Reviving Economy
MINISTER for Finance and Education Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha reiterated the attempts and
commitment of the new government to do away the ills and odds facing the nation for the
last couple of years. Addressing media persons in Kathmandu the other day, Minister
Shrestha said that as the economy of the country has badly suffered because of violence
and terrorism, His Majesty's Government has been making sincere efforts to improve the
ailing economy by maintaining law and order. The burning problem of the country at present
is security and law and order. Violence and terrorism that has been unleashed by a section
of misguided element has damaged every sector of the country. Unless peace and stability
were restored, the country cannot make progress in any sector. Thus, the government has
accorded high priority to law and order and providing the people with economic relief.
It is with this notion that the government, soon
after coming to power, has announced a package of economic relief programme which aims at
reconstructing the damaged infrastructures, providing a sense of relief to the victims of
terrorism, all poor and downtrodden population of the country and creating more conducive
atmosphere for development. Moreover, there are complaints from various sectors about the
performance of the previous governments especially in the field of economy. Some donors
have pointed out that previous governments failed to keep their promises and commitment
Nepal made during the Nepal Development Forum held in London early this year. Now the
present government has twin responsibilities of maintaining credibility among donors and
uplifting the condition of the people living below poverty line, who constitute more than
40 per cent of the country's population. For this, the government has taken measures to
correct the past mistakes to set the derailing economy into the right tract. At the same
time it has to bring about a programme that can really address the woes of the poor and
downtrodden people. Donors have pledged a sizable amount of assistance for the economic
development of Nepal on condition that His Majesty's Government fulfill its commitment
made during London meeting. These commitments, among others, include restructuring public
enterprises, controlling expenses, and gearing up privatisation process. As said by
Minister Shrestha, the governemnt has already initiated the process of ending terrorism
and uplifting the economy. However, the efforts of government alone may not be sufficient
to solve these burning problems of the country unless all political forces and people of
all walks of life extend equal and active cooperation.
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