Right Honourable Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli’s Address to the House of Representatives 21 July 2024
Right Honourable
Speaker,
First of
all, through this dignified House, I pay special tribute to the known and
unknown martyrs who sacrificed their precious lives for the country and its
people, and offer my heartfelt respect and homage to all those brave men and
women. I also pledge to fulfil the martyrs’ great dreams of leading the nation
towards development and prosperity. Similarly, I express high respect for all
the senior leaders, including Pushpa Lal, B P Koirala, Ganesh Man Singh, and
Madan Bhandari, who have made invaluable contributions to our country.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
Since the
onset of the monsoon, the country has been hit by natural disasters, including
floods and landslides, causing huge loss of life and property. At this sorrowful
hour, I express my heartfelt condolences to all the brothers and sisters who
lost their lives in the disaster, and my deepest condolences to the bereaved
families. I also wish a speedy recovery to all the injured.
The government
is entirely focused on rescue, treatment and relief works. It has also begun
its works to address the damage done earlier by the disasters. Besides, I would
like to inform this dignified House that the state agencies have been directed
to work on preventing such accidents from happening in the future, and to
remain alert and prepared for immediate rescue, treatment and relief if such
incidents occur.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
The
circumstances are different today. The previous government has changed, and a new
government has been formed under my leadership In this context, I am here in
this dignified House to solicit a vote
of confidence as prime minister, in accordance with the constitution and the law.
I would like to briefly explain to the House the reasons why it should grant me
the vote of confidence.
Allow me to
present a brief overview of the country’s situation when I took charge of the government.
The entire country is in despair now. This is perhaps the first time that the generation
since 1990 has experienced such profound disappointment.
The economy
is very fragile, with both imports and exports decreasing. Despite a target of
collecting NPR 1,422 billion in revenue, only 76% of it has been achieved. In recent years, revenue collection consistently
exceeded targets. In
this perspective, the fact that revenue collection fell 24% short of the target
illustrates the severity of the problems facing the country's economy.
While money
has piled up in banks due to low interest rates, there are no business people willing
to borrow and invest. Credit expansion has continued to decline, with last year’s
credit expansion reaching only about 5% against 11.5% target set by Nepal
Rastra Bank. The number of people blacklisted for failing to repay their loans
is increasing. Market demand has decreased, and instead of getting support and
encouragement, the business people are reporting unnecessary hassles from government
agencies.
With
grievances that 'the government has become a stunt performer' and has adopted a
‘first detain and then listen’ procedure, the private sector has been so preoccupied
with dealing with government agencies that it has had no time to focus on its
own business. It seems that due to reduced market demand and government’s cumbersome
procedures, industrialists and business people have shrivelled like black
pepper.
Development
and construction works are in disarray. More than six million people are suffering
the brunt of absolute poverty. Corruption has exceeded its limits. At Tribhuvan
International Airport, young people are seen queuing to fly abroad. As the
young generation migrates, higher education institutions are facing an
unprecedented crisis. What concerns me most is that public trust in the
government has been shattered. The morale of the people has severely declined. The
current government has been formed to address the deep despair prevailing in the
country, to instil hope and enthusiasm among the people, and to take the
country in the direction of rapid economic growth.
Our government
has five priorities in order to restore the people’s trust and rekindle
their hope.
First
priority: Complete the unfinished development projects.
There is a famous
English term – ‘WIP’, which stands for ‘work in progress.’ Our
development work often resembles this, always appearing to be in progress but
never truly completed.
Let me
share an example.
In the Fiscal
Year 2065/66, a project was started to upgrade 123 km of blacktopped road from
Khulalu in Kalikot district to Salila in Humla district. After reviewing the
reports a few days ago, I found that the physical progress of this project has
reached only 15% in the last 16 years.
What really
baffles me is that the agency responsible for completing this project has
mentioned in one of its reports that the completion date of the project is not
yet fixed. On the one hand, it is called
a national pride project, but it does not achieve even 1% progress in a year. A project whose completion time is indeterminate
continues to be labelled as a national pride project! By carrying on with such
a development model, we blabber about prosperity. .
I want to
say to the country: we will now put an end to such indiscipline in development
initiatives. We will focus all our efforts on the timely completion of all
projects initiated so far under all the ministries.
This government
is not eager to say that the work is being done or ‘work in progress’; rather,
it is athirst for proclaiming that the work started is completed.
