Socio Economic Structure and Conflict in Nepal

Abstract

Nepal is situated in South Asian region having multi- religious, multi-ethnic, multi-linguistic and multi-cultural people. Anthropologically, the ethnic groups belong to Aryans, Monglos, Dravidians and Aaustroloids. Nepal is facing basic problems of corruption in revenue collection and administration, political upheavals, instability of the government and also disparity in distribution of economic opportunities. The research work entitled "Socio Economic Structure and Conflict in Nepal" has been done as a case study. The study analyzes the causes of conflicts and socio- economic impact of conflict between the periods of 2052-2062. The researcher has used field survey method and primary data have been collected through interview, schedule press conference, INSEC, CWIN, Nepal Army, Police, DFID, NHRC etc. The collected data have been analyzed by using simple statistical methods. Nepalese people have always suffered in the politics from autocratic activities of the kings, Ranas and political party members. The Royal power always played vital role for making the people puppet. The Maoist insurgency in Nepal in the beginning that started in 1996, from the western mountain districts of Rolpa, Rukum and Jajarkot has spread its activities and influenced almost all the 75 districts by 2005. The discriminating provisions in the constitution and other laws, crisis of commitment and weaknesses of the political leadership and dishonesty among the political leaders, lack of fair and proportional representation in parties, frustration among the general people with the behaviors of the security forces during operations, fragmentation and party splitting culture, politicization and failure of educational system, territorial and international border issues aggravated the insurgency. These points and issues were raised in the 40/42 points demand put forward by the CPN (Maoist). Conflicts have had various kinds of impact on human civilization because of the diverse nature of war, insurgency, and terrorism of guerrilla warfare. Conflicts arose the name of religion of different tribes for the territorial expansion of ambitious kings and the military as well as politically strong armies. The Informal Sector Service Centre (INSEC) reports that, altogether 13, 259 people were killed during 11 years of Maoist insurgency and counter insurgency. About 3,011 cases of robbery and approximately Rs. 22, 185 in lakhs (cash and kind) were looted. During the Maoist insurgency and counter insurgency more than 8,338 Maoist insurgents are believed to have died. Similarly, the Nepal Army has lost more than 905 men and approximately 1,162 soldiers were wounded. Nepal Police lost almost 1,480 men and more than 2,143 policemen were wounded. The outcome of the conflict has both positive and negative impacts on the development and progress of human civilization. Awareness of Human rights equality, fraternity and democracy can be regarded as positive impacts whereas political instability, economic degradation, destruction of infrastructures, threat to human life are combined as negative impacts. Conflict created political instability; frequent "bandhas" and strikes have affected industry, tourism, education and economy of the country and all other sectors. We can finally enumerate the causes of conflict and its solution social economical, social, geographical, psychological, international causes, which helped to raise the recent conflict in Nepal. We should restructure and bring in amendment the socio-economy system and constitution for the sustainable development of the country.