NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 1 NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 2 NEW

SPOTLIGHTFORTNIGHTLY Notes From The Editor

Vol.: 15, No.-02, August- 06, 2021 (Shrawan. 22.2078) Price: NRs. 100

Editor and Publisher Prolonged political instability and turmoil have Keshab Poudel been a permanent phenomenon for ’s

Contributor seven decades of modern political history. Sabine Pretsch Whether the governments had enjoyed a two thirds majority or a thumping majority, they have Design/Layout rarely survived over their full tenure. Following Sahil Mokthan, 9863022025 the fall of the government led by CPN-UML, which had nearly two thirds majority, a coalition Marketing Manager government has been formed. However, the Madan Raj Poudel newly constituted coalition government led by Tel: 9841320517 prime minister , which has Nabin Kumar Maharjan already secured majority in the revived House Tel: 9841291404 of Representative, is yet to sail smoothly across the political waves. It took almost a month for Editorial Office it to expand the cabinet. The delay in expansion , Nepal of the cabinet indicates that there seem to be Tel: 977-1-4530250 some unease among the key stakeholders of E-mail the government. Despite securing a two thirds’ [email protected] endorsement in the House of Representatives, P.O.Box: 7256 Website the government’s inability to expand the cabinet www.spotlightnepal.com in time has already hinted at a coming political trouble. As per Nepal’s own peculiar political Kathmandu DAO Regd. No. character, such as unstable governments and 148/11/063/64 frequent changes in the constitution, there is Central Region Postal Regd. no sign of this chain breaking any time soon. No. 36/067/068 The split of Janta Samajbadi Party and crisis in CPN-UML show that Nepal’s political course US Library of Congress Catalogue is not going easy. We have decided to look at No. 91-905060, ISSN : 2091-0711 (Print), ISSN: 2091-0754 (Online) the coming political crisis as our cover story for this week. Printing Megha Offset Printing Press P. Ltd., Dhapasi, Kathmandu Tel. : 977-1-4363624

Keshab Poudel Editor

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 1 CONTENT

NEWSNOTES 3

BUSINESS BRIEF 6

OPINION Dipak Gyawali 8

VIEWPOINT COVERSTORY: POLITICS : Unstable All The Time 10 Dwarika Nath Dhungel, Santa Bahadur Pun And Shyam Prasad Adhikari 16

GLOBAL VIEW Abijit Sharma 20

WOMEN AND PEACE SECURITY (WPS) The Way Forward 21

FORUM Bishnu Adhikari, Parshuram Upadhyaya, Amol Acharya, and Abhas Ghimire 22

NC GENERRAL CONVENTION Ideology Vs Cult 24

ARTICLE Ashika Sharma 26 ADB : ADB approves $165m loan for COVID-19 19 ARTICLE Rabindra P. Osti 27

FORUM Purna B. Nepali, PhD. 30

NEPAL- Partnership Summit 2021 32

ARTICLE Maryam Sryoka 34

ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION Tourism Attraction 35

ARTICLE Hemang Dixit 36

TAMAKOSI V HYDROPOWER PROJECT : Managing Finance 29

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 2 NEWSNOTES President Appoints Lt General Sharma As Acting CoAS the unique partnerships of Nepal and India in all sectors and President Bidya strengthen the deep-rooted people-to-people ties Devi Bhandari has ap- Meanwhile, PM Deuba in a tweet extended his thanks to proved the government's his Indian counterpart for the congratulations and best wishes. recommendation to ap- Deuba also expressed willingness to work in close relations point Lt Gen Prabhu with his Indian counterpart to strengthen the bilateral relations Ram Sharma as acting between Nepal and India. Chief of Nepali Army. President Deuba received the vote of With this deci- trust in the lower House on Sunday evening. sion, Sharma's appoint- ment as the next chief Ambassador Kikuta Shares Views With Prime Minister Deuba of the army has been Ambassador of Japan to officially sealed. Nepal KIKUTA Yutaka has General Sharma paid a courtesy call on Prime will assume office as the acting Chief from August 9 as outgo- Minister Sher Bhadur Deuba at ing Chief of Army Staff General Purna Chandra Thapa will the Official Residence of Prime stay on leave before retirement on August 8. Minister in Baluwatar. Thapa will retire on September 8 following which Ambassador Kikuta con- Sharma will be promoted to the post and overtake responsi- gratulated Prime Minister Deuba bilities officially. in person for his appointment Earlier, a cabinet meeting held on July 27 had made and the successful vote of confi- the decision to recommend Sharma's name as Acting Chief dence at the Parliament. Ambas- of the national army as the incumbent army chief to the office sador handed the congratulatory of the president. letter from SUGA Yoshihide, Prime Minister of Japan, to Prime Minister Deuba on this occasion. Chinese Premier Li Congratulates Prime Minister Deuba Prime Minister Deuba expressed the gratitude to Prime Chinese Pre- Minister Suga for his congratulations. Ambassador Kikuta and mier Li Keqiang Prime Minister Deuba shared the views on bilateral relations has extended a con- between the two countries, as the year 2022 commemorates gratulatory message the 120th anniversary of student-exchanges, moreover, the to Prime Minister post-COVID social and economic development of Nepal. Sher Bahadur Deu- Ambassador Kikuta mentioned that Japan has been ba upon his election working with Nepal as a friendly development partner to to Prime Minister. improve the daily lives of Nepali people, which will be In the mes- also beneficial for the public health of the country in this sage, the Chinese premier expressed his willingness to work COVID-19 situation. The recent donation of about 1.6 million together with Prime Minister Deuba and take the strategic AstraZeneca vaccines for Nepal by the COVAX facility is a partnership between the two countries to a new height, ac- reflection of the long-time friendship of Nepal toward Japan, cording to Hou Yanqi, ambassador of the People’s Republic followed by the medical equipment assistance for the Nepali of to Nepal. hospitals to fight against the pandemic together. Ambassador Kikuta highlighted the special intimacy Indian PM Modi Congratulates Nepal’s Newly-Appointed between Japan and Nepal. Based on the long-term relation- PM Deuba ship, he hoped to continue the great partnership for more years Indian Prime Minister has extended to come by resuming the people-to-people exchange of two congratulations and best wishes to Sher Bahadur Deuba on countries once the COVID-19 situation will ease. being appointed the . The Indian PM took to the social media to extend best Nepal Army Implements Command Headquarters Concept wishes to his Nepali counterpart for successful tenure im- The Nepali Army (NA) has brought into implementa- mediately after PM Deuba gained vote of confidence in the tion its newly designed and approved command organizational reinstated House of Representatives. structure concept. Modi in his With the new struc- congratulatory ture coming into imple- message stated mentation, eight previous that he was looking Divisions Headquarters forward to collabo- -- one in the Kathmandu rating with Prime Valley and seven in the Minister Deuba to provinces -- have been further consolidate scrapped starting on the

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 3 NEWSNOTES beginning of new fiscal year of 2021/22. Indian Ambassador Kwatra Pays Courtesy Call On PM From now onwards, three central commands based on Deuba Koshi, Gandaki and Karnali River basins and one for the Kath- Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba received Ambas- mandu Valley will be implemented, according to Brigadier sador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra at his Residence General and spokesperson for the Nepali Army Headquarters in Budhanilakantha. Shantosh Ballave Poudyal. According to a tweet of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The army has called it a three-pronged central com- Prime Minister thanked mand. The army has also made it clear that the new structure the Ambassador for the will not increase the existing budget and posts. congratulations and best With the new structure, NA now has Eastern Command wishes and recalled the (East of Koshi), Central Command (the area between Koshi age-old friendly rela- and Gandaki), Valley Command (Kathmandu Valley) and tions between the two Western Command (Karnali and Far West). countries. Even though the Cabinet approved the implementation “Honoured to call of the new structure in March, it is taking effect only from on; extended congratula- now due to budget, said Poudyal. tions and best wishes on becoming PM of Nepal. Looking forward to working with his Lalitpur Shrine Reconstruction Starts With “Chhema Puja” team to deepen the multifaceted India-Nepal partnership and “Chhema Puja” was performed at Hiranyavarna Ma- people-to-people ties for common progress and prosperity,” havihar and Digi Chhen, tweets Ambassador Kwatra. Lalitpur by the Local community as ritual of German Ambassador Shafer Pays Farewell Call On For- “asking forgiveness” eign Secretary Paudyal before the start of res- Roland Schäfer, Ambassador of the Federal Republic Of toration work. The puja Germany to Nepal, paid a farewell visit to Foreign Secretary was attended by officials Bharat Raj Paudyal at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. from Embassy of India In his tweet he said, in Kathmandu, Central “Ambassador Schäfer pay- Level Project Imple- ing a farewell visit to For- mentation Unit, Govt eign Secretary Bharat Raj of Nepal & INTACH Paudyal with whom he Kathmandu. The mahavihar is being reconstructed at a cost had a very close working of NRs. 181 million. relationship over the last 4 Hiranyavarna Mahavihar, popularly known also as the yrs of his tenure.” Golden temple, is situated in the monument zone of Patan “Our team in the Darbar square, a UNESCO World Heritage site in Lalitpur. Ministry enjoyed working It is one of the most important Buddhist temple monasteries with you and we sincerely of Patan. appreciate your contribu- It is one of the 28 cultural heritage projects being un- tions towards cementing Nepal-Germany partnership and dertaken under GoI grant assistance of USD 50 million for cooperation. Wish you all success and happiness in your future Post-Earthquake Reconstruction & Rehabilitation of cultural pursuits,” tweets Ministry of Foreign Affairs. heritage sites in Nepal. Seven cultural heritage projects are He came to Nepal in October, 2017. being reconstructed in Lalitpur district of which work on five projects are ongoing. U.S. Ambassador Randy Berry Pays Courtesy Call On PM Deuba Israeli Ambassador Pays Courtesy Call On PM Deuba U.S. Ambassador to Nepal Ambassador Randy Berry Ambassador of the State of Israel to Nepal Hanan Goder paid a courtesy call on newly appointed Prime Minister Sher has paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Bahadur Deuba at his residence in Budhanilkantha, Deuba at the latter’s office. “Meeting with @USAmbNepal at my residence According to the today as I look forward Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to advancing Nepal-U.S. during the meeting, mat- friendship and partnership ters relating to Nepal-Israel during my new tenure, relations & solidarity in the and beyond,” tweets PM context of COVID-19 were Deuba.. discussed. After the meeting, ambassador Berry also tweeted, “I appreciated the