For this,
we will mainly focus on four tasks.
First -
capacity building.
It is my
responsibility to enhance the capacity of the Council of Ministers and all
ministries. Sometimes, even if the intention is not wrong, we are unable to
achieve results due to a lack of enough knowledge about working modalities and expediting
them. So how can we better organise the works of ministries? How do we evaluate
the progress against the targets? How can
we determine the key performance indicators of different ministries? How can we
record all of them? How can we align the work of different ministries with the
vision of the government? How can we monitor the budget? I will make special
arrangements for these to achieve the goals.
Second—Evaluation
We will
increase the government’s budget expenditure capacity. We will start distinguishing
between working and non-working employees. We will end the situation where
those who work face lawsuits, while those who do not work enjoy retirement with
a 'clean image.' We will hold all parties accountable for the losses or damages
incurred due to the non-completion of works within the specified cost, time,
result, and quality, and take action against them. We will not allow cost
increases (variations and price escalations) due to negligence and unjustified delays in projects. Additionally, we will recover
damages from those who misuse contracts.
Third—We
will make policy improvements, including amending relevant laws.
Fourth—We
will promptly resolve the issues of non-payment to construction
contractors who have completed their work.
Honourable
Speaker
We rely on
imported goods and materials from the moment we wake up in the morning until we
go to bed at night. Even for the most
ordinary things, we are not self-reliant. Let me share a small example.
After my
appointment as the prime minister, I received many congratulatory visits from people
across various fields, often bringing flowers and khadas. If we examine
the data, we see that in the last few fiscal years alone, we have imported
flowers worth crores of rupees. Usually,
flowers begin to bloom about two months after planting. Our natural diversity provides
a variety colours, species and types of flowers depending on localities. Given
this, why are we not cultivating flowers domestically? Why do we need to import
tons of flowers instead?
I have used
flowers here just as an example.
We often
talk about trade imbalance, but it seems to me that we're not truly engaging in
trade. In the first 11 months of the last fiscal year, we imported goods worth NPR
1,454 billion, while our exports were around NPR 140 billion. Others are actively
selling, but we are only buying. Is it really trade to just keep purchasing
without selling? It’s time for us to start conducting trade properly.
The second
priority of this government is to promote industries that substitute
imports by producing consumer
goods utilising indigenous raw materials. To achieve this, the Ministry of
Industry, Commerce, and Supplies will develop a clear roadmap within three
months, in close coordination with the Ministry of Finance and other concerned ministries. We will create a business-friendly
environment. We will make available all types of approvals at the initial point
of the registration of industries and businesses. Application will be approved within
7 days. If approval cannot be granted the reasons will be communicated, and if
it requires more time, we will provide an estimated timeframe. Additionally, we
will implement legal measures to hold employees accountable if approvals are not
granted within the stipulated time.
The
Ministry of Finance will review the existing legal and fiscal structures to create
economic opportunities by supporting start-ups, IT and high-growth enterprises. To promote and facilitate start-ups, the
Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers will establish a
streamlined one-door system
We will transform
the private sector into a 'growth engine' and encourage it to focus on extensive
investments in production, industry, and service sectors, increasing outputs and
creating jobs. We will regulate cooperatives and mobilisation savings
effectively. On the basis of priority, state investment will be concentrated in
five key areas including health, education, security, social protection and large-scale
infrastructure development.
To attract
investment, the government will revise the financing modalities for development
and construction projects. It will issue
debentures and mobilise alternative financial resources such as blended
finance, and asset monetisation. This government will command all domestic resources
and attract resources from abroad.
We have
limited resources. But we have to make a quantum leap in development. We must change
our current development pattern, speed and culture. It is high time for us to
clearly where to invest our limited resources and what results we expect to achieve.
Therefore,
I would like to make the government’s priority clear to everyone through this dignified
House.
This
government will prioritise the development of information technology, tourism,
energy, agriculture and forestry, industry and physical infrastructure as the
major drivers of economic growth.
I sincerely
urge start-ups, industrialists, banks and financial institutions to channel their
ideas, innovations and investments into these areas. The six concerned ministries
and related government agencies will formulate policies and regulations to
promote economic growth through these sectors. Similarly, the Ministry of
Finance and the Nepal Rastra Bank will align economic and monetary policies to
this direction.
