The flaws in the policies and programs of government of Nepal for the fiscal year 2011/12.

The proposed policies tries to address issues in economic sector, education, agriculture, culture, environment, national planning, telecommunication, information technology, unemployment to name a few.
One of the flaws of this proposed plan is that its not uniform. In some issues both the policy and the proposed plan to guide the policy into the right direction has been proposed while in some issues it lacks to do so. For instance, it is mentioned in the policy that,
“45. Special program will be introduced to revive and run sick industries” – it is not clear what special program is the government going to introduce and which industries will qualify as sick industries.
However, quite opposite to this, the policy also mentions, that
“25. Arrangement will be made to bring in most of the remittance through the banking channel. Remittance money will be encouraged to be invested in productive sectors including energy.”
Opposite to 45, the above mentioned policy clearly states how the government plans to bring in the remittance and how and where does it intend to use the remittance collected.
The other flaw is that perhaps this policy is a little too over ambitious in terms of meeting its expected targets. For a time span of one year, the proposed policies are possibly a little too farfetched. One of the other flaws of this policy is that, it aims at focusing into a lot of things with a lot of policies over a very short period of time. As the saying goes, ‘too many cooks spoils the broth’ this proposed policy might be an example of such a situation coming true in reality.
The policy is too vague in terms of its time span. It does not clearly state by which time does the GoN aims to meet its proposed plan. For instance, it is mentioned in the policy proposed that
“16. In order to maintain macroeconomic stability, timely changes will be made in fiscal and monetary policies. Public policies will be formulated on the basis of processed statistics from the recently conducted national census.”
The flaw here is that the time frame given is not concrete. The timely change here is not mentioned clearly, is the change is to be implemented semi annually, annually, or quarterly?
The policy also addresses to come with solution to resolve conflicts that has been engulfing nation for quite some time including in terai- madhesh on the basis of dialogue. The special mentioning of terai – madhesh isn’t appropriate. The entire country has been engulfed in the conflicts, special mentioning of the southern part of the state might give a separatist impression to many, which isn’t good for the sustainability of the national integrity.
The policies being presented seems to be prepared in a hassle without enough homework done. It is over ambitious as the issues are simply too much and too vast to be covered within the span of one year. It is a good thing that the policy takes into consideration all the sectors and does not leave out any sectors whatsoever. However, one flaw and a possible failure that may occur while doing so is that, as the saying goes ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ focusing in just too many issues may result to no success in resolving any issue. Hence, it might be better if the policy concentrated its focus more on lesser issues, focusing in something and getting it done rather than making a failed attempt of focusing on everything and getting nothing done.

An interaction with Dr. Bhola N. Chalise

I had never been good at remembering and recalling names and had no clue as to who Dr.Bhola Chalise was. I asked around with a couple of friends and came to know that he had apparently worked in various ministry’s of government as secretary, and was apparently a very big name in the Nepal political arena
As he entered he reminded me of Einstein, very lean and thin, with dark circles under the eyes and gray hair that did justice to his knowledge that he had amassed with his experience.
He came across as someone who had very good knowledge of what he was saying. Very down to earth and humble, he had no unnecessary ego whatsoever, that people generally seem to have when they reach a post as high as him. Even at the age of 60 he had the energy and enthusiasm that generally is not witnessed. He answered every question properly.
However one flaw that I couldn’t help but notice in his way of presentation, or mode of delivery is that he tends to get a little aggressive, if the other person doesn’t agree to his viewpoints. He might be right with his left wing viewpoints, but if any right wing person puts forwards his/her view he doesn’t seem to have the patience of explaining the flaw in the latter person’s point of view. It could be perhaps that he is tired of having to explain it to be people time and time again. But nevertheless, it is good to know that people as humble as him, as down to earth as him, as knowledgeable as him are still in Nepal and doing their part to help create the new Nepal.

Why does the Chinese government plan to make a third diplomatic visit to Nepal within a year?