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 4 NEWSNOTES opportunity to congratulate PM Sher Bahadur Deuba in person doses of vaccines to the Nepal Army as grant and medical supplies today. We reaffirmed the Biden Administration’s commitment including BIPAP machines, antigen kits, PPE, Masks, Ambulances to continue building on our nearly 75 yrs of friendship!” and ICU beds. India and Nepal have a robust cooperation in the health Nepal’s National Anthem Translated Into Hebrew sector, that includes supply of ambulances, regular training& ca- Ambassador Of Israel to Nepal Hanan Goder-Gold- pacity building programs in the health sector and development of berger read and handed over the translated national anthem in health infrastructure including major hospitals, trauma & maternity Hebrew to its writer Byakul Maila during a program organized centres, naturopathy centres, eye care centres etc. at the Israeli Ambassador’s Residence in Baluwatar. Nepal’s national anthem ‘Sayau thunga fulka hami..’ China To Provide Additional 1.6M Doses Of COVID-19 has been translated into the Hebrew language by the Israeli Vaccines ambassador Hanan Goder. Chinese Ambassador Hou Yanqi conveyed to Prime Minis- Receiving the translated version of the national anthem ter Sher Bahadur Deuba about the recent decision of the Govern- writer Maila expressed happiness over the work of Ambas- ment of the People’s Republic of China to provide Nepal with 1.6 sador Hanan Goder. million doses of COVID-19 vaccines as additional grant assistance. Former Permanent Rep- Ambassador Hou Yanqi conveyed the message while paying resentative of Nepal to the a courtesy call on Prime Minister Deuba at the Prime Minister’s United Nations Professor Dr Residence, Baluwatar. During the call, various matters pertaining Jaya Raj Acharya said that if to Nepal-China relations were discussed. the national anthem is trans- On the occasion, the Ambassador assured that China will lated into other languages the continue its support to Nepal in its fight against COVID-19 pan- whole world will have a chance demic including through providing COVID vaccines. to understand Nepal’s national “Meeting with @PRCAmbNepal at Baluwatar today. I anthem better. look forward to building a stronger relationship with China,” PM The Hebrew language is Deuba posted in a tweet. written from left to right. He- According to a press release issued by theMinistry of brew is the official national language of Israel. This ancient Foreign Affairs , Prime Minister thanked the Chinese Govern- language is spoken by around 10 million people as their ment for the vaccine support and expressed hope that China will mother tongue worldwide. The Hebrew language belongs to enhance its support to Nepal the Afro-Asian language group. for both COVID-19 response and recovery. India Hands Over 150 ICU Beds To Nepal As Part Of Nepal Army Imple- COVID-19 Cooperation ments Command Headquarters Ambassador of India to Nepal Vinay Mohan Kwatra handed Concept over 150 ICU Beds to Minister for Law, Justice & Parliamentary The Nepali Army (NA) Affairs Gyanendra Bahadur Karki at a ceremony organized at the has brought into implementa- Ministry of Health & Population on 18 July 2021. tion its newly designed and This is part of India’s approved command organiza- commitment to COVID 19 tional structure concept. cooperation with Nepal. With the new structure coming into implementation, eight At the handing over previous Divisions Headquarters -- one in the Kathmandu Valley ceremony, Indian Ambassador and seven in the provinces -- have been scrapped starting on the reiterated India’s commitment beginning of new fiscal year of 2021/22. to assist Nepal in comprehen- From now onwards, three central commands based on Ko- sively managing the pandemic, shi, Gandaki and Karnali River basins and one for the Kathmandu including through cooperation Valley will be implemented, according to Brigadier General and on the critical health infrastruc- spokesperson for the Nepali Army Headquarters Shantosh Bal- ture of the country. lave Poudyal. Minister Karki appreciated the gesture from Government The army has called it a three-pronged central command. of India and added that it is an important milestone in our fight The army has also made it clear that the new structure will not against Covid-19 and it shows the incredible goodwill enjoyed by increase the existing budget and posts. both the countries. With the new structure, NA now has Eastern Command Since the start of the pandemic, India has provided around (East of Koshi), Central Command (the area between Koshi and US $ 6.5 million worth of grant assistance to Nepal, through sup- Gandaki), Valley Command (Kathmandu Valley) and Western ply of essential medicines, RT-PCR tests, ventilators, and essential Command (Karnali and Far West). medicines etc. Nepal was one of the first countries to receive 1 Even though the Cabinet approved the implementation of million doses of Covishield vaccines from India in January 2021 the new structure in March, it is taking effect only from now due as grant. Besides this, the Indian Army has also supplied 1 lakh to budget, said Poudyal.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 5 BUSINESS BRIEF Madhu Kumar Marasini Appointed As Finance the newly elected committee of CNI to play an effective Secretary role in policy interventions at the government level with Madhu Kumar Mar- ample preparations. asini has been appointed as the new Secretary of HBL Customers Receive 15% Discounts On Daraz the Ministry of Finance. Himalayan Bank Limited and Online e-commerce The Friday meeting site Daraz have entered into an agreement to provide dis- of Council of Ministers counts to the customers of decided to transfer finance Himalayan Bank Limited. secretary Sishir Kumar On a “Bank Day” offer of Dhungana to the Office Daraz, customers of HBL of the Prime Minister and will receive the discounts Council of Ministers, and every Thursday while they appointing Marasini. purchase goods. Earlier, Marasini Customers of HBL served as the Financial will receive discount of 15% or Maximum Rs. 500 on Comptoller General for Thursdays when they purchase any goods and prepay the through their Credit or Prepaid Card. (GoN). The bank has been promoting its digital banking plat- In over two decades of his service, he has served as form and initiated the discount offer to keep its customers a Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce safe from the COVID 19 Pandemic. HBL customers can and Supplies including Ministry of Finance, Ministry of enjoy dual benefit of discount while purchasing through Foreign Affairs, National Planning Commission, World Daraz and safe home delivery facility. Bank headquarters in Washington DC, among others. Customers can apply for Credit or Prepaid Card He was appointed Nepal's Consul General in New through the nearest branch of the bank. York, USA in 2017. However, the then government led by Presently, HBL has 71 branches, more than 5000 POS KP Sharma Oli had permanently rolled back position in terminals, more than 600 e-commerce merchants and 142 2018, recalling Marasini. ATMs spread over the country. Marasini earned his bachelors degree in Interna- tional law and legal studies and Masters degree in public Addresses False Rumors On Airfare administration, both, from Trivubhan University, and later Himalaya Airlines has refuted rumors and allegations from Harvard Kennedy School ( executive education), in news reports about its airfare as baseless, misconstrued Australian National University, Carle Duisburg College, and published without proper facts and verification. Germany, respectively. According to the Airlines, the Government of Nepal and Saudi Arabia had published mandatory regulatory CNI Elects Seven Vice Presidents guidelines which defined unavoidable fare inclusive of The Confederation of Nepalese Industries (CNI) has stay-in quarantine facilities and related COVID-19 health elected seven vice presidents. facilities. The umbrella organization of the private sector “In compliance with the guidelines, our airline elected Nirvana Chaudhary, Krishna Prasad Adhikari, launched a bundled fare with all the essential facilities Rajesh Kumar Agrawal, Birendra Raj Pandey, Raj Bahadur to operate flights in this Shah, Hem Raj Dhakal and Rohit Gupta to the position. sector. The 18th Annual “Our bundled fare General Meeting of the includes: airline base CNI held on July 21 has fare, all regulatory taxes, already elected Vishnu airport to hotel transport Kumar Agrawal, the charges, 7 nights hotel then senior vice presi- room charges, (breakfast, dent of the CNI, to lead lunch, dinner included) and 2 PCR tests on arrival at Dam- the organization for the mam,” it said. next two years. Himalaya Airlines, a Nepal-China joint venture air- Speaking at a line, has been operating two weekly flights to Dammam, program, President Saudi Arabia. Prior to lockdown 2.0, Himalaya Airlines had Emeritus of the CNI been offering 10 direct flights to Dammam in Saudi Arabia urged since September 01, 2017.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 6 BUSINESS BRIEF

With the recent resumption of the flights, the flow Management Division under the Ministry of Health and of passengers flying to Damman, Saudi Arabia surged for Population (MoHP), Dr Bhim Singh Tinkari. which the airlines increased the flights to four weekly flights This support from UNFPA to the Government of effective from July 11, 2021. Nepal was made possible under the existing South-South With regards to the current situation, there have been and Triangular Cooperation Project agreement between misleading news reports and allegations across the digital the Government of Nepal, the Government of China, and news platforms, falsely accusing the airlines with airfare UNFPA. cartelization claiming the airline is charging high air fares As Nepal is battling the second wave of COVID-19, for Kathmandu to Dammam flights and the stay-in quar- the country experienced a critical shortage of oxygen. The antine facilities which was mandated by Saudi Arabia as pandemic has put enormous pressure on health facilities well as Nepal government. across the country. “We require oxygen supplies to respond to the current NIBL Receives Euromoney Award For Excellence 2021 emergency as well as to prepare for a possible third wave. Nepal Investment Bank Ltd (NIBL) has received the This support from the Government of China and UNFPA coveted “Euromoney Award for Excellence 2021”. This will help increase access to health facilities with function- is NIBL’s second time receiving the prestigious banking ing oxygen supplies,” said Dr Tinkari. “We appreciate our industry award. Euromoney’s Awards for Excellence are partnership with international development partners in our the awards that matter to the banks and bankers who matter. collective COVID-19 response efforts.” The awards were established in 1992 and were the The pandemic has taken a heavy toll on vulnerable first of their kind in the global banking industry. This year populations including women of reproductive age who are Euromoney received a facing greater barriers in accessing maternal health and record number of sub- family planning services, resulting in an increased number missions from banks of home deliveries. globally in the regional “While we are providing the critical support to the and country awards cat- COVID-19 response efforts, we must ensure continuity of egory that covers more reproductive health services including consistent supply of than 50 regional awards contraceptives and essential reproductive health commodi- and best bank awards in ties to mitigate the impact of the unprecedented pandemic 100 countries. NIBL is on women and girls,” said UNFPA Representative to Nepal deservedly proud and Lubna Baqi. vows to continue in providing exemplary banking services to its ever-growing clientele. NIBL has 86 branches, 131 ATMs, 20 extension counters, 10 revenue collection counters and 58 branchless banking counters spread across the country. With the capital base of NPR 30 Billion, the Bank has collected deposits of NPR 178 Billion and maintained a credit portfolio of NPR 167 Billion. The bank, being the recipient of five Bank of the Year awards for exemplary service and business, was accredited with Euromoney awards for “Best Bank 2018” from the international publication - Euromoney. Further, ICRA Nepal (International Credit Rating Agency- Nepal) has given the bank a credit rating of A.

UNFPA Provides 800 Units Of Oxygen Cylinders To Nepal Government UNFPA is working with federal, provincial, and The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) con- local governments and partners to ensure that special and tinues its humanitarian support to Nepal’s COVID-19 pan- unique needs of women and girls of reproductive age are demic response by providing additional lifesaving supplies. addressed. “Thanks to the Government of China for their UNFPA Deputy Representative Dr Hashina Begum timely support under the maternal health programme in today handed over the oxygen cylinders worth Rs 11.9 providing the oxygen cylinders to save lives at this critical million (equivalent to USD 100,000) to the Director of time,” Baqi noted.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 7 OPINION

Judicial Hyper Activism And Loktantra’s Decay

The criticism of the Supreme Court for this political activism was not just for a blatant partisanship and arrogating unto itself the right of a parliament, but also for its declaring that party decisions and discipline are irrelevant.

The current federal parliament, first elected The judiciary, feeling politically em- under the new 2015 constitution, promised powered, not only resurrected a dysfunctional with much fanfare five years of stability but parliament the second time but ordered an has delivered to the county since December individual (Deuba who did not command last a roller-coaster ride of insufferable enough members of his own party to even instability. To make the ride more tumultu- register a vote of no confidence and thus ous, the Supreme Court has stepped in with BY DIPAK 0 even to be actually called an opposition) to breath-taking judicial hyper activism that be appointed prime minister within 24 hours. has effectively transferred sovereignty from the parliament The criticism of the Supreme Court for this political to the Supreme Court. activism was not just for a blatant partisanship and arrogating This past July, Nepal experienced two major bomb- unto itself the right of a parliament, but also for its declaring shells: first by theSupreme Court forcing Deuba’s appoint- that party decisions and discipline are irrelevant. Effectively, ment onto the president and parliament, and the second just now MPs can ignore a party whip to vote for whatever they this week by Rabindra Mishra, the chair of Sajha-Bibeksheel like. It thus makes this political dispensation partyless, but party that aims to be an alternative to the stale and incompe- unlike the with a strong referee, totally anarchic! tent Kangress-Communist combo of the last three decades. MPs are horse-trading for personal benefits with gusto, the Let’s take them up sequentially. result being that neither PM Deuba nor Prachanda on whose Through a street-smart but unprincipled and party legs Deuba’s premiership rests can form a functioning cabi- procedure-violating alliance, the Marxist-Leninists and the net three weeks after being sworn in! Prachanda Maoists did manage to cobble together an unprec- And this is not the first time a court’s decision has edented two-thirds majority in parliament. And the voters delegitimized an entire dispensation. In the mid-1990s, when hoped to see a solid and undisturbed government focused UML’s dissolved the house and asked on development for its full term. On the contrary, what they to go for a fresh mandate it opined favoring opposition Kan- saw was fatal fratricidal infighting not just among the ruling gress, saying that the parliament could not be dissolved “as party but also among the opposition groups. long as possibilities of forming any government remained”. The personalized warfare that was bereft of political It blunted one of the few instruments available to a prime principles among the ruling communists had paralyzed the minister to keep his own and the opposition members under government: Prachanda and Madhav Nepal from the same discipline. It also led to experimentation with every unsavory party were intent on taking down Oli who was as determined and principle-less permutations of government possible not to be overthrown. Oli then did what any prime minister with shameful examples of corruption and horse-trading in a Westminster model parliamentary democracy does and along the way. had done in Nepal in 1994, 1999 and 2002: he opted to go Moreover, this judicial overkill contributed in no small the voters. measure to the Maoist insurgency that was fueled by public In a normal functioning political system, when there revulsion towards the system and its delegitimization. This is a political problem, it is solved in a political forum, be July’s Supreme Court decision has similarly opened up par- it the parliament, the various party committees or the inter- allel possibilities for the upcoming future. Crony capitalist and intra-party discussion mechanisms, or the voters. In the corruption, nepotism, partisanized civil service and police politically dysfunctional Loktantra of Nepal, they failed to do force, coupled with decision-making not by legitimate party that and instead appealed to the judiciary to solve it for them, committees but kitchen-cabinet family coteries of neo-feudal thus proving that this political dispensation is unable to solve party bosses, are disgustingly blatant and there for all to see. political problems within the framework of the constitution All this is happening even as very diverse groups of they themselves designed and promulgated. religious as well as pro-monarchy activists and frustrated

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 8 OPINION

Maoists are coming out openly to call for an abolition of non-partisan public has been very supportive of Mishra’s this dispensation. They range from Keshar Bahadur Bista’s thesis. They especially find resonance in his marshalling of Rashtra Shakti Nepal on the allegedly traditional right historical facts that cannot be disputed but which had been (“alleged” because Nepal’s Right espouses more socialism airbrushed away from public discourse through a Nepali- and its Left more crony capitalist liberalism than globally style “political correctness” of 2005 Loktantricksters. comprehensible!) to ex-Maoist Chandra Bahadur Thapa The other, mainly partisan journalists and self-styled Sagar’s Rashtrabadi Kendra Nepal and some eighty plus civil society leaders associated with the Maoist, Kangress, motley groups in between. None of them get along with each Madheshi groups and the UML, have resorted primarily to other or see eye-to-eye on many issues except to agree that ad hominem attacks against Mishra. And the reasons are this system does not work, that secularism and federalism not difficult to discern: these have been the cheer-leaders of must be scrapped, and (for many but not all) the monarchy the 2005/06 regime change, mostly at the behest of foreign should be brought back. forces, and have been stung by his institutionally exposing The country faces local elections in less than a year, what they had comfortably chosen to sweep under the carpet. and national polls in a year and a half if not earlier. Kangress, It has also exposed their slavish worship of the leadership UML as well as Prachanda Maoists face a crisis of legitimacy in big parties that has failed multiple times but continues to as they have been unable to hold their party conference and rule the roost for the last quarter of a century! chose a new leadership well past the constitutionally man- Quite instructive is one of the few rather polite criti- dated five years. The rising public discontent, when added cism of Mishra from Pranaya Rana of The Record. Given to big parties’ sheer incompetence, amazing acrobatics of that he is one of the brighter and effective of journalists to unprincipled alliances, horse-trading and conflict-of-interest emerge from the younger generation, it is surprising how decisions, points to highly unpredictable times ahead. uncritically even he has absorbed the untenable narratives of Into this volatility, Sajha-Bibeksheel party’s Rabindra 2005/2006. As an example, unlike what he says with Nepal Mishra had submitted a discussion paper having no local-level representa- for consideration of the party asking for The swift and explosive reac- tions between 1997-2017, Nepal the scrapping of federalism and calling for had local government during the tion to Mishra's discussion paper is a referendum on secularism. He describes Panchayat (I remember holding of two kinds: one group, a major- how provinces have become not only the first mayoral debate between ity, very supportive but the other useless parasites feeding on the public Harbol of the Kangress against have resorted to ad hominem budget with little service to show for it and Roop Jyoti at the GAA Fo- attacks. but also being a hotbed of corruption. rum way back in 1981!) and more And he argues that the way federalism so under the 1990 multiparty is heading is quickly becoming a grave dispensation. security threat to the unity of the country. He also argues that It was Kangress that failed to either extend the term the public dissatisfaction imposing secularism (which was of local bodies or hold elections for them in 2002 (and for not even an agenda of the 2006 political agitations) under the national parliament!). And it was Loktantra that chose foreign tutelage without any meaningful discussion is lead- loot over governance with their “all party confabulation” ing to the emergence of Hindu fundamentalism, that it can be between 2006-2017, ameliorated only by the donor-civil stymied only by putting this matter to a public referendum. service alliance that put a small check on it with the more ac- On the republicanism, he is basically silent and only countable Ward Citizen Forum – which the parties abolished mentions that it was not home-grown but subsequently im- in 2017! There are similar problems with his being unable posed by outside forces with main political parties function- to distinguish between corruption and blatant loot, of asking ing as puppets. He does not call for a restoration of monarchy for more time for failed leaders to clean up the mess they but argues that, if corruption and mal-governance is to in- are benefitting from, brushing aside criticism of secularism’s crease as is happening now, and if the office of the president imposition as “conspiracy theory” despite then speakers of fails to be a dispassionate referee and instead functions in parliament confessing to it, and many more. the interests of the party from where the president’s career Opening up a debate on these swept-under-the-carpet began, the popularity of King Gyanendra and a popular issues will be a good thing for democracy. If, as a result of clamour for a return to monarchy is bound to increase. The this, we could see the departure of the failed leaders of the threat to republicanism is thus not from monarchists but from last quarter century in all these big parties; if a new and republicans themselves. Hence the need for an alternative younger leadership could rise to the challenge of seeing politics to the one that has been practiced by the main big and advocating for not party but larger national interests; if parties these last fifteen years. they could bring together diverse forces from Monarchists to The swift and explosive reaction to Mishra’s discus- Biplavites and others in between rather than have more po- sion paper is of two kinds. One group (a majority it seems larization, democracy might have a fighting chance in Nepal. judging from comments in the social media) of mainly

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 9 COVERSTORY

POLITICS Unstable All The Time

After almost two weeks of internal discussion, Prime Minister Sher Bahaduur Deuba has finally decided to expand the cabinet inducting ministers from Maoist Center and Janata Samajbadi Party. However, with a proposal of forming high-level mechanism to advise and guide the government, Maoist Center leader has tried to enter the center of executive power. As Prachanda has played a key role to dislodge K.P. Oli government and to form new government, Prime Minister Deuba is not in a position to rebuff it. Proposed to coordinate in major decision making process of between parties and the government, this unconstitutional mechanism will likely create more frictions and conflicts between executive and party

By KESHAB POUDEL

n trying to prove himself as a in the current political course. frictions for Prime Minister Sher good political game changer, His recent proposal to set up Bahadur Deuba. IMaoist Center leader Pushpa Ka- High Level Political Mechanism to While the government is ac- mal Dahal has instead placed himself advise and guide the government is countable to the parliament and will to be a source of political instability likely to create more troubles and remain in the office till it holds the

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 10 majority, people have already started Deuba does not have a free hand in policy issue of the government, to question the setting up of an inter- the party and coalition group. His high-level coordination mechanism party political mechanism. decision to induct Umesh Shrestha is relevant,” Dahal reportedly told In recent meetings of coalition as a minister of state at the Minis- in the meeting. “Such mechanism partners, Dahal proposed a high try of Health and Population has will prevent mistakes in the future.” level mechanism to guide the gov- sparked a wider criticism within his As the proposal of high-level ernment in the major policy issues party and outside compelling him to mechanism is likely to create more including political appointments. publicly acknowledge his mistake. frictions, the ongoing power strug- Dahal’s proposal for the mech- This has shown the vulnerability of gle within major parties is likely to anism comes at a time when new the government. intensify instability. government has started to revamp political appointees of the previous “I have realized that appoint- Expanding the cabinet, Prime government. ing the minister of state without con- Minister Deuba has overcome major Although many of ruling con- sultation and consent of party and hurdles to give a sense of stability stituencies have also supported coalition partners is my mistake,” in the country. However, the road Dahal’s idea, political analysts have PM Deuba reportedly confessed in ahead for him will be more difficult termed it as just another attempt by a meeting of coalition partners. given his bitter experiences with Dahal to hold sway over PM Deuba Prachanda in earlier power sharing and his executive power. Dahal in his remarks defended agreement. As Maoist Center leader is his proposal of High-Level Mecha- the key figure to dislodge Oli led nism to oversee the government’s Challenges for Stability communist government, it is very activities and coordinate with it in The continual power struggle difficult for Prime Minister Deuba naming political appointees. within CPN-UML, recent splitting to reject the proposal of Prachanda of Samajbadi Janta Party Nepal and right away. “For the better coordination simmering disenchantment within among the coalition partners on Maoist Center and Nepali Congress As a weak Prime Minister the issue of day to day matters and have indicated that Nepal’s politics

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 11 COVERSTORY

is heading towards a future on a to make the coalition government lition will also end in bitter results. course of instability and turmoil. efficient and stable. However, this is a last government Constituted under a verdict under the constitutional provision. of the Supreme Court annulling As Nepal has very bitter expe- Coalition partners have no option President Bidhya Devi Bhandari’s riences of coalition politics, the early other than to try to live together for decisions to dissolve the House of indications have shown that this coa- coming months. Representatives, the gov- ernment led by Deuba is likely to last for about a year and half. Despite receiving almost two thirds of ma- jority support in the House of Representatives, two weeks old Deuba gov- ernment is yet to prove that this government will bring political stability.

Inducting the mem- bers from the front, PM Deuba has completed the task of forming the government. However, the coming challenges are

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 12 COVERSTORY

POLITICS Party Split Splitting into two Samajbadi Janta Party Nepal, has also shown CPN-UML rebels that there is a way to live with a separate identity BY A CORRESPONDENT

ith the decision of Elec- tion Commission, Janta WSamajbadi Party Nepal has legally split into two different political parties. The split of fourth largest party in the House of Representatives will make a significant political difference in the national politics. For almost one year, Janta Sa- majbadi Party led by Uprendra Yadav and factions was in struggle with Mahantha Thakur-Ra- jendra Mahato faction. Following the dissolution of HoR, Thakur-Mahato faction even joined the government led by K.P. Sharma Oli. They fought tooth and nail to committee supported the faction dur- Chaudhary, who stayed neutral claim the authentic party, the two ing the support verification process. during the trust vote, told media per- factions fought several rounds of Only 16 members of the ex- sons that he had immense respect for legal fight including at the Supreme ecutive committee supported the other Mahantha Thakur. The leader’s status Court. However, the Election Com- side. JSP-N lawmaker Resham Chaud- was that of Bhishmapitamaha of Ma- mission recognized the Upendra hary, who has been a convict in Kailali habharata epic who supported Duryod- Yadav-Baburam Bhattarai faction of carnage, was allowed to come to the han. Chaudhary said he was an honest the Janata Samajbadi Party-Nepal as EC from prison to express his support. and committed cadre of the JSP-N and the authentic party after 34 members could not side with a faction. of the party’s 51-member executive EC Spokesperson Raj Kumar Shrestha said the EC bench that had conducted hearing before decided to give legitimacy to the Yadav-Bhattarai faction’s claim of authenticity as ma- jority members were with the faction. The EC said the Thakur-Mahato faction could open a new party if they wanted to, but if lawmakers support- ing their faction chose to stay with the faction and the Yadav-led JSP-N took action against them, then they could lose their seats. The EC source said that JSP-N lawmakers of the Thakur-Mahato fac- tion could give up their seats and join a new party that the duo could open. The Yadav-Bhattarai faction’s counsel Senior Advocate Raman Ku- mar Shreshta said lawmakers of the NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 13 COVERSTORY

Thakur-Mahato faction and other rep- the people of the country are the main The EC said in its verdict that resentatives in all tiers of the govern- deciders of a political party,” said if the Thakur-Mahato faction sought ment were bound to follow the faction Mahato. to register a new party under Section if they didn’t want to lose their elected Mahato said his faction would 44 (6) of the Political Party Act, it posts. He said the Thakur-Mahato decide on the next course after the end would register it deeming it to be a faction did not have 40 per cent sup- of July when the Supreme Court would separate political party. As many as 34 executive committee members of Janata Sa- majbadi Party-Nepal have submit- ted their signatures in favor of the faction led by Upendra Yadav and Baburam Bhattarai, at the Election Commission. The EC on July 23 had asked members of the party’s executive committee to appear before it with original copies of their citizenship certificates or voter identity cards, in a bid to ascertain which faction of the party holds majority in the port in the executive committee and decide whether to issue an interim party. parliamentary party to split the party. order in the case. The Yadav-Bhattarai faction He said all three parties - CPN- The Mahanta Thakur- Ra- lawyer Senior Advocate Mithilesh UML, Nepali Congress, and the jendra Mahato faction had moved Kumar Singh said only eight of the CPN-Maoist Centre - were the same the Supreme Court the same day 34 lawmakers of the party were with for Madhesis because they had prom- demanding the EC’s decision on the the Thakur-Mahato faction, and some ulgated the new constitution suppress- headcount be stayed. However, the of them could switch to the Yadav- ing the Madhes agitation against the apex court refused to issue an interim Bhattarai faction. constitution. order against the EC. The feud between the two JSP- JSP-N lawmaker Laxman Lal The feud between two JSP-N N factions had intensified with the Karna, who is Thakur-Mahato faction’s decision to close to Mahato, support KP Sharma Oli’s bid for prime said his faction ministership under Article 76 (5), and wanted unity but the Yadav-Bhattarai faction’s decision Upendra Yadav to support Nepali Congress President was against it. Sher Bahadur Deuba’s bid for premier- Ram Sa- ship under the same article. hay Yadav, who The EC refused to recognize is close to Upen- Thakur’s claim of reshuffling the dra Yadav, said executive committee on grounds that the EC’s deci- the details of the reshuffle were not sion had cleared updated at the EC. the decks for the Mahato said they had rescued party to carry Yadav last year by agreeing to unify out its policies his Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal with across the coun- the Yadav-led Samajbadi Party-Nepal try. He said the when Yadav’s party was on the verge EC’s decision would help the SC take factions intensified with Thakur- of split. a decision on the dispute. Mahato faction’s decision to support Mahato said his faction’s bid to The Thakur-Mahato faction Oli’s bid for prime ministership form an alternative force to champion has challenged the EC’s decision not under Article 76 (5), and the Yadav- the cause of marginalized communities to give legitimacy to Thakur’s deci- Bhattarai faction’s decision to sup- would continue. “This is a technical sion reshuffling the party’s executive split of the JSP-N and I believe that committee. port Nepali Congress President Sher