The
Ministry of Education, Science and Technology will prepare a national human
resource profile by undertaking a comparative analysis of sector-wise and
thematic demand and supply to avoid shortfalls of required human resource in
these fields. We will mobilise concerned agencies to conduct educational
programmes based on the assessed needs for specific thematic human resource
The agriculture
sector is a main stay our economy. However, it is a sad reality that a large population
involved in agriculture suffers from poverty and hunger. It is necessary to eliminate
these contradictions, and we aim to end them permanently. We will develop technology
and entrepreneurship, and 'motivate' the population currently engaged in
agriculture to explore other fields. We will create a 'conducive' environment
for this transition. We will make the country self-reliant in agricultural
produce by increasing production and productivity. Through the modernisation
and commercialisation of agriculture, we will boost production and export
agricultural products. The Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development, in
coordination with the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Industry, Trade,
and Supply, will advance a concrete programme to achieve these goals
Our
government will create a reliable ecosystem of stability, development, and good
governance.
We will
effectively implement the Digital Nepal Framework with appropriate modifications.
We will launch our own satellite using Nepal’s orbital slot. The Ministry of
Communications and Information Technology will immediately take steps to reduce
the large outflow of money for bandwidth payments abroad.
Right Honourable
Speaker,
The
migration of the young generation abroad has significant economic and social
impacts. Nowadays, I feel that foreign
employment has also brought massive changes in the structure of our economy.
Until a few
years ago, motorcycles were in high demand in Nepal. However, recent reports indicate
that scooter sales have increased instead.
Additionally, I recently read news about a decline in chicken meat
consumption.
Foreign
employment has changed consumer behaviour and market demand. However, due to a lack
of data, both the private sector and government agencies are not able to fully understand
the extent and areas of its impact. As a result of this gap, the government has
lost revenue, and the business people business opportunities. The Nepal Rastra
Bank will conduct a detailed study to address the key questions: what specific changes
has foreign employment brought to different components of the economy? Where
has demand and supply increased or decreased?
Right Honourable
Speaker,
Many of our
brothers and sisters still live in poverty, deprivation and hunger. I often
wonder, what can be more painful than this for our hardworking people ti live
in such conditions in such a fertile land? The current government will end this
situation.
This is the
government's third priority.
To chieve
this, we will promote healthy and balanced nutritious food habits. The Ministry
of Agriculture and Livestock Development and the Ministry of Communications and
Information Technology will lead this initiative. We will coordinate and
collaborate with local governments to set up food stores in all
municipalities.
In
addition, we will establish a mechanism involving the concerned ministries,
under the leadership of the National Planning Commission, to eradicate absolute
poverty as soon as possible. Based on based on their recommendations, we will
formulate the necessary programmes.
We have
already taken a decision in the Council of Ministers to protect children from suffering
on the streets. Regardless of their birthplace, no child should starve or fall
victim to malnutrition. The inability to
attend school, study, wear warm clothes in winter, have shelter from the rain
or find food when hungry are the most critical concerns of this government. In
the Terai-Madhesh region, the government will set its priorities by keeping in
mind the economically disadvantaged, Madhesi Dalits, socially discriminated and
marginalised, people with disability, helpless, infected, homeless, stranded,
and mentally ill people.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
The ongoing
session of parliament has already passed the government’s policy, programme and
budget for this fiscal year. Whether during the passing of the policy,
programme, and budget or during the change of government, I have kept in mind the
issues raised by honourable members. The government is a continuous successor
institution. Therefore, we will advance good policies and programmes. Where
changes are needed, we will mobilise the entire mechanism to produce results by
modifying policies, programmes and budgets being abided by the rules and
processes.
This is the
fourth priority of the present government.
We will not
engage in corruption and we will not tolerate it. We will investigate matters
related to corruption and abuse of authority. We will take legal action against
corruption occurring within any period and against anyone involved We aim to establish
a trust in society that the corrupt will eventually be brought to justice. We
will take appropriate decision regarding the victims of co-operatives and will
take legal action against the fraudsters of cooperatives, regardless of who
they are.
For good
governance, what is needed is not 'stunts' but the right ‘intention.’ This
government will not seek to elevate itself by bringing others down. This is the
government’s fifth priority.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
In addition
to these five priorities, the government will carry out various other service
delivery, policy making, and development activities aimed at enhancing public
services and improving citizens' daily lives. I would like to briefly highlight
some of these initiatives.
