Let us compare the 33 years of restoration of multi-party democracy and the 30 years of Panchayat period. Only the system has changed or the situation?
After the success of the people's movement of 2062/063 in Nepal, it was said to raise the standard of living of Nepal and Nepalese by making extensive improvements in development, good governance, service delivery etc. Common citizens used to name it 'New Nepal'. Commentary of New Nepal lasted for about 5/7 years. But within a short period of time, it developed as a vocabulary that satirizes the system of 'New Nepal', ridicules the working style of the leadership and denigrates the republican system itself.
Although some people present 'new Nepal' as a satire, Nepal is becoming a new one. Not only the old system but also the condition of citizens has changed. There has been a massive change in the political, economic and social conditions of citizens.
However, a section of the society is not satisfied with such changes. Some of these groups have no idea what the condition of citizens was like under the previous dispensation. Especially, the generation born after 2063 has made a significant contribution to the comment that 'nothing has happened in the country'. This generation has not even been able to exercise the right to vote. Born with information technology and political empowerment, this generation does not want to go back to the past. Even sitting in a corner in Nepal, this generation is watching the advancement and progress of elite countries of the world, why has our country not developed like America? He questions the government every day as to why he is not able to enjoy the facilities like there. This generation is not ready to accept that the technology to see the world while sitting in the village of Nepal is a gift of this republic.
The second type of intentional negativity cultivators have used their strength since the beginning to return New Nepal to its old state and to cultivate despair in the society. This group is active at home and abroad. Using social media, this group is producing 'misinformation and disinformation' and throwing it into the hands of citizens. Nothing new has happened to millions of people at once in New Nepal. The message has been conveyed that everything has been done. Disappointed by such messages, the Jamaat and the Jamaat from New Nepal who have not fulfilled their interests are gathering together and sharing the daydream of bringing a king.
Those who are the spokespersons who spread rumors that nothing happened in New Nepal, if they look at their own lives once, they will find an unprecedented change. An attempt has been made to analyze Nepal's achievements in the 33 years after the multi-party system based on data from the Census, Ministry of Health, World Bank, various ministries, etc.
People in remote villages who had no idea of road transport before the republic have now got the facility of road transport. People who had to carry their blankets for several days from the mountains and mountainous areas are now able to board vehicles from home. According to the National Census 2078, 69.4 percent of the country's 6,743 wards, i.e. 4,679 wards, have roads that allow traffic to be operated for 12 months. Many wards of former Karnali, which did not have roads before the establishment of the Republic, now have transport facilities. In 38.4 percent of the wards of Karnali, which is known as the most difficult province, the vehicle operates for 12 months.
30 years of Panchayat had built a total of 9 thousand km of roads. In the 33 years since the Panchayat, 100,000 km of roads have been constructed. In the year 2048, there were about one and a half million vehicles, but currently there are about four million vehicles.
Could we have developed this speed during the continuation of the king's rule? With road and air connectivity, no part of the country is left out of the mainstream. During the monarchy, there was one primary health center in one locality (a unit of five-seven villages), but now 21 to 28 percent of the wards have health centers.
Electricity in homes, mobile phones in hand
The change in the 12 years of the multi-party system and 19 years of the republic can be clearly seen in the village settlements. What is more interesting is that even though electrification started in Nepal during the Rana period, only 8.8 percent of the people were able to enjoy the electricity service till the Panchayat period. Now that number has reached 92.8 percent. During the Panchayat period, about 227 MW of electricity was produced, but now it has reached 3400 MW. About 75 percent of smart mobile phone users. 93 percent of the households use normal mobile phones. The pace of development and construction has moved faster than the pre-republic generation could have imagined. The current generation in the 80's could not imagine motoring in the mountains. They used to imagine that the motor would be rolled in such a heavy watch, but not in our lifetime, they would show it to their grandchildren. But several years before Kalpana, they had the opportunity to travel over Bhir Pahra by themselves on a motorbike.
Let's compare the 33 years of restoration of multi-party democracy and the 30 years of Panchayat period before insulting all the political parties and leaders based on one incident of the republic period. Only the system has changed or the situation?
