While the world is observing the global May Day with a slogan of greater democratic rights and solidarity for workers all over the world, the Nepali workers, like those in most other nations, are going through miserable living standards that disable them in almost all sectors of their lives. The massive labor exploitation of the Nepali workers at home and abroad remind us of the vulpine political character detached from people’s daily life.
The Nepali ruling elites, who are still unable to soften their obstinate belief that democracy is their inherited private property, have been following a path of political and economic slavery even in the 21st century.
The richest individuals in Nepal generally are so-called top communist leaders, top democratic leaders, top conservative leaders, high ranking security, judiciary and executive officials, most of whom work for customs and tax offices.
While elite rulers and their lackeys are piling up their luxuries of Western standards, the majority of workers starve to half-death. Starving to half-death means predicted slow-poisoned death. Since the latest per capita income of the Nepali workers, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics, is $61.25, you can imagine the plight they face today on the basis of the following working data:
Table 1: average prices of some essential commodities and services
|
S.N. |
ESSENTIAL CONSUMPTION ITEMS/SERVICES |
AVERAGE PRICES PER KG/LTR/UNIT |
|
1 |
RICE OF LOW QUALITY |
$0.48 |
|
2 |
RICE OF MEDIUM QUALITY |
$0.59 |
|
3 |
RICE OF HIGH QUALITY |
$0.95 |
|
4 |
RICE OF HIGHEST QUALITY |
$1.19 |
|
5 |
MODERATE QUALITY LENTILS |
$1.31 |
|
6 |
Milk (normal) |
$0.25 |
|
7 |
MUSTARD OIL |
$1.73 |
|
8 |
SOYABEAN OIL |
$1.61 |
|
9 |
CHINESE APPLE (QUALITY: ROTTEN) |
$1.43 |
|
10 |
CHINESE APPLE (MEDIUM QUALITY) |
$1.90 |
|
11 |
INDIAN APPLE (HIGHEST QUALITY) |
$.2.98 |
|
12 |
EGG |
$0.12 |
|
13 |
NORMAL PURIFIED WATER AT LOCAL SHOPS |
$0.29 |
|
14 |
SOFT DRINK AT LOCAL SHOP |
$0.36 |
|
15 |
NEPALI LUNCH IN A LOCAL MEAL SHOP |
$1.43 |
|
16 |
NEPALI LUNCH IN AN ORDINARY RESTAURANT |
$2.98 |
|
17 |
NEPALI LUNCH IN A STAR RESTAURANT |
$7.00 |
|
18 |
TEA AT A LOCAL SHOP |
$0.14 |
|
19 |
WORKER’S MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BILL |
$2.38 |
|
20 |
WORKER’S MONTHLY CELL PHONE COST |
$11.90 |
|
21 |
WORKER’S MONTHLY ROOM RENT COST (SUBSTANDARD) |
$23.81 |
|
22 |
WORKER’S MONTHLY TRANSPORT COST |
$28.57 |
Source: Field Study April 2012 (Mohan Nepali)
The price indicators in the above table proves that the Nepali workers have been robbed of their basic human rights by their party and union leaders. They even cannot afford to pay for their children’s education and health. This situation of the working forces clearly means that the Nepalis still need to struggle with a long-term strategy that can facilitate the political and socio-economic transformation of their society. For this, they lack a morally grounded visionary leadership, which instead of serving modern feudal lords and smugglers, aims at empowering people democratically in a true sense.
A few moneyed families still control Nepal’s politics. Political leaders and state mechanisms mostly serve them, not the people.
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