·
We will implement an online system to provide Nepali
citizens living in any geographic area of Nepal with essential documents such
as citizenship certificates, national identity cards and driver's licenses. Additionally,
we will make arrangements for online payments for various services, including vehicle
registration and bill-book renewal, property purchase and sale taxes, electricity,
water supply fees, and other government taxes. Services related to health and
agricultural technology will also be made available online.
·
We will make civil administration and security
agencies competent, professional and accountable to the people. Our focus will
be on improving the quality and effectiveness of public service delivery. We
will formulate and enact about two dozen new laws, including the School
Education Bill, the Civil Service Bill, which are currently under consideration
by the House.
·
We will develop Nepal as an attractive international
tourist destination. To achieve this, we will develop and implement strategies to
sustainably protect biodiversity and environmental systems while reducing the
effects of climate change. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will prepare the
proposed Sagarmatha Sambaad, aimed at drawing world's attention towards
climate change and its impact on the mountain economy.
·
A healthy Nepal will be the government’s major health
policy. We will adopt both preventive and curative measures to achieve this
goal. The government will take responsibility for the healthcare and nutrition
of pregnant women, senior citizens, differently abled persons and the destitute
citizens.
·
The problems faced by squatters, freed haliyas
and kamiyas and unorganised settlements will be resolved. We will make
every work dignified. The rights, interests and welfare of the workers will be
the priority of the government. We will bring an end to all forms of
discriminations at workplace. Workers and employees will be integrated into the
social security system.
·
Foreign employment will be made secure, dignified and
systematic. The Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security will launch
a campaign to harness the knowledge, skills and capital of returnee migrant
workers and expatriates.
·
Sports will be developed as a means of enhancing national
unity, international prestige and friendship. We will strengthen social harmony,
national unity, cultural and religious tolerance and liberal values.
·
The rule of law, independent judiciary, separation of
powers, checks and balances, and the fulfilment of citizens’ rights will be
guaranteed. We will carry out necessary reforms to enhance public trust and
confidence in the judiciary.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
Our foreign
policy will be guided by principles of independence, self-respect and
development. We believe in fostering good neighbourly relations and acting accordingly.
We will address the legitimate interests of our neighbours while also expecting
our own legitimate interests to be respected. We believe in mutual benefit and
mutual respect.
Right
Honourable Speaker,
In order to
overcome the prevailing despair in the country, we must shift the focus of our
politics toward development and prosperity. It is not possible to embark the
country on the path to development and prosperity without a strong system. We have
witnessed first-hand that a strong system cannot be established without
stability.
I don't
want to make any comments directed at the opposition today. However, I say at
least this much that the previous government failed to find its rhythm and address
the issues at hand despite the warm shoulders of powerful parties like the
Nepali Congress and the CPN (UML)time and again. The situation remained
unresolved, and there was a lack of interest in addressing it, which led to
increased risks of negative consequences in society. We could no longer stand by and watch. With
that realisation, we have formed this new government, replacing the old one.
We all know
that the CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress are competing parties, each with its
own ideas. However, there have been times when these two parties have
collaborated and delivered historical results
for the country:
-
In 1951, they united to end the Rana regime.
-
In 1990, they came together to overthrow the panchayat
system.
-
In 2006, they collaborated to douse the flames of
armed violence across the country and abolish the monarchy. On that foundation,
these two parties, along with other forces, led the process of promulgating the
constitution.
This time,
we have reached a seven-point agreement and initiated cooperation once again. I
would like to inform this respected House about the seven-point agreement
between the CPN (UML) and the Nepali Congress as it stands:
1. Protect the
national interest, ensure good governance by controlling corruption, and form a
national consensus government under Article 76 (2) of the constitution by
involving other political parties to accelerate the nation’s development and
construction efforts, and to ensure political stability, as per the interest of the people.
2. The national
consensus government will review the strengths and weaknesses as well as
complexities that have emerged since the enforcement of the constitution. It
will prioritise necessary amendments to the constitution and the development of
appropriate laws to ensure political stability.
3. End the current
sluggishness in economic and create a reliable business environment to ensure
sustainable economic activities. Generate sufficient and decent employment within
the country by encouraging both internal and external investment.
