At a time when so-called development experts and some members of the intelligentsia are blaming the country’s democratic polity and open society of failing to address the causes of Nepal’s underdevelopment, a leading economist and member of National Planning Commission (NPC), Dr. Yubaraj Khatiwada, has said democracy is the foundation for empowerment.

Talking to the early morning talk show of the Image F. M. 97.9 MHz, a Kathmandu-based private radio station, Dr. Khatiwada said to talk about the issues like rights of women, children, dalit and janajatis had become possible only after the restoration of multi-party democracy in 1990.

He, however, said there was the need to strengthening the democratic process in the country. “There is a need to bring about reforms within the political parties and local bodies,” he said.

He insisted that the positions that need to be appointed as per the constitution and the bureaucracy should be inclusive.

Dr. Khatiwada, who was an advisor to the Nepal Human Development Report 2004 that was launched in the capital Wednesday, said the report includes mapping of all 75 districts in the country in terms of human empowerment. “This index will work as a guideline to channelise governmental and non-governmental resources in the districts and regions where human empowerment is quite low,” he said.

Dr. Khatiwada admitted that the on-going conflict had had adverse impact on the implement of development programmes all over the country. “Local bodies are without elected representatives and at the village level, most of the government employees are absent. In such a situation, we are trying to implement development programmes through alternative means such as by mobilising consumer groups and non-governmental organisations,” he said.

“The overall situation for launching development programmes in not comfortable,” he added.

Launching the Nepal HDR 2004, prepared by an independent group of experts in cooperation with the UNDP, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said the government would seriously examine the recommendations made by the report and would follow accordingly to ensure human empowerment for sustainable development.

The Prime Minister further outlined that an inclusive democracy had no alternative to fill the gap between the haves and have-nots that has fuelled the Maoist conflict.

“The value of democratic political system to focus on empowerment approach is very important for human development process,” the premier said.

Though there is neither an elected parliament nor elected local bodies and the government is not accountable to any elected legislature, the 184-page Nepal HDR 2004 has recommended for deepening democracy in the country.