By Babbler

The Constitution has guaranteed the basic rights to education and health as fundamental necessities for the survival and well-being of every citizen. Unfortunately, our system, which is supposedly based on socialism, is no longer reflected in practice and remains largely confined to the Constitution.

Babita Paswan, due to her inability to pay Rs 250, was compelled to give birth to a child outside a hospital in Rajbiraj.

Later, after a hue and cry was raised over the incident, the government suspended several staff members.

This incident is a glaring example of the reality of a supposedly socialist political system.

Another Ugly Picture of Nepal

Old vehicles are dumped on government premises. If these vehicles are no longer operational, they should have been auctioned in a timely manner. Nobody seems serious about disposing of these vehicles.

Some experts have suggested that these non-operational vehicles could be converted into electric vehicles, but there is a lack of appropriate government regulations. The government has already decided to convert internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles into battery-operated vehicles, but the necessary regulations are still lacking. Why?

The Fate of NAC

Nepal needs more aircraft—both wide-body and narrow-body—to bring more tourists into the country. Nepal Airlines Corporation (NAC) currently has only two wide-body and two narrow-body aircraft in operation. At present, one wide-body aircraft is undergoing a C-check, while another is grounded in Japan. As a result, there is no single aircraft available for long-haul operations.

The Balendra Shah government had expressed its commitment to operate Nepal Airlines under the company model. Unfortunately, the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation seems reluctant to implement this commitment in practice. In the name of appointing officials based on meritocracy, the minister appointed two executive chairmen who did not meet the required criteria, and the court subsequently dismissed them. Now, the NAC is being run under an acting chairman without full authority.

When the airline will be operated under new management and a new system, we do not know. Moreover, when the airline will acquire more aircraft for international destinations and when it will obtain suitable aircraft for domestic operations, we do not know. We talk about promoting tourism without a competitive national airline. This is simply a joke.

If we visit Tribhuvan International Airport, we can see a Boeing 747 and several Chinese-made aircraft grounded in a corner of the airport. If they are no longer operational, why doesn’t the government or the NAC dispose of them? Some experts say that, after proper maintenance, they could be brought back into operation. The Boeing 747 could potentially be converted into a cargo aircraft, while the Chinese-made aircraft could be operated under a fresh agreement with the manufacturer.

The NAC and the concerned authorities, however, appear reluctant to take action. If they have no intention of operating these aircraft, why don’t they dispose of them?

QUOTES OF THE WEEK

Indian PM Modi said that India has an independent foreign policy and that India will not allow any force to engage in anti-China activities on its territory. China values PM Modi’s statements.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Modi-Xi meeting at BRICS

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The fact that even the Financial Times has reached the point of publishing an article advocating the role of the state in industrial development, different from the “neoliberal” model, and saying that Britain can learn from the India-China model based on an active role of the state, makes it difficult for the enthusiasm for “privatisation-liberalisation” to survive!

Recently, many countries have mobilised private-sector investment in the construction of major airports. This is also possible in Nijgadh. But at least two things need to be improved for this: permission to develop an “airport city” in Nijgadh and reforms to the environmental legal provisions that create unnecessary obstacles to project implementation. [This does not mean ignoring environmental considerations; it means maintaining a practical balance between environmental protection and project implementation.]

Public Transport — Whenever the issue of improving public transportation in Kathmandu is raised, BRT (rapid buses operating in dedicated lanes) is often mentioned. Promoted by some bilateral/multilateral donors as an affordable mass-transit system, this system has failed in many cities. BRT is also not suitable for Kathmandu’s road conditions. What we need is comprehensive improvement of the conventional bus system and the construction of at least three metro rail lines within the next 20 years. There needs to be clarity at the policy level on this matter.

Surya Raj Acharya

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A mountain has exploded in Mustang! Is this natural, or are some secret activities taking place there?

Bhumi Raj

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These are the very people who allow foreigners to make decisions. At one time, these were the very people who used to boast in Parliament, saying, “My magic works,” and crow that “I am comfortable for you.” Now that they have been pushed out of the political mainstream, their restlessness is becoming evident.

Lokesh Dhakal

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The Balen government is not the government of Nepal at all; it is an entity working for American interests. The RSP is merely an NGO of the American private sector. The RSP is the biggest SCAM in Nepal’s history of the past 2,000 years!”

Buddha Chhiring Moktan

Excerpted and translated by Sushma Shrestha.

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