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I am a seasonal fitness freak. Most of my exercise regime starts after the grand celebrations of Dashain and Tihar. The endless marathon of eating and drinking is a nightmare for anyone who lives in this part of the world of dress size. I do make a conscious effort to control the intake but as this time is heaven for foodies like me, a little of this and a little of that is enough to put on some extra pounds after these festivals.

So this year my elder sister and I decided to start early on our fitness agenda. We still believe that the pandemic is not over yet and sharing a covered gym hall with strangers coming from different environments can be catastrophic to our family’s health. So, the option that we agreed on was to go for walks. Since we don’t have precise working hours, we opted to wake up an hour early.

I am a grumpy cat when I work out. I don’t prefer to talk much or interact. Well, you got to understand, speaking itself is an exercise and that also you do on top of walking—it is double exercise and I don't like to exhaust myself. So I observe people; I observe attitudes; I observe stories.

On and off, I have been walking for years. But the kind of people I see hasn’t changed much. For all apparent reasons, it is mostly those who are fluffy (I hate to call them fat or obese). I hardly see any “fit” people running or walking in the mornings. Fit in an athletic and Body Mass Index (BMI) sense. I guess that population is to be found in fitness centers and clubs. A lot of times I hear people say they want to lose some weight and only then move to a gym. The gym environment is extremely competitive and people who are starting or have weight issues feel inferior and out of place. It definitely takes a lot of dedication and endurance for fluffy people to last in the gyms.  

Anyway, when I talk about people I meet during the walks, one important group is those who are in dire need of weight-loss. Mostly, women in their mid-30s to 50s and clusters of two or three walk the same route because a big vegetable market happens to fall on their route back home; or maybe they made their route convenient according to the vegetable/milk market.

The second category is men in the age group of 40-60 in 5-7 member clusters. Mostly living in the same colony or from the same tole, these people walk longer hours and their walks end in a park or a tea stall where the politics of Nepal is dissected every day. 

Also read: Opinion | The world ain’t Squid Game 

The final group consists of what I wish to call “The uncle gang”: men who are my dad’s age (70-80), nicely dressed in branded tracks and sneakers, most likely retired jolly good fellas. As they are retired and spend the whole day at home, coming out in the morning is probably a treat for them. There is one such group we meet almost every day, composed of three-four uncles who are extremely energetic and full of laughter. We often saw them going to a bhatti. One day we decided to observe them and were startled by their early-morning smoking, shots of local aila, followed by milk tea with sugar. 

It might seem normal at first, but to think of it, this is pure naughty of these aged men. I am sure they all are barred from these activities and morning walk is a perfect excuse for them to earn some freedom. The whole time I was watching them, scared if they had a medical condition, that they are restricted from certain habits and lifestyle—how wrong I had been! I wonder if their families know. I understand 15-16-year-olds misbehaving for adrenaline but at 70 it seems pure negligence and stupidity. 

Living on the edge doesn’t mean abusing life. It will be a heart-break if something bad happens to one of them and their family blame it on exercise or a disciplined lifestyle.

That day, I got home and asked my dad if he had done something similar while he was a morning-walk enthusiast. The times! Now we need to maintain surveillance on our parents, what they are eating and doing. Now we need to take up their responsibility. 

Unlike those who chose to leave Nepal and can comfortably be pessimistic at the expense of those who either opted to or were forced to stay back, we have to look for the silver linings. And the early signs are good. The post-covid bounce back is finally in the air. 

As a successful manifestation of collective human strength triumphing over complex global challenges, the vaccination drive is showing signs of success the world over, giving us enough reasons for optimism. Bookings across the spectrum in tourism look good, export is picking up and young people are starting businesses. The comparative advantages we have are being talked about, again.

However the situation isn’t all hunky dory. Without spoiling the party, let’s try to see what we have failed to learn, honestly. 

As I am writing this today, in a peak tourist season, we are facing a nationwide strike called by the communist party led by Netra Bikram Chand, once a powerful second rung leader in the insurgent mother Maoist party. Such atrocious politics never lets the dark memory of past decades fade. 