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 14 COVERSTORY

Bahadur Deuba’s bid for premiership Sharma Oli, claiming that they had hav Kumar Nepal’s remarks that he under the same article. not violated party discipline. would not stay in the party if sub-

jected to humiliation, Gyawali said Lawmaker Birodh Khatiwada, Nepal should realize that he brought CPN-UML at Verge of Split who is close to Nepal, said the 22 the party’s government down and lawmakers wrote that they had op- helped the Nepali Congress attain The split of JSPN has shown posed Oli’s undemocratic moves and power. a way for the political parties to di- the Supreme Court had vindicated Gyawali said the party’s gen- vorce if they wish. At a time when their position in both the cases chal- two factions of CPN-UML have been lenging the dissolution of the House eral convention could take a call leaving separately holding parallel of Representatives. on the age bar for party leaders and meetings, the EC’s decision has also Oli had asked the 22 lawmak- limiting the number of times a leader given them a way out. ers to explain why they should not be could contest the top party post. expelled from the party for anti-party Nepal said he would not re- Despite several efforts, the two activities. main in the party if he was humili- warring factions of CPN-UML are As rebels have been coming ated. He said the name and election yet to patch up their difference. Since more vocal, UML’s establishment symbol of a party did not mean much a faction led by CPN-UML leader faction decided to continue attempts if the party was not committed to is one of the to forge unity between the two fac- people’s cause. coalition partners, the unity with out- tions. Nepal said screaming from going Prime Minister K.P. Sharma UML Spokesperson Pradeep one’s balcony and taking out ral- looks unlikely now. However one Kumar Gyawali said that after the lies wearing monkey masks would cannot rule out the possibility of central committee meeting, Oli said not help the cause of unity. Oli had unification between the two given he would pardon leaders for their past history of communist parties. past mistakes if they wanted to come recently said from the balcony of his With disputes growing, twen- back and strengthen the party. house that Nepal had no place in the ty-two lawmakers of the Madhav Gyawali said the party would party. Supporters of the Oli faction Kumar Nepal-Jhalanath make efforts till the last minute to also took out a rally in Kathmandu faction of the CPN-UML furnished keep party unity intact. wearing monkey masks to mock the their explanation to party Chair KP Asked to comment on Mad- Nepal faction. NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 15 VIEWPOINT

Major Trilok Singh ThapaChhetri–An Unsung Hero

Recently at the us warmly with tea and age of 98 years, Ma- biscuits. After a warm jor Trilok Singh Thapa send-off, we brought , a Second World the train filled with dead bodies to Amritsar. War veteran, has unfortunately left BY DWARIKA NATH DHUNGEL, SANTA BAHADUR Our 1/8th Gurkha Rifleswas used to us for his heavenly abode. Born on 8 PUN AND SHYAM PRASAD ADHIKARI transport the Muslims from Amritsar August 1924 at Chhetritola in Ainjal to Lahore’s DAV College and the in the State of Mizoram, Major Chhetriwas brought up in Hindus/Sikhs from Lahore to Amritsar’s Khalsa College his maternal uncle's house at Shillong, capital of Meghalaya or hand them over to the Pakistan army at Wagah on the State, due to the negligent behaviour of his father. Because Indo-Pakistan. of economic hardship, he suffered in his childhood and in his And in his Bhivatsav Jatiya Danga Dekhenin La- schooling as well. So at a very young age of 15, he went to hureka Katha Collection Bharat Pokharel, Edited Basan- the recruiting depot at Mahadevkhola (Shillong) and joined taThapa and Mohan Mainali, 2002, HimalKitabPvt. Ltd., the British Indian army as a Boy on 26 January 1941. As Kathmandu, Major Trilok Singh continues: the Second World War was raging, Gurkhas of whatever “While India did get independence on 15th August age were much sought after for the Indian army. He was 1947, communal riots broke out between Hindus and Mus- later assigned to the 8thGurkha Rifles that fought against lims. This was far more dreadful than what I had experi- the Japanese on the Burma front and was also in Java/ enced during World War! Piles and piles of dead bodies: all Indonesia to oversee the surrender of the Japanese there. killings were done in the most hideous manner. Oh! females After the war ended in 1945, Major Trilok Singh with breasts cut-off and killed by bayoneting their private was witness to the horrors of the birth of the two nations parts and males with their genitals cut-off and shoved into India and Pakistan. It is best to quote him from his own their mouths!And Baba, dogs chewing these corpses! See- book Jiwanko Goretoma, BS 2061, Atmabrittant Abhilekh ing such dreadful sights, I nearly became a Sadhu. Sewa, Kathmandu: The Bihar Regiment used to provide security to After India’s independence, the 8th Gurkha Rifles the trains carrying refugees, Hindus/Sikhs and Muslims, became a part of the Indian Army and hence in July 1948 between India and Pakistan in Punjab. ……..One day he left his Regiment and joined the British Gurkhas in No- the train carrying Hindu/Sikhs refugees from Pakistan vember 1948. During this service, he was an observer of the was ambushed by Muslims at Lyalpur, killing the entire Malaysian independence movement and the independence train-load of refugees including the Bihar Regiment sol- of both Malaysia and Singapore. diers. This infuriated the Sikhs who resorted to the similar rampant killing of Muslims in Amritsar. A detachment of Young Lieutenant Trilok Singh ThapaChhetri our 1/8th Gurkha Rifles was then sent to bring the train Trilok Singh Chhetri as an officer in the British from Lyalpur filled with dead Hindus/Sikhs...... At the Gorkhali regiment based in Singapore, was on the front Lyalpur railway station, the Pakistani army with sten-guns line when the communal riot known as the Maria Hartogriot was guarding the corpse-filled train. When our commander took place between the Malayas and whites to place in Khadga Singh hesitated on what to do, I, despite being a Singapore in December 1950. To quell this riot the British- Havildar, marched to the Pakistani Captain and gave him a ers had to use the Gorkhali regiment. Trilok Singh Thapa smart salute. He returned the salute, smiled and said “Ap, Chhetri( late major) was one of the Gorkhalis who was Gorkha log aya hai?” He then, seeing my 8th Gurkha Rifles taken to the front by the Britishers. It may be reminded insignia and the military ribbons on my chest depicting that 'The Maria Hertogh riots began on the 11 December the Burma campaign, added that his Regiment and the 8th 1950 after a court ruled and decided that a child who had Gurkhas fought together against the Japanese on the Burma been raised by a set of Muslim parents was to be returned front. The Pakistani Captain and his soldiers then treated to her biological Catholic parents. That sparked a protest

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 16 VIEWPOINT

Medals

From L to R: The 1939- 1945 Star, (2)The Burma Star, (3) G.B.R.OMN.REX ET INDIA IMP1939- 1945 (4) G.B.R. MOM REXET INDIA IMP 1939-1945, (5) MALAYA S.E. 1945-46, (6) MALAYA PENINSULA (For Campaign Service),(7) REGULAR ARMY Long Service and Good Conduct,(8) INDIAN INDEPENDENCE, 5th August 1947 and (9)JASA MALAYSIA P.J.M.

After retirement from the military service, he moved to Kathmandu from Hongkong to spend the rest of his life. But fate had something to offer him at the UN in Kathmandu. He first joined UN-WFP for some time, then UNDP through which he worked at the Department of Na- tional Park and Wildlife for some years(1972-1980). As he was attached to the two integrated Development Projects: Rasuwa–Nuwakot Integrated Rural Development Project and Mahakali Integrated Rural Development Project, both funded by the World Bank/UNDP and implemented by from enraged Muslims which soon escalated into a riot. The the then Ministry of Panchayat and Local Development Muslims were angry because the government threw out and Ministry. His last civilian job, before going into permanent rejected the appeal for the case, indicating to the large crowd retirement, was with the consulting firm, East Consult, who gathered outside the court that the legal system was which was managing the USAID-supported irrigation biased against the Muslims. This was how the riot started management project(1981- 1992). and continued for 3 days whereby the mob attacked any Eurasians and Europeans in sight' (https://thesmartlocal. Major Trilok Singh Chhetri as UNDP Administrator com/read/5-riots-that-rocked-singapore/). For being in different fronts, Major Chhetri was Unlike his other awarded a number of medals including the star of Burma. Lahure colleagues, He served the British Gurkhas till 1972 rising to the rank Major Chhetri’s long of Major. involvement with Major Trilok Singh Chhetri with his Medals various projects in various remote districts of Nepal funded by the World Bank, UNDP, USAID has given him an innate hu- mane insight. He had established himself as a wise guardian to the members of the Mahadevsthancommunity at Baneshwor area, a pleasant and motivating force to the

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 17 VIEWPOINT younger generation, a philanthropist, a concerned citizen and above all a true nationalist who worried much about the direction the country was going politically. Though a tough but caring head of the family, he was a very social and admired person among the Kathmandu gentries. A nature lover, the electronic media liked him because of not being a World War II veteran only but an officer who saw and helped thousands of Hindus and Muslims in their terrible plights during the partition of India in 1947.

Major Chhetri was a wrestler, gymnast, rugby player, boxer and football and hockey player and football umpire during his time. He would always be in our mind: as a jolly person, an avid reader especially books on history, a kind and large-hearted person who was always willing to help the needy persons because he himself knew what economic hardship was as he had faced serious economic hardship during his childhood. But he was a tough person in terms of maintaining discipline and always remained tiptop from the point of view of the dress. He is an unsung hero, whose contributions in different fields were recognised by all who knew him and had worked with or under him. Before his departure to his final destination, 'fellow soldiers bidding farewell at Pashupati Aryaghat draped with his 10th Gurkha Rifles Regimental Flag.

Fellow soldiers bidding final farewell at Aryaghat

We, on behalf of all his col- leagues and well-wishers, would like to pray to the Almighty to bless his Major Chhetri'sSoul with eternal peace and provided a calm and serene atmosphere wherever he might have been taken.

Major Chhetri, you have left us forever, but we would remember you and your deeds through the pages of JEEVAN Ko GORETOMA published in the year 2061 BS.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 18 ADB ADB approves $165m loan for COVID-19 ADB approves $165m loan for COVID-19 vaccines in the country

BY A CORRESPONDENT

n his first address to the House of to protect its citizens from the further the vaccine has received regular or Representatives, Prime Minister spread of this disease,” said ADB emergency licensure or authorization ISher Bahadur Deuba announced President Masatsugu Asakawa. “It by a stringent regulatory authority. that the government’s first priority is essential that COVID-19 vaccines In addition to this project, is to provide vaccine to all eligible are quickly purchased and adminis- ADB’s ongoing technical assistance Nepali citizens. tered to help get the economy back grants will support the strengthen- Although Nepal has already on track by enabling the restoration ing of the vaccine delivery system, received over 10 million vaccines of livelihoods and economic ac- communication, and community including purchasing of 5 million tivities, as well as the resumption of engagement to raise awareness on the doses, it is hardly enough to cover educational and human development risks of COVID-19 and the benefits one third of the population. Nepal pursuits.” of vaccination. The government is has received vaccines from United The project is financed by mobilizing female community health States, China, India and Japan in the ADB’s $9 billion Asia Pacific Vac- volunteers to disseminate informa- last five months under bilateral sup- cine Access Facility launched in tion among marginalized communi- port and COVAX facility. December 2020 to offer rapid and ties to raise awareness. However, to provide vaccines equitable vaccine-related support to At least one female health to all Nepalese citizens, there is ADB developing member countries. worker or volunteer will support the also a need huge effort in every vaccination site or investment. Given outreach centre. that circumstance, ADB is closely collaborat- the decision of the ing with other partners, like World Asian Development Bank, COVAX, WHO, and the Bank (ADB) to ap- United Nations Children’s Fund prove loan is highly (UNICEF), in supporting the gov- significant. ernment in its efforts to vaccinate ADB approved its people as soon as possible. a loan of $165 mil- The project will complement lion for the Nepal the government’s broader response government to pur- through its $1.2 billion National chase safe and effec- Relief Programme, which consists tive vaccines against of social protection, health care, the coronavirus dis- and economic relief measures. ease (COVID-19). In May last year, ADB provided The project will support the Vaccines eligible for financing must support to the programme through a National Deployment and Vaccina- meet at least one of the APVAX eli- $250 million concessional loan. tion Plan in Nepal by procuring gibility criteria: The vaccine has been ADB is committed to achiev- an estimated 15.9 million doses of selected for procurement through ing a prosperous, inclusive, resilient, COVID-19 vaccines, which will the COVID-19 Vaccines Global and sustainable Asia and the Pacific, benefit about 6.8 million Nepalis. Access (COVAX) mechanism; the while sustaining its efforts to eradi- “ADB’s support will help vaccine has been prequalified by the cate extreme poverty. the government of Nepal procure World Health Organization (WHO) Established in 1966, it is owned much-needed COV- ID-19 vaccines or WHO emergency use listing; or by 68 members - 49 from the region.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 19 GLOBAL VIEW Foreign Aid On The Fence! As the pandemic increases the need for aid around the world, donors are facing tough choices over whether to continue helping vulnerable populations abroad or focus their attention at home.

