Former minister of Information and Communication and Central Committee member of Nepali Congress, JAYA PRAKASH ANANDA GUPTA is one of the influential youth members of Congress. A die-hard supporter of Girija Prasad Koirala, MP Gupta, convener of NC press and publicity committee, is now vehemently opposing prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai's non-functioning style. At a time when BhattaraI is making desperate bid to remain in power, Gupta is leading a group of dissenters. Gupta spoke to SPOTLIGHT on various issues of his party. Excerpts:

What reasons prompt you to oppose six month old government of prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai?

We are not opposing him but just suggesting him to change his style of functioning. Nepali Congress has been given mandate on the ground that it will provide economic stability, improve law and order situation and end political malpractice. Except in economic front, performance of this government is totally unsatisfactory. Every one can see what is going on in the country. The corruption continue to flourish and law and order situation is deteriorating. We want that the government should take some drastic steps to change the situation.

Why Bhattarai was voted as leader knowing his unpredictable nature. Was not it your fault?

Selecting leadership is one thing but we are now rasing the question of good governance. We elected parliamentary leader unopposed on the ground that he would fulfill  his commitments and bring some substantial changes in the country.

How do you describe present dissension within Nepali Congress?

It is not an organized revolt but merely a dissatisfaction of the members of parliament. The MPs are raising the problems faced by common people. We are talking about the corruption, misgovernance.

If you say it is not revolt against the prime minister. Then, What is it ?

I have not seen any kind of rebellion in the party. We are making comments on the performance of the government which has been elected for five years. Our dissension is a part of suggestion as well as a warning to improve the performance of the government.

But the government is saying that their performance is much better than the governments of the last five years. How would you explain?

The government is defending its six months performance by comparing itself with coalition governments of last four years. The position of the majority, minority and coalition governments are completely different. Unlike previous governments, the present government does not have to compromise with any political parties. It can start fresh programs on its own. Even the government does not have to worry from the opposition or the MPs of ruling party. CPN-UML and ML are today raising the similar issues raised by the Nepali Congress members.

Is your present struggle issue-based?

Yes. Definitely it is based on issues. We are not biassed against any individual. So far as the leader of our party is concerned, he should work in accordance with the commitment of the party. We are just opposing bad governance and non-functioning of the government.

When Girija Prasad Koirala was prime minister, his opponents said similar things while opposing the government. How do you say that your dissension is different than theirs?

The present disenchantment is based on the problems of common people who have given mandate to Nepali Congress to rule. We are pressing the government to respect the mandate of the voters. There are many differences between then and now. 

It is said that Nepali Congress members are create instability whoever be in  power. When Girija Prasad Koirala was in power, there were groups of 36 and now prime minister Bhattarai is in power and other group are fighting for similar causees? Why such things are happening?

You cannot compare the present situation with the past. Girijababu has never compromised with ideals of his party and party workers. What is happening today is not secret. There is no sense of hope and people are frustrated by the non performance of the government.

If CPN-UML will table resolution criticizing the government on the price hike, what will be the response of Congress MPs?

Of course, Congress members have to face many difficulties to defend against the motion. As voting in the parliament is a technical matter, I cannot say what will happen then. As I have already told you that we are not rebels, all MPs will defend the government at the time of voting. Even though CPN-UML is raising genuine issues like corruption, price hike and deteriorating law and order situation, it is not possible for us to vote in their favor.

Then what is reason behind dissension?

Congress members can settle their differences on their own. How can we support CPN-UML resolution presented with an aim to over throw Congress government? The intention of CPN-UML to break Nepali Congress will never succeed.

But CPN-UML leaders have publicly called Congress MPs to support their resolution. Does it have any effect on you?

It is a strategy of CPN-UML to fish in troubled waters. I have not found any reasonable arguments to support them as most of the issues raised by CPN-UML are similar to ours.

Some sections of Congress accuse that the dissenters are trying to destablize the government. Is it true?

No. There is no reason behind it. One cannot label such accusation against us. We are fulfilling our basic responsibility by pressuring the government to follow the right step.