In 2019, I was the race director of an international mountain bike challenge called ‘Waling 100’ that we had organized with the help of Nepal Tourism Board and the local government of Waling municipality. It was the first MTB event conceptualized, designed, planned and executed by a Nepali team that had international aspirations. We wanted to establish it as one of the toughest one-day MTB marathons in the world. 

As we released the race descriptions, we caught the attention of the MTB enthusiasts worldwide, and had some international registrations too. But just a month before the event, the same underground group led by Chand carried out bomb blasts in Kathmandu. Four people died, and many were injured. Nepal, just recovering from the earthquake, was made to look like a battlefield again. Travel advisories against visiting Nepal were issued and obviously, our bookings were cancelled. We were forced to postpone the event by a month, and even then ended up with only two of the 18 registered international participants turning up.

Also read: Opinion | Unfree minds

Last few decades have been hell for us. The insurgency, the instability of the transition, the earthquake and the blockade have all piled up deep consequences in our society, politics and economy. Our politicians have botched up so much that groups drunk in nostalgia of a ‘heroic royal rule’ have started organizing themselves, seeing a political future in that undercurrent. 

The frustrations and the lack of expectations from our leaders have no limits. And, add to that the unapologetically gross display of power by the now super-rich communist gang led by Pushpa Kamal Dahal Prachanda, ‘the fierce one’, and we have given up any hope of better politics for a long-long time.

Violent politics, impractical labor laws coupled with malpractices by the private sector have produced many case studies of failure in Nepal. A blooming carpet industry that had become a source of employment for many people, especially the women, was brought to a grinding halt. ‘Insatiably bargaining labor unions backed by the political parties’ is noted as the main reason by one businessman, who had closed his factory and switched to real estate decades ago. 

Recently, labor issues also forced the high-end adventure-gear brand Sherpa to shift most of its production base from Nepal to Vietnam. And the shared economy based start-ups like Tootle and Pathao have also been hit by the failure of the lawmakers to catch up to the developments in the technological field.

At a time when the hospitality sector has hooked up a lot of investments both from the domestic as well as international circles, we must remember how the industry was destroyed in the past. The Fulbari Resort of Pokhara, a beautiful luxury property, has become a case study of how the labor union backed by the Maoists destroyed the flag-bearer of an industry, killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. Similarly, unethical practices by the operators to cash in on medical insurance during high-altitude trips have harmed our credibility and it will take years to recover. 

Bouncing back isn't as easy as it sounds in fancy five-star conferences. And if we neglect the lessons that history taught us at great cost, we will have to pay with sweat and blood, again.  

China and South Asian countries are moving towards greater cooperation. Covid-19 has opened up an era of high-value cooperation in health between China and South Asian countries. This cooperation can be described as a common humanitarian bond to save lives.

Previously, China and South Asian countries cooperated in healthcare in limited areas. In the post-Covid-19 situation, human health seems to be the common entry point to facilitate overall socio-economic rebuilding of societies in South Asia

China last April offered South Asian countries help in accessing Covid-19 vaccines. China’s State Councilor and foreign minister Wang Yi hosted a conference attended by neighbors Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. India did not attend. During the raging pandemic, China had expressed “deep sympathy for and sincere condolences to the Indian people.” In China’s understanding, ties with the Republic of India are the most important one in South Asia.

The meeting highlighted China’s willingness to set up an emergency supply reserves with South Asian countries in the fight against Covid-19.

China has been ready to promote vaccine cooperation with South Asia in the form of donations, commercial procurement and bottling, and production to ensure a stable supply.

Wang Yi and his counterparts also discussed post-pandemic economic recovery, and ways to maintain a sound international environment for the development of all countries. China promised to “uphold the concept of a community with a shared future for humanity, stand firmly with the people of South Asian countries, and join hands and unite until all countries in the region eventually prevail over the pandemic”.

Also read: Indian ignorance on Nepal

Boosting recovery

On boosting post-epidemic recovery, China, last July, facilitated the establishment of a China-South Asian Countries Poverty Reduction and Cooperative Development Cooperation Center in Chongqing.

