Professor D.D. Poudel, the Founder of the Asta-Ja Framework
Asta-Ja Framework:
Asta-Ja is a theoretically grounded grassroots-based planning and management framework for conservation, development, and utilization of natural and human resources.
Asta-Ja means eight of the Nepali letter “Ja” [Jal (water), Jamin (land), Jungle (forest), Jadibuti (medicinal and aromatic plants), Janashakti (manpower), Janawar, (animals), Jarajuri (crop plants), and Jalabayu (climate)].
Asta-Ja promotes accelerated economic growth and socio-economic transformation of the nation.
It is a scientific, holistic, systematic, self-reliant, and multidisciplinary framework for the conservation, development, and utilization of Asta-Ja resources. The eight elements of the Asta-Ja system are very intricately linked and strongly connected.
Hence, it is important to have sustainable conservation and development of each of the eight elements of Asta-Ja for better functioning of the entire system.
Asta-Ja Framework emphasizes community capacity building, self-reliant, and national, regional, and local level planning and development of environmental and natural resources for socio-economic transformation of the nation. Asta-Ja that constitute human and natural resources is the backbone of Nepal’s economy.
Therefore, the best governance of Asta-Ja is the ultimate goal of a government.
Dissolution of the House:
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli’s Cabinet meeting on Sunday, December 20, 2020, recommended to the President Bidya Devi Bhandari the dissolution of the country’s House of Representatives (the lower house of Parliament) and President Bhandari approved the recommendation of the PM for house dissolution on the same day.
This brings the five-year House of Representatives that was elected in 2017 to an end two year earlier. President Bhandari also approved the new election dates of April 30 and May 10, 2021 (Baisakh 17 and 27, 2078 BS).
The dissolved House of Representatives was formed through the general election held on November 26 and December 7, 2017. Out of 275 members in the house, the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) had 121 seats, Nepali Congress 63 seats, and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist) 53 seats. The RJPN and FSFN parties had 17 and 16 seats, respectively.
Other parties took remaining five seats.
Through the subsequent merger of the two communist parties (i.e. UML and Maoists) and the formation of Nepal Communist Party with two Co-Chairman (Mr. KP Sharma Oli and Mr. Pushpa Kamal Dahal), the Nepal Communist Party enjoyed 63.3% majority in the House.
This was a major political victory for the Communist Party in Nepal. As Nepal’s 41st Prime Minister, Mr. KP Sharma Oli was sworn in Nepal’s Prime Minister on February 16, 2018. President Bidhya Devi Bhandari had administered the oath of office and secrecy.
The rise of PM KP Sharma Oli with almost two/3rd majority in the federal lower house gave Nepalese much optimism, and hope. Over the past few decades, Nepalese had gone through many difficulties and disruptions caused by decade long Maoist war, political instability, natural disasters, massive unemployment, outmigration of youths, and economic blockades by India.
However, the yearlong bickering, lack of cooperation, and fighting between the two factions of the communist party primarily motivated by power sharing, egos, and control over authorities and resources ultimately led to the dissolution of the House of Representatives in the midst of COVID-19 pandemic.
Political Instability:
The dissolution of the House of Representatives certainly testifies the inherent political instability in Nepalese political system.
In the past 70 years, at least 21 individuals served Nepal as the Prime Minister, eleven of them serving two or more terms. Mr. Surya Bahadur Thapa and Mr. Girija Prasad Koirala were the two most long-term serving PM of Nepal, five times each.
Mr. Lokendra Bahadur Chand and Mr. Sher Bahadur Deuba served four terms each.
It is evident from the facts that the political powers in the country is historically resting in the hands of a few individuals.
It is necessary for Nepalese people to devise a political system that stops power concentration in the hands of a few political leaders and promotes broad-based and diversified leadership.
A New Opportunity for Referendum:
It took more than seven years to draft the 2015 Constitution, which was adopted by a vast majority (507 members) of the 601-member Constituent Assembly on September 16, 2015.
The 2015 Constitution declared Nepal a secular, federal and republican country incorporating many fundamental rights and forming 13 constitutional organs.
However, smaller political parties, religious groups, a few ethnic groups, and some Madhesi population protested the 2015 Constitution saying that their concerns were not addressed.
India had also expressed concern on the 2015 Constitution. The protest against the 2015 Constitution that lasted for several weeks in Madhesh left at least 45 people dead.
During the 2015 Constitution drafting process, there were serious discussions among Nepalese on the topics such as directly elected Presidential system, proportional representation versus first-past-the-post electoral system, and the appropriateness of the federal system of governance.
There was at least one small political party directly opposing the federalization of the country. The 2015 Constitution drafting process was largely controlled by a few “Supreme Leaders” of the major political parties in the country rather than the public.
The “Supreme Leaders” were busy signing one agreement after another agreement (e.g. 16-point, 9-point agreements, etc.) on the modality of the governance and system of electoral processes without bringing such fundamental issues to the public.
However, on July 20 and 21, the CA Citizen Relations and Public Opinion Collection Committee collected 186,946 suggestions from the people for their incorporation in the draft.
Some of the notable suggestions made by public included directly elected President or Prime Minister, removal of proposed secularism, removal of Proportional Representation system, and fixing education qualification for the President or Prime Minister and parliamentarians.
However, the “Supreme Leaders” of the major political parties who had already made their decisions on the system of governance and electoral system did not care these suggestions and deprived the 2015 Constitution from public opinion.
A significant quarter of Nepalese society still believes that the abolition of the 240-year old monarchy in Nepal must have been decided through the referendum.
There is at least one political party currently advocating for the reinstatement of monarchical institution in Nepal along with the declaration of the Hindu state. There have been several protests nationwide in past few weeks demanding the reinstatement of the monarchy and Hindu State.
It is important to address such critical issues and concerns appropriately and democratically from the society in order to establish goodwill and harmony among the various quarters of the society, to preserve and enhance national integrity, and to create a conducive environment for rapid economic growth and socio-economic transformation of the society.
Therefore, the new general election, which is coming up within next four months must be taken as a great opportunity for referendum in Nepal.
All of the above highlighted issues and similar others can be addressed through this referendum, leaving everything on the people for their own decision.
Absentee Ballot:
Until the onset of COVID-19 pandemic, about seven million Nepalese reportedly were working in foreign countries.
More than 1,750 youths were leaving the country daily for foreign employment.
Major destination countries for foreign works include Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, and South Korea. Similarly, over 320,000 students are studying abroad. Major destination countries for Nepalese students include Australia, Japan, India, USA, Germany, Ireland, Canada and New Zealand. Nepalese students are studying at least in 69 countries.
While there were 17,609,895 total number of registered voters in Nepal Constituent Assembly election held on April 10, 2008, the total number of registered voters in House of Representatives of Nepal election held on November 26, 2017 was just 12,200,000 suggesting that there was a drop of at least five million voters from 2008 to 2017.
This means the seven million people who are out on the foreign jobs constitute at least 36% of Nepalese voters who do not take part in any election.
This population constitutes the young, healthy, diverse, school-educated, and those involved in financial support for their families back home.
Nepalese working in foreign countries send over $8 billion annually contributing more than 28% of national GDP.
No election results will be representing Nepalese society until the seven million Nepalese people who are working in foreign countries get chance to vote.
The upcoming election serves as a great opportunity for addressing critical issues in Nepal that require people’s mandate.
The Government of Nepal should take this election as a starting point for engaging Nepalese citizens working in foreign lands in the general election.