The policy and program, which has tried to include the highest use of technology, investment growth, and good governance, has been seen as conventional as it has not been able to make public a transformative plan with timely measures to improve the livelihood of the common man.

The 100-point document presented by President Ram Chandra Poudel in the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament on Monday has limited new initiatives and most of the old plans and language have been continued. We will have to wait until the budget is made public with a concrete plan that includes other reform issues that are included extensively in the policy and program.

The budget should be able to present additional reforms and facilities to achieve a new phase of economic reform and seven percent economic growth. Looking at the promise letter of the ruling National Independent Party, it seems difficult to reach a hundred billion US dollar economy with seven percent economic growth in five to seven years.

Therefore, a solid basis was expected to be presented in the policy and program. In a context where investment is discouraged even with the lowest interest rate in a decade, there is a lack of a policy to boost the morale of the private sector. But the priority given to information technology is positive.

The government has given priority to terms like information technology, AI, and digital in its policies and programs. It has been said that the information technology sector will be declared a national strategic industry and software, digital services, cloud services, cybersecurity, green computing, and AI computation exports will be prioritized. In addition, it has been said that Nepal will be promoted as a tech hub by developing digital parks, high-capacity data centers, and public digital infrastructure. Exports of information technology have also been given priority. With such priorities, the government seems to be trying to keep pace with the changing world.

Investment promotion plans introduced at a time when foreign investment is inflowing at around zero.2 percent of the economy are attractive. Amid complaints that the hassles faced by investors are discouraging them from investing in Nepal, the government has adopted a policy of amending the foreign investment law and expanding the automatic route. It has been said that investors who invest above the limit set by the Nepal government will be provided with a 'Nepal investment visa'.

But some issues remain the same. For example, the priority areas for foreign investment. In last year's policy and program, it was said that foreign investment would be focused on high-yield industrial and physical infrastructure projects. This year too, it has been said that foreign aid, loans and private sector investment will be focused on high-yield projects.

Governments have also used similar language in public commitments. However, there has always been criticism about the areas where Nepal's loans will be spent. Similarly, the issue of making Nepal a destination for film shooting can be compared. In Monday's public policy and program, it was said that Nepal will be established as an international film shooting and creative destination. The same goal was set in the previous year.

Politically, the government has presented the strengthening of the federal democratic republican governance system as a guideline. The voice of constitutional amendment and its own commitment have also been given priority in the policy and program. In the past, constitutional amendment was made only a strategic issue to confuse the people through mutual agreements or consensus.

Discussions on constitutional amendment have formally moved forward through the task force formed after the current government came to power. It has been said that common issues of constitutional amendment will be identified in the policy and program based on dialogue and collaboration with political parties to ensure equal ownership of all classes, regions and communities. If the constitution can be amended with the participation of as many parties as possible, it will strengthen the state-citizen relationship and increase ownership of the constitution.

It has been said in the policy and program that the minimum support price of major agricultural crops will be fixed before planting. It has been said that permanent housing and ownership will be ensured by identifying the real landless. It has been said that clean drinking water facilities will be ensured to all citizens by 2087. There is a commitment to ensure equal access to quality education for all children from poor, marginalized, Dalit, indigenous peoples, disabled and backward areas. There are many such programs, which will directly touch the citizens at the grassroots level. And, the success of policies and programs will be ensured in the return of such commitments. In the past, there are many examples of such commitments not being implemented.