In November last year, the UK Chancellor is that the record high foreign aid came of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced mostly to help developing countries tackle that the UK government would no longer the coronavirus pandemic. The economic BY ABIJIT SHARMA be spending 0.7% of its Gross National and social fallout caused by the pandemic Income (GNI) from 2021 on official development assis- remains largely unaddressed in many ways and with tance as it had been doing since 2015. The controversial countries like UK cutting their assistance amount from decision came amid the economic fallout of the pandemic 2021 onwards and other countries hinting that they would with Prime Minister Boris Johnson saying that the step slowly focus on their own economy, the way forward was ‘needed during the economic hurricane caused by looks bleak. Covid-19 pandemic’. With the spending reduced to 0.5% The onset of the pandemic has meant that many of the GNI, the UK government would be saving around other sector are already seeing cuts in assistance. Ac- £4bn annually. cording to Development Initiatives (DI), a data focused The move saw criticism from many aid agen- international development organization, international cies, development actors and MPs from the PM’s own humanitarian assistance plateaued at USD 30.9 bil- Conservative party. Many argued that at a time when lion in 2020 and support for non-Covid humanitarian the government should have increased its spending on needs fell despite unprecedented needs. This decrease foreign aid, the decision to reduce it would be counter- could slowly invite multitude of problems in countries productive. But quite frankly, the move is something requiring humanitarian assistance like Syria and Yemen. that many other governments across the world have been The consequence could range from extreme poverty to pondering over ever since the Covid-19 pandemic broke instigation of civil war. The WFP has already warned out. It is a known fact that loss of revenue, paired with the that in addition to the threat posed by the pandemic, the need to increase expenditures, has caused large govern- world faces ‘multiple famines of biblical proportions’ ment budget deficits around that could result in up to the world. In this context, 300,000 deaths per day — a as the pandemic increases ‘hunger pandemic’ espe- the need for aid around the cially in countries requiring world, donors are facing humanitarian assistance. tough choices over whether The focus on tackling to continue helping vulner- the pandemic and lesser able populations abroad or stress on development assis- focus their attention at home. tance will also bring a halt According to the to the progress developing OECD, 2020 was a record countries have making in year for foreign aid, which areas like education, gov- reached an all-time high of USD 161.2 billion. This was ernance, climate change and gender issues. Take for a 3.5% increase in real terms from 2019. While this is instance Nepal. International non-governmental organi- definitely encouraging, what needs to be understood zations pledged aid worth NRs 21.62 billion for 2020-

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 20 21, around 13% less than their WOMEN AND PEACE SECURITY (WPS) pledge for 2019-2020, which stood at Rs 24.79 billion. This could put many long running The Way Forward projects in jeopardy. It is quite BY A CORRESPONDENT natural for development part- ners to implement projects which run for an average of omen, Peace and Security ber of the House of Representatives stated 2 – 3 years. As per their logi- (WPS) is a policy framework that education, property right and personal cal framework, interventions Wthat recognizes that women freedom were key to women empowerment are planned for throughout the must be critical actors in all efforts to and until and unless these were ensured, it achieve sustainable international peace would difficult to ensure WPS. The event, duration of the project. With and security. The Government of Nepal which also saw leaders from provinces dis- lesser funds, these projects will (GON) adopted the National Action Plan cussed issues that affected WPS in myriad either be forced to terminate (NAP) on UNSCRs 1325 and 1820 in 2011 of ways. Shova Lama of Province 2 stated or cut down on their activities. to improve the participation of women in that lack of accountability was one of the This will have a grave impact decision making and in the peace process, major reasons for violation of women’s on the beneficiaries and result protect and promote the rights of women right whereas Manju Yadav of Province in incomplete and unsustainable and girls, and mobilize resources to ensure 1 stated that political interference and tra- that these UNSCRs translates into con- ditional justice mechanism had also been outcomes. crete changes in Nepal. Although this has a hindrance to WPS. Pre Bahadur Pulami In the past few years, brought about some changes, the status of of Bagmati Province stated that women’s development partners’ focus on women in the country especially in regards participation in public domain should be sectors like education, gender to decision making is far from satisfactory. increased and their participation needs to and governance in Nepal has Women’s participation in peace negotia- be more meaningful to ensure better WPS. brought about major changes, tions held in 2005 and in the ongoing talks especially in light of the new since was negligible. With the introduction In view of the opinions put by of federalism in the country, things were honorable participants and members, administrative structure of the expected to change for the better. Women’s Nepal does have a long way to go. The country. But with large amount involvement in decision making took a NAP II aims to ensure proportional and of fund either re-directed to step forward with provision of 33 percent meaningful participation of women at Covid-19 management or being of mandatory representation of women in all levels of conflict transformation and cut-off entirely, progress made all structures as a remarkable outcome. peacebuilding processes; protection of in these sectors stand on shaky However, the pace of change has not been women and girls’ rights and to guarantee grounds. With new local gov- satisfactory. the direct and meaningful participation of conflict-affected women in the formulation ernment to be elected next year, Keeping this context in mind, Out- and implementation of relief, recovery development partners would line Media organized an event last month and rehabilitation programs; and address be expected to assist in their to discuss the poor state of affairs pertain- the specific needs of women and girls. capacity building. Development ing to WPS in Nepal. The event, organized However, it needs to move much beyond partners would also be expected as a part of Outline Media’s assignment that. Firstly, Nepal has entered a new to help implementation of poli- entitled ‘Engaging Media for Advancing administrative structure with a promising cies as well as major projects WPS Agenda’ for UNDP focused on why future. The NAP II needs to ensure that in the issue of WPS in Nepal has not been this new administrative structure, the is- such as President Educational addressed as much as it should. Speaking sue of WPS is considered in all the fields. Reform Program when it comes in the event, the then Minister of Law, It can also be noticed that the NAP II is to the education sector. How- Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Lilanath fraught with some gaps which need to be ever, all these remain uncertain Shrestha accepted that successive govern- considered by policy makers. Despite be- now. The DI has said that the ments including theirs had not been able ing a comprehensive document, the second pandemic has reinforced the to ensure women’s rights and stressed on phase of NAP, having been formulated in the need to do more. Parbati Rawal, Chair the context of federalism, does not touch need for long-term resilience of National Concern and Coordination upon the issue of WPS in the changed building to help countries with- Committee, National Assembly stressed on administrative context. With provincial stand future shocks, such as the the need for policy and implementation to and local governments in place, the NAP impacts of climate change but go hand in hand and pointed out that only II should talk about how it plans to utilize with redirection of funds, this making policies might not be enough. noth- this new federal structure to advance the looks increasingly difficult. er participant, Shanta Chaudhary, a mem- issues of women.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 21 FORUM

Nepal’s Unsteady Progress Towards Fiscal Federalism

BY BISHNU ADHIKARI, PARSHURAM UPADHYAYA, AMOL ACHARYA, AND ABHAS GHIMIRE

Amid swirling uncertainties created by internal party tion, and assemble the building blocks of effective PFM: wrangling and a second wave of Covid-19, all seven of periodic development plans, medium-term expenditure Nepal’s provincial governments, newly created by the frameworks, and guidelines and procedures for the regular 2015 constitution, introduced their budgets for FY 2021/22 work of planning and budgeting. on June 15, meeting the statutory deadline. But Nepal’s While these are positive steps in the consolidation halting progress towards fiscal federalism, in place only of the new federal system, a closer look at these budgets since the elections of 2017, still has some serious kinks and their development reveals some significant shortcom- to work out. ings. A study of provincial PFM published early this year As expected, and in line with federal priorities, the by The Asia Foundation, Planning and Budgeting in the new provincial budgets make health security and economic Provinces of Federal Nepal, found that many weaknesses recovery from the pandemic their top priorities. Like last of the previous system of government appear to have year, all the provincial budgets are focused on fighting persisted under the current budget regime. Covid-19, through infectious-disease control, expanded healthcare services, and the development of health-related Major shortcomings of provincial PFM identified by infrastructure and human resources. This penultimate the study include weak participatory practices in planning round of budgets before next year’s provincial elections and budgeting, failure to publish programs and budgets in a also emphasizes rapid economic development, poverty timely manner, allocation of resources for poorly specified reduction, advance- small projects, assign- ment for backward ment of large propor- areas and commu- tions of the budget to nities, expansion the “miscellaneous” of social security, category, allocation and improvements of funds to the dis- in living standards. cretionary “constitu- Despite lim- ency development” ited capacity and fund, inadequate and resources, com- poorly managed capi- pounded by federal tal investment, and neglect, the prov- inadequate public dis- inces have made closure of government considerable pro- spending. gress in the step-by- There are sev- step, year-by-year eral formal bodies es- process of building tablished to promote a functional system intergovernmental of public financial consultation and coor- management (PFM). The new federal system merged and dination, including the Provincial Coordination Council, sometimes split districts to create the provincial govern- the Interprovincial Council, the National Coordination ments, and there was no comprehensive documentation Council, and the Intergovernmental Fiscal Council, but of their demographic, administrative, and economic these forums have been largely ignored by the federal profiles—what are the public services and utilities; where government and the provinces alike, with the inevitable are the factories and banks; what are the administrative result that budgets and other major policies sometimes boundaries. The provinces have since worked hard to leave gaps and other times overlap between the different create these provincial profiles, pass essential legisla- levels of the federal system. And while the provinces

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 22 FORUM make plenty of noise about their exclusion from federal there reliable data for all provinces or consistency in how policymaking, their own outreach to local governments these values are calculated. to participate in provincial budgeting and policymaking Provincial sources of OSR are limited to vehicle has been equally inadequate. taxes, house and land registration fees, and a tax on enter- Continuing a practice that gives excessive discre- tainment and advertising of which 40–60% is earmarked tion to the executive branch to make ad hoc expenditures, for local governments. Though provincial OSR has been often under the influence of political interests, five of the rising nominally, there have been no major policy changes seven provinces have allocated an average of 8.4% of their to reduce dependency on federal fiscal transfers, which are budgets to the “miscellaneous” line item this fiscal year. expected to fall due to the pandemic economy. This does, admittedly, represent some improvement. Last Despite an early focus on developing institutions, year the average was 10.7%, and in FY 2019/20, the mis- procedures, and management capacity for their new fiscal cellaneous line item averaged around 17.3% of provincial responsibilities, the provinces have still been unable to budgets—with a high of 29.5% in Province 2. spend more than 70% of their annual budgets, on aver- Undermining the limits set by the National Planning age, and most of this spending is done in a rush in the last Commission (NPC), an apex federal body meant to guide fiscal quarter. Given the lack of progress on procurement- development planning, the provinces have again allocated system reforms at all levels of government, this situation is funds to small-budget unlikely to change in the latest budget cycle. programs that overlap Inconsistency and incoherence in plan- with functions of lo- There are several formal ning and budgeting are not limited to the prov- cal governments. Per bodies established to promote inces, however. All three levels of government the NPC, development intergovernmental consultation have encroached on the jurisdictions of others projects worth less than and coordination, including the in key areas such as revenue, healthcare, edu- roughly USD 85,000 Provincial Coordination Council, cation, and infrastructure development. Local should be delegated to the Interprovincial Council, the governments have an exclusive mandate to local governments. In National Coordination Council, manage secondary education, yet federal FY 2019/20, Province funding of the Education Development and 1 had 675 projects be- and the Intergovernmental Fis- low this threshold, and cal Council, but these forums Coordination Unit locks in federal control in FY 2020/21 Bagmati have been largely ignored by over the hiring and transfer of teachers and Province alone had 858 the federal government and the the development of local education materials. programs below USD provinces alike, Similarly, the federal government, through its 85,000, mostly small budgeting practices, maintains control over infrastructure projects. the Department of Local Infrastructure, the On the one hand, this practice undermines the functional National Rural Transportation Improvement autonomy and responsibility of local governments. On Program, the Suspension Bridge Division, and small ir- the other, it leads to duplication of effort at the local and rigation projects around the country, which by their nature provincial level that creates conflict and wastes scarce would be better managed at the local level. resources. Following years of conflict and unrest, Nepal broke Although the federal budget has discontinued the with its long history of rule from the center and established practice this fiscal year, Province 2 has allocated around a federal system to better serve its diverse population. But 7% of its budget for a “constituency development” fund, without effective fiscal management at the subnational which gives members of the provincial assembly discre- level, federalism cannot ultimately deliver on its promises. tionary funds to invest in projects of their own choice. As the fate of the country’s federal restructuring hangs in The own-source revenue (OSR) base is bleak for the balance, swift changes are needed, or the functional the provinces, and revenue collection is poor. The average autonomy of the provinces will remain a distant dream. proportion of OSR in provincial budgets in FY 2019/20, Bishnu Adhikari is director of governance programs, Parshuram 2020/21, and 2021/22 was estimated at 11.24%, 14.47%, Upadhyaya is a senior governance advisor, Amol Acharya is a senior pro- gram officer, and Abhas Ghimire is a consultant for The Asia Foundation and 13.58%, respectively. In the current fiscal year, pro- in Nepal. They can be reached at [email protected], jected OSR ranges from a tiny 1.6 % of the budget in [email protected], amol.acharya@asiafoun- Karnali Province to a more robust but still troubling 41.2% dation.org, and [email protected], respectively. The in Bagmati Province. However, it is unclear whether these views and opinions expressed here are those of the authors, not those of The Asia Foundation. projections were met in the previous fiscal years, nor is

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 23 NC GENERRAL CONVENTION Ideology Vs Cult Not renewing membership, 50000 active members of NC have expressed their frustration about the 14th General Convention

BY A CORRESPONDENT

s its founding member and government. However, it is surviving ideologue late B.P. Koirala under the mercy of Maoist Center. As As Nepali Congress party is in Asaid Nepali Congress will be NC is holding its 14th General Con- power under its leader Sher Bahadur irrelevant as a political party once it vention, Nepal’s political spectrum is Deuba, the number of people seeking gives up its ideological liberal democ- under a complete control of communist membership in the party has increased. racy, patriotism and socialism. ideologies. However, the old trained ideologues During his lifetime, Nepali Con- As opposition front is controlled and workers are deserting the party gress maintained its space as a centrist by K.P. Sharma Oli led CPN-UML, the making it merely a bunch of crowd. party, not embracing the Communists reins of the government is in the hands and Rightist forces. Thus, Koirala used of Maoist Center, Radical Communist Ideology Vs Personality to face a harsh criticism from both. Front and CPN-UML faction led by The unbundling of Nepali Con- Madhav Kumar Nepal. As Nepali Congress General gress has started following his death. Convention is coming closer, many From its centrist role, Nepali Congress aligned with communist forces to overthrow Panchayat system. Despite aligning with communists, Ne- pali Congress somehow retained its ideological base. After signing the 12-points in 2006 with Maoist rebels, Nepali Congress gave up all its ideals including consti- tutional monarchy and multi-party democracy.

