Kathmandu, Apr. 5
Prime Minister and
Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said that
the cooperative movement should be protected from the effects of capitalism.
Speaking at the national
gathering of cooperative workers organised by the CPN (Maoist Centre) Land
Management, Cooperative and Poverty Alleviation Department on Wednesday
morning, the Prime Minister said that the cooperative movement should be
developed as a means of building the foundation of socialism, instead.
"While making a new
constitution from the Constituent Assembly, we had a long, serious,
multilateral and multifaceted discussion about the country's politics, economy,
and governance system. Based on that discussion, it is said that the future state
will be socialism-oriented," said PM Prachanda, while adding that the cooperative
movement is an important foundation of a socialist state. "So, we have to
prevent it from being gripped by capitalism," he maintained.
The Constitution of Nepal
has a provision that the country's economy would be built with the policy of
three pillars - public, private and cooperative.
According to PM
Prachanda, this is an achievement made through great struggle and sacrifice. As
directed by the constitution, the cooperative sector has an immense role to
play in preparing the basis of socialism.
He also said that the
provision of the fundamental rights in the constitution is also concerned with
the creation of the foundation of socialism.
Stating that some forces
are working to reverse the agenda of change, and creating obstacles in the
construction of the foundation of socialism, the Prime Minister said that the
foundation of socialism cannot be built without linking the cooperative
movement with production. For that, the creation, operation and marketing of
agriculture-based production cooperatives is necessary, he said.
"The main basis of
self-reliant economy in Nepal is the agricultural sector. It is necessary for
the state to channelise its investment keeping this in mind. Even in the case
of industry, other than agriculture-based industry is not a long-term solution.
Import substitution and self-sustaining economy can be ensured only through
cooperative agriculture," said PM Prachanda.
The Prime Minister also said
that he was leading the government in a difficult time but he has the determination
to do something for the country in the face of challenges. "I call it a
challenging opportunity," he said.
He informed that his
government would come into its full shape within a couple of days, and its main
focus would be the policies, programmes and budget. He also said that the
traditional model of policies, programmes and budget could not address the
challenges seen in the economy.
Taking into account the
character of the power equation in the government, we will do something novel,
he said.
Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 6 April 2023.
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