A Turning Point: The Gen Z Uprising and the Future of Nepal’s Governance
..Limit constitutional assembly members to fewer than 90, and form a cabinet of fewer than 15 ministers. These ministers should be directly elected by the people based on their expertise, experience, and proven achievements — not just political loyalty.....
"..., claiming the lives of over 51 youths and..."
The recent Gen Z-led protest has not only swept away the previous government but has also sparked a powerful debate about the way Nepal’s existing political parties have been functioning. This movement has raised fundamental questions about their conduct, priorities, and accountability. Remarkably, even members within these political parties were shaken by the outdated and rigid approaches their organizations had been following.
This protest has been unprecedented — not just in Nepal but globally — in how swiftly it escalated. Within just 24 hours, it transformed into a massive nationwide movement, claiming the lives of over 51 youths and leaving more than 300 protestors injured. The unrest erupted after the government decided to block major social media platforms, accusing them of tarnishing its image. Instead of engaging in dialogue, the government attempted to impose restrictive regulations on online platforms. This move, coupled with years of corruption and neglect of public needs, proved to be its greatest mistake.
A Leaderless Yet Powerful Revolution
Unlike past protests in Nepal’s history, which were always led by prominent figures, this was the first time a leaderless movement shook the foundations of the state. Driven purely by the desire for a corruption-free nation and the right to free expression, citizens spontaneously united.
Within days, the government was dissolved, followed by the collapse of several constitutional bodies. A new administration emerged — rooted in the spirit of the Gen Z movement. The situation became so intense that many political leaders’ houses were set ablaze, police stations were destroyed, and even key government complexes like Singha Durbar were attacked.
This uprising has forced the entire nation to reflect. It exposed how traditional political parties had become preoccupied with power calculations and internal bargaining while ignoring the real needs of the people. The youth-led call of “Enough is Enough” highlighted how citizens had been denied basic freedoms, and how even simple tasks required navigating enormous bureaucratic hurdles.
A New Hope — and a Clear Warning
This movement has left a powerful message: no matter how rich or influential you are, if you fail to serve the people, public outrage can overturn the entire system. It has instilled both hope and fear — hope among the youth that they can shape the nation’s future, and fear among corrupt actors that they must reform or be removed.
Going forward, anyone aspiring to join politics or public service must do so with genuine intent to serve the people. Otherwise, it is better to step aside.
Rethinking the System
To bring Nepal back on track, structural reforms are essential. The following proposals could lay the foundation for a stronger and more accountable governance system:
- Lean Constitution and Cabinet: Limit constitutional assembly members to fewer than 90, and form a cabinet of fewer than 15 ministers. These ministers should be directly elected by the people based on their expertise, experience, and proven achievements — not just political loyalty.
- Separation of Roles: Constitutional members should focus on policymaking, while the cabinet executes the vision.
- Seven-Province Centralized Structure: Dissolve redundant local cabinets and strengthen provincial and local governments under a centralized framework to improve efficiency and reduce corruption.
- Data-Driven Planning: Conduct a nationwide mapping of youth aspirations, national strengths, and economic opportunities to create targeted strategies.
Harnessing Nepal’s Strengths
Tourism could become a cornerstone of Nepal’s economic revival. Our natural beauty offers immense potential, similar to how Singapore — despite its small size — transformed itself into a global hub through tourism and strategic development.
With proper infrastructure for tourist safety, digital tracking, and comfort, Nepal could attract far more visitors. This would provide a major boost to national income and generate large-scale employment. Leaders must focus on leveraging such inherent strengths to create opportunities within the country.
A Three-Tier Roadmap: Short-, Mid-, and Long-Term
For any new government to succeed, it must adopt a clear strategic framework:
- Short-Term Goals (0–2 years): Visible improvements that restore public confidence — e.g., eliminating potholes nationwide within two months, enforcing target-based work in every government office, and tracking employee performance. Rapid automation and transparency should be promoted.
- Mid-Term Goals (2–5 years): Focus on completing vital infrastructure and national projects already underway or urgently needed. Prioritize efficiency, monitoring, and timely completion.
- Long-Term Goals (5+ years): Launch mega projects with transformative impact — projects that can redefine Nepal’s future economy, such as large hydropower ventures, international tourism corridors, or advanced digital infrastructure.
Foreign aid and grants should be directed towards such high-impact projects, not fragmented into small, scattered grants that bring little real change.
The Road Ahead: Now or Never
Every sector — education, health, infrastructure, digital services — must adopt this three-tier approach for sustainable progress. Strict accountability and effective punishment systems must be established. Innovation, creativity, and youth-driven ideas should be prioritized.
People are no longer looking for politicians who simply hold office. They want leaders who can envision a better Nepal, formulate bold strategies, and deliver real results. This is a defining moment for all political parties and public officials: either reform now or be swept away by the tide of public change.
हालको Gen Z नेतृत्वको आन्दोलन
हालैको Gen Z (जेन जेड) नेतृत्वमा भएको आन्दोलनले केवल पुरानो सरकारलाई मात्र ढालेको छैन, यसले नेपालका पुराना राजनीतिक दलहरूको काम गर्ने तरिकामाथि ठुलो बहस पनि सुरु गराएको छ। यस आन्दोलनले दलहरूको आचरण, प्राथमिकता र जवाफदेहिताबारे गहिरो प्रश्न उठाएको छ। यही कारणले ती दलभित्रैका धेरै नेताहरू पनि आफ्नै पुरानो र कठोर शैली देखेर हल्लिएका छन्।
यो आन्दोलन नेपालमै होइन, विश्वकै दृष्टिमा पनि अद्वितीय रह्यो। केवल २४ घण्टामै यो एक विशाल राष्ट्रव्यापी आन्दोलनमा परिणत भयो — जसमा ५१ भन्दा बढी युवाहरूको ज्यान गयो र ३०० भन्दा बढी घाइते भए। सरकारको छविमा नोक्सान पुर्याएको भन्दै सामाजिक सञ्जालहरू बन्द गर्ने निर्णयपछि आन्दोलन सुरु भएको हो। संवादको साटो सरकारले कडा नियम लगाउन खोज्दा, लामो समयदेखिको भ्रष्टाचार र जनचाहनाको बेवास्तासँग मिलेर यो उसकै ठूलो गल्ती सावित भयो।
नेताविहीन तर शक्तिशाली क्रान्ति
नेपालको इतिहासमा पहिलेका आन्दोलनहरू कुनै न कुनै ठूला नेताको नेतृत्वमा हुन्थे। तर यस पटक भने कुनै नेताविना आम नागरिकहरू स्वस्फूर्त रूपमा उठे। भ्रष्टाचारमुक्त देश र स्वतन्त्र अभिव्यक्तिको चाहनाले सबैलाई एक ठाउँमा ल्यायो।
केही दिनमै सरकार ढल्यो, संविधानिक निकायहरू पनि ढले। Gen Z आन्दोलनको भावनामा आधारित नयाँ शासन बनेको छ। आन्दोलन यति तीव्र बन्यो कि धेरै नेताहरूका घरहरू जलाइए, प्रहरी कार्यालयहरू तोडिए र सिंहदरबारजस्ता सरकारी भवनहरू समेत आक्रमणमा परे।
यसले देशभर आत्ममन्थन ल्याएको छ। पुