Let the Madhesis be treated as EQUALS, which they think they are debarred

Prof. Dr. Hari Bansh Jha, Senior Economist, TU

Dr. Jha who was born in Janakpur, Dhanusa District is currently the Executive Director of the Centre for Economic and Technical Studies (CETS).

By all means he could well be taken as one of the senior most economist of the country whose reputation goes far and wide.

Dr. Jha completed his PhD degree from University of Bihar, India in "Resource Mobilization and Economic Development in Nepal during the Plan Period".

He was associated with Tribhuvan University for decades and decades.

Professor Jha, an uncontroversial and amicable person as he is, is a highly qualified academician who is widely revered among his professional colleagues. Even his critiques possess words of acclamation for this sober economist of this country. The modesty factor perhaps!

Sadly enough Dr. Jha's potential has not been taken into proper account by the powers that be even after the restoration of the democratic order. Not an unusual phenomenon in Nepal.

In the past, Dr. Jha worked with several government and international organizations in research fields. He has conducted dozens of research projects on economic, political, health and sanitation issues both at the national and regional levels. Besides, he has published over two dozens of books. Some of his books have also been included in the University Curricula.

My personal association with this academic brain dates back to decades and decades. May be the long and well sustained association with him could be the “language factor” that usually we converse as and when we meet at seminars and diplomatic receptions.

Prof. Jha in some way or the other could be said that he is a family member of this weekly. To recall, this weekly must have published more than forty well researched articles of Dr. Jha in the past.

Prof. Jha has brilliantly participated in various seminars both held within and without.

Apart from publishing his articles in this modest paper, Dr. Jha has also honored several national and international journals by his thought provoking articles mainly in the domain of economics.

His areas of expertise include among others, Providing Consultancy service on Socio-Economic Issues by Organizing Workshops/Seminars on Topical Issues; Bringing out Publications for Information Dissemination and Advocacy in favor of Weaker Sections of the Society, including the Dalits (Untouchables) and Children under Difficult Circumstances

We approached last week this suave economist for his views on contemporary events both in the political and the economic sector, to which he agreed- Chief Editor.

TGQ1: How you Professor Jha as a noted and responsible citizen have been assessing the unfolding political events in the country more so after the Maoists joined the mainstream politics? Is it going in the right direction as expected by many both within and without or has it detoured? Your comments please!

Dr. Jha: After Jana Andolan II, there have been many positive changes in the country. The fact that the Maoists joined the mainstream politics itself is a great achievement. Despite the set back in law and order situation in certain parts of the country, the political leaders have been pressurized and so trying their hard to take the country out of this gear. International community is also supporting the government and the state in this endeavor. I am sure that they will be able to give a right direction to the country as they are basically people's representatives.

TGQ2: As a senior and widely acclaimed economist of the nation, how you see the country’s economy? Is it up to the mark or even down sliding? If it is in a bad shape then what could be done to arrest such a trend? Any scheme you have in your intelligent brain to be conveyed to the finance minister who is preparing the next fiscal budget? Your opinions please!

Dr. Jha: Again, about the economy, I have a perception that it is not in a very bad shape. Unlike Indian economy which is guided by internal factors, ours economy is guided by external factors. A lot amount of money is pouring into the country through the remittances and there is a growing tendency among the people – men and women – from each nook and corner of the country to go abroad in search of jobs. This remittance money has played a crucial role in increasing the per capita income, apart from sustaining the growth rate of the country. In the years ahead, it is likely that more and more of resources will flow into the country from this and other sources, which will have a positive impact on the national economy.

Personally, I have no suggestion to the Finance Minister as I think he will hardly do what I think. And he is a helpless person as being badly tied up in running the day-to-day financial affairs. If we had a visionary Finance Minister with guts to make change, I would certain have told him or her to do breakthrough in hydro-power and tourism sectors, apart from different other sectors of the economy. 

TGQ3: Talks were there during the Royal regime that Nepal at best could be utilized as a transit point for allowing both the neighboring giants to expand their economic ties. Was it a wrong notion or had it some elements of truth? What Nepal should do in order to benefit from such schemes if that takes at all a shape in the years to come?

Dr. Jha: Definitely, some efforts had been made in the past to develop Nepal as a transit route between India and China. But it was commercially not a very viable proposition. In my view, India and China have been trying to have trade through Sikkim and other corridors. Nepal will have to prove that utilizing Nepal as a transit point will be commercially more viable to them than doing trade between themselves. Immediately, I don't see any prospect of selling this idea as there is no buyer.

TGQ4: We keep on talking on politics. As you once said, no one talked about sound measures to expand the economy and of development activities that benefit the nation ultimately. Why it is so? What makes our leaders and academicians to get them engaged so heavily in politics which at times gives the impression that they have become “Jholey” of some political parties? Can you throw some light over this devastating trend?

Dr. Jha: We are groomed in an environment in which we talk more. This is the bitter truth. In politics, we can survive in this talking environment. But in economic field, we cannot. We will have to work. We need to contribute and show something concrete in economic matters. Our so called intellectuals and leaders are least interested in talking on the economy as they will have to work and come out with facts and figures on the development for which they are not prepared.

TGQ5: Terai/Madhesh continues to be in a restive state. Where lay the fault at the first place? Do you think that if the unrest in Terai continued for long, will the unhindered communal harmony in between and amongst us will continue as it had been in the past? Have you any tentative advice to the State so that the inner grievances of the Madhesi people are addressed in a just and amicable way? Your remarks please!

Dr. Jha: I do agree with you that Madhesh is in restive state and it will continue to remain so even in future. The turmoil in this region will be resolved only when age-old discrimination with the people is ended. The best way to resolve the Madheshi unrest is to increase the size of the cake and give due share to them in economic, political, administrative or other sectors.  Let them be treated as EQUALS, which they think they are debarred.

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