Did Nepal make a wrong choice by embracing free trade as a strategy for trade integration and economic development?

While the country is busy with the preparations of the Constituent Assembly Elections, which finally seems to be materializing after being postponed twice, here is something quite unrelated to it. Many a times I wonder if we have been too carried away by the political agendas of the country, maintaining a blind eye to any other issue. It’s a matter of debate if it is actually a economic revolution this country needs rather than a political upheaval every once in a while…Leaving the question for you to ponder on, here is Shristi Khadka’s take on whether Nepal made a right choice by adopting free trade or not.

Did Nepal made a wrong choice by embracing the policy of free trade as a strategy for trade integration and economic development?

by Shristi Khadka

Democracy has been regarded as the best practice by almost all countries of the world and democracy also incorporates economic democracy. Therefore restricting people to consume or produce any goods or services provided they are not harmful to an individual or society is against democratic norm. On the other globalisation makes it almost impossible to impose strict restrictions on the free flow of goods, services and human beings. The advancement of science and technology has even accelerated the pace of flow breaking the national boundaries. Hence, free trade is the demand of time but not an end in itself for economic development. It will surely provide a larger market for goods, services and works but only if they are competitive.

Although, Nepal formally adopted the concept of free trade after the restoration of democracy in 1990 the Structural Adjustment Policy (SAP) introduced by the World Bank in 1985 can be traced as the first step being taken by the country for introducing free trade. Then after there was no looking back and Nepal fully adopted the concept of free trade by entering into various bi-lateral (like Indo-Nepal Trade Treaty), regional (like SAFTA) and multilateral treaties (like WTO).

Sri Lankan Peace in Pieces

Sri Lankan Peace in Pieces
by Hayah

On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee, they hoisted the national flag, we all got up to sing the national anthem, and religious dignitaries recited their respective prayers. Then began the speeches. The ‘On behalf of’ messages of President, Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Sri Lanka. They held words about the significant achievements of the nation in the past 60 years of independence from British colonial rule, the brilliant figures of literacy, life expectancy rates, the amazing economic growth. They spoke of pluralism of the nation as being an example for South Asia and the world and democracy and rule of law that was implemented so well. I couldn’t help feeling the pride for my country that I felt in my heart was for some reason overshadowed by the reality that I knew existed.

AHRC (Asian Human Rights Commission) sends my organization emails everyday based on human rights violations in Sri Lanka and other parts of Asia. Women being raped, Tamil children denied education, Sinhalese couples accused and imprisoned wrongly, false allegations by police, police aiding with criminals….and the list goes on. CNN and Al Jazeera has been airing news about bomb after bomb in Sri Lanka. The leaders said that there is a war in the North and East of the country. What bull! There is a war at peoples door step. In the North, the West, the South, the East. From Jaffna, to Colombo there is a war.

A bomb exploding everyday is the expectation. The norm. Wives don’t know if their husbands will return home, mothers don’t know if their children will get stuck in a mile long security check. The prices of day to day essentials are sky high. If inflation and insecurity if what you call “socio-economic progress” then the entire country is shrouded in a veil of falsehood. If what Sri Lanka has today is “democracy” where those in power control over 80% of the economy then maybe colonial rule was more equitable.

So what reason is there to celebrate this Diamond Jubilee? Is Sri Lanka truly free today? Are the Sri Lankan people awake to the reality of their nation?

All I could hope for is maybe Sri Lanka too will see an uprising. Maybe the tides will turn. Maybe the Sri Lankan people will stand up to claim their nation again. Maybe this jewel of a nation will revive as the diamond of the Indian Ocean

…and the tear drop shall turn into a pearl once again ….

View from the terrace

The sun sets beyond the mountains

An International Airlines Approaching the Tribhuwan International Airport ( View from the terrace)

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Guff Guff

 By Radience

Today in the college we were discussing about so many things. The discussion started with the dream where I saw Prashant Tamang and one of my friends and I was telling about the dream. She told me that the Sony TV plays the new video of Prashant Tamang very less as compared to earlier Indian Idols and we were talking about the chaos that took place in Silgudi. I am not aware of the chaos but my friend was saying that how some people of Silgudi were jealous or simply say they could not digest that Prashant Tamang is an Indian Idol. But that is a fact. If you have a provision of selecting an Indian Idol with the help of sms then obviously then one who gets maximum vote will win. One cannot go on protesting that someone is not suitable for the title. I think they should protest about the process of ’sms’ing.

Then we started discussing what we thought about the separation of Terai from the rest of Nepal.

Silence is Survival

By Hayah 

Women in Nepalese society find themselves in queer circumstances. On one hand women are revered and worshipped as Goddesses, on the other hand they are exploited as subordinates. A woman’s life is only considered of value if she is ‘the daughter of’ ‘sister of’ and ‘wife of’ a male member of her family. The situation worsens when a woman becomes a widow. She is unable to return to her maternal home, because society tends to look down upon women who do so and she is no longer welcome in her marital home either. A widow is portrayed as having ‘ill luck’ and an obstacle in the way of her in-laws in getting her share of the property (if any at all).

The practice of child marriage is still persistant in many parts of rural Nepal. If a young woman has left her education to get married, then when she is widowed she neither has the required knowledge or skill to sustain a livlihood. Conflict has added to the existant backdrop of patriarcy and reinforced the subordination of all women. Conflict has provided the excuse for women, especially those without male support, to be harassed, abused and even raped without repercussions.  Conflict has fueled a internal migration of people into much of the urban areas of Nepal, like Kathmandu city. These women who either come alone, or with their children seeking a better livelihood are quickly pushed into the murky corners of city life. Unable to sustain basic necessities such as food, clothing and housing, they resolve to working in the informal sector more out of the lack of choice for employment and due to inadequate education and skills. Informal employment includes low paid daily wage labourers, workers in cabin restaraunts and dance bars and as sex workers.

Namaste, salaamz and hello!

Women Bloggers of South Asia is a venture by 3 college students to expand collective blogging to other South Asian women bloggers. There is a grave lack of exposure for South Asian women or women based in South Asia and the issues pertaining to the region have been expressed by those outside the region than those within. This space therefore is to ‘bring out the voices of women women writers and bloggers of the region’ so to speak. It is a view of the region from within and through women’s eyes.

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