China and South Asia (C-SA) are major centers of global populations. Of the world population of 7.52 billion in 2020, the C-SA region made up 42 percent. If governments here can cooperate on poverty-alleviation, this region will have made a big contribution to humanity.

China has indeed contributed greatly. General Secretary Xi Jinping declared at a ceremony marking the centenary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) that China has brought about a historic resolution to the problem of absolute poverty in China. This is not only a great achievement of the CPC and the Chinese people, but also important for global anti-poverty efforts.

The World Bank’s per capita cut-off line for absolute poverty is $ 1.90 and the global proportion of those under absolute poverty is 9.30 percent. But the SAARC region has 15.2 percent people under absolute poverty. Meanwhile, China has drastically brought down the rate of absolute poverty. There can be a lot more scope for the C-SA cooperation on poverty alleviation in terms of both concepts and targeted development programs.

Inspired by successes of targeted poverty alleviation programs in China, Siddhartha Vanasthali Institute, a temple of learning in Kathmandu with 2,000 students, plans to pursue a program of cooperation with Chinese academic institutions on “using education opportunity for poverty alleviation of targeted disadvantaged students” whereby identified body of students will get help with their fees and accommodation.

The Chongqing Poverty Alleviation Center aims to pool strength, integrate resources, and exchange wisdom to support and help the South Asian countries' economic development and livelihood improvement, jointly promoting the cause of poverty reduction.

Also read: Post-Aukus challenges for Nepal 

Chongqing, an autonomous cosmopolitan city in Southwest China, is willing to share its poverty relief experience with South Asian countries, and cooperate on poverty eradication projects, in the process of building the center into a new platform for friendly cooperation between China and South Asia.

Tweeting about the meet, Nepal’s ex-foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali had stressed on the “need for strengthened regional and international cooperation for anti-Covid response and recovery”.

Non-state organizations in China have been seen active in negotiating with local governments and institutes to collect anti-pandemic resources such as masks, protective suits, ventilators and other items to help India, as well as other South Asian countries. China has the willingness, capacity and resources to help India and other South Asian countries grapple with Covid-19.

China wants to cooperate with India “through multiple channels in helping it fight the epidemic.” In Nepal’s case, China’s Vero Cell vaccines have alone covered over 50 percent jabs administered to the people thus far, and China has produced over 50 percent of the total anti-Covid vaccines globally as well.

Non-alignment for cooperation

Nepal’s new Minister for Foreign Affairs, while attending a High-level Commemorative Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) in Belgrade in October, underscored the need to galvanize South-South cooperation to liberate and uplift countries and peoples from the clutches of poverty, inequality and deprivation. Minister Dr. Narayan Khadka said, “For NAM to stand relevant to influence global agendas of common concern, it must forge unity, cohesion, cooperation, and solidarity among its membership. NAM must be internally strong to foster goodwill and cooperation so that division and discord do not surface to undermine the unity of the Movement.”

However, any country’s nonaligned position is increasingly challenged by global powers.

 Lin Minwang, a China scholar, in his October 13 analysis published in the Global Times, observed India’s renunciation of its non-alignment policy. He says: “New Delhi's justification for ‘defecting’ to the US camp is the ‘China threat’.”

Also read: The US failure on MCC compact

He says India's self-aggrandizement is more directly reflected in the Sino-Indian border issue. “The Indian media seem to have a special preference for fabricating and hyping the China-India border issue. In fact, India is also doing this to the US to show how hard India works to contain China so that the United States feel its ‘strategic value’,” he writes.

Unexpectedly, reliance on the United States and its camp has given New Delhi some illusory confidence. It is just that. In the end, India will suffer, the scholar has concluded.

I believe none of us will like to see our neighbor suffer. As Confucius said: “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.”

To rise, recent developments in China-South Asia cooperation show that construction and reconstruction of new inter-regional indigenous and autonomous institutions are prerequisite in areas of non-traditional sources of security threat like health and poverty alleviation.

China’s leadership is aware that like China, South Asia is not a liberated region. Self-interest and confidence of this region is colored by divisive power plays and colonial mindset. This has created serious risk for the region’s independence, internal cohesiveness and nonaligned integrity and credibility.

