Attacking poverty

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) has come up with a new initiative called country strategy for poverty reduction to grapple with the country’s abysmal state of poverty. The objective of this new initiative seems to have been directed towards assisting the poverty reduction strategy paper (PRSP). The PRSP, an interim report prepared by the government, is aimed at reducing poverty, where the poor have received a raw deal at the hands of planners. Here, the ADB may appear being interventionist in its approach, but it was absolutely necessary, if only to allay donor anxiety. What appears is that the ADB’s stand is not very different from that of the government’s. In fact, the ADB’s "overarching concern" has come since successive governments failed to make any positive impact on the life of those rural poor living in abject poverty. The rising poverty, inflation and famine, and the manner in which the foreign assistance has been utilized show that not only the expectations of international financial institutions, that provide development assistance to this country, but also of the people have been crushed

Three decades ago, the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) had in a report pointed out that 33 per cent of the population lived below the poverty line. The report of the World Bank and Central Bureau of Statistics raised this figure to 42 per cent in 1997. This certainly indicates that the rate of poverty has increased despite the three- decade- long efforts to alleviate poverty. It is true that only eight per cent of the total population have access to drinking water and fifty per cent of the children remain out of the schools. The school drop out rate is more than fifty per cent and half of the children are born underweight. This fact points out that the country is caught in the vicious circle of poverty, and the magnitude of the task to eradicate it has called for well-planned distribution of resources.

Earlier, the World Bank withdrew the funding of three projects to introduce a similar development plan called the country assistance strategy. The stress was to maintain "transparency" to facilitate economic growth and at the same time to reduce poverty, opposing the previous policy of concealing the gross misutilisation of funds. This explains why every five-year-plan introduced since the mid-1950s, with an aim of eradicating poverty, has failed to bring development resources and beneficiaries closer. This also indicates how planners, implementators and others involved in poverty alleviation projects benefited themselves. Considering the situation of poverty, the scope and area has been widened, and it is not limited itself to strategies only. The fact is that the government has to play not only a role in all spheres of economic activity but it also has to utilize the scarce resources of the economy in such a way that the maximum benefit can be obtained at the minimum cost.

Assessing Nepal-China ties

By Chiranjibi Paudyal

His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev is paying a weeklong state visit to China, which will help promote the cordial and friendly relations between the two countries. His Majesty the King has visited China on many occasions and this is the third state visit to the northern neighbour with whom the relations is trouble-free, cordial and friendly. Our monarch is very familiar with the Chinese people and leaders, and it is expected that the visit will help renew and further deepen the friendship. Though the diplomatic relations with China was established in 1955, the friendship of the two countries goes back to the ancient times since the spread of Buddhism in China.

Though the date of the contact between the people of the two countries cannot be traced exactly, it is believed that contact and cordial friendship between the people of the two countries existed since the 5th century. The first recorded Chinese visitors to Nepal were Chinese monks Fahien Tsang and Hieun Tsang who had come to Nepal in search of Buddhist scriptures in the 5th century. The friendship and contact between the people of the two countries began through the medium of religion, cultural and trade. Nepalese architect Araniko had helped China build the "White Pagoda Temple", standing in the centre of Beijing, which has become a symbol of friendship between the people of Nepal and China. The two countries with similar cultural and religious background share similar views in many international fora. China, a member of the United Nations Security Council is considered to be the best friend of the developing countries as it has raised voice in favour of the developing countries on many occasions.

Nepal has not many issues and problems to be resolved with China. Neither are there slogans and speeches of political parties against China. However, China is always suspicious over the Tibetan refugees. This is because of the presence of Tibetan refugees and many countries, especially the western countries, are very much interested in Tibetan cause. Nobel laureate Dalai Lama is in a Dharmashala of India, which is very close to Nepal and many people around the world support for his cause.

The People’s Republic of China is not happy with the way the activities to liberate Tibet are taking place in Nepal. But there is nothing to do with the government of Nepal. The government has time and again expressed its firm commitment that "Nepal will not allow to use its soil against China," and seems committed to this policy as the government has not allowed Tibetan communities living in Nepal even to make a peaceful protest against China. The Nepali government is criticised by many human rights organisations for this. Nepal is also criticised by the western countries for not allowing the Tibetan refugees to enter into Nepal and go to Dharmashala in India. The escaping of the 17th Karmapa via Nepal to Dharmashala in India was not a good news for the Chinese government. China is also not satisfied with the visa fee levied on the Chinese, working in various Chinese projects in Nepal. The Chinese side says that the Chinese working in Nepal have to pay a very high visa fee which is not in accordance with the spirit of Nepal-China relations. They are demanding the decrease of such fees. During the first phase of privatization, most of the Chinese assisted enterprises were privatized. This is also not good news for the Chinese government.