Do you think that the leadership in the government will listen to your demand?

They have to listen as we all are elected members of parliament. Our government received mandate from the people to rule the country. This is not the government based on divine power. If the government fails to respect the voice of the people, it will have to quit. The leaders must understand that this government is not formed through any divine power.

Is there any guarantee that even after changing the leadership, the situation will be different?

I am confident that every prime minister has to respect the pressure of the people if he or she wants to remain in power. Our pressure will help our leadership to take the problems of common people seriously.

During your period as a communication minister, you had introduced some new packages. The reform in communication sector still continues. How do you look at it?

I accepted existing challenges of new millennium and tried to introduce some latest information technology in the country. For the last couple of years, all of our neighbors have been introducing new technologies in the field of information and communication sector. If we will not follow similar planning, our system will be backward. In coming millennium, the information and communication is going to be very important sector for national development.

How do you see information and communication policy of the present government?

The communication sector does not seem to be  a priority sector for the incumbent minister and no body seems much concerned about the importance of media in the present context.

‘The Idea Of Quality Should Be Implanted In The Mind Of Children’

 A leading management consultant in Nepal, DINESH CHAPAGAIN is chairman of MISSION, a professional group that is promoting Information Technology-based  Management practices in the country. A pioneer to introduce the concept of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Nepal, Chapagain has been recently appointed Director General of World Council for Total Quality and Excellence in Education (WCTQEE) for Nepal. He spoke to SPOTLIGHT on the concept and importance of TQM in the country. Excerpts: 

What do you mean by Total Quality Management (TQM)? How much is this concept relevant in a country like Nepal?

TQM or the Total Quality Management is the "method of solving problem systematically for continuous improvement. TQM actually is a culture rather than a management technique. It is meant for continuously striving for developing us and the society together with a holistic approach not only by satisfying our customers but also by delighting or astonishing them. It is actually an attitude of mind to improve today than yesterday, and tomorrow than today. Continuous improvement is a must for our country. In Nepal, each individual and institution should apply the concept of TQM in their everyday activities.

How do you think that Nepalese industry and businesses could benefit by adopting the concept of TQM?

We have already entered the open market business environment. With the implementation of the WTO agreement in near future, the products and the services of our business houses have to compete globally. Till now, our businessmen are operating their businesses under the government protection policies, sometimes, even threatening them. That situation will no more be valid after one or two years. Then, how to run the business successfully? Forget about the growth, the question of sustainability will come. Many products and services will be flooded in the market bought from the worldwide experienced business houses. In that situation, we cannot reduce the cost, we cannot increase the price, and we cannot press our workers. What we can do is only improve quality continuously to catch hold of the customers. One very important message of TQM is that the QUALITY is FREE. The business houses of Nepal have to adopt the concept of TQM immediately not only to get benefit but also to survive in the global competition that is knocking at the door.

What can and should the government do to promote the concept of quality in governmental as well as private businesses?

The governmental institutions are the one that do not care about providing quality service to the public. The public servicemen who have been given responsibility to serve public think that they are their bosses. The concept of TQM should be introduced in the governmental institution. The governments of Singapore, Malaysia and many other newly developed countries have benefited by introducing TQM among bureaucrats. TQM is also linked with productivity. I think planned awareness building and motivational programs have to be initiated by the government. In Japan, where the concept of TQM was developed more than three decades ago, mass media like radio, television and print publications were used widely to reach to the head and heart of the people. The result we know, Japan stands at the top among others beating them with quality and productivity in their service.

 How could the concept of TQM be introduced in the schools and education sector? How much is it justified to bother tiny kids with heavy concepts like `total quality in education'?

For the last ten years, I have been trying hard to convince businessmen for adopting TQM for their benefit. However, very few businessmen have really agreed on the principle of building their organizational strength to delight customers through applying employees participation and Total Quality Management. Fortunately, I got a chance to attend a meeting of World Council for Total Quality and Excellence in Education (WCTQEE) at Lucknow (India) in February this year. There, I appreciated the idea of "Catch Them Young". The school children of today will either be the bureaucrats, businessmen, politicians, teachers, workers, or so on in the future. It is easy to implant the culture of the quality service in the minds of school children. All these children will then bring new Nepal in future. I started to do experiment in one of the schools in Kathmandu, "The Himalaya Vidya Mandir" with the kind consent of the Founder Principal. Now, I feel I will be successful in implanting the idea of quality service in the mind of school children. The quality idea which I could not sell among the businessmen, now I feel I can transfer to the future managers or workers through introducing TQM in educational institutions.

