With the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) on the cusp of a landslide majority to form the new government, we here discuss what the party plans for the reinforcement of digital technologies, internet, and connectivity on its watch. For this, we perused the party’s manifesto and gathered that digital transformation is at the core of RSP’s vision for efficient public services. Here’s more.
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Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) Manifesto Overview
It’s clear that RSP has placed technology and connectivity at its core for many of its plans. The Rabi Lamichhane-led party has emphasized the deployment of reliable internet and the use of technology for faster and more public-friendly public services and IT service growth.
The party has particularly focused on honing digitally skilled youth, promoting entrepreneurship, and delivering faster government services by converting them to paperless. It’s a five-year plan from the party, which is 2087 BS.
Digital transformation of public services
RSP’s manifesto stresses that government services will be made paperless and faceless. To achieve this, it will form a primary basis for the digital transformation of these services. Also, it will integrate the Nagarik App and the National ID card to provide faster services related to malpot, transport, and passports, ending the need for middlemen and irregularities.
Development of skilled human capital
The manifesto shares the objective of turning Nepal into a reliable hub for IT service export with skilled youth. Likewise, grade 12 pass-outs will receive an entrepreneurship skill certificate as per the market demands. Each province will have large-scale ‘skill centers’ that will promote the initiatives to encourage the youth to stay in the country.
IT services worth Rs 50 arba
RSP Manifesto also states a plan to export IT services worth Rs 50 arba per year. It seeks to build necessary infrastructures to ensure high-speed internet for digital nomads and a co-working space to make Nepal the best IT hub in South Asia.
Intelligent Transport System
By 2087, the party aims to implement a scientific route permission system and intelligent transport system (ITS) to eliminate syndicate and unhealthy competition in transport and make urban mobility safe, pollution-free, and technology-friendly. It will also implement waste-to-wealth via refinery centers.
Affordable internet at every settlement
The Blue party has shared a plan to expand high-speed, affordable internet at every settlement and develop an economic corridor by connecting national highways to industries and agricultural pocket areas.
From line to online public services
One of the highlights of RSP’s manifesto for technology is the conversion of public services from line (queues) to online. The party shares in its manifesto that every Nepali citizen will receive their National ID card, and an integrated database will be developed. In the meantime, social security and public services will be based on scientific statistics. The eventual plan is to end the need to visit physical offices and stay in long queues for government services.
Likewise, tippani.gov.np and paripatra.gov.np will be developed to publicize government decisions, permissions, approvals, and official directives, respectively. The party has also forwarded an objective of increasing per-person electricity consumption to 1500 kW by 2035.
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Conclusion
Rastriya Swatantra Party’s manifesto holds strong promises for a digital Nepal. Without much fancy fluff, it shares plans to change the way people receive public services. Not in line but online. And the integration of Nagarik App and National ID card into other services also sounds very encouraging. Exporting IT services worth Rs 50 arba a year could still be achievable. Former finance minister Barshaman Pun, in his budget speech for FY 2081/82, had set a target of exporting IT services worth Rs 3 trillion in 10 years. But we will also be optimistic to see the launch of 5G in Nepal under RSP’s governance.
The challenge will be implementation. There is no doubt that Nepal has the potential to be an IT hub. In 2022 alone, Nepali IT professionals exported IT services worth 67 billion. So, that figure can only grow in the coming years. But developing more competitive talents and retaining them in the country are other obstacles. RSP’s vision is not a novelty. Digital potentials have dominated talks in recent years. But if the government remains stable and delivers, it will be revolutionary.
Here’s the link to the party’s manifesto:
