Support For Reconstruction

Nepal stands at a critical political juncture. The decisions made at this moment may create a ripple worldwide and set the trajectory the country will take in the years to come.  A month after the Gen Z movement of September 8 and 9, the most destructive 48 hours in the country's history in terms of economic and human costs, the monumental task of building back better remains. A land globally renowned for resilient people and culture, the country will surely rise from the ashes. But it cannot do it alone; it needs the helping hands of our international partners.     

Making an effort to that end, Prime Minister Sushila Karki has directed Nepal's ambassadors and heads of missions abroad to prioritise key areas to navigate the nation's political transition and address the fallout from the unrest. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Karki conducted a virtual meeting with ambassadors and mission chiefs from dozens of countries to discuss the nation's latest political scenario, economic challenges, and key international relations priorities. 

In the context that tourism and foreign investment have declined sharply in the wake of the uprising, the Prime Minister's outreach effort can have profound impacts. The effort aimed at keeping global partners informed ahead of the upcoming parliamentary elections. She also urged them to propagate the truth that normalcy has returned to the country, something when done in letter and spirit, can go a long way in revitalising tourism and investment and enhancing citizen services. Besides, she called on the Nepali envoys and representatives abroad to enhance service delivery to the migrant workers and to safeguard their dignity, honour and rights.

Her appeal for them to share the truth on political change has deeply resonated with all Nepalis. That's because in the age of fake narratives passed as truth by countless social media users, people deserve to know the truth. News reports have come out that some unruly mobs that targeted vital tourism infrastructure acted on the fake news, exposing the powers and perils of false news. Businesses that took years to build went up in flames within hours. Tens of thousands of jobs evaporated right away.  

At a time when hotel bookings, which should be around 70 per cent during the high season month of October, have currently dropped to around 30 per cent, it is essential to inform all that the nation is back on its feet with its daily rhythm and that economic activities, including tourism, trade, and investment, have resumed their previous momentum. The Prime Minister has also urged the chief of missions to provide efficient, fast and technology-friendly services to address the expectations of millions of Nepalis living abroad, calling for necessary publicity regarding the Physical Infrastructure Reconstruction Fund set up by the government to garner financial support for the much-needed reconstruction of the country.

Following the movement, there are lofty public expectations for efficient, impartial, transparent, accountable, unbiased, technology-friendly, and effective service delivery and performance. Prime Minister Karki's commitment that the government would never shirk its public and legal responsibilities has inspired hope across Nepalis of all walks of life. One of the hard lessons of this movement is that political leaders cannot afford to take lightly people's concerns and aspirations. While the road to reconstruction is riddled with challenges, new opportunities have also emerged for course correction and soul searching.