I wish China would treat South Asia as a doctor, full of compassion, full of required supportive mechanisms to revitalize and rejuvenate a Trans-Himalayan pathway of connectivity, development, reform and exchanges. China’s strong positivism will contribute to building a South Asia that can sustain rejuvenation on its own reformed core foundations.

Based on the writer’s presentation on 20 October 2021 at a webinar organized by the Research Center for Economy and Cultures of “South Silk Road” in Sichuan University Jinjiang College’s  “Jinjiang Oriental Forum” 2021.
The author is Secretary General, China Study Center Nepal

The government policy of increasing electricity consumption by lowering consumer tariffs will lock Nepal into an inefficient pathway that reduces competitiveness and may prove to be economically damaging in the long run.

Nepal has two policies that often appear to be at odds with one another.

On the one hand, the government is actively seeking to increase electricity consumption to help absorb the expected large bump in hydropower generation. The recent tariff proposal by Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the country’s monopoly electric utility, underlined an effort to increase consumption through lower tariffs.

There is broad public understanding about the need to increase electricity consumption. The idea is routinely amplified by the NEA and the government, which have both made the message the centerpiece of their public outreach. It has captured the public consciousness, so much so that each night, every Nepali now considers leaving their lights on as they sleep, just so they can contribute to increased electricity consumption.

On the other hand, Nepal has also adopted the National Energy Efficiency Strategy, which aims to double the rate of energy efficiency in the economy by 2030. Several sectors in Nepal offer large opportunities for energy efficiency, which could result in significant reductions in energy use.

The need for energy efficiency has yet to enter public consciousness. When it does come up for public discourse, it is met almost immediately with derision and bewilderment. Why are we pursuing efforts to reduce electricity use when there is a national movement to increase electricity consumption?

Also read: Opinion | History lessons for energy sector

The goals for increasing electricity consumption and energy efficiency, however, are not at odds with one another. But it does illustrate an error in how the need to increase electricity consumption is characterized. What the government and the NEA are trying to do in order to increase electricity consumption is actually “electrification.” The policy for increasing energy use doesn’t encourage consumers to keep the lights on more than they need (and certainly not while they sleep) or industries to run their equipment when not required.

The intent of the policy—electrification—is to encourage consumers to shift from other fuels to electricity. For example, if you were driving a petrol or diesel car, then switch to an electric one. If you were cooking with gas, then switch to electric cooking. Electrification leads to an increase in electricity consumption because it switches consumers from other fuels to electricity. But it does not intend to, or encourage, those who were already using electricity from using more electricity to do the same thing—that would simply be inefficiency.

Perhaps the confusion between increasing electricity use and “electrification” can be forgiven as mischaracterization. But it shouldn’t be ignored. Its impact on Nepal’s long-term economic growth and competitiveness will be damaging.

The public perception on the need to increase electricity consumption, coupled with the strategy of keeping electricity tariffs low (or free in some cases), encourages adoption of low-quality, low-efficiency products. This in turn increases the cost of production, reduces competitiveness, and lowers the quality of life.

Also read: Opinion | Unfree minds 

Consider poor households that now will now get free electricity up to a certain level. Most of these consumers will now opt for low-quality, low-efficiency products, which will be cheaper, and nor will these products result in any savings. For example, many such customers will opt for cheap low-quality LEDs, which provide lower levels of light quality and fail more frequently. In the long run, poor households will have spent more on shoddy LED bulbs than they saved from free electricity. The market will be flooded with poor quality products rejected from other parts of the world. A better policy approach would be to price electricity but subsidize the cost of high-quality efficient products and appliances for the poor.

The story will be the same with industrial consumers. The NEA has increased fixed tariffs on electricity for industrial customers, while holding or reducing per-unit costs. While this will provide the NEA with a secure income stream, it will incentivize industrial consumers to opt for less energy efficient equipment. Such choices have a lasting impact on competitiveness by increasing costs, decreasing productivity, and stalling modernization.

Countries around the world, including where electricity was abundantly cheap, learned that the trick to economic growth wasn’t merely promoting low energy costs but simultaneously creating incentives for efficient energy use. Nepal must learn from those mistakes.

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