How has been the response to these new concepts in Nepal?

The response has yet to be tested. My plan in the future is to disseminate the idea of QUALITY among students, teachers and parents for everybody's development. For this, I will try to convince some visionary principals of the country to come forward and understand the meaning of Total Quality Management and initiate the Student's Quality Circle as an integral part of the TQM. I will provide my service to this noble cause as far as possible.

‘Political Leadership Should Be Committed’

 ANTHONY E. WIELER, an international investment specialist, has an established network of contacts throughout South-east Asian and the Pacific region. Wieler has already visited Nepal more than one dozen times since 1967. Organizer of the Gurkha Welfare Appeal that raised 1.5 million sterling pound for the Gurkha Welfare Trusts, WEILER spoke to SPOTLIGHT on different issues. Excerpts: 

Could you tell us about your fascination toward Nepal?

I have a long association with the Nepalese people. I was with Gurkha rifles during the period of 1959 and 1960 as a 2nd Lieutenant.

As a regular visitor over such a long time, how do you see the changes taking place in Nepal?

Well, the pace of change is  a little bit slow. The King was your only executive for a long period of time. After the restoration of democracy, the King is restricted as the constitutional monarch but the executive decision was not taken for the speedy change. You have had a period of coalition when politicians were more concerned with staying in office rather than looking forward for the country. It was a very unfortunate period of time when very few results were produced. Your country paid a big price for the political instability.

How do you see things now?

You have a majority government now and the government has tremendous ability to take some drastic decision to move the country froward. The King is there to give every assistance as he is an experienced man. I am sure your ministers also look at the king for his advise on major issues. The government must get benefit of his experience. Although he is a constitutional monarch, he has a longer experience of running the executive. The problem which is endemic in the whole region. Some politicians regard office as an opportunity for social enrichment and not an opportunity to do something good for their country.  I hope that your negotiations with WTO will be successful and more and more business opportunities will be offered abroad. People should not ask for bribe or commission. You have a small country and every body should work for the benefit of the country. Nepal has many friends in the world. If your policy makers will show sincerity, your country doesn't need to have worry for foreign investment.

Do we have such people who can change the fate of the country?

Yes, you have many potential people in politics and business but such people are in shadow. It will take time to change the situation. I hope it will change through the gradual process.

What is your observation regarding the functioning of democracy?

Unfortunately, there are factions in political parties and different groups are fighting to establish their grip. This is a very bad practice. Political parties should develop their own mechanism to settle differences within them. British Prime Minister Tony Blair is an example who shows how to minimize interal disagreement within the party. I think your Prim Minister also does similar things. Internal dissensions must be tackled through internal mechanism of the party.

How do you see the investment climate in Nepal?

Only very brave individual investors would invest here. There are only a few companies which can buy and sell their shares in a reasonable amount. Unlike developed countries you don't have well managed stock markets  which have ability to buy shares. You need enormous turn over to successfully attract foreign investors. Besides, you also need proper legislation. Every country should offer peaceful situation to attract foreign investment but you have threat from terrorism at the moment. It is in the interest of the country to sort out the problem of Maoists. If you are not able to contain Maoists, there may be the possibility of foreign intervention.

What is your impression of Nepal?

Nepal is making progress slowly but steadily. You need political leaders who have mission toward your nation. It is the political leaders who can play very important role to change the fate of the country. I think the present Nepali Congress government with the majority in  the Parliament can bring some noticeable changes in the country. Once again the question is: Do political leaders have any mission?

How do you see the future of Nepal?

I have seen many changes in the country over the years. Your political leaders should show commitment for the development of the country and better living conditions for the countrymen.