Under the lead- ership of late GP Koi- rala, Nepali Congress has completely sided with communist forces even proclaiming As the date for 14fh General new comers including from B.P. Koi- the new constitution directing to so- Convention is approaching, Nepali rala’s family members have announced cialism. As NC continues to deviate Congress workers are facing tough to contest the post of party president from its stand, it has gradually turned choices regarding ideology vs indi- against Prime Minister Sher Bahadur into a small partner of communist vidual personality cult. Frustrated by Deuba. parties. policies adopted by Nepali Congress, Along with Deuba, Dr Shek- many old members, who have a long har Koirala, Dr. Shashanka Koirala, Nepali Congress leader Sher association with the party, have already and Gopal Man Bahadur Deuba is leading the current quit the party. Shrestha have announced the candi-

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 24 handed over As many as 5,000 complaints the report to were lodged at the Committee that party Presi- had it not looked into the files of ac- dent and tive membership of Bara and Saptari Prime Min- districts. There are still disputes over ister Deuba, active membership in 125 wards. one and a half Lekhak said some disputes were months after forwarded to the Central Working its formation. Committee as the committee could not However, resolve the issue. Kalyan Gu- Meanwhile, the office bearers’ rung, one of meeting also discussed the calendar of the members 14th general convention. Its ward con- of the probe vention slated for July 27 has already committee been postponed. dacy for the president. wrote a note NC joint general secretary Dr. However, none of them have of dissent on the report. The largest Prakash Sharan Mahat informed that shown their difference in terms of number of active members is in the that meeting would fix the schedule for ideology. On the ideological front, all age group between 41 and 60 years. local level general convention of the the candidates have the same agenda According to the report submitted by party. He said remaining disputes over calling to strengthen the relations with the probe panel, the number of active active membership would be resolved current change. members aged between 41 and 60 by the party’s top leaders. stands at 328,234 (37.3%). The party suspended die-hard In it’s over 70 year’s long his- NC leaders like Govinda Raj Joshi Similarly, 249,774 (28.38%) of tory, Nepali Congress Party is now welcoming many leaders from com- those who received active membership facing a challenge to retain its ideo- munist front and RPP. Ideologically, are from the age group of 26-40 years logical stand. The party can survive all the candidates do not stand for and 40,427 (4.59%) are aged between and even thrive under the leadership the vision and ideology of the party. 16 and 25 years. of any leader including prime minister However, all of them stand for per- Likewise, the number of active Sher Bahadur Deuba. However, as its sonality cult. members aged between 60 and 75 founder leader B.P. Koirala said the years stand at 83,010 (9.43%) and party will be no more than a bunch of NC Membership those aged above 75 years are 11,783 crowd rather than a party of ideology As a large number of party (1.33%). According to the Committee, having the backing of a large segment workers have already deserted the the party has renewed the active mem- of population. party, there is a rush of people acquir- ing the membership. Distributing 852,711 active membership, Central Active Membership Probe Committee of the Nepali Congress submitted its report to party president Sher Bahadur Deuba, who is also the Prime Minister. The party granted the active member- ship in view of the party’s upcoming 14th general convention scheduled for September 1 to 4. Committee coordinator Ramesh Lekhak submitted the report to the party President during a meeting of the office-bearers of the party’s cen- tral committee held at Prime Minister Deuba’s private residence in Budha- nilkantha. The seven-member probe com- bership of 409,003 and distributed new mittee accomplished the task and active membership to 443,678 persons.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 25 ARTICLE Student Assessment Time To Put On A Thinking Cap! With more than one year of living with the COVID-19 pandemic, lingering confusion as to how the exams should be held shows lag in preparation and negligence from the concerned authority.

“As much as I am prepared to appear for the come up with a concrete and sustainable plan to exam, I am equally stressed as I have to sit for conduct a safe exam environment for students a 3-hour long exam surrounded by so many stu- or should have thought about other alternative dents in a class” said Sandesh Shahi, a science ways to measure students’ performance based student in Herald College, Basundhara. This is on last years’ learning. a concern for many other students like Sandesh Irrespective of the government’s decision who are appearing for the upcoming grade 12 regarding the grade 12 examination, it is high time board examinations. for the government to come up with a COVID-19 The new corona virus infections have BY ASHIKA SHARMA examination strategy and policy to make it more started surging in recent days with more than sustainable. Upon the first option, if in-person thousand new cases a day. The United Nations alerted that Delta examinations are to be held, the government could opt for the variant is more dangerous and transmissible which may even approach adopted by and India. As a mechanism break through protections afforded by the vaccines. Medical ex- to lessen the transmission virus and ensure effective grading perts also have already warned that children may be more prone mechanism, Bangladesh and India modified their examination to the infection. In such unprecedented times, the National Ex- style. In Bangladesh, students were taught shortened syllabus amination Board announced that it would conduct grade 12 exams and questions were built based only on the rationalized syllabus physically from the 15th of August. On one hand it is absolutely to reduce examin duration. Similarly, in few states of India like crucial to maintain education quality, and to follow physical exam Jharkhand, Haryana, and Delhi the education board planned to mechanism to measure students’ actual performance, but on the conduct board exams in two phases, question paper were modi- other hand, given the present situation, it is also imperative to fied to Multiple Choice Questions (MCQ) to limit the duration of shied students from potential risk. Although the government has the test to just 90 minutes, and increased the number of exam stated that it would follow a strict COVID -19 safety guidelines centers to control the crowd. in the examination centers, it is yet to think of ways to ensure the Upon the second option, if schools are to be given the examination centers are hundred percent safe. responsibility to grade students based on the class perfor- At the time of this writing, the cancellation of the exam is mance, and also to put an end to the issue of biased marking, uncertain, however, if new COVID-19 cases rise in the next few the education board and the government should come up with days, the probability of exams being called off is a standard guideline to grade high. In such case, the government might hand students’ performance like in over the responsibility of performance evalua- India where class 10 students tion to the respective schools like it did last year. would be graded on the basis According to experts, such practice increased of their performance in internal questions over its fairness and authenticity as exams, pre-boards and practical some schools inflated the obtained grades. For exams. For grade 12, students instance, students scoring 4 GPA in SEE exami- marks will be given no only on nation drastically increased by 88 percent last the basis of internal/pre board, year as compared to the year before that when but also on their performance in examination was evaluated externally. Schools the final exams of class 10 and 11 inflated grading not only raised eyebrows over with the weightage of 40:30:30 deflated education practice, but it also raised questions on students’ respectively. In addition to assessing performance internally by true potential. schools, there should also be a proper documentation of student’s Both the options – conducting the exams in-person or homework, attendance, and class participation. allowing the educational institutes to self-evaluate - are fraught With the anticipated third wave of COVID-19 pandemic with challenges. With more than one year of living with the around the corner, there is an urgency to immediately resolve COVID-19 pandemic, lingering confusion as to how the exams the issue of examining students’ performance with a focused should be held shows lag in preparation and negligence from the sustainable solution. concerned authority. The government by now should have already

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 26 ARTICLE

Here’s How Governments Can Reduce The Impacts Of Asia’s Devastating Flash Floods

Flash floods have increased and become mountainous areas and vice versa. For set- more unpredictable, and their toll on lives tlements in a coastal area near a mountain- and livelihoods is growing as well. There is ous region, a typhoon or torrential rainfall much we still don’t know about how to man- coinciding with a tidal surge will also trigger age floods, but there are key policy actions high magnitude flash floods. Triggers for we can take now. flash floods include other natural causes In Asia and the Pacific, we have en- (e.g., glacial lakes outbursts), and artificial tered the season – June through August – for BY RABINDRA P. OSTI dam breaches. flash floods and landslides. The number of There are few studies conducted to flash floods is increasing, breaking historical records, and understand the cause and effect of the increasing trend of bringing with them the associated human, economic, and flash floods. One of the most widely blamed factors is the infrastructure losses and damage, according to the global increased frequency of typhoons and torrential rains. Hu- disaster database EM-DAT. man encroachment within river corridors or flood plains and It is estimated that in 2018 alone, the region incurred dumping of construction debris and other waste in rivers flash flood damage of about $3 trillion. Many floods are are other factors reducing the flow of rivers, resulting in small and spread across remote locations worldwide, frequent and high magnitude flash floods. making estimates of their impact difficult, so this might Flash floods are not only the result of the rainfall- just represent a fraction of the actual figure. Mountain- runoff relationship but also the consequence of other ous countries like Afghanistan, the People’s Republic of geophysical and human-induced processes within the China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines, watershed, including land-use changes, urbanization and , and tend to top the list of countries population growth. highly impacted by flash floods. Millions of people continue to live in informal set- Tracking the impact of floods is complex because tlements on the banks of rivers, which are geologically they come in many forms and for myriad reasons. Flash very fragile. In general, many of these small watersheds floods are often triggered by excessive rain on mountain and rivers have lost their natural characteristics over time slopes, sudden release of water from reservoirs or other due to rapid land-cover/land-use changes, which ultimately reasons. They can occur in small watersheds at any time of increase the rainfall-runoff and sediment flow from the the day and are dangerous because they combine incredible watershed while diminishing natural protection. velocity with destructive power. Unless the right policies are formulated, laws en- In mountain regions, communities living in lower forced and actions are taken, flash floods will be a major areas might not even notice heavy rain but could still obstacle to maintaining social stability and economic suffer from flash floods. Changing rainfall patterns cause progress in the region. landslides and flash floods in communities that might have Interpretation of cause and effects of flash flood never before experienced such disasters. disasters are often politically, technically, and strategically Flash floods frequently cause landslides in hilly and biased, which confuses the process of making timely invest-

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 27 ARTICLE ment decisions. But there are approaches that can be taken, all levels. such as the following: Hazard zone identification should not only be done Harmonize principles such as integrated watershed based on historical hydrological records and observations. and water resources management, climate change adapta- It should capture other phenomena in the watershed as tion, and disaster risk management. Risk management well, if possible. should be an essential part of policies and plans. This is Spatial planning (including land use, urban, transport, easier to achieve at the local level. and environmental planning) plays a key role. Some con- A flood footprint and accountability mechanism ventional activities such as slope farming requiring frequent should be promoted within small watersheds. This helps land preparation therefore yielding more sediment produc- promote upstream-downstream coordination and enforce tion can be replaced by high-value and long-term fruit and disaster laws and regulations. orchid production with proper food security planning. Local governments urgently need greater expertise “Green-gray” infrastructure like retention basins, on flood management, both on the technical and non- wetlands, vegetation shields, sediment traps, floodwalls,

technical aspects, and in each and every stage of the risk diversion channels, retaining walls, and other measures management cycle, which is greatly lacking in the region. can improve the geo-morphology of the mountain rivers Preparedness and response capacity at local commu- including slope stabilization and overall flash flood risk nities should equally be promoted through a community- management. based approach. This includes building community-to- Unless the right policies are formulated, laws en- community coordination. For example, if there is heavy forced and actions are taken, flash floods will be a major rainfall and a flash flood is likely in an upstream communi- obstacle to maintaining social stability and economic ty, that community can inform the downstream community progress in the region. and activate an alert system—which should be installed. Flash floods are increasing. Our understanding and Rainfall forecasts, flood forecasts, and early warning actions to address them need to increase as well. systems give different meanings at different times. There- fore, clear boundaries are needed. With the increased use Source: ADB BlogADB Blog of high-level technologies, regular watershed monitoring Rabindra P. Osti is Senior Water Resources Specialist, East Asia and flash flood early warning systems can be enhanced at Department, ADB

