FEATURES NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

By Shirish B. Pradhan

WHILE endorsing the newly introduced land reform bill amidst protests by both pro-reformists and anti-reformists in the Parliament, Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba made a sarcastic remark, "The fact that both peasants and landlords are dissatisfied with the land reform programme indicates its success." Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party both walked out of the Parliament when the Government tabled the Bill for approval. The UML and other leftists, which were demanding for a radical land ceiling announement allowed the passage of the Bill get endorsed by staging symbolic protest. Under the pressure from both the rightists and leftists in the Parliament the government has announced a moderate ceiling on land holdings instead of a revolutionery type. Both the landlords and poor peasants were mounting pressure on the government to introduce a land reform programme which best fulfills their interests. CPN-UML, CPN-ML and Samukta Jana Morcha were demanding for lowering the land ceiling in line with the Baral report while Nepal Sadbhavana Partyand Rastriya Prajatantra Party which represent the anti-reformists were all out to prevent the government from introducing the land ceiling programme. While announcing the land reform programme the Government also faced opposition from the ruling party itself. Some of the ruling party leaders including Ms. Shailaja Acharya were dead against the land reform programme. In such a situation the Government was forced to chose a moderate policy.

Though the moderate land reform programme chosen by the government invited criticism from different quarters, it has some advantages. The government will face less resistence from the landlords to implement the land reform programme, which is not so ambitious. Had the government introduced a radical land ceiling programme as demanded by the communist parties there would have been strong opposition from the landlords putting a question mark over the success of the programme.

Under the present democratic Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal the government has no right to nationalise individual property. The Constitution guarantees property of all of its citizens. So, the government would have to pay hundreds of billions of rupees as compensation, had it chosen a radical land ceiling policy. In such case the government would have faced a problem seeking huge amount of money for campensation from donor agencies. But now the burden has been lessend.

The demand set forth by Nepal Sadbhavana Party for imposing ceiling on wealth seems to be absurd. If the government takes land from the landlords it will have to give them compensation. But if it takes money or other forms of assets then how can that be compensated? It seems to be an impractical demand. Democracy does not advocate eqality in all aspects. What it advocates is justice and equal treatment to all the citizens. Democracy does not guarantee uniformity instead it guarantees equal opportunity to all. But we must protect the interests of the poor, helpless, and downtrodden people by introducing some social reform programmes and income generating schemes too uplift their living standard. Of course there are people with different social and economic status in the country. The government should introduce social welfare schemes to help the poor and downtrodden people. Progressive tax system is one such scheme which can put indirect limitation on individual property. The money collected from such a tax policy may be utilised in social reforms and social welfare schemes. Social changes can be brought about through peaceful means. After the restoration of democracy the people’s aspirations have grown and if their demands and wishes are not fulfilled it could lead to frustration. We must make the people believe that one does not need to carry guns the Maoists for bringing social justice and change. The Maoists are luring the poor people by cashing in on the easy slogans of providing justice to the exploited and giving equality to all.

The newly introduced social reform programmes and the land reform programmes, if implemented effectively and with high political commitment, would no doubt bear fruitful results. In order to safeguard and consolidate democracy, the Government must relieve the hardship of the people and uplift their lives. Here it is worth recalling the remarks made by former US President John F. Kennedy, "If a society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich."

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