To achieve socialist-oriented economic targets, the party has put forth a roadmap of completing ´national industrial capitalist economic revolution´ in its manifesto for the upcoming Constituent Assembly (CA) election being held on November 19. [break]
In the manifesto, the party has recognized the role of the state as a regulatory facilitator and cooperatives as supportive force of private sector - the key vehicle for economic development.
Realizing the need for equitable distribution of development benefits among people, the party has announced that it will give priority on economic growths that will be favorable across all strata of the population.
Though the party believes foreign capital is crucial for infrastructure development, its manifesto stresses the need to promote internal investment.
The election agenda of the party has outlined rapid modernization and commercialization of agriculture sector; development of hydropower as national campaign; expansion of roads, railway, ropeway, airports and irrigation canals; and development of tourism, industrial and service sector to achieve double digit growth in the next few decades.
The party has set a road map to achieve average economic growth of 11.9 percent in next 40 years with the target of increasing per capita income of Nepalis to US$ 40,000. The manifesto envisages achieving 7.9 percent growth in the first five years, followed by 11 percent in the next 10 years, 12.4 percent in 20 years and 12.2 percent in 40 years, pushing up the per capita income to US$1,400, $3,300, $10,700 and $40,000, respectively.
Per capita income of Nepalis currently stands at $721.
The party has targeted average growth of agriculture and forest sector, which contributes over one-third of the total Gross Domestic Product (GDP), at 5.4 percent, while growth of industry, hydropower and construction sectors have been targeted at 13.2 percent and tourism, transport, financial and communication sectors at 12.9 percent over the next forty years.
The party believes such growths will help Nepal graduate to the status of upper-medium level developed country in 20 years and highly developed country in 40 years.
Though the party acknowledges that the economic agenda are ambitious, it says the party is confident that the economic targets can be achieved if a stable government with vision, firm commitment and able leadership is established.
The party has also stressed the need to mobilize foreign and domestic capital by signing Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection Agreement (BIPPA) to promote investment in the country. Amid rising foreign debt to supplement the demands of capital, the manifesto has also targeted to reduce the external debt to zero in 40 years.
Keeping in view the skyrocketing trade deficit on the back of slowing supply capacity, the party has targeted to achieve trade surplus situation in 20 years. To attain surplus in foreign trade, the party has stressed on promotion of medicinal herbs, reduction of consumption of petroleum products by promoting alternative energy, promotion of commercialization of vegetables, horticulture and livestock farming, increasing industrial raw materials, and promotion of high value products and service sectors.
The party has devised a slogan - ´Full employment and self-employment to youths, major concern of UCPN (Maoist)´- with the target of providing employment opportunity to all within 15 years.
Establishment of a separate National Social Security Fund to implement the National Social Security Strategy and eliminate absolute poverty in 15 years are also among the programs included in the manifesto.
The party has said it would launch a revolutionary land reforms campaign adhering to the principle of ´land to tiller´ and distribute land beyond the allowed limit to landless settlers, freed Kamaiyas, indentured people and poor farmers free of cost.
The party has also announced to enforce restriction on leaving land fallow, arrange loan to farmers at fair interest rate and establish Farmer Pension Fund in collaboration with farmers to ensure their social security.
In tourism front, the party has set a target of bringing two million foreign tourists after 10 year, adding five new aircraft every five years, and promoting existing and new tourism destinations.
It has also announced to celebrated the coming decade as ´National Industrial Revolution Decade´.
The party has also announced to end load-shedding with three years and set a target of generating 10,000 MW in 10 years, 25,000 MW in 20 years and 45,000 MW in 40 years. The party has also set a target of providing irrigation facility to all cultivable land in Tarai belt.
Promotion of alternative energy by ending the use of the traditional firewood-stove within three years is also among the agenda of the party. The party also plans to increase power generation from micro hydel, wind energy and solar power combined to 5 percent, 10 percent and 15 percent of potential energy in these sectors within 10 years, 20 years and 40 years respectively.
The party has prioritized construction of Mid-Hills Highway. Similarly, it plans to connect Lumbini with Tibet via Kathmandu and blacktop roads that connect all district headquarters within five years.
The former rebels have also announced to safeguard welfare of workers by maintaining good relation between employers and employees in industrial sector and adopt the policy to open at least one financial institution in every Village Development Committee and establishment a model cooperative in each constituency.
Related story
NC sets eight-point agenda for CWC meeting (With list of agenda...
