Emerging from a poor nation that encompass a third under severe poverty, the new arrangement made with a radical touch for the diseases it suffers would be sustainable.
Since crippled with prolonged political violence for more than a decade a final ‘Midas touch’ with red label not to rule but to write a constitution under the aegis of Maoist theology is an unbelievable turn-up in the world politics.
No where it is seen such an unexpected turn about that results into total hijacking of an issue with a sweep, that also leave no space for other stakeholders to share anything.
Even few months back while the elections postponed all the concerned parties expected that Prachanda and his team might opt for return to armed struggle. However, instead they made a coup all the democratic calculations in a predominantly feudal system to turn towards a revolutionary zest in the ballot.
It is obvious that Maoist sings their tune in the constituent assembly and constructs a stronger progressive system. Just writing a constitution at par with rest of the Marxist or social democratic doctrines is not enough rather than executing such a tough task in a conservative system, which also divided ethnically.
People’s ambition for a modern democratic system that addresses their grievances varies versions from different political parties, because each one addresses different public constituencies.
A radical party emerging from rural regions of the country may have different agenda compared with other parties. During the last decade Nepal has registered an 11 % growth rate but with segmented distribution. It also has an urban populace of 12 % of total 26 million. Their per capita is fair for a poor country with $ 260; undoubtedly, considerable income flowed in from bristling tourism. The country holds highest mountainous peak in the world ‘Mount Everest’ in the greater Himalayan range.
The agriculture provide livelihood for three-fourth of the population and generates 38 % of the GDP. Industrial activity mainly constitutes processing of agro products such as, Jute, sugarcane, tobacco and grain. Recently, hydropower and tourism attracted few interests for foreign trade and investment. Other sectors unlikely to enjoy the same since lack of skilled man power, remote and landlocked geography and unstable nature.
The social infrastructure is also dismal as only literacy spread to 56 % of the population in which female literacy more pathetic. Nearly 50 % of the children are suffering from malnutrition. However, life expectancy rests with 60 years similar to other South Asian countries.
One of the major impediments in the growth strategy is the unemployment rate of above 40 %, which is a side effect of unskilled work force. The population pressure on agriculture is an obvious reason for poverty and the cyclical formation of vicious poverty is unavoidable.
Any elected government should address these basic issues without taking prolonged period. A sustainable policy framework in the lines of phased plan would address the problems. Such plan including across the sections would benefit disadvantaged groups or sections that neglected so far.
A radical-progressive constitution provide ample opportunities for the mass equally thrusts the development at a larger scale and help the nation to catch up with rest of the developing nations and have fair growth figures in the tables.
At this moment nobody has any clue in what way the Maoist would design the constitution to achieve their fair goals ahead.
Looking into the historical events during the last fifty years one may come to a conclusion that how far the Maoist can deliver in the globalised economic order.
It is to remember that without much external assistance Nepal, a poor country could have a healthy progress is a daydream.
From the experience let them decide on their own that what to receive, how to receive and from whom to receive the assistance for development.