Though such issues will not be figured out during the visit, as it is a ceremonial state visit, it will be very fruitful to further strengthen the cordial friendship, understanding and enhancing the fruitful cooperation in the coming days.

China is emerging as an economic power of the world, which is a very positive development for Nepal, and it is necessary to think very seriously to promote the trade and investment with China. Some positive developments have been seen between Nepal and China during the last few years, and that process needs to be further strengthened for the economic cooperation. The Chinese government has agreed to provide an additional trade point to facilitate trade relations with Nepal and construct Syabrubeshi-Rasuwagadhi highway to connect Kerung in Tibet which will increase trade and economic cooperation between the two countries. These are very essential steps at a time when the government has adopted the policy of "economic diplomacy" with a view to accelerating the pace of economic development of the country. Nepal has accorded high priority to the promotion of cordial friendly relations with the neighbouring countries, Nepal and India. Though Nepal-China relations is problem- free and based on the principles of Panchsheel and peaceful coexistence, the state visit of the King will mark another new era in Nepal-China relations.

During the state visit of the Chinese President Jiang Zemin in 1996, His Majesty the King had said: "It is an enduring relationship of exemplary good neighbourliness that has its roots in history and has been nurtured with sincere efforts by the peoples and governments of the two countries. The exchange of visits at various levels has contributed to renewing contacts and strengthening relationship.

As we step into the 21st century, we look forward to the blossoming of our efforts to the benefit of the people of our two countries." It clearly reflects the deepening friendship between Nepal and China. China’s firm commitment to promoting ties with Nepal can be clearly understood from the statement of President Zemin during his state visit to Nepal. President Jiang has said: "There is no conflict of fundamental interests between us. Equal treatment, friendship, mutual trust, mutual support and sincere cooperation have become the most fundamental hallmarks of Sino-Nepal relations. China is ready to work together with the people of Nepal for the continued development of a partnership of lasting friendship and good neighbourliness between us."

The visits of the late King Mahendra (1961), Prime Minister B P Koirala (1960), Tank Prasad Acharya (1956), Girija Prasad Koirala (1992), Man Mohan Adhikari, Sher Bahadur Deuba and of other political leaders to China after the re-establishment of democracy in 1990 are also very important in further enhancing our relations with China.

Tale of a vegetarian

By S Pandey

People become vegetarians for various reasons. It could be that their cholesterol level is too high, and maybe they think that vegetarian food will cut it down. Perhaps it’s because they think that meat and fish are a risky diet in these days of various diseases and pollution. Or, it may be just that the ever-soaring cost of flesh food is so exorbitant.

But what about me? Well, it was for the oddest reason.

One morning, I awoke to find that I had six bald patches on my head, each the size of a ten-cent piece.

At eighteen, that was a calamity! There was no sign of any wavy brown, shoulder-length hair on my pillow. The night before I had dutifully brushed my crowning glory one hundred times in front of the mirror, and every on of those dear little hairs had been neatly in place.

Now, completely baffled, and definitely in a state of shock, I went to work with a hat on- and kept it in. At work. The manager looked at me aghast, and finally asked why I was wearing it. Tearfully, I showed him my bald patches. He was horrified and, understanding man that he was, a non sent me to a specialist.

"Nervous breakdown," was the specialist’s diagnosis. You wake up with six unexpected bald patches, and it could easily bring on a nervous breakdown.

Rather bewildered, I listened to the treatment he outlined. Electrical and manual massage three times in a week, coupled with a special shampoo. And a diet. No meat, fish, pickles, sauces, vinegar, mustard, peeper, tea, coffee, bread and cake. In short, a complete healthful vegetarian diet. I’d never heard of such a thing-but if that would make my hair grow again. I’d try it. I’d never tried anything !

For the next nine months, my sister tried to cope with a dinner menu of one vegetarian meal for me. At the end of the period, she rang me at work to say that she was going into hospital to have her baby, and I’d better be eating meat by the time she came home. "Go to a restaurant and have some meat tonight", she instructed me firmly.

So dutifully I went. In a little restaurant, I ordered the special meat pie and vegetables. Unfortunately (?) that meat pie put me off, and afterwards the very thought of eating meat nauseated me. Fish had the same effect so that I found myself unable to change my diet. Thirty-four years later, I am still a vegetarian. But there is a little postscript.

Recently, I sat flipping through an encyolopedia in a dentist’s waiting room. Suddenly, I found myself reading the most amazing thing. A very rare, virtually unknown spider was discovered in the area, where I was sitting at that time. It had the habit of shaving people in the night, in the size of ten-cent pieces, and taking the hair for its nest !

Just then, my name was called. I didn’t get to read the name of the spider, and was too bemused to take the page number for later reference.

But as I look back, I chuckle. Those little spiders were probably responsible for opening up for me an interesting way to become a healthy, happy, more-money-in-the pocket vegetarian !

