Republica
KATHMANDU, Aug 17: At a time
when the country is passing through political transition, a county
report has stressed on political transformation to eliminate exclusion,
increase participation and improve the quality of people’s lives.
‘Human Development Report 2009 on State Transformation and Human
Development’, jointly produced by United Nations Development Program
(UNDP) and the government of Nepal outlined the need for proper
representation and participation of people – mainly women, various
caste and ethnic groups and those living in remote regions – to restore
sustainable peace and human development through state transformation.
However, the report also acknowledged that equitable representation
alone can’t solve problems of exclusion unless those who represent can
influence policy decisions through direct and active participation.
“Only increasing representation of excluded groups doesn’t yield any
result without their meaningful and influential presence in decision
making level in state restructuring process,” said Bishwa Nath Tiwari,
lead author of the report, presenting the report on Monday.
Tiwari stressed that proper electoral system through internal democracy
within political parties and federalism based on equal justice are the
key factors for increasing equitable participation in state
restructuring.
Releasing the report, Yubaraj Khatiwada, vice-chair of National
Planning Commission, apex policy making body of the government, also
underlined the need to ensure internal democracy among political
parties, proper participation in policy making and access of women and
people from marginalized sectors to state resources to end injustice
and exclusion which are main obstacles for human development.
Robert Piper, UNDP resident representative, was of the view that equal
participation of all the people in state restructuring has to be
ensured for promoting human development in the country.
“Human development report insists that everyone has the right to an
equal opportunity—to participate, to be heard, to benefit from gains
development can offer, to pursue their talents and aspirations,” said
Piper.
Sapana Malla Pradhan, member of Constitution Assembly, said that in the
course of state restructuring, economic and political transformation be
given equal importance to yield real social transformation for human
development.
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