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 28 TAMAKOSI V HYDROPOWER PROJECT Managing Finance With an agreement with EPF to invest Rs.12 Billion, 99.8 MW Tamakosi Fifth Hydropower Project has secured a major loan

BY A CORRESPONDENT

s a cascade project of 456 will provide loan of over 70 percent DPR and EIA of the project MW Upper Tamakosi Pro- Rs.11.33 billion. Remaining fund have already approved and the pro- ject, Tamakosi V is a fi- will be managed through equity and A ject has already received the genera- nancially attractive project. Thus, a public share. number of financial institutions have tion license in 2016. shown interest to invest on it. As a cascade project, the pro- With huge deposit capital in ject will not construct dam and other its hand, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) has been investing money in the hydropower sector in collabora- tion with Nepal Electricity Authority. As a major investor of Upper Tamakosi Project, it is natural for EPF to invest in the cascade project with higher and early return. Employees Provident Fund (EPF), Nepal Electricity Authority and Tamakosi Hydropower Com- pany have jointly signed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding to invest loan for the construction of 99.8 MW Tamakosi Fifth Hydro- power Project. In presence of Minister of Energy Pampha Bhusal, NEA’s man- aging director Hitendra Dev Shakya, CEO of company Nasibman Pradhan and Provident Fund’s administrator Tulsi Prasad Gautam signed MoU. infrastructure. The water coming Under the financial support from 456 MW Upper Tamakosi from Asian Infrastructure Invest- Tamakosi fifth is a cascade Project will be diverted to generation ment Bank (AIIB), additional EIA project of Upper Tamakosi and the house through 8 KM tunnel. project will be constructed under has been currently undergoing. The People’s Hydropower Program. The power generated by the pre-construction work is now un- project will be connected to central With an estimated cost of grid through 2 kilometer long 220 dergoing with aim to complete the over 16 billion rupees, the Fund kV transmission lines. project in 2024.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 29 FORUM The Inspiring Story Of Booker T. Washington: From Slave To Advisor To US Presidents

Introduction southern states in the US. Booker T. Washington was born a The situation of blacks in Alabama, slave but became an advisor to presidents. Washington's home state, was worse than He was born in 1856, on a small farm Vir- in other states. It was miserable because of ginia, USA. He advised President Theodore BY PURNA B. NEPALI, PHD. industrial-scale cotton plantation slavery. Roosevelt in 1905, and President William Alabama was one of the first seven states to Howard Taft in 1909. Washington was an educator, civil withdraw from the Union at the beginning of the American rights leader, and promoter of black entrepreneurship and Civil War. Slaves accounted for 48% of Alabama's popula- business. tion, and free Blacks only 3%. Washington had a famous dispute with renowned Washington faced many ups and downs during his black scholar W.E.B. DuBois. Dubois heavily criticized life. In his famous autobiography, Up from Slavery, he wrote Washington for political accommodations with whites and that he did not want to recall even a single instance of his pursuing his own interest. Dubois challenged Washington’s childhood from the miserable slavery period. leadership, and instead emphasized protest politics for Washington’s unique journey was full of struggles. larger integration and restructuring of American society. He traces his journey from slave to an educator. He credits In my opinion, both Washington's and DuBois's his success to education. Washington details his develop- strategies had strengths. DuBois pursued political ment as an educator and founder of the Tuskegee Institute rights to dismantle in Alabama. structural racism. In 1901, there Washington empha- was a remarkable sized self-help and White House dinner economic prosper- President Theodore ity for socio-eco- Roosevelt invited nomic progress. His Washington to dine multi-dimensional at the executive contributions can be mansion with his an appropriate strat- family. egy for empowering It was the big people from margin- news in the media alized communities -- ‘the former slave in Nepal. black man and the sitting US President’ Background Some media covered After the U.S. it as a scandal. Civil War in the The Missouri 1860s, freed Black Sedalia Sentinel slaves faced mar- published on its ginalization from front page a poem slavery, genocidal entitled Niggers in dispossession, and capitalist exploitation. In the late 1800s, the White House, which ended suggesting that either the lynching, brutal, and inhumane attacks against black people president's daughter should marry Washington or his son and dispossession of their land and property pervaded the with one of Washington's relatives. Senator Benjamin Till-

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 30 FORUM man of South Carlina said "we shall have to kill a thousand Nepalis have great and hidden future potentials. niggers to get them back in their places." All this evidence depicted the prevailing racial prejudice and stereotypes Strategy during that day. Washington led the civil rights movement in the But the ordinary dinner became an inspiring sign southern US for the emancipation of black people. of big hopes in the post-Civil War American history and Washington adopted strategies such as developing politics. The dinner cultivated an island of hope for all allies with progressive elites, convincing power centers freed African Americans. The Northern white newspapers for rights of black people. These multi-pronged strategies presses remarked upon Washington's accomplishments. created tangible public policy influence. The dinner conveyed the message that Roosevelt was Crucially, he believed that African Americans should everybody's president. The black community responded concentrate all energies on industrial education, accumula- positively -- Washington became a hero of the Negro race. tion of wealth, and social upliftment. Washington’s strategy Washington pioneered three strategies for African was for making African Americans economically prosper- American emancipation: i) pragmatic education, ii) black ous and self-reliant by self-help and entrepreneurship entrepreneurship, and iii) non-violent campaign for civil Washington’s emphasis on self-help for economic rights. prosperity was not fundamentally incompatible with DuBois’s emphasis on the fight for political rights and re- Educational Philosophy form. Hence, balanced, and mixed approaches and strategies Washington articulated a unique philosophy of educa- are needed for the overall empowerment of the marginalized tion: he emphasized not only classical teaching and learning, communities. but also practical life and work. In 1881, he established a tech- Conclusion nical institute to educate and em- It was the big news in the Washington devoted his life to power recently freed African Ameri- media -- ‘the former slave black African American people and is still cans with vocational education and man and the sitting US Presi- considered as one of the most success- entrepreneurship. Later it became the ful African Americans. He effectively renowned Historically Black Univer- dent’ Some media covered it as translated the words from his autobi- sity called Tuskegee University. a scandal. ography into his life: “We all should Tuskegee provided education rise, above the clouds of ignorance, in technical fields. For instance, students worked on a self- narrowness, and selfishness.” supporting farm, rearing animals, and cultivating needed Washington’s multi-dimensional and powerful con- products. All of Washington's works were guided by his tributions to the emancipation of African Americans are educational approach. “Education is not a thing apart from relevant for marginalized people of Nepal. These contribu- life—not a 'system,' nor a philosophy; it is direct teaching tions include equity in higher education, entrepreneurship of how to live and how to work,” he wrote. marginalized communities through technical and vocational Tuskegee often faced huge funding crises. It was education and training. The multi-pronged strategies and underfunded by state and local governments. Hence, Wash- interventions by developing with progressive allies would ington found creative ways to fund Tuskegee, such as by be instrumental for strategic influence on public policy and developing a relationship with a wealthy department store the legal system in Nepal. owner Julius Rosenwald. Through tactful and great efforts of mobilizing privi- leged whites, developing allies and alliances, and exploiting Entrepreneurship their networks, Washington was able to make benefits for Washington also emphasized the transformative disadvantaged communities. Washington demonstrated power of Black entrepreneurship. He pioneered the estab- exemplary ways of empowering his people despite adverse lishment of the National Negro Business League and mo- conditions. He proved his statement that “Excellence is to bilized a nationwide coalition of progressive middle-class do a common thing in an uncommon way.” whites and leaders of philanthropic institutions. He stressed [1]Dr. Purna Bahadur Nepali is Associate Professor, and Pro- that black people improve themselves through education, gram Director, Master of Public Policy and Management (MPPM), School of Management (KU SOM), Balkumari, industrial training, and business ownership. Washington Lalitpur. Dr. Nepali is a Research Fellow, Harvard Kennedy School and argued that political activity alone cannot make a man free, Hutchins Center, Harvard University, the US where he is undertaking and people must have property, industry, skill, economy, his research on the Political Economy of Inclusive Agrarian Trans- intelligence, and character. formation: Comparative Analysis of the Race-Caste of US and Nepal/ South-Asia. He has recently completed his Fulbright Visiting Research Washington's strategies about Black entrepreneurship Fellowship (2017-18) in Global Development and Sustainability at can be an asset for thinking about Dalit entrepreneurship and Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, economic upliftment in Nepal. Indeed, Dalit and indigenous USA. His research was on Reorienting Political Economy of Agrarian Transformations, focusing on marginalized communities in Nepal.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 31 NEPAL-INDIA Partnership Summit 2021 PHDCCI’s India-Nepal Centre Hosted India-Nepal Investment And Development Partnership Summit 2021

BY A CORRESPONDENT

s the economic rebounding is development,” said Sushil Bhatta, and development partnership. He the need of the hour to brave CEO, Investment Board Nepal and said that India has been and will be a Aa new world in post-pandemic Chief Guest/Keynote Speaker of the formidable investment and develop- times, under the aegis of its India- Summit. He added that the pandemic ment partner of Nepal, and together, Nepal Centre (INC) and in association has changed the fundamentals of both countries should explore tapping with the Confederation of Nepalese investment priorities; however, the the low-hanging fruits in Nepal. This Industries (CNI), Investment Board cooperation between India and Nepal will be a win-win situation for both Nepal (IBN) and State Bank of India is still robust and promising. He laid countries. (SBI), PHD Chamber of Commerce stress on the energy and infrastructure Abhishek Upadhyay, First Sec- and Industry (PHDCCI) has hosted as two main areas where Indian in- retary & Commercial Representative, India-Nepal Investment & Develop- vestment in Nepal has created a very Embassy of India in Nepal lauded the ment Partnership Summit 2021. positive developmental momentum in theme of the Summit and reassured The Summit was organized with Nepal, and for making South Asia a about India’s unwavering commitment an aim to bring the important stake- “Growth Hub”, the unique investment for the development of Nepal through holders of bilateral economic coopera- and development partnership between investment and development partner- tion on a common idea platform from two countries should stay on the path ship assistance. both India and Nepal to discuss some of progression. He said that India continues to of the most crucial aspects concerning K V Rajan, Chair, India-Nepal be the largest trading partner of Nepal, investment and development partner- Centre, PHDCCI & India’s Former despite the unprecedented disruption ship between two countries. Ambassador to Nepal reflected on the with Covid-19 pandemic and lock- The session was attended by needs for closer cooperation with India down, trade flow has gone up between the key policymakers from both the and Nepal, so the youth of the region India and Nepal. He appreciated the government and industry to ideate should get fair career opportunities at pioneering works of SBI in Nepal and the way forward for an ever closer their homeland. For making it hap- now opening of its “Nepal Help Desk” cooperation between India and Nepal pen, he cited the critically important that should help the businesses on both on the key issues including: Indian role of liberal trade regime and active sides, he acknowledged a vital role of Investment and Development Partner- interface between the government and PHDCCI’s India-Nepal Centre, CNI ship in Nepal: Are they game changers industry. Nirvana Chaudhary, Chair, and IBN in fostering such business in the long run?; Covid-19 & changing India-Nepal Centre (Nepal), PHDCCI- initiatives. scenario of Investment and Develop- CNI has said that India continues to be Anukool Bhatnagar, CGM, ment Partnership in Nepal; Strategiz- the most important trade and develop- SBI & Former MD & CEO, Nepal ing Nepal’s economic development ment partner of Nepal. Such economy SBI Bank Ltd (NSBL) has shared with Investment and Development of scale is hard to find in any other bi- about the recently-launched “SBI Partnership from India; Re-prioritising lateral economic relations with Nepal, Nepal Desk” and with a mission to production, employment and inclusive he said that startup ecosystems, fintech support businesses to expand in both development; Finding an alternative and remittance are the areas where the countries. He said, “We greatly value development paradigm for Nepal India-Nepal Centre will work with the our ties with the institution like PH- “Nepal is on the path of generat- partners like industry chambers, IBN DCCI’s India-Nepal Centre and the ing economic prosperity by creating and other government institutions. industry chambers in Nepal and I am robust legal and policy framework Ram Prasad , Deputy inviting them to engage with us and aimed at providing a conducive busi- Chief of Mission, Embassy of Nepal avail our services in Nepal. In a bid ness environment for the private sector in India has counted stakeholder’s to strengthen the universe of bilateral as one of the main pillars of economic role as decisive in both investment business partnership, we have started NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 32 “For making a robust startup the SBI Nepal Nepal Desk that should Sanyal, Secretary General, PHDCCI ecosystem, Nepal should work closely cater the businesses as well as the Ne- while summing up the proceedings. with the industry counterparts in India pali Diaspora living in different parts In partnership with the Embas- where the startups are playing a major of the country including in India’s sies on both sides, industry asso- role in the economic development of northern states. He said that despite ciations like CNI and other industry the country. He said that PHDCCI can the major disruption with Covid-19, stakeholders, PHDCCI’s Bilateral be a partner for making positive en- the development works have been Economic Think Tank “India-Nepal trepreneurial changes and welcomes in full swing and this will help the Centre” has been working as an Apex collaborations with counterparts like economy to bounce back.” Industry Chamber of India with a CNI,” Anil Khaitan, Former Presi- “Indeed, in the wake of Cov- very deep presence in Nepal. Both at dent, PHDCCI. id-19 outbreak, lives and livelihoods policy and grassroots levels, India- “Even when the emerging sce- have been adversely impacted in an Nepal Centre have been working for nario is full of uncertainties, it is sure-

ly a matter of great satisfaction how unprecedented manner. As the crisis fostering economic cooperation and people are helping each other and the has global nature, India and Nepal development partnership between government and industry playing their are severely impacted as well with India and Nepal. roles in mitigating the unprecedented the crisis created by global pandemic. The Summit was curated and risk and challenges. Moving forward, To mitigate the economic losses coordinated by Atul K Thakur, Nodal we are trying our level best to keep In- and ensure rebounding, PHDCCI’s Coordinator, India-Nepal Centre, PH- dia’s inclusive growth momentum on. India-Nepal Centre has been relent- DCCI, and attended by among others, In the process, we are very much open lessly working and making positive Praveena Kala, Director, Paramount to engage with the industry fraternity outcomes for the greater common Cables Ltd; O P Choudhary, DGM in Nepal to carry forward the mission goods,” said Pradeep Multani, Senior (SME), SBI; Vivek Gupta, Chief of creating “Shared Prosperity” in the Vice President, PHDCCI. Manager, SBI; Aditya Tripathi, Joint South Asian region,” said Saurabh Secretary, PHDCCI.

