Moving On Right Track

Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba-led five-party coalition government has completed one year in office. Formed in a special circumstance, the government has succeeded to safeguard constitution and parliament by upholding the basic values of democracy. It has made important gains on political, social security, health, economic, good governance and foreign policy fronts. First and foremost, it has brought due political process back on track, which was turned upside down by the previous government.  Nepal’ new constitution, written by the elected representatives in 2015, has declared Nepal as a federal democratic republic. The adoption of new political and economic system is based on various past democratic movements as well as the people’s aspirations for happy and prosperous life. Instilling the people’s confidence in the federal democratic system and making it functional to address their genuine concerns is the chief objective of the coalition government, and it has succeeded in that mission. 

The government has conducted the local elections in a free, fair and fearless atmosphere. The local election forms the foundation of grassroots democracy. The people actively participated in the local polls to choose their fresh representatives, which has further consolidated the federal system. It is set to announce the date of elections to the federal and provincial parliaments soon. When Prime Minister Deuba took the helm of the government, the country was still struggling to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic. His government attached top priority to the public health and successfully launched the vaccination drive covering all segments of the population. This not only protected the people from the deadly virus but also enabled to normalise life and resume stalled economic activities. Special economic package was provided to the COVID-hit industries, tourism, business, communication, transportation, the working class, the poor and the unemployed. 

Nepal, for the first time, started selling surplus electricity to India through the inter-country transmission lines. The export of cement to India marked another sign of improved export trade essential to cut the widening trade deficit. On the social security front, the government announced to provide monthly allowance of Rs. 5,000 to patients suffering from cancer, kidney ailment and spinal injuries and a relief of Rs. 10,000 to each extremely poor household. The government has provided poor household identity cards to the people living below the poverty line.  Around one million landless squatters are getting landownership certificates soon. Senior citizens aged above 68 years are now entitled to get the old age allowance. 

The rural areas have now access to air ambulances so that the people injured in road accidents, floods and natural calamities can receive timely treatment. In view of rising inflation, triggered by the fuel price hike, the government has taken measures to maintain economic stability and create investment-friendly environment. In order to expedite the works of national pride projects, the monitoring and evaluation mechanism has been put in place. The government has been successful in executing the balanced foreign policy while keeping national interest at the centre. Nepal’s relations with neighbours and friendly countries have become warm and cordial. PM Deuba’s visit to India and Indian PM Narendra Modi’s trip to Lumbini have enhanced the bilateral ties between the two close neighbours. The government has accepted US Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) fund as it is necessary for Nepal’s economic development but it rejected the State Partnership Programme (SPP) considering it as military pact. This amply indicates that the foreign policy is based on pragmatism and neutrality.