The corrosive cult of generalism

By M R Josse

Several years ago, a South Asian ambassador in an outburst of candour during a meeting with yours truly at the former’s office lamented that the calibre of Nepalese civil servants — secretaries being no exception — was way below that of his/her counterparts elsewhere in the region.

Poor quality: Armed with my assurance that I would not quote him in my subsequent write-ups — which is why I have not, and shall not, disclose neither the good plenipotentiary’s name nor that of his country — the envoy regaled me with a bagful of anecdotes all meant to underline his frank, if unflattering, conclusion.

Without agreeing to the envoy extraordinary’s dark assessment of the quality of Nepalese karmacharis, I could only respond by saying that my personal experience over the past few years suggested a palpable deterioration in the quality of our civil servants as compared to that evident in the more distant past.

That encounter came to mind the other day provoked by a reflective piece by K Subrahmanyam in the Times of India — this time not having anything to do with Pakistan, the United States, China or even profound strategic thoughts about nuclear bombs, intercontinental ballistic missiles and so forth.

In fact, the write-up in question zeroed in on the cult of administrative generalism in his country which, in Subrahmanyam’s opinion, is the bane of the hallowed IAS — or, the Indian Administrative Service to the uninitiated.

Since our civil service — like so much of Nepal’s modern-day political culture — has been greatly influenced by India’s, it may be useful to pick up and play around with some of the valuable nuggets that have been provided therein.

The article begins with the sarcastic observation that recent transfers of senior IAS personnel seemed to suggest that the modern Indian industrial state can be administered in the 21st century along the lines formulated by Lord Curzon and his predecessors!

As is then explained, "in the days of the British Raj — when the whole objective of the state was to keep the administration of the colony going and there was no need to keep up with the latest developments in the rest of the world and formulate policies with knowledge and expertise — any official with common sense, maturity and worldly wisdom could handle any portfolio."

That observation helps recall that, during the bad old days of dictatorial Rana rule, Nepal’s administrative service, mainly geared to revenue collection for the rulers of the day, hardly needed people with special administrative skills or knowledge; obsequious loyalty to the regime was generally enough.

Cult of generalism: Today, as Subrahmanyam correctly points out, "shifting an officer at the policy making level from agriculture to information technology, or from health to national security and then expecting him to perform an effective role in policy making is to make a mockery of governance in a modern state."

Since here too there have been umpteen transfers of the sort just mentioned, it is notable that the writer believes the IAS has a vested interest in perpetuating a cult of generalism where civil servants move up the totem pole automatically and retire as secretaries "without any worthwhile contributions to any of the departments in which they have served."

Given the blatant politicisation that has infected our civil service — as it has the education system and even the official media — particularly after the reintroduction of multiparty politics in 1990, one may speculate whether, or how far, the politician is to blame, as is apparently the case in India.

Indeed, going by what Subrahmanyam makes out, "the politicians have an equal interest in this system because they do not want civil servants with knowledge and expertise whose professional pride will induce them to take a stand on issues in which the ministers have a parochial interest." (Sounds familiar, no?)

In his unvarnished view: "The ministerial preference is for efficient staff officers who will implement their orders — however arbitrary and self-serving they may be — without asking any questions. The minister is able to get recommendations put to him in the way he wants from generalist officers without adequate knowledge or background." Voila!

Knowledge-based, policy-oriented decision-making admittedly imposes certain discipline in governance. As is rightly argued, a generalist administration usually justifies arbitrariness in decision-making in terms of examining cases on merit.

On the other hand, as is pointed out, expertise-based policy-making would require officials to stay in particular areas of specialisation. Departmental memories would in such circumstances be institutionalised and officials would be evaluated on the basis of performance in their developing skills and knowledge.

That is why "all political parties prefer the generalist administration and do not want to introduce professionalism and specialisation in policy-making in civil service." Now savour this lovely excerpt: "The IAS espouses the principle of the throne of Vikramaditya. The throne endows the occupant with wisdom and authority and not the personal worth of the occupant."

After retirement: Is it surprising that so few of our retired senior civil servants are respected and sought after for their knowledge or expertise? Also, is it to be wondered at that most generalist retirees do not — or dare not — publish memoirs?

For example, since our foreign service is even today virtually a haven of generalists, one is hardly surprised that so little impact has been made by their stalwarts on the diplomatic scene.

The cult of generalism is, of course, all too visible in the world of Nepalese journalism, too. Which is why glaring errors, such as one recently in a popular vernacular weekly’s main story asserting that Joseph Estrada is from Peru, are endemic.

When will the corrosive cult of generalism change? Clearly, not before the "Vikramaditya principle" is discarded for good — and certainly not before politicians jettison their reflexive preference for the generalist over the specialist policy advisor!