied the fundamental parliamentary processes.
Mode of Satyagraha
Fasting is one of the peaceful and silent means of Satyagraha. The voice of truth and the appeal of conscience embodied in the form of Satyagraha encompass many other peaceful means of protest and not only fasting or hunger strike. The 16th Satyagraha has clearly revealed that the unaccountable and power mongering government is not inclined to listen to the voice of truth and uphold the appeal of conscience. Obviously, no callous government can uphold the voice of truth and the appeal of conscience. Consequently, the leaders of civil society felt their responsibility to save the life of Dr KC, whose life is a testimony of a selfless yogi living for truth and serving the poor.
While ending the fast, Dr KC chose a cleaning staff of the Teaching Hospital to feed him juice. It proves Dr. KC’s deep humility, sensitivity to humanity, faith in championing the pro-poor cause, and an example of a selfless citizen. A Satyagrahi is always above any victory or defeat. The whole mission of a Satyagrahi is to articulate the truth firmly and without any fear. Dr KC has made it. Long live the Satyagraha!
The khabarhub.com (news portal) heads into 2019 with a strong sense of optimism as a credible source of information and updates. Designed to cater to those wanting real-time information, khabarhub.com, a multi-media platform, ensures journalism that stands apart, where we perform the duties that only a robust and free press can do.
Khabarhub, initially, which will be available in two languages – English and Nepali – will go beyond the press statement to give our esteemed readers thorough and balanced information about what is happening and why. We aspire to inspire and assure our readers of showcasing unique contents, features, and other compelling stories.
We hope our readers will find it as appealing as we think. Khabarhub plans to begin Hindi online as well in near future.
The idea behind publishing in three languages is to reach out to millions of readers, who have very few avenues to consume quality as well as thought-provoking news content.
We assure our readers that khabarhub takes this charge seriously to take advantage of today’s challenging media landscape through incremental news stories that are different from what is practiced in Nepal. We try to be punchier, tighter and detailed than the existing Nepali news portals.
The objective is also to create a progressive news platform to break, analyze, comment, and elaborate news that our readers expect from us in a more visual and intuitive way. We also serve readers with features and columns with urgency to quench their thirst being accountable at the same time.
We are here to change the news landscape, and help readers enjoy and explore the deep layers of contents we produce because we believe that the country’s journalism should match the expectation of the readers – young, intellectuals and people from different walks of life. Khabarhub assures of innovative ways of story-telling to become an inseparable platform for the readers.
We are steadfast with our values and creative in realizing our objectives. Most importantly, khabarhub is committed to reporting the news accurately, fairly and vigorously. We are not aligned with any political parties. We are supporters of the people and the voiceless. This is just the beginning of the tireless journey ahead. We remain grateful to your continued support, and appreciate valued readers, for recognizing us and for welcoming us into your lives. Khabarhub is here to change the news landscape.
The probe by the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) sub-committee into the wide-body aircraft purchase of Nepal Airlines has once again sparked the issue of corruption in Nepalese politics and development arena.
Economic development is not a function of a single variable. Yet, irrespective of political systems, corruption has always been the major detrimental factor in the country’s development. Despite several efforts made by the government, civil societies, and development partners, corruption level in the country is incessantly on a rise. It is evident from the fact that Nepal slid down to the 122nd position in 2017 from 116th position in 2013 in the perceived level of corruption ranking published by the Transparency International.
A handful of anti-corruption activists present two remedies in curbing corruption: increasing the salary so that an employee (public or private) has no compulsion to resort to corruption; and enforcing stringent legal measures it.
When we talk about corruption in Nepal, we only express our anxiety over it but do not discuss about its causes and remedial measures. A handful of anti-corruption activists present two remedies in curbing corruption: increasing the salary so that an employee (public or private) has no compulsion to resort to corruption; and enforcing stringent legal measures it. However, experiences from around the world show that a higher salary or strong rules and regulations are not sufficient factors for curbing corruption. The case from Ghana is worth mentioning here. The salary of Ghanaian police doubled in July 1, 2010. However, this only led to more extortion from truck drivers by the police.
A handful of anti-corruption activists present two remedies in curbing corruption: increasing the salary so that an employee (public or private) has no compulsion to resort to corruption; and enforcing stringent legal measures it.
Corruption in Nepal has become a social culture. Although people in general agree that corruption is ruining the country, corrupt people are never despised. Society praises lavish life of others irrespective of their income source. Those indulged in pomp of property become celebrity figure in the society such that people forget to question the source of their income.
This type of social culture has put the Nepalese society in the state of, prisoner’s dilemma, a popular term in economics. In prisoner’s dilemma situation, rational individuals do not cooperate with each other even if it is in their best interest. On the issue of corruption too, everyone is aware that “no corruption” will lead the country towards prosperity. However, they have an impression that their individual effort towards curbing corruption is meaningless. People think that rather being an idealist one should seize the opportunity of money making through every means.
Experience says that strong rules and regulation and creating anti-corruption institutions are not enough. Experience of Nordic countries show that honesty and social cohesion are fundamental in controlling corruption.
A million-dollar question is how to control corruption in Nepal in the given scenario. Experience says that strong rules and regulation and creating anti-corruption institutions are not enough. Experience of Nordic countries show that honesty and social cohesion are fundamental in controlling corruption. Unfortunately, we cannot expect high level of honesty and social cohesion in the current Nepalese society.
Another option is the extensive use of information and communication technology (ICT). Using information and communication technology for controlling corruption follows the “Panoptic Vision” paradigm. According to this paradigm, management techniques of rules and enforcement are keys to controlling corruption. ICT allows creating a Panopticon of an economy that can be observed and controlled by the concerned authority being invisible. It is not possible to explain all the details of how ICT works in this short write up, but the following hypothetical example gives an idea.
A million-dollar question is how to control corruption in Nepal in the given scenario. Experience says that strong rules and regulation and creating anti-corruption institutions are not enough. Experience of Nordic countries show that honesty and social cohesion are fundamental in controlling corruption. Unfortunately, we cannot expect high level of honesty and social cohesion in the current Nepalese society.
The ‘massive irregularity’ involved in bus tickets during the Dashain festival in Nepal has been an issue of concern every year. Everyone wants to visit their home during this festival. High demand for and a limited supply of bus gives rise to black market of tickets. If the selling of bus tickets through an online system is made mandatory, the problem can be solved easily.
Since several attempts to curb corruption have failed, the country now needs to rely on ICT. This not only helps to reduce corruption and enhance transparency but also increases efficiency and productivity. Moreover, it is economical. Several implementation authorities complain that ICT is very costly for a country like Nepal. But the benefit of it is by far larger than the cost. Blaming for the cost factor alone is simply an unwillingness to reduce and control corruption.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Khabarhub’s editorial stance.