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 33 ARTICLE

Foreign Aid And Politics: A 21st Century Partnership

International politics is a persistent struggle for The extinction of a nation could not be power, not necessarily to create constant open averted once their numbers had declined below warfare, but to maintain a state of anarchy, and the critical level and that level was reached when accumulate as much power as possible, using it to BY MARYAM SRYOKA ISIS swept through the region, following severe defend and pursue their national interest. Donors political and economic consequences before the are usually driven by this mindset, whether on purpose or potentially catastrophic end that we all are expecting. The not(Whelan, 2004). situation is bleak and has deteriorated significantly in the past The wealthiest nations who have vast interest in the six years. A genocide following a complete civil collapse and poorer nations they assist, to further reach national, economic eventually a pandemic. and ideological intentions where they regularly forget the main We need a new approach to foreign aid strengthen- aim, development. Good intentions might have damaging ing the citizen-state compact by helping to improve public effects from time to time.Foreign aid has always had geopo- accountability. Aid must promote enabling policy and legal litical ramifications(Sugema, 2005), and now more than ever environment for civic space where citizen groups can ad- it is perceptible. While employing aid to address a variety of vance businesses and growth. Foreign aid should also play an different goals, including military assistance. important role in strengthening the voice and participation of According to aid architects, foreign aid has never citizens in developing countries to demand transparency and represented a significant expenditure for donor countries as accountability from their governments and make best use of a percent of their total government budget; it is limited resources responsibly. often a substantial share of the government budget Beyond North-South collabora- Beyond North-South col- and even the GDP of some recipients. Most donor tion, South-South collaboration should laboration, South-South col- countries have not reached the Organization for be explored to promote knowledge, laboration should be explored to Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) technology transfer, trade and invest- promote knowledge, technology goal of allocating 0.7% of their GDP for economic ments for development by Global transfer, trade and investments development aid(Tingley, 2012) South for advancing SDGs. Regional for development by Global South National security consideration always re- integration will help mutual learning for advancing SDGs. Regional mained at the heart of foreign aid. However, after and growth without depending heavily integration will help mutual 9/11, the relation between national security and on Global North for foreign aid. learning and growth without de- foreign aid changed to take a greater proportion in pending heavily on Global North the US foreign aid. This has also impacted on other for foreign aid. bilateral aid flows to developing countries. References In the case of Iraq, we have received a large volume Sugema, A. C. (2005). How Significant and Effective of foreign aid that played a crucial role in the recovery of the Has Foreign Aid to Indonesia Been? ASEAN Economic Bul- economy and reestablishing the infrastructure. Still, the deeply letin. rooted problems, before, during and after the American inva- Tingley, H. V. (2012). Introduction to the Geopolitics sion have no end in sight. Reminding each and every Iraqi, of Foreign Aid. Projects at Harvard. that the dream of comfortable living is far from coming true. Whelan, F. G. (2004). Hume and Machiavelli: Political Despite a great deal of talk about ending the suffering of Realism and Liberal Thought. Newyork : Lenxington Books . minorities to remain in their ancestral homelands, they are still Author: Maryam Sryoka is an International Relations and facing unfulfilled promises and an unprecedented impact of Economics graduate with experience in development cooperation and foreign governments’ refusal to provide aid directly to those in policies. An advocate of peace and religious freedom, she is fond of teach- ing and writing on contemporary social and political issues empowering need, survivors of genocide, leaving them trapped facing deep women and youth. Currently, she is Coordinator of ACT Alliance Iraq frustration, to a point where the world seemed to be already Forum – a platform for joint humanitarian and development actions for witnessing their disappearance. the ACT Alliance Members. She can be reached at [email protected]

NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 34 ANNAPURNA CONSERVATION Tourism Attraction More private-sector investment in the Annapurna Conservation Area can attract high-spending tourists to support post-COVID economic recovery

BY A CORRESPONDENT

s Nepal’s tourism sector is accounting for roughly 60 percent of comfortable accommodation in the one of hardest hit by the all trekking holidays. Himalayan region, as has been the ACovid-19 pandemic, there The report says the area could case in ,” said IFC’s Resident are greater concerns over how to attract higher value tourists who Representative in Nepal Babacar S. revive the industiry. could spend about 20 percent more if Faye. “In view of the gigantic losses However, a recent report pub- there was a greater action to boost ac- that Nepal’s tourism industry has suf- lished by IFC has shown that there commodation. While there are over fered due to the pandemic, it should is a way for an early recovery. Al- 1000 hotels, lodges, and tea shops, though the report is based on small create a new roadmap to align with these cater to low-budget travelers. pocket areas, it has shown that the the new market reality. It has the In order to appeal to higher-value project can be used for broader opportunity to attract more high-end purposes. tourists, the report lays out four po- tourists, a move that will impact the With increased private sector tential investment concepts: convert- supply chain, and investement, Annapurna Conserva- have positive ripple tion area is a great attraction for in- effects on the coun- ternal and external tourists in Nepal. try’s economy.” Increased private-sector in- To attract vestment in the Annapurna Con- higher spending servation Area could bring in more tourists and sustain high-spending tourists to help boost local communities the local economy in a post-COVID engaged in tourism, market, according to a new IFC report. the report makes The report—Architectural and it clear that more Cultural Heritage Tourism Products private sector in- in Nepal: An Assessment of New vestment is crucial. Private Sector Investment Opportu- Tourism in Nepal nities in the Annapurna Conservation has been the hard- Area—examines the opportunities est hit sector by for investors to capitalize on the ing old, abandoned houses in a street COVID-19 impacts. An estimated area’s triple offering of landscape, in Tukuche village into boutique 230,000 jobs are at risk, 20,000 tour architecture, and culture. hotels; redeveloping an abandoned, and trekking guides unemployed, The Annapurna Conserva- heritage house in Jharkot into a and 2,600 trekking agencies closed, tion Area now caters to two main amounting to a loss of around $460 visitor groups: Hindu and Buddhist boutique luxury hotel; establishing a pilgrims visiting Muktinath, an im- network of lodges along the Seven- million to the country’s GDP. portant site for both religions, and Passes trail in Manang; and setting adventure tourists—hikers, trekkers, up a coffee shop franchise in Lower The study is part of IFC’s and mountaineers. The Annapurna Mustang and Manang. continued support to Nepal’s tourism Area has long been the most popular “High spending tourists are sector as it struggles to recover from trekking destination in the country, willing to pay premium prices for the pandemic. NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 35 ARITICLE Epochs Of History

Any enthusiast of important timelines in Nepal’s the statue of Liberty, in a piecemeal or part by part past can do so by accessing ‘historylessonsnepal. fashion to the US. This symbol of friendship be- blogspot.com’ online. Unification of the country, tween the French and American peoples now stands Asal Hindustan as termed by Prithivi Narayan Shah as permanent landmark on Liberty Island, New (1723-1775), started around the same time that York. The new US, as it grew from the original 13 thirteen British colonies in North America achieved colonies, signified by the horizontal red and white independence. With such a similar time frame one lines of the American flag has now fifty stars on wonders at the present standing of USA and Nepal in BY HEMANG DIXIT its top left hand corner to reflect its present status. the present day world? Was Nepal’s isolation during The colour problem, originating from the exploita- the Shah / Rana years the reason? Was it the quests for invasion tion of the slaves in the southern states, in spite of the Civil War and power of the foreigners vis-a-vie our struggle for survival, during Abraham Lincoln’s presidency, exists to this day. Stories the cause? Was the subjugation of many parts of the world by of subjugation of the coloured population down South, the story European invaders and its results the cause of our present plight? of Ku Klux Klan and Jim Crow are indelible stains of the past. Whilst such subjugation and cruelty to humans elsewhere was The actions of Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis responsible for the invader’s successes, the prevailing state in plus countless others are a living testimony that much difference their own lands was however far from ideal. in thinking still persists. The existing United Kingdom came into being after vari- Ayn Rand, a Russian émigré to the USA, in her book ‘We ous conquests by Romans, Danes, Vikings, Angles and what not. the Living’ writes about the displacing of the Romanovs as rulers Queen Elizabeth I’s demise resulted in a union of two countries of Russia by Lenin, Stalin and others after 1918. She writes about with a shared monarch, King James I of England and VI of Scot- the ups and downs that the country underwent. This vast country land. The subsequent Second England Civil War led to England, which had withstood the onslaught of Napoleon was reduced in Wales, Scotland and Ireland becoming a Republic under Oliver stature following the glasnost and perestroika during Gorvachov’s Cromwell that lasted for twelve years till 1680 when the monarchy time. The fall of the Berlin Wall and the breakup of the USSR then was restored. The present monarch Queen Elizabeth II has been on occurred. The world changed too for the Big Four powers which the throne since 6th February 1952. Though a long established mon- during World War II had brought Germany to its knees had by the archy, the United Kingdom with very close links with us Nepalis end of the 20th Century was reduced to just Two i.e. Russia & US. since the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816, has no written constitution. The age of Trump (2016-2020), announced a policy of Portugal was an independent state from the 12th Century. It ‘America First’ with the prospect of US isolating itself. This be- had its kings and queens under whose patronage ships were sent ing so, the question that arises to which is the superpower which out around the world. Not only trade in materials but also humans is going to call the tune for the rest of the world to mark time to? became ‘commodities’ for the Portuguese and their neighbours, the As the saying goes it is ‘The fiddler who calls the tune’. Is this still Spaniards. This trade transported many Africans to far off lands in valid for the US? The treatment of the Negros, now Blacks over the Caribbean and the Americas to work as slaves. The Belgians, the centuries and the existing ill feeling towards Blacks, Asians Dutch and the English also took to this inhuman activity to ensure and even Latinos is something that is not compatible for a country labour for the cultivation of sugar and tobacco. Thankfully in this which claims to be a beacon of democracy. Surprisingly many 21st Century both these items are branded as hazards to health. citizens are gullible as per recent polls that show that one-third of Monarchy in France was overthrown by the French Revolu- the population still believe that Joe Biden won the Presidency by tion of 1789-93 and the First Republic established. The driving fraud! The recent official order of making 19th June as Juneteenth, force may be said to be, ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’. Then a Federal holiday is an attempt to improve national relationships. followed the Empire of Napoleon that lasted eleven years and was Though the current President of the US has been trying to mend succeeded by a monarchy which held sway for thirty-four years. his fences worldwide, one is not sure at this stage as to what the Then was established a Second Republic of 4 years, followed future holds. Isn’t it an appropriate time to rise and make amends? by a Second Empire of 18 years. After this, the Third Republic Coming back to home ground one is certainly disheartened lasted 75 years to be followed by the Fourth Republic which lasted by the present political landscape and the shenanigans that have barely 12. The present Fifth Republic has been in existence since plagued this country for almost three hundred years. Recent trends 1958. However politics in France has always been rather spon- have been musical chairs of a certain coterie and their chamchas, taneous and elastic if one recalls that it was from Paris that the dancing to various distant tunes whilst we ordinary Nepalis look 1968 student unrest started and triggered subsequent movements on as spineless and sightless earthworms! It is about time that all over the world. we started afresh. The British Colonies of North America became an inde- The author is a retired medical doctor and writes fiction under the pen pendent democracy in 1776. France, perhaps because of its sat- name of Mani Dixit also. Website: www.hdixit.org.np. Twitter: @manidixithd isfaction that the British had been displaced in America presented NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 36 NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 37 NEW SPOTLIGHT Aug. 06. 2021 38