Leaders for ending panchayat autocracy stayed in jail for almost two decades. The current Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli spent 14 years in prison. The first generation leaders of the main political parties are all gel nails. They have fought hard and sacrificed to improve the standard of living of the people, to give political and social rights to the people. Before criticizing the present system, it is necessary to study and contemplate the background of this system and the continuous struggle of political parties for it.
This is how the situation changed with the system. There has been no reversal of the situation. If that is the case, the people of the east should have come down to Dharan to buy salt, the people of central Nepal should have reached Butwal to buy goods. After the restoration of multi-party system in Nepal i.e. after 2047 years, there has been a major change in the living standards of the citizens. Not only the educational condition of the people but also the level of consciousness has changed. Women's education has increased. In the 30 years from 2048 to 2078, the literacy rate of Nepalese has increased by about 2.5 percent every year. Literacy rate of Nepalese which was 54.4 percent in 2048 has now reached 76.2 percent. During this period, female literacy increased by 36.2 percent to 69 percent.
The life expectancy of Nepalis has increased due to significant progress in health care. Child and infant mortality has decreased. The death rate due to childbirth (maternal mortality) has decreased. Due to the high infant and child mortality rate, the average age is low, and the possibility of premature death of people is gradually decreasing due to vaccination programs in villages, the activity of women health volunteers, expanded health centers in villages, hospitals and clinics opened in the private sector. As a result, the average life expectancy of Nepalis has reached 71 years, which was 54 years in 2048. The age of the woman has reached 72 years. The infant mortality rate has fallen from 139 per thousand to 27 over a period of three decades. It is wrong to ignore this significant progress in the mortality rate and make a comment that nothing has happened in the country. A number of women suffering from labor pains have been delivered safely by helicopters from far away and their lives have been saved. As a result of the significant reduction in child and infant mortality, the belief that all children born live to full life, the fertility rate has also decreased. In 2048, a woman used to give birth to about 5 children, and that order has decreased and now she is giving birth to barely two children.
In 2051, the representation of women in parliament was 3 percent. After the establishment of the Republic, this number increased to 33 percent. In the local level elections of 2054, one woman member was elected from each ward of the village. Due to political and social changes and inclusive policies of the state, women have now been made mandatory in one of the two main positions at every local level. At least two women representatives must be elected from every ward. Because of this, 14,000 or 41 percent of the 35,000 people's representatives at the local level are women. 25 local levels including one metropolis are led by women. Along with politics, women's power is also increasing in the home. At present, about one-third (31.55 percent) of the households have female housewives. Compared to 2068, this rate has increased by 5.82 percent. Similarly, about one-fourth (23.8 percent) of the families own houses or land in the name of women.
As the economic and social indicators are getting stronger, the poverty rate of Nepalis is also decreasing. Poverty, which was 42 percent in 2058, has now dropped to 20.27 percent. Nepal's human development index is above the average level. This index, which was 0.4 in 2048, has now reached 0.6. Along with the system, Nepalese have also changed their lifestyle. The per capita income was Rs 7,690 in the year 2048/049 and now it has increased to Rs 136,777.
have improved the traditional farming system. Citizens have moved agriculture along the path of mechanization and modernization. In 2048, 1 percent of people used tractors for farming, while in 2068, 22 percent and 40 percent of farmers used tractors in 2078. The number of tourists coming to Nepal has also increased significantly due to the increasing international relations and the facility of air transport. According to which, in the year 2048, about 100,000 tourists came to Nepal, while currently 1200,000 tourists come to Nepal.
These are some comparative facts about what was the situation of Nepal and Nepalese during Panchayat period, multi-party period and republic period. Such positive changes have happened in every person, community, village. A comment of disappointment has been created because the political parties have not been able to 'brand' the positive changes that have taken place during the multi-party and republican era. Therefore, political parties should not only work but also present their work to the citizens from time to time. It is also the work of the parties to lead the society towards positivity by discouraging the tendency to arouse negative feelings in the society.
