Donors could be 'partners' in development

By now it should have become considerably clear to all answerable and rational citizens of the nation that the billions and the billions of rupees that we the Nepalese received in the name of donations and grants from friendly donors beginning 1950s have gone to the dogs. Not a single penny coming from those nations who streamlined astronomical amounts in the name of the people of this nation have been utilised instead it were mis-utilised by the powers that be at a particular interval of time. The Panchayati leaders even at the top echelons initiated the process of bungling the amounts thus received for the nation and the people were given to understand that every thing was going well with the donated amounts. However, the projects for which the money poured in from donors went straight into the pockets of the project managers, ministers or for that matters up to the Prime ministers. This process, however, came to the open and the then media created havoc against those who were at the top in looting the national assets. Perhaps one primary reason for the collapse of the erstwhile regime could be attributed to this brazen and shameful loot of the foreign donations made by the leaders of the then system.

The system collapsed of its own weight and was manned by those who were considered by the national population as sacrosanct and saintly like personages. However, this was just a chimera that came to the open as months and years passed by. The firebrand politicians and the revolutionaries of the ester years were in essence money-thirsty demagogue political animals who exposed their real face through their disgusting actions while in power. This new set of politicos had dismantled presumably the last system simply to grab power and amass wealth by squeezing state exchequer. Though unfortunate event as it had been, but in essence this continues to be a reality.

The order changed new celebrities came to power. The same set of donors continued their love and sympathies towards the beleaguered people of the nation. It is ten years or so of the new order. The money from donors is pouring in, some in the form of grants and some in the forms of soft loans. However, the incoming money is yet again being brazenly mis utilised. The process of amassing wealth out of this donation continues unabated. Projects continue to be weaker and weaker at the cost of the managers, the ministers and other top ranking unseen guys. Fortunately, the donors of late too have apparently become alert and have been sending signals to the establishment to do away with such shameful acts. Despite their warnings, the process of squeezing the developmental projects funded by them continues to be in practice. Nothing has so far changed. Apparently this situation might have made cautious to the donors vis-à-vis their donations and their utilisation efforts in Nepal.

Now that sooner or later, the donors will have the finance minister of their own choice, we have one suggestion for the donors. During the first meeting of theirs with the new finance minister they must tell the Nepali establishment that henceforth they, that is the donors, would pour in money to Nepal not all out as donors but would very much wish to be a partner in Nepal's development. Putting it more bluntly, the donors should now think of initiating joint ventures, joint investments and the likes so that they are also taking care of the money thus entering Nepal as well. A co-operative venture automatically means that the provider of the financial assistance also possesses his or her personnel's in the projects thus established. The foreign personnel will definitely and should remain alert of such Nepali bungling and hence the project will time permitting begin yielding results for the mutual benefits. Any way, the donors too flush in money here which is their taxpayer's money. This way the Nepalese people will form a habit of relying less on foreign doles and grants. Apart from certain exclusive projects to be handled by Nepal government, we think that the above mentioned schemes will benefit both, the financier and the Nepali counterpart. It is enough that we have been asking for money from the donors like beggars. It is time that we begin convincing donors that stop pouring in donations rather help us through joint projects and ventures. Presumably all those who wish to see a well-developed Nepal would give this noble proposal proper attention. The projects thus envisaged should go to the less developed areas of the Western part of the Kingdom so that the people of that rough and tough terrain benefit from such establishments. The establishments of such joint ventures in those less developed areas will definitely attract attention of the poverty stricken people there and would in all probability be a part in the development of their own areas. Undoubtedly, the preparation for such a conducive atmosphere for the investors from abroad should be the foremost duty of the government in Kathmandu.

It is time that the donors too change their attitude and assume a new role and become a partner in Nepal's development.

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