EDITORIAL

Pragmatic Programmes

His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in his Royal Address to the joint session of the two houses of Parliament on Thursday said that poverty alleviation would be the primary objective of the government’s development efforts, plans and programmes. His Majesty said, "My government is committed to implement various policies and programmes aimed at increased earnings of the people, augmenting employment and eliminating discrimination and inequality prevailing in the economic and social life of the country". This outline of the policies and programmes of His Majesty’s Government has been welcomed from all sides. There are no two opinions about the fact that poverty is the main enemy of the nation. Only if all the people can be freed from the clutches of poverty, can it be said there has been real development in the country. It can be said other problems like illiteracy, lack of proper health care and hygiene, environmental degradation and even crime have their roots up to a large extent in the acute poverty of the people. With the alleviation of poverty, those problems will automatically vanish in time. So the government has done right in targeting at the core of the country’s problem.

It is also encouraging to note that the government has clear-cut ideas on how poverty can be slowly wiped out. For example, giving due emphasis on such schemes like commercialisation of agriculture, establishing agro-based industries, development of rural infrastructures and promotion of tourism as well as cottage industries, is a pragmatic plan. It must be remembered that the majority of the people in Nepal still depend on agriculture to make a living. So if priority is given in modernising and making more fruitful this sector, it is sure to benefit the common masses, specially the poor people of the rural areas. Furthermore, introducing other programmes to increase the earning of the people will contribute more in uplifting their living standard. Like mentioned in the Royal Address, augmenting employment will go a long way in increasing the earning of the people.

The present Sixteenth Session of the Parliament, is in itself crucial by the fact that it is the first parliamentary session after the Third General Election. Both the people as well as leaders have realised that the recent election was a turning point for the nation as it delivered a party with a comfortable majority so that there will be stable politics. No one was satisfied with the turbulent times when there was a situation of a Hung parliament during the past four years or so. The nation and the people suffered a lot during that time and everybody wanted to see an end of it. Now with a stable government at the helm of affairs, the people were anxious to hear what its plans and policies were for them. The government has done well by aiming at providing welfare to the people, specially to those who need help the most. For example mobilising easily accessible loans through banks committed to rural development, social security programmes for the elderly, widows and helpless and handicapped people and efforts to raise the quality of life of the oppressed, indigenous ethnic groups and women, will surely be vital in achieving the objective of battling poverty.

Naturally, apart from poverty alleviation, the government also has schemes to bring about development in other sectors. Looking at the specific manner in which the government has outlined how it will tackle the different issues facing the nation, the people are very much optimistic on the realisation of these goals. With sincere commitment of the government and cooperation from all sectors, it can be hoped the present programmes will bear fruit sooner than later.

(Sunday Despatch, Sunday, July 4)