An interesting article from Chandan Sapkota was published in My Republica today (“Costs of Nepal bandas“, 30th January 2010).
He has done a back-of-the-envelope calculation to estimate the cost of a Nepal bandh to Nepal. Its not the first attempt, but perhaps the most well thought out and up-to-date estimation.
Organizing strikes (popularly known as bandas) have been the easiest way to either show discontent over government policies or to press for one that serves the interest of a certain group. The people dislike bandas because it never serves their interest. It costs them their freedom, vocation and income. Frustrated by the disruption of normal life, youths have initiated a campaign DIE Nepal Bandh DIE. Even Mother’s Groups in various cities have protested against bandas.
He summarises that the total cost per day to be per day 1.96 billion Rs., the cost per day for each member of the working population is 117 Rs. The author argues one day of bandh costs of 218,190 rural workers jobs, if there were a rural employment program that provides jobs and pays Rs100 per day to people below the poverty line during the lean agriculture season.
Frequent bandas trigger capital flight, which is detrimental to long-run economic growth. Partly due to bandas, multinational companies like Colgate Palmolive ceased production last year. The garment industry is near extinction. It is also putting upward pressure on general prices of goods and services, thus contributing to a double-digit inflation rate.
It is frustrating to see political leaders, who promised to develop Nepal like Switzerland, encouraging and initiating bandas. They are depriving citizens of the potential for an increase in per capita income, freedom to pursue one’s dream and vocation, and to live a peaceful life with a hope for a bright future. Bandas have ripped people off the very things that the organizers promised to bring them. Enough is enough. Say NO to bandas!
It would be very interesting to compare the cost of bandh to the whole country with the cost of enforcing bandh by mobilising and incentivising your political supporters. Tiny in comparison no doubt.
Read the full article online http://myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=14630
