By P.R. Pradhan
Following the devastating floods in Rasuwa, grants and donations have begun mounting from Nepalis and friendly foreign countries for rescue, relief and rehabilitation. We welcome every contribution to help families who have lost their homes, property and loved ones. At a time of tragedy, solidarity matters.
But a serious question must be asked: Is collecting donations really an achievement of the government, or evidence of its failure to prepare the country for disasters that are becoming increasingly predictable?
The Balendra Shah government may consider the flow of foreign assistance a political success. Finance Minister Swornim Wagle has expressed gratitude for the Rs. 1.5 billion support reportedly provided by a prominent American businessman. Such generosity deserves appreciation. But the government should not confuse charity with governance. Its success should be measured not by how much money it collects after a disaster, but by how effectively it prevents disasters from becoming humanitarian catastrophes.
There are indications that, encouraged by the donations received after the Rasuwa disaster, the government is preparing to convene a donors’ conference. This is precisely where it needs to rethink its priorities. Relief is necessary after a disaster, but prevention is the responsibility of the state.
It is worth recalling the observation once made by a foreign national that Nepal was seeking grants while carrying a golden bowl. Harsh as it may sound, the remark contains a painful truth.
The political class continues to enjoy comfortable lifestyles while ordinary citizens bear the consequences of economic mismanagement, unemployment and disasters.
Nepal is a victim of climate change. The country contributes very little to global greenhouse-gas emissions compared with major industrialized nations, yet its people are increasingly exposed to floods, landslides, glacial hazards and other climate-related disasters. This is a matter of climate justice.
Nepal should therefore approach the international community not merely with a begging bowl, but with a claim for climate justice. A donors’ conference aimed primarily at collecting grants is not the answer. Instead, the government should seek long-term climate financing and investment in disaster-resilient infrastructure. It should create a genuine investment climate through tax incentives, policy stability, better infrastructure and simplified procedures to attract foreign direct investment.
The warning signs have been everywhere. Nepal has witnessed destructive floods in rivers originating in the Himalayas. Previous disasters in the Bhote Koshi rivers should have triggered urgent scientific investigations into glacial hazards, rock-glacier avalanches, landslides and sudden changes in river flows. Instead, governments have largely responded after the damage has already been done.
Whenever a major disaster occurs, officials announce rescue operations, relief packages, compensation and donations. Political leaders visit affected areas, cameras follow them, and statements of sympathy are issued. Then the headlines disappear while the underlying vulnerabilities remain. This cycle must end.
The government should conduct comprehensive hazard mapping of vulnerable valleys, river corridors, settlements and infrastructure. Scientific studies must assess risks from glaciers, glacial lakes, rock avalanches and landslides. Early-warning systems must be installed and regularly tested. High-risk settlements should be identified and, where necessary, relocated. Roads, bridges, hydropower projects and other critical infrastructure must be designed for the realities of a changing climate.
The same negligence is visible in Kathmandu. Flooding in the rivers and streams of the Kathmandu Valley is becoming an increasingly serious threat. The narrow outlet at Chobhar raises legitimate concerns about whether the valley can safely drain the enormous volume of water that could result from extreme rainfall. The capital cannot be allowed to become another disaster waiting to happen.
Nepal does not need more ceremonies of gratitude after every disaster. It needs accountability before the next one.
The government must invest in research, preparedness, early-warning systems, resilient infrastructure and scientific land-use planning. It must establish responsibility when warnings are ignored, risk assessments are not conducted and vulnerable settlements are allowed to expand unchecked.
Nepal must stop measuring success by the amount of aid it receives after a catastrophe. A truly responsible government would strive to ensure that fewer Nepalis need relief in the first place.
The time has come to replace the begging bowl with a blueprint for self-reliance, resilience and climate justice.
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