On/Off the Record

By P.R. Pradhan

How a nation collapses, we can see it from the downfall of different organs in the country since the nation adopted a multiparty democracy by suspending the King’s active leadership in 1990.

Kathmandu Metropolis City’s Mayor Balen (Balendra) Shah, addressing a function organized on the occasion of the Dhanwantari Jayanti (anniversary) during the Tihar festival at the Singhadurwar Baidhyakhana, suggested visiting the Baidhyakhana to see how a nation collapses. This scribe agrees with his point of view. Balen said that he had spent several years there when his father was working for the Baidhayakhana. During his childhood days, he saw producing many medicines there, now it is very sick and producing a few medicines only. Balen saw only a few buildings but now there are many buildings but producing a few medicines only. He challenged the government to run the Baidhyakhana on profit and if it cannot, he asked the government to hand over it to the Kathmandu Metropolis. “I know, how to run the Baidhyakhana,” he said.

This scribe has been in the journalism profession since 1975 and saw the flourishing of the government undertakings very successfully. The Singhadurwar Baidhyakhana produced around 200 types of Ayurvedic medicines. The Royal Drugs was also producing verities of medicines. Royal Nepal Airlines was flying to the European countries in the West and to Japan in the East. The Janakpur Ciggrate Factory was paying the highest amount of tax to the government, the Bansbari Shoes Factory was producing strong shoes needed for the Royal Nepal Army and the Nepal Police. The Himal, Hetauda and Udayapur Cement factories were running in profit by producing quality cement. They all have been ruined today. The Gorakhkali Rubber Udhog was producing quality tyres which were exported to Bangladesh and other South Asian countries. The Hetauda Textile Industry was producing standard cloths.

Many of the government-owned industries have been privatized saying that a government should not involve in business. As a result, a country moving towards an industrialized nation has been deindustrialized and turned into a country relying on imports. The government’s major portion of revenue is customs duty on goods imported from abroad. Now, the government has fallen into a trade trap that if the customs revenue is declined, it will miss the revenue targets. Therefore, the government is compelled to encourage imports rather than producing the same goods within the country.

The economy is the backbone of a nation. Revenue based on imports doesn’t strengthen the nation’s economy. Substituting imports and exporting our goods in the international market at competitive prices is the right path to economic prosperity. Kulman Ghishing, executive director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, and political leaders in the government are making big talks saying that they are able to export electricity to India. How much profit does Nepal earn from exports of electricity, they have not disclosed. We believe, Nepali consumers are paying a higher price for the electricity they consume than the amount the government receives from its exports. The nation could gain enormously if electricity is supplied to the industries at subsidized prices. The process of industrialization could be started if electricity supplied to the local industries rather than exporting it to other countries at a loss. India is the sole buyer of our electricity, therefore, at any time, India may stop importing electricity inspired by its vested political interests. To avoid such a trap also, Nepal should not rely on exports of electricity to India. Today, India is creating hurdles in importing cement produced in Nepal. In the same way, it may create a hurdle in importing electricity.

Not to forget, we saw People’s Movement 1 and People’s Movement 2, both sponsored by India to defunct Nepal, a nation emerging strongly. After India became successful in bringing political change to Nepal, it started spoiling important organs necessary for the nation. Today, India and the West are serving their vested interests by spoiling Nepal.

Let Nepali people become aware and change the present political system, which is not in the interests of Nepal and its people.  There is no ground left to trust the leaders of the day that they would make Nepal prosperous.

Source : https://www.peoplesreview.com.np/2024/11/13/how-a-nation-collapses/