      Official diplomatic visits conducted by any state are always of chief concern to the international community. The non political actors like the media houses, political analysts who contribute equally towards the politics in today’s world like to analyze it with great scrutiny.  Official state visits are most of the time driven by national interests.  Any country does not send its president, chief of army, secretary of state to another state for an official visit because the state wants its government officials to experience a change in the cuisine or accommodation. These kinds of state level visits are conducted because it fulfills national interest of both the countries involved.
The government of China announced recently that its chief of national defense and the member of the central committee of the communist party will visit Nepal this coming August, who is one of the most prominent Chinese government figure to visit Nepal . This would be the third official diplomatic visit that China will be conducting in Nepal within the span of one year. This visit is said to be focused on the issues of politics and national defense that would be beneficial both to China and Nepal alike. The representative from the Chinese government is set to have these bi lateral talks with Prime Minister Mr. Jhalanath Khanal, the heads of various parties and various important security personnel.
 Sandwiched between two power giants India and China, Nepal in the current date is in a political transitional phase. Any political activity that takes place in this land of Himalayas is of great importance and curiosity for many.  Needless to say, that it definitely impacts the political outcomes and decision making of Nepal to a certain extent. These continuous visits from China are of great interest and a subject of investigation and fascination to many. So, what is the main intention of these visits from China? Why is China visiting Nepal more often now?  What national interest does it serve China to visit Nepal and what is the intention behind the Nepalese government to facilitate these visits?
What is China gaining out of these visits? As we all know that the new government is keen on adapting the socialist form of governance, so are these visits from China a silent indication that it will support Nepal with its wished new form of governance? What benefits will China receive if Nepal becomes a socialist state and what are the benefits and disadvantages that Nepal will gain from this benefit of China?
The international political actors have had a keen interest in the political situation in Nepal for quite some time. Ever since the royal massacre of 2002, and the referendum that followed after which led to the oust of the then King Gyanendra from power, the international world has always been keen to see how the political game in Nepal would unfold.  What impression is China trying to send to the international political arena by visiting Nepal? Considered as one of China’s arch enemy in the power game, United States of America visited India recently. Does this in any way influence China’s decisions to increase its number of visits to Nepal? Is Nepal being used as a pawn in a big game of power play?
The states cannot conduct bilateral meetings and official diplomatic visits without the consent and approval of both the states involved in the meeting. If China wants to visit Nepal, it cannot do so if the Nepalese government does not approve of it. So why is the Nepalese government approving these visit from China? What would be the ramifications if the Nepalese government does not want to facilitate these official state level visits? What are the benefits that the Nepalese government is receiving from these visits?
Given its geographical position, Nepal needs to be very careful with its art of diplomacy, and the current political situation of Nepal calls for an even more cautious measure to be adopted while performing acts of diplomacy. One small error of judgment in its conduct of diplomacy, and the consequences could be a price very expensive for us to pay. Hence, it’s high time that we find someone reliable, accountable and trustworthy who could answer to all the questions that this article proposes.
(op ed to the article published in rajdhani on 23 July 2011)

My experiences in Webster university Thailand campus.

My journey in this academic institution began in the fall of 2009. I didn’t join Webster in a normal semester. I had joined Webster when the academic session was half way through. It is known as the ‘fast track’ where students join the academic session after 8 normal weeks of the session have been completed. I decided to go to Webster in Thailand after having spoken to Mr. Samrat Ray Chaudhary and the then vice Rector Mr. Bruce Keele who were visiting Nepal for recruiting processes. After having taken a year break from my studies post high school, it was high time for me to be thinking seriously about my future study plans.
 I had many other countries as my potential study destinations but honestly, Thailand wasn’t one of them.  I had never thought of Thailand to be a place to study. Thailand has always been famous as a holiday destination perfect for shopping, parties, beaches and fun activities of the same nature rather than serious studious studies.  But after having spoken to the representatives from Webster I decided to consider Thailand as an option to continue my further studies. They had the course I was very interested in pursuing for my undergraduate studies which was a great plus point and, to a large extent influenced my decision to choose this university as my Alma matter for the next 4 years to come.
 I was received by a warm Thai student at the Suwarnabhumi international airport 14 October 2009 and then I began my almost three hour journey south of Bangkok to Cha – am. The journey felt long and quite because I was travelling with a heavy heart of having to leave my family and friend behind. I reached what I thought would be my home for the next four years.  I knew little then that I would change places during my stay there.
The orientation followed a couple of days after and I was introduced to the staff and was given a tour of the school. It isn’t a big school spread over 591 acres of land with 2,107 staff members who taught to an academic body of 7,181. It is a small school with staff members that you can remember by name and not by the subject they taught or the department they belonged to, and you can smile to a person eating at the Japanese restaurant at the mall because you know you have seen him/her in the school today or yesterday for that matter.
My experience in Webster so far has been good, full of unexpected events that have taught me to see life and world with an entirely new perception. In the due process I have discovered and rediscovered myself and have learnt to deal with the change. I am friends with people who aren’t from my country. This has helped me to see another person’s point of view and an entirely different side to a same story. I learnt how to use the chopsticks in the proper Japanese way taught by an American friend who lived in Japan for 6 years.  I was taught no question is stupid by a European Jew, which has augmented the inquisitiveness that was within me.
The experiences that I have gained here has also given me a very good idea as to what the real world would look like when I walk out to deal with it. One valuable lesson that I have learnt during my stay here attributed to the researches that needs to be conducted to write a paper is that, the more you study about a subject matter the less you feel you know about it. I don’t know what lays ahead of me in one more year of my stay in Webster University Thailand Campus but whatever it is I know will add more chapters in my life that I shall cherish for the lessons it will teach me.