Nepalese economy has been suffering badly for more than one decade and the country is always trying to attract donor countries and agencies to provide some assistance. That is why it is strange that Nepal was offered a huge package of aid by India 7 months ago but it has been accepted by Nepalese government only now. Under this package, India will give an assistance of 8. 05 billion Nepali rupees ($ 115 million) to Nepal for infrastructure development related projects in the Terai belt (Southern Nepal). This money will be mainly spent for building new link roads and 30 bridges. This will contribute immensely for the people living in Terai belt.
When this aid package was initially offered, the previous government of King Gyanendra looked it with a suspicious eye and did not accept it. I am quoting from a report of India eNews:
"Though the project is expected to bring about massive increase in physical connectivity, which in turn will have a catalytic impact on the overall socio-economic development of the terai, the MoU was held up during King Gyanendra’s direct rule.
With the terai people being close to India through similarities in language, culture and customs, the royal regime put the project on hold fearing India’s influence in the plain area would increase if the plains people realised their lives had improved due to Indian assistance.
The previous governments of Nepal, run by people from the mountains, have always looked down upon the plains people. Though about 80 percent of the national revenue is generated from the fertile plains, known as the food bowl of Nepal, just about 20 percent of it is utilised for the development of the terai area."
Well, if the allegation is true then my full sympathy is with the common people of Nepal who suffered from bad governance. Now, there is a new democratic government and hopefully the people of Terai belt will have better share of the national wealth. This kind of story is not uncommon in the third world countries like Nepal. Fear, suspicion and jealousy of a King or a Minister often take the upper hand against national interest. However, we can find the other side of the coin too. Often richer nations pretend to give aid to poor countries just to take advantage of the poverty of a country.
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8. 05 billion Nepali rupees ($ 115 million)= a lot of money!
Posted by: Panda | June 28, 2006 5:53 PM | Permalink to Comment