EDITORIAL

Some political leaders are found saying that those youths should not leave the nation, but they are unable to provide attractive programs so that the youths can stay in the country. We cannot stop our youths from going abroad in the absence of attractive programs and job opportunities. Even our youths are joining foreign armies as mercenaries. When the government fails to provide opportunities within the country, it is impossible to stop our youth from going abroad for jobs. As educational institutions have been severely politicized, our students are going abroad for their higher education along with ensured jobs. Unless we guarantee jobs for students, we cannot stop students from going abroad for higher education. Unfortunately, as the economy has already been ruined, funds are scarce for investing in infrastructural sectors. The government is talking about attracting foreign direct investment (FDI) but there are many hurdles including unstable policies. The government is being changed frequently and the policies are also changed along with the change of the government. There is a need for developing an all-party consensus in writing an attractive investment policy and continuation of projects by those who succeeded the previous government. There is an absence of such a policy. First of all, we must understand that other countries will not come to build our nation. We should build the nation ourselves. The era of grants and donations has already ended and we should not forget that along with grants, we are inviting vested interests of the donor countries. As others will not come to build our nation, we should focus on strengthening our economy and increasing investment towards the infrastructural sector. We give a big talk about exporting electricity but during the dry season, we are facing an acute shortage of electricity. The permanent solution to ending electricity shortage is the construction of reservoir model Kulekhani-like hydropower projects. At any cost, we have to build such multipurpose reservoir model projects by ourselves. The liberal economic policy adopted by the government has already failed. Therefore, we need to return to a mixed economy by running labour-intensive projects by the government itself. As the government undertakings have become sick due to the political intervention, necessary rules and regulations have to be introduced to end the practice of government interference. The Nepal Army and also other security organs should be allowed to run key and strategic industries. We should not forget that a strong economy will help to safeguard the nation's sovereignty, independence, and indivisibility.