Overcoming the Trust deficit

Nepal at present is in the dire need of capable political leaders that can break-through the current situation of uncertain political situation, towards laying strong foundation for progressive and peaceful new Nepal. However at present there is a serious leadership crisis because of which the country has not been able to put strategic focus on things of priority. The bitter fact is that acute incapability of contemporary political leaders has led our nation into doldrums. Time and again some beacon of hope in form of youth leaders arises in Nepalese political sector however even they not being able to make remarkable contribution to country, whether constrained by the corrupt system or any other reason.

The general public has huge distrust and confidence crisis towards the political parties and its leaders. The main reason being their inability to deliver the promises to the people. Be it political parties, government, or their leaders, the promises for positive changes and development comes strongly during election times which later turns into damn lies. The leaders become helpless citing a reason or other; foreign interference, coalition pressure, opposition parties, etc. For example Confession of Ex-PM Sushil Koirala that he couldn’t delivers as expected and that his team has become more corrupt is one of its kinds. It is astounding for the top executive heads of the country to mark such helpless comments without making deliberate effort to crack-down the corrupt and clumsy system of the country.

It is not only the political parties and their leaders that confronts trust deficit but also the government. Consecutive failure to deliver according to election manifestos is a one of the reason for the same. Politics in Nepal has mostly centered on government formation and breaking down. There is always presence of opposition party that makes enough exercises to out-throw the ruling parties from power and this happens ad infinitum. And ruling party exerting adequate effort to stay in power. As such more energy and resources are utilized for government changes and its retention than delivering on the strategic agendas of the country.

It is also evident that there is large chunk of intellectual population that always keep advising what politicians are supposed to do, but are very hesitant to dirt their hand to clean the political system by involving themselves. It should be admitted that the first step towards restoring trust on political system would be the entry of capable and visionary intellectuals with clean background into it. Also the need to elect capable and honest leaders is of paramount importance. Also, until and unless the leaders that we choose don’t live up to our aspiration, trust will not establish and society will not progress. Such elected people should make sure that government so formed initiate measures to be more open and approachable. As citizens we should also restore our confidence on politicians and ensure our active engagement in government affairs. Active engagement of citizens would ensure transparency, accountability and trustworthiness on the government and its leaders.

Capitalizing the Youth Energy

Nepal is a young country with about 70% (i.e. 15.91 million) of the total population below the age of 35 years. Approximately 38.8% of total population is marked by the age between 16-40 years. It is for that reason our country Nepal stands as one with lowest median age of 22 years. In spite of its youthful population, Nepal has not been able to mark rapid economic development in absence of stable political situation and policies to govern the youth employability issues.

It is estimated that every year 500,000 jobs needs to be created to provide full employment to the youth force that enter the labor market. However it is no surprise that only a fraction of those youths get job in local market while most of them are bound to leave country for employment opportunities. Figures estimate that approximately 350,000 to 400,000 youths leave the country each year as a migrant worker. It is a matter of fact that around 1500 youths leave country each day in search of better future abroad, most of them being as migrant worker.  Rests are either educated youths who land to developed countries in search of better future or youths who stay in country; unemployed and mostly uneducated.

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While the population of youth is very large in Nepal, the status of youth in workforce is somehow poor. Most of the youths who leave country as migrant worker are unskilled. This not only leads to ill-treatment of the workers abroad, but also results to low per capita remittance flow to the country.  In spite of this, remittance from abroad contributes more than 25% of GDP, which is nearly double the country’s revenue from export of goods and services. However the pity being that remittance has not been channelized towards investments in wealth creating projects. Beside migrant workers, the migrating trend of educated youths is in the rise. This sometimes leads to dearth of qualified workers in national projects of long term strategic importance. The disappointment also being that the sectors which have maximum involvement of youths are also not effectively managed. For example, agriculture sector which employs about 74% of total labor force has contribution to GDP of less than 35%.  As such the nation has not been able to capitalize most out of its youthful population.

 With around 70% of total workforce integrating into international labor market every year; it is evident that this trend will increase even further.  The median age of Nepal is 22 years and with population growth rate of 2%, it will decline further. While proportion of labor force is decreasing significantly in western world, that of Nepal is increasing. As such Nepal has comparative advantage in the global context, with regard to the labor force. As a least developed country (LDC) aiming to graduate from LDC by 2022, Nepal is still to use its resources for rapid development, including the human resources. Success to develop quality manpower will not only contribute more for national building but also increase remittance from abroad.

