Submit your Article

India has refrained from commenting on the recent political developments in Nepal, describing them as ‘internal matters’ of Nepal, and reaching out to senior members of a nascent Cabinet on a hectic day.

At  a meeting with Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun, India’s Ambassador to Nepal Naveen Srivastava said India’s position on Nepal remains unchanged. The change in the coalition is an internal matter of Nepal, so it does not affect India’s views and position on Nepal, he said.  

Ambassador Srivastava also paid a courtesy call on newly-appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha, congratulating the latter and extending best wishes to him.

During the meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, DPM Shrestha and Ambassador Srivastava discussed various topics of bilateral and mutual interest, said spokesperson for the ministry, Amrit Bahadur Rai. The topics included ways to strengthen bilateral ties and timely completion of development projects underway in Nepal with Indian assistance. 

Four parties—CPN-UML, CPN (Maoist Center), Rastriya Samajwadi Party (RSP) and Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP)—have formed a new coalition government with Maoist Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal continuing as the Prime Minister. The four parties have vowed to address people’s aspirations for good governance, development, and social justice. On the external front, the alliance has pledged to maintain balanced and expanded international relations, keeping national interests and priorities at the forefront. While the new ministers have assumed office and promised to deliver positive results, people do not have much hope for the new government because there is a repetition of the same parties and faces tested several times in the past. 

This frustration extends beyond individual parties or leaders. People are disenchanted with major parties that have held power for two decades. The formation of three coalitions within a year does not augur well for the people and the country. It reflects a focus of the major parties on power and resources rather than the welfare of the populace and the nation. Over the past year, the government under Pushpa Kamal Dahal has struggled to deliver services, curb corruption, and stabilize the economy. Victims of microfinance and loan sharks are demanding justice from the streets, but their demands remain unaddressed. Moreover, reactionary forces are raising their heads, and the 2015 constitution is at risk. There also have been efforts to fuel ethnic and religious tensions. The government has failed to create jobs, leading to an exodus of people seeking opportunities abroad. 

Not only the unemployed youths, but even affluent Nepalis are losing faith in the country’s future and relocating elsewhere. Both exports and imports are declining, and capital expenditure is showing no sign of picking up. Rampant corruption is hampering governance at all levels.  The new coalition government, therefore, should prioritize these pressing issues instead of engaging in empty rhetorics. Restoring trust in the major political parties hinges on effective service delivery and economic improvement. The success of this coalition will be measured by its ability to restore people’s faith in the political system. PM Dahal is putting the blame on Nepali Congress for all his failures over the past year. He may do that again. The CPN-UML, as the second-largest party in the parliament, has a huge responsibility in ensuring that the government functions effectively.

In the sphere of modern relationships, deciphering the complex reciprocity between men and women stands as a pivotal pursuit for strengthening meaningful connections. In my personal exploration of the unique challenges defining relationships, I turned to the wisdom encapsulated in John Gray’s self-help masterpiece, ‘Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus’. This book delves into the inherent disparities in nature, needs, and communication styles between genders, drawing parallels with the celestial bodies Mars and Venus. Across its expansive chapters, the book ventures into pressing inquiries: Why do men often retreat to their caves while women seek solace in conversation? How can we master the art of motivating partners who speak different communication languages? And, crucially, how do we sustain the enchantment of love over time? Join me as we explore the nuances of relationships through the wisdom offered by John Gray’s enlightening perspectives.

Mutual respect and acceptance

Central to the narrative is the importance of mutual respect and acceptance in nurturing a flourishing relationship. The book eloquently underscores that embracing differences is paramount for love to thrive. It elucidates that women prioritize the feeling of being cherished over proving competence, where offering or seeking help is not perceived as a sign of weakness but rather as a testament to emotional intimacy. Conversely, men thrive when they feel valued and needed, with the absence of such acknowledgment potentially leading to passivity. The narrative accentuates the significance of women feeling cared for and respected, enabling them to contribute more profoundly to the relationship, while men, in turn, flourish when they perceive their significance within the partnership.

Importance of effective communication in relationships

A cornerstone of the book lies in its pragmatic guidance on encouraging effective communication in relationships, catering to the nuanced needs of both genders. It advocates for active engagement from both parties, emphasizing that expressing concerns does not equate to assigning blame—a notion particularly relevant for men. Similarly, when women voice complaints, it often serves as a means of venting frustrations rather than an indictment. Women are encouraged to convey appreciation even amidst moments of complaint, fostering an environment of mutual understanding and support. The bedrock of resilient relationships lies in communication that embraces inherent differences with open arms, paving the way for acceptance and respect. In times of misunderstanding, it’s imperative to recognize the distinct languages we speak and invest the necessary time to decipher the true intentions or sentiments of our partners. While mastering this skill requires practice, the dividends it yields are undeniably invaluable.

