The year 2018 was both inspiring and despairing. A number of events that took place in the past 12 months have paved the way for the country to move forward and attain its development goals. There are depressing aspects too but let’s start with some positives. For one, 2018 started the process of institutionalizing federalism. Formation of governments in 753 local units, seven provinces and at the center was no small feat. There were doubts that Nepal’s federal journey will be able to take off, let alone be implemented. Year 2018 proved all these doubts wrong. As we embark on 2019, we have functioning governments in three levels of federal set up. Yes, they have not been able to work as per people’s aspirations. Some of them have even failed to inspire optimism. But with governments in place, the country has at least set the groundwork for moving forward.
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On a brighter note, the federal parliament has passed a number of laws to ensure fundamental rights enshrined in the constitution. Provincial assemblies are working on finalizing names of the provinces and fixing the provincial capitals. Province 2, for example, has led the new initiative to educate the girls. The government signed the protocol agreement on trade and transit with China. Criminalizing dowry and Chhaupadi was another right step the country made. On foreign policy front, there have been exchanges of high level visits between Nepal and India. Nepal has also tried to enhance direct ties with countries like the United States. Foreign minister-level visit between the US and Nepal after the gap of 17 years is expected to further enhance US-Nepal ties. And on corruption control, the anti-corruption watchdog, CIAA, has taken up one after another big corruption cases. People hope for corruption-free Nepal in 2019. Big projects await completion. We are targeting to bring as many as two million tourists for 2020.
The positives aside, it goes without saying that the new dispensation has not been able to work as per the aspirations of people. For example, the government has not been able to implement some of the best decisions it made—such as ending syndicate and cartel in transportation sector and punishing nonperforming contractors. Most notably, the failure to bring the perpetrators of rape and murder of Nirmala Panta has made the mockery of our law and justice system. It has earned a bad fame for the government as well as Nepal’s justice delivery institutions. The government is being criticized for failing to deliver on its promises of good governance, prosperity and development. Despite these flaws, the year 2018 has laid some groundwork to move forward in institutionalizing the new political order. Apart from being a moment to look back and reflect on mistakes, New Year is also the moment to look forward for better days. We hope Nepal’s political parties, ruling as well as those in the opposition, will reflect on their failures of 2018 and correct them. They should build on some of the institutional frameworks created in 2018 and make a leap toward 2019 to make it the year of achievements. On that note, we express Happy New Year 2019 to all.
