National Pride Projects : Hope or myth for prosperity?

The Government of Nepal has listed various strategically important projects that can contribute to the country's economic and social transformation as National Pride Projects. Although the criteria for declaring such Pride Projects has not been made, the government has declared 21 projects under construction as National Pride Projects till now. But none of the projects  have been completed on time.

National Pride Projects are high-priority government projects aimed at benefiting the maximum population. These projects are typically long-term in nature and are implemented through multi-year contracts. In contrast, regular projects have shorter durations and are usually completed within two to three years. The government declares a project as a "National Pride Project" when it is expected to have a significant impact on the nation's economic growth and development. Such projects are generally distinguished based on their scale, complexity, and potential impact.

List of National Pride Projects as listed by National Planning Commission

1. Sikta Irrigation Project
2. Babai Irrigation Project
3. Rani Jamara Kulariya Irrigation Project
4. Bheri Babai Diversion Project
5. Upper Tamakoshi Hydropower Project
6. Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project
7. West Seti Hydropower Project
8. Bhairahawa Regional/International Airport
9. Pokhara Regional/International Airport
10. Second International Airport, Bara
11. Pashupati Area Development Trust
12. Lumbini Area Development Trust
13. Mid-Hill (Pushpalal) Highway
14. East-West Railway
15. Postal Highway
16. North-South (Koshi) Highway
17. North-South (Kaligandaki Corridor) Highway
18. North-South (Karnali) Highway
19. Kathmandu-Terai/Madhesh Fast Track
20. Melamchi Water Supply Project
21. President Chure Conservation Program

Nepal Trust

The Nepal Trust Act, which was originally formulated to allow usage only for education and health, was amended to include tourism and business.

After that, a game began where the trust's property was leased to close associates for an extremely low amount, for a duration of 80 to 100 years, at a throwaway price.

Everyone is involved in this collusion. What we see on the surface are the Congress and Communists, but when it comes to benefiting from it, everything is set behind the scenes.

Why do citizens even need the government ?

  #RightToRejectIn2084

Why do citizens even need the government ?

• To get a two-wheeler driving license takes 2-3 years.
• You have to run around for 2-4 days just to get a ward recommendation, citizenship, and passport.
• The national highway feels like an ambush.
• Food prices are 3-4 times higher.

The country could run even if they just placed a statue on the chair!

Nepal, Electricity and Trade !!

Nepal, a country rich in water resources, holds immense potential for electricity production. Rather than selling electricity abroad, if domestic consumption could be increased, it would make a significant contribution to the country’s economy.

Some questions that Nepal’s electricity and trade regulatory bodies and the government need to answer:

1. It has been years since the claim that electricity is being wasted, but how much has the electricity tariff been reduced to encourage domestic consumption? Why is the Step-Up Tariff system, which essentially exploits the people, still in place? The more electricity people consume, the more expensive it gets—how does that encourage consumption? Isn't it high time to introduce a system where higher consumption leads to lower tariffs?

2. Apart from lighting bulbs, who has actually been taught how to use electricity effectively? Even if electricity were provided for free starting tomorrow, would we, the lazy Nepalis, do anything other than keeping the lights on 24/7? What other measures have been introduced to boost electricity consumption?

3. Increasing domestic consumption would contribute more to GDP than selling electricity abroad. But instead, petroleum pipelines are rapidly being built by India, and we are happily receiving fuel. Even India needs infrastructure to sell fuel—it needs to lay pipelines, just as it needs infrastructure to transmit electricity.

4. Streetlights are being cut off due to payment disputes with municipalities. If the electricity authority is making a profit, how exactly does that benefit the people?

5. Instead of worrying about 1,000 megawatts going to waste tomorrow, why not distribute 100 megawatts for free today to cultivate the habit of using electricity? Increasing consumption requires habit formation, not just supplying electricity.

The current policy seems to be: "Sell paddy, buy flattened rice to eat"("धान वेचउ, चिउरा बेसाएर खाऊ"). We sell electricity and then buy fuel to run our vehicles, cook food using gas, and continue being dependent on imported energy. Why does Nepal even need electricity? We, the lazy Nepalis, will only leave our lights on all day if given free electricity—that’s all we know. Neither books, nor the government, nor the concerned authorities have taught us how to utilize electricity productively. Instead, everyone seems obsessed with the idea that Nepal has too much electricity, it is going to waste, and it should be sold cheaply to our neighbors just to earn a little money.

Road infrastructure: A stone age in Nepal

There isn’t even an example in the country of what the standard of a national highway should be.

The media and politicians make a fuss, claiming that a road has been connected to the network just because a bulldozer passed through.

For how long will our definition of a paved road remain just applying a layer of black coating?

National highways are in such fragile condition that there isn’t even a single example in the country to set a benchmark.

Either our representatives only focus on digging roads, or they have no idea about what road standards should be.