The twelve kinds of love

Among the plethora of practical insights, one concept that resonated deeply with me is encapsulated in ‘The twelve kinds of love’. This framework elucidates that our emotional needs fundamentally revolve around the universal desire for love. Both men and women encompass six distinct love needs, each holding equal significance. Men seek trust, acceptance, appreciation, admiration, approval, and encouragement, while women yearn for caring, understanding, respect, devotion, validation, and reassurance. Grazing these twelve facets of love serves as a compass in understanding the powerful landscape of our partner’s needs. Notably, the book emphasizes women’s need for diverse expressions of love as a genuine necessity rather than a mere preference. The analogy of a woman’s love tank, akin to a car’s gas tank, underscores the continuous effort required to sustain her sense of being loved, evoking responses of trust, acceptance, appreciation, admiration, approval, and encouragement.

Nurturing affection for women

The book introduces an array of subtle yet potent techniques for men to nurture their partner’s affection. It underscores the importance of promptly seeking her presence, warmly embracing her, and displaying attentiveness by inquiring about her day in specific detail. Furthermore, it advocates for the cultivation of active listening skills and engagement through thoughtful questioning. Simultaneously, it highlights the significance of offering validation during moments of distress or upset, coupled with clear communication when needing space, reassuring her of eventual return or the necessity for personal reflection.

Effectively motivating men

Similarly, the book offers invaluable insights into effectively motivating men, stressing the importance of clear communication when seeking support. It outlines key strategies, such as being direct, keeping interactions brief, and employing phrases like ‘would you’ or ‘will you’ for optimal results. Additionally, it underscores the significance of adhering to certain principles when requesting assistance from a male partner, including appropriate timing, maintaining a non-demanding demeanor, and using precise language to avert potential disinterest.

Relationship as a garden

In its conclusion, the book skillfully likens a relationship to a garden, underscoring the necessity for regular care and attention to flourish. It elucidates the concept of understanding the seasons of love: the Springtime of Love symbolizes the initial stage, characterized by bliss and harmony; the Summer of Love presents challenges as imperfections surface, demanding commitment and effort to sustain the relationship; the Autumn of Love signifies maturity, where invested efforts yield a rich and fulfilling connection; and the Winter of Love represents a period of reflection and individual growth, confronting unresolved issues. Through this cyclical journey, the book suggests that by nurturing and healing oneself, individuals can rediscover the hopeful and abundant feelings of the Springtime of Love once more.

Modern governments have a primary duty and obligation of providing social protection to their citizens.  Governments around the globe make budgetary allocations for this purpose every year. 

There is a huge gap across regions and countries with respect to budgetary allocations and coverage of population. Europe has the highest level of social security expenditure (nearly 25  percent of its GDP), followed by 21 percent in OECD, 16.6 percent in North America, seven percent in the Asia-Pacific and 4.3 percent in Africa. In sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, social security coverage ranges from five percent to 10 percent of the population. Middle-income countries have social security coverage ranging from 20 percent to 60 percent of their respective populations, whereas in developed countries the coverage is nearly 100 percent. In the Asia-Pacific, social security schemes cover 44.1 percent of the total population of the region. 

Neighboring countries are ahead of Nepal with respect to coverage of people under social security. China has medical insurance coverage for 95 percent of its population whereas India and Bangladesh have 24.4 percent and 28.4 percent of their populations under their social security nets. But Nepal has a paltry 17 percent of its population under different kinds of social security programs. 

It is important to note here that the expenditure on social security exceeds capital expenditure in Nepal because of a low coverage of its population under social security. A trend over the years shows that the government expenditure on social security exceeds capital expenditure. This was evident in the fiscal 2021-22 and 2022-23, for example. Expenditure on social security in 2021-22 was Rs 252bn whereas capital expenditure was Rs 216bn. Fiscal 2022-23 saw a similar trend whereas in the fiscal 2023-24, Rs 253bn and Rs 234bn have already been spent under the topics of social security and capital expenditure, respectively. 

Both expenditure on social security and capital expenditure are important for Nepal’s entry into the club of middle-income countries, which is easier said than done. If Nepal desires to join the grouping of middle-income countries, its capital expenditure should exceed expenditure on social security. 

This is because capital expenditure helps increase production and productivity of the whole population, which are crucial for achieving targeted economic growth and creating employment opportunities for the masses, thereby driving the country toward prosperity and sustainability. 

Capital expenditure in Nepal leaves much to be desired as most of our rural and urban roads, which are muddy and dusty, show. Air pollution is high in the Kathmandu valley not because of the presence of industries but because of unmanaged traffic movement along highly-congested and dusty roads. Blacktopping these roads means spending capital. 

But funds for such works are hard to come by  with an increased focus on social security for targeted sections. 

Capital expenditure helps create employment opportunities for the masses, including the poor, the downtrodden, unskilled, semi-skilled and skilled youths, among others. 

Whereas expenditure on social security helps increase the consumption of targeted people such as the poor and the downtrodden, elderly citizens, malnourished children and single women. Of course, both capital expenditure and expenditure on social protection are primary duties of a modern government. 

While social protection is a must, it cannot be a substitute for capital expenditure. Thus, it is necessary to maintain discipline while spending money. Transfer of funds from one purpose to another is a common practice of the government of Nepal. 

Summing up, a government committed to social welfare and conducting development activities for sustainable economic growth must make rational decisions when it comes to spending its hard-earned capital.