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Before the unveiling of the new monetary policy, I had, through the media, advised the government to exercise caution while addressing some of the demands of the private sector. Thanks to the government for incorporating my suggestions. 

The policy has pledged to boost small and medium-sized enterprises, but it has not said how Nepal Rastra Bank will do it.

The policy has also promised to review risk weightage on margin lending, housing loans, and hire purchase loans. Last year, the external sector was in a tight position. Before that, the Covid-19 pandemic had hampered the economy. Now, we have enough foreign reserves to trade for nearly 10 months, which is a better situation. Banks and financial institutions too have extra Rs 400bn for investment. But the industrial sector has not recovered and the policy has not much to offer. All in all, there is room for improvement in the policy.

The author is an economist

The use of child soldiers during the Maoist insurgency is an essential component of the transitional justice process. But the law has left it out so far.

As a relevant law is under discussion in the parliament, we can still incorporate this issue and other transitional justice-related issues to take the peace process to its logical conclusion in a true sense. 

This issue has already entered the court, with a writ petition registered. Hopefully, it will get the attention of all concerned parties.

Skirting the issue of child soldiers will invite serious socio-political complications and impact the transitional justice process. So, policymakers must keep their eyes open and address it without further delay.

We held a discussion on the matter and concluded that it must be treated as an issue of utmost importance as the use of children in any kind of war is a serious violation of human rights.

The author is a political analyst 

An important meeting of the Nepali Congress Central Working Committee is taking place from tomorrow (Tuesday) after a long time. The Congress has not held a meet of this scale after the last general elections, so this jamboree will be quite important in reinvigorating the party by giving it a fresh impetus. 

The meeting will take up all issues of national importance like measures to end corruption control and ensure good governance. Probing corruption cases without let or hindrance will be one of the important agendas of the meet. 

It will review decisions of the party leadership, ways to play a more effective role in the Parliament and to move ahead by adopting a new approach. The aim will be to energize the party rank and file at all levels. The focus will be on making the party’s stance clear on policy issues, apart from delivering on the promises made. 

The author is a Central Committee Member of the Congress

There are many students in my contact with degrees from prestigious institutions like MIT and Cornell University. They want equivalent certificates from the Tribhuvan University (TU), but the latter doesn’t recognize them. TU’s short shrift is a huge demotivator for those professionals, who return home to contribute in their respective fields, leaving luxurious lives abroad. I know many of these people. Isn’t it ironic that the same certificate gives you a job in the World Bank, but not in the TU?

This problem has been there for two decades as nobody has tried to resolve it. The University Grant Commission should be authorized to grant equivalency. Currently, TU’s faculty board has the authority to give an initial go-ahead for equivalency. Due to vested interests, board members don’t give a go-ahead easily.

The Education Ministry, UGC and the TU should form a committee and resolve this problem once and for all.

The author is former Vice-chancellor of Tribhuvan University