4. The
national consensus government will be led by the President of the CPN (UML),
Honourable K P Sharma Oli, for two years from the date of its formation.
Thereafter, it will be led by the Chairman of Nepali Congress, Honourable Sher
Bahadur Deuba, until the general
election in November 2027.
5. Form a
basis for a national consensus government, formulate a minimum common programme,
and run the government accordingly to protect national interests, ensure good
governance by controlling corruption, and accelerate the national development
campaign.
6. For the
national consensus government, the two major political parties will take a leading
role and participate in the government on the basis of equality, while also including
other political parties in the government.
7. Form and
run the provincial governments in accordance with the values and spirits of
national consensus government and expedite development efforts at provincial
and local levels as per the people’s demands and sentiments.
Right Honourable
Speaker,
The
fundamental achievements of human civilisation, achieved through the
unimaginable and huge sacrifices of previous generations, should be preserved
and carried forward with pride by the new generation. It is also our
responsibility to educate and prepare the new generation for this task
accordingly. In this context, while standing before this dignified House, I am
reminded of a conversation Nelson Mandela once had with a five-year-old girl:
‘A 5-year-old girl asked me, ‘How old are
you?’
I said, ‘Well, I really do not know but I
was born long, long ago.’
She asked, ‘Five years ago?’
I said, 'No. Much longer than that.’
Then she asked, ‘Why did you go to jail?’
I said, ‘No, I didn’t go to jail. Some
people sent me there.’
She asked, ‘Who?’
I said, The people who didn’t like me.’
‘How long did you stay there?’
I said, ‘I can’t remember. But it was very,
very long time.’
And she said, ‘You are a stupid old man, aren’t
you?’’
This
dialogue underscores the urgency of teaching the new generation about the true history
of struggle and sacrifice against tyranny to bring about epochal transformation
and continuous progress for society, the nation, and the world. We aim to
develop a civilised society that ensures intergenerational justice across the past,
present and future, and establishes mechanisms for the transfer of knowledge
and values. We are not ‘stupid’; we are on the path to shaping a ‘glorious
history.’
A wave of
excitement has begun with the implementation of our agreement to form the
national consensus government. The stock market, which involves five million
investors and is often seen as a mirror of the economy, has turned positive. In
the past two weeks, it has risen by 400 points, with NEPSE reaching its highest
level in 27 months. This reflects the trust and confidence the people have in
our government. I would like to convey to all my fellow citizens through this
honourable House that, with the stock market thriving, the entire market of the
country will soon be bustling.
We have
confidence to revitalise the entire country in motion, thanks to our long
experience. We have the experience of successfully leading the post-earthquake reconstruction
efforts in 2015, earning praise from the international community. Our
experience includes rebuilding millions of damaged private homes, thousands of
cultural heritages, school building and government offices. Additionally, we
have the experience of consistently achieving economic growth over 7%, drawing
global attention.
The entire country
was showered with pride when the World Bank referred to Nepal as a ‘Shining Star
in South Asia’. We have this experience. We are also armed with the experience in
reducing absolute and multidimensional poverty. Our track record of rich
experience includes expanding and enhancing our external relations, guided by
the principle of ‘Amity with all, Enmity with none.’ Additionally, we have the
experience of successfully amending the constitution with an unprecedented
level of national consensus.
Right Honourable
Speaker,
The constitution
is not an unamendable document. It is an
instrument for the welfare of the country and its people, not an end in itself.
Constitution, acts and laws are revised and amended as necessary. However, I
have heard some people saying that amending the constitution is a regressive
step. We have a habit of labelling something as regressive if it does not align
with our liking. I urge everyone in this respected House not to harbour such
illusions.
I am always
a go-getter person. I won’t shift into reverse mode on my journey. There is no
back gear in my drive. What we all recognise
is that the main challenge to development now is instability. If amending the constitution
is a must for overcoming instability, then we should do so. What we have to
understand is that the constitution should be an enabler for development, not a
barrier to it. Any provision of the constitution that impedes development should
be amended. I believe the entire country will unite on this matter and reach a
national consensus.
Finally, I
see no reason why all political parties and the honourable members should
disagree with efforts to dispel the despair rampant in the country. In this
time of economic crisis, I sincerely request the distinguished House to grant me
a vote of confidence. By doing so, we
will encourage and motivate the people, and send a message that the entire
House is united.
Thank you!
