All downhill

EDITORIAL

Nepal remains obsessed with politics at the cost of economic development, which has a telling effect on the overall economic performance. Economic development too deserves priority although politics cannot be ignored. The economy of the country is now in doldrums with very little being done to stimulate it. The political leaders parties should realize their failure to arrive at a consensus and find a political outlet to the country’s problems has made the economy suffer and those at the receiving end are largely the impoverished people. Various indicators rank the country 125 among 144 economics in the Global Competitiveness Report 2012-13. As is obvious, Nepal was at the rock bottom as far as the infrastructures are concerned. In fact, as far as these were concerned Nepal ranked at 143, that is second from the bottom. This is indeed a dismal situation for it indicates the unsatisfactory quality of the overall infrastructure such as roads, railways, electricity supply and the like. Nepal’s score on these counts were clearly unsatisfactory.

Nepal stood at the bottom of the South Asian ranking which should goad the authorities to mull over this sorry state of affairs. Despite the urgency of building the necessary infrastructure, the authorities are paying no heed to this pressing need. Instead, needless debates take place and unreasonable obstacles are placed which is not conducive to the building of the infrastructures. It is also found that the availability of financial services is still difficult although there has been a proliferation of banks and financial institutions. The competitive edge is lacking as there is no right mix of goods and services for exports. It is not only in the basic infrastructures that the country failed miserably but also in the efficiency enhancers.

However, the report shows that the country scored better in the macro-economic environment, and health and primary education. It was found that Nepal performed satisfactorily on these counts from which we should take heart. These fall under the category of basic requirements which include institutions, infrastructures and macro-economic environment and health and primary education. But, the performance under efficiency enhancers that lists, among other things, higher education and training, goods market efficiency, labour market efficiency, financial market development, technology readiness and market the less said about it the better. The Global Competiveness Report should wake the development planners and the political leadership to take the necessary remedial measures. The report has specifically identified the areas to work on so as to boost the competitiveness of Nepal in this very competitive global environment. Still, despite the poor performance in the basic infrastructures, that it has been able to do satisfactorily in the sector of health and primary education shows that all hope is not lost. The country still can improve on its ranking on global competitiveness provided there is commitment to build the necessary infrastructure to take it on the path of progress and prosperity.

Big threat

Possession of small arms seems to have become common place as is seen by their use in robberies and murders. The police have a readymade task not only to prevent flow of small arms into the country but also to prevent their illegal possession

and use. However, the police are not being able to control the widespread possession of small weapons in the hands of the criminals in particular. There is the Arms and Ammunitions Act 1962 and Explosives Act 1961 to control the possession of arms and ammunitions. But, going by the criminal incidents, the Acts have not been implemented strictly, and the people carrying arms have not come under the purview of the law.

It is only a few who are arrested and sentenced, but the majority seems to get away, and pose a serious threat to the law and order situation in the country. The government has to take stern steps to regulate particularly the small arms which can easily go undetected. The rising crime rate in the country points to the easily availability of the small arms. There has to be a sweeping drive by the police to flush out the small arms in possession without mandatory license.