We are still in the Stone Age when it comes to road infrastructure—talking about railways and water transport is nothing but a daydream.

Look What a Joke!!

Even Google says that to Travel from Kathmandu to Dadeldhura, home town of waiting PM Sher Bahadur Dewa, the 777Km road within Nepal takes similar time compared to 920 KM through Indian Highway. 

The sons of kings vs. the sons of today’s political leaders.

The eldest son destined to be king received an education tailored for leadership—diplomacy, strategy, and governance were all taught to him. His upbringing was entirely different from that of other family members, ensuring he was well-prepared to rule the nation.

But today, leaders who entered the capital wearing cheap, worn-out sandals are behaving like a beggar who, upon receiving a banana, eats it whole with the peel. Some of their own children have already left the country, believing that their fathers’ politics won’t build a nation. Those who remain are either involved in smuggling or gang activities because their fathers failed to guide them. The so-called revolutionary leaders who once vowed to change the country couldn’t even set their own children on the right path—so how can they be expected to lead a nation?

Some suggestions for amend of the constitution to the current alliance between Congress and UML.

The current alliance between Congress and UML includes an agreement to amend the constitution.

Nepal's current government and parliamentary structure appear to be quite expensive and extensive. After the formation of provincial and local governments, many public services and structures were supposed to be decentralized and handed down accordingly. However, this has not been effectively implemented. To align with the spirit of the constitution and to strengthen federalism while maximizing efficiency, some adjustments to the central government and parliament seem essential. Therefore, the following proposals have been put forward to restructure the current system:

1. One District, One Representative

Parliamentarians are meant to formulate policies, not engage in development work. Each district should have just one representative.

There is no need for absentee parliamentarians who merely sign attendance for allowances but fail to meet the quorum during sessions.

• MPs receive salaries for being in office.
• They receive additional meeting allowances for attending parliamentary sessions.
• If attending the parliament is their main job, why is there a separate allowance for it? Strange!
• Moreover, some just sign in and leave, yet still claim allowances, while the parliament struggles to meet quorum.
• How long will we keep electing such irresponsible representatives?

Furthermore, the rationale behind proportional representation seats must be clarified to the public, as they are often misused to bring in wives, children, brothers-in-law, contractors, and businessmen into parliament.

2. 8-10 Ministries

To strengthen federalism, local and provincial governments should be given responsibility for implementing projects within their respective areas, while the federal government should focus only on national priority projects. Therefore, the current 20-22 ministries at the federal level could be reduced to 8-10.

Additionally, ministers should be appointed only from MPs with relevant experience and qualifications in their respective ministries. This would reduce the race for ministerial positions and help MPs focus more on parliamentary duties.

3. An Expert and Inclusive National Assembly

Since elected parliamentary bodies may lack representation from subject-matter experts, law-making processes should include experienced professionals from various fields.

To address this, a 50-member National Assembly should be formed, including experts with a minimum educational qualification or at least 8-10 years of professional experience, ensuring inclusive representation.

Additionally, to reduce the number of VIP positions, the Vice President should also serve as the Chairperson of the National Assembly.

77 Districts, 77 Parliament Members (७७ जिल्लाका ७७ सांसद)

77 Districts, 77 Parliament Members

Parliament members role is to formulate policies not meant to develop infrastructure. One representative per district is enough.

They take attendance, collect allowances, and still, when it comes to voting, there isn’t even a quorum; such irresponsible, absentee MPs are useless.

A salary for being an MP, A meeting allowance for attending Parliament.

But if their primary job is to go to Parliament, why do they get an additional allowance for it? Strange!

And yet, after marking attendance, they disappear just to collect their allowances; while Parliament struggles to meet the required number of members.

How long will we keep electing such irresponsible representatives?

Also, what is the justification for proportional representation seats if they are only used to bring in wives, sons, brothers-in-law, contractors, and businessmen? The public deserves an answer!

७७ जिल्लाका ७७ सांसद,

सासंदले विकास गर्ने होईन, नीति निर्माण गर्ने हो, हरेक जिल्लाको प्रतिनिधि गर्ने १-१ जना भए हुन्छ। हाजिर लाएर भत्ता पचाउने अनि गणना गर्दा कोरम नपुग्ने भगौडा सासंद काम छैन।।

सासंद भए बापत तलब संसद भवनमा गए बापत बैठक भत्ता रे, हैन काम नै संसद भवनमा जानू भएसि फेरि त्यसको नि छुट्टै भत्ता, अचम्म ।। फेरि हाजिर लाएर टाप त्यहि भत्ता खानलाई, संसदमा भने संख्या पुग्दैन, यस्ता गैर जिम्मेवार प्रतिनिधि कतिन्जेल जिताउने?

श्रीमती, छोरो, सालो, ठेक्दार, व्यापारी सांसद बनाउने समानुपातिक सिटको ओेेैचित्य के हो त, जनतालाई बुझाउन जरुरि छ।