Don't Blame Democracy
Nepal is weaker now thanks not to democracy, but to the autocracy of the eight parties, bureaucracy, intolerance and pointless rivalries.
Corruption in the political and bureaucratic system is still endemic. The rule of law is constrained by the over burdened judicial system. The poor distribution system prevents millions of Nepalis from having their needs and demands heard and acted upon. Moreover, until now, Nepal doesn’t even look like a true democracy: it more closely resembles an eight-party state, run mainly by the Congress and the Maoists, with ideologies that are confusing but clearly hostile to free enterprise. The interference in the economic life is rampant and destructive. 
However, it must be noted again that none of the weaknesses in Nepal ’s version of democracy are inherent in the notion of democracy itself. Democracies tend to be more resilient, more able to absorb dissent and conflict. But unfortunately it has not been the case here.
If democracy, or the lack of it, is not the root cause of the poor show of Nepal ’s economy compared to its neighbours, what is to blame? Nepal started the process of opening up at the same time when our two giant neighbours did. But in the absence of sufficiently intelligent, visionary and brave leadership, Nepal could not move forward. One particular anomaly was, and still is, the system that protects the big and sick industries, but not the small ones.
Nepal is, for the moment, saddled with an irresponsible government that is better at creating confusions than reforming the system (be it economic or political). It is led by senile old men who can hardly make any good economic decisions. Prime Minister Koirala will be 82 next year, when he intends to fight a general election. His finance minister, who ought to be galvanising the reform process, is 63 and more party politics oriented. The UML is no better: its leader Madhav Nepal is better at stalling decision than offering more effective alternatives. The Maoists still seem to be in the 18 th century Russia . Thus young Nepali democracy is virtually leaderless.
But lack of leadership is a problem that the democratic process will definitely resolve sooner or later. Democracy is based more on the system than on leadership though a better leadership would surely help. In this situation, it would be better to worry more about setting up the system and less about leadership. In this context, the business community and the entire civil society should work and build up pressure for setting up and strengthening a system that is truly democratic.
One such step would be to stop street agitations and complaints during cocktail gossips and start moving the court for all the grievances one may have about anything. Take the example of the Maoist cadres still on an extortion drive. The aggrieved parties should start lodging complaints with the police and the judiciary. Justice will surely prevail sooner or later. The chambers of commerce can form a special cell to provide all the necessary support to such parties to fight against such case and to publicise it so as to exert pressure on the judiciary as well as the government and the wrongdoers.
