Cannot fool all the people all the time

Most of us have come to realize that Nepal is not a poor country; but rather a poorly managed nation. The story that is being related in many circles, on a lighter note, is about a group of Africans who are on a study tour of Nepal. They see the blue sky, the mustard fields, the lush jungles with abundant wildlife, the gushing Himalayan rapids, the Janaki Temple and the birthplace of the Buddha. They visit the picturesque villages of the Sherpas, Thakalis, Gurungs, and Magars. They are also told that over 90% of children are enrolled in schools. Just about every large building is a bank or financial institution. Nepal even has a Hummer dealer, and they see the queue of people lined up to buy SIM cards for their phones. They see remote villages have WIFI, and the list goes on and on. It is also the 11th largest country in the world to send students to the USA.



To cut a long story short, the team is at the departure gate at the airport when they decide that they cannot leave without asking the million dollar question, “How have you managed to fool the world for so long that Nepal is a poor country?”



We cannot continue to fool the world any longer. 2011 needs to be the year when every Nepali stops “selling” poverty and begins to build on what we have. Believe me; we already have a lot to build on.



Building on relationships



The biggest variable that contributes to success or failure is teamwork, and all teamwork is about relationships. The difference between you achieving your goals or failing to deliver is going to depend on the relationship you have or are working to establish; and the effort you have put in to nurture them. The tendency we generally have is to be with people we are always comfortable with and not venturing out. 2011 will have to be the year when Nepalis make new friends. They need to speak to the Indians and Chinese more.



The hill people need to speak to the Terai people; the people of east Nepal need to work with people in west Nepal. The private sector people need to spend more time with people in the “non-profit” sectors. The media people need to spend less time with politicians and more with the people they claim to serve.



As the Buddha recommended, we all need to build relations with people who know more than ourselves and not less.



Become part of a value-added chain



We read in the papers that there is a large production of oranges across Nepal this year; and is going to waste due to lack of markets. We hear that someone or some business got a large “order” which they could not fulfill. 2011 will need to be the year when every Nepali begins to realize and position ourselves to become an integral part of a value added chain. If I have a restaurant, I need to work with the organic food networks. If I am in the food packaging business, I need to get out there to the orange growing areas of Nepal.



Each and everyone of us can add value to what someone else is doing, no matter how big or small. Each one of us has a set of skills that can either raise the value and efficiency of productivity, the shelf life of, the marketability of, the competitiveness of something or the other. Just look around. Be willing to be SURPRISED. Do not INVENT the door every time you have to leave the room.



Go to scale/replicate



Nepal has been a fertile ground for all kinds of PILOT projects and demonstration programs. From the magnificent bridge across the Karnali River to the power utility in the Khumbu, from the one laptop per child to WIFI in Mustang, we have done so much. From e-bidding on road contracts to community forestry, buffer zones around national parks, we have piloted so many great ideas. All we need to do now is take the ideas that work and go to scale. No need to study, and waste time and resources for some time to come.



By the same argument, we also know what does not work. Stop doing any more of these. Look around and see for yourself. If things are working well, replicate them. 2011 has to be the year when we stopped looking for new ways, methods, creating new institutions, policies etc but the year of scaling and replication.



Beware: competitors may discourage



2011 should be the year when Nepalis realize that people who go around discouraging others are those who are scared of competition. They have made it for themselves, or have a stream of income that they do not want to share with others, and hence go around discouraging people. Those who love this beautiful country will encourage others, give and share ideas and when possible, mentor others to succeed. There are many who are determined to make life in this country difficult to such an extent that those who can compete with them will actually pack up and leave the country.



Beware of such people. When people write the history of Nepal in about 20 years, we can all make sure that 2011 was the year when the Nepali people and Nepal made a shift that enabled a true “Sundar, Shanta, Bishal” Nepal.

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