MCC deal: Yes or No

 The Himalayan Times

24 February 2022

MCC deal: Yes or No

There is no denial that foreign aid has played a crucial role in Nepal's overall development. Nepal has been receiving foreign aid mainly in the form of grant, loan, technical assistance and humanitarian aid since the 1950s. Since then, the volume of foreign aid in different forms continued to grow in volume depending upon the number of development projects planned and implemented in different parts of the country with the objective of uplifting the livelihood of the common people by investing in the different sectors including hydropower.

With regard to bilateral support, Nepal has been receiving aid from the government of Australia, China, Denmark, Finland, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, the Netherlands, Norway, Switzerland, the USA, and the UK. In the case of multilateral donors, Nepal has been a recipient of the Asian Development (ADB), European Union (EU), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), International Labour Organization(ILO), United Nations Development Program(UNDP), World Band Group funds. Being directly involved in bilateral development projects for many years in the past; I am totally unaware of any such projects that had to be passed thought the parliament.

Having said these, the need of Millennium Challenge Cooperation (MCC) compact to be passed through the parliament has raised serious questions and become controversial issues among the different political parties and even among the coalition partners. Despite frequent street protests and amidst the UML lawmakers’ regular House disruptions, the government has tabled MCC Nepal Compact in the HoR “MCC compact tabled in House amid protests” (THT, February 21, Page 1) claiming that it was not above Nepal's constitution. Also, one of the senior leaders of the NC claims that a sustained campaign was being launched to spread rumours and misinformation against the MCC deal “People have realised misinformation about MCC deal“ (THT, February 21, Page 2) Then, who is playing the dubious role and trying to deceive the nation and the people about this project? Is it the coalition government, political parties and their leaders or the donor?

Rai Biren Bangdel

Maharajgunj