As such, the need of time is to address the youth employability issues via proper policy. A recent improvement in this direction has been the introduction of Employment Policy 2015. The policy aims to provide training to youths in sector of strategic importance like agriculture, hydro-power, tourism, manufacturing etc. It also aims to promote entrepreneurship spirit by providing seed money to aspiring youths while also linking them to domestic markets. Thus the policy does not only envisage creating employment opportunities in local market but also aims to improve the status of migrant workers by providing them necessary training. However, government should consider a proper implementation of this policy unlike the erstwhile Youth self-Employment program of providing Rs.200,000 per youths as seed money where the fund was found to be misused by most of the party aides. Failure to do so would have serious ramifications in long term where Nepal might enter into phase of economic colonization as suppliers of clerks to the whole world. 

Indo-Nepal relationship in need of an overhaul

                 

Nepal and India shares a special relationship since time immemorial. The dynamics of Indo-Nepal relationship cannot be ascertained without comprehending multi factors upon which the relationship of both the countries is based on. As neighbors, Nepal and India are not only linked by land mass but also have many common grounds of mutual cooperation and understandings. Two countries are linked culturally, religiously, economically, and also politically.  In spite of this special bonding between the two countries, many a times bilateral disputes arise which have strained the climate of trust and boding. Such conditions have been prevalent now in Nepal after the promulgation of constitution, in which some of the suggestions of the Indian establishment were ignored by the Nepalese political parties. These difficult conditions are not new, but result of Indian interfering behavior of India, based on the faulty treaties between Nepal and India, which needs a timely review and renewal to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.

Nepal foreign policy is largely based on two doctrine of foreign policy of its founder King Prithvi Narayan Shan which states: “Nepal is a sandwich between India and China”, and “Do not involve in offense, but any warfare should be based on defensive basis only.” Thus these two principles can be taken as the pillars of foreign policy of Nepal.

Though formal diplomatic relationship was established only on 13^th June, 1947, Indo-Nepal relationship has been marked by extensive cooperation and mutual understanding, crossing the limits of formality. The relationship between the two countries is one of its kind and very much inter-related and inter-dependent. Many a times, foreign affairs experts opine that the policy of Nepal with India is in fact the foreign policy of Nepal.

One of an important dynamics of Indo-Nepal relations is the latter’s economic dependence on India. Nepal gets 2/3 of its exports from Indian, including necessities like petroleum products for which it totally depends on India. Its current trade deficit with India has crossed USD 3.80 billion, and is ever increasing. India also has been contributing on the political developments in Nepal, which most of the time has been debatable, leading backlash in both the countries. Pioneer leaders of Nepalese political parties were involved in the Indian Independence movement and had a good relationship with the leaders like MK Gandhi, Nehru, Lohia, etc. After the Indian independence, it assisted the political transition in Nepal with the advent of constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy by ousting the 104 years Rana oligarchy. Since then India has been having a say in political developments in Nepal and has been using it as a mechanism to maintain its big brotherhood attitude in Nepal.

While, as a buffer state between India and China, Nepal has been successful to maintain an arm’s length distance between its immediate neighbors. Nepal is committed to avoid the use of its land against security concerns of India (terrorism, money laundering etc.) and as also vividly supports one-China policy.  Nepalese delegates keep on reiterating these policies whenever they are engaged in mutual discourse with the delegation from its immediate neighbors. As such it can be said that Nepal has been able to address the security concern of its neighboring countries.

Among the earliest treaty between India and Nepal is Peace and Friendship treaty-1950 which envisions a common custom regime, free employment, and free movement across border, etc. While the basic structure of governance in India remains the same, it has undergone massive change in Nepal since the Peace and Friendship treaty of 1950 was signed. Thus time and again the need to amend 65 years old treaty is felt.

Over the years there have been quite a few instances of ups and downs in the Indo-Nepal relationship. 1990 blockade, Mahakhali treaty, Pancheswar Treaty, Bhutanese refugee issue, border disputes in Susta and Lipulek , and recent unofficial blockade of India after the promulgation of the constitution in Nepal, etc are few to name. These issues led to a massive outpour of anti-Indian sentiments in Nepal, which had led the relationship between the countries to a record low

The sooner the better, leaders from both the countries should realize that foreign relation based on the principle of Panchasheel, UN charter, international norms of Peace and welfare etc.  can help. As per the need of the time, India and Nepal should overhaul the diplomatic relationship and also the relevant treaties which lay foundation to such relationship. This can lead towards foundation of trust in upcoming diplomatic courses between the countries. Similarly India should stop meddling into political happenings in Nepal which while focusing on the miniature affairs, may end up jeopardizing its strategic concerns in Nepal. In the same way, Nepalese political leaders should display maturity in dealing with its giant neighbor. Nepalese government should consolidate the foreign policy of the country and empower foreign ministry to execute its diplomatic affairs.

In the recent context India should have been gracious in welcoming Nepal’s new constitution while registering its reservations/suggestions. Thus, India need to immediately correct the course and remove the blockade in Nepal and create a congenial environment for overhauling the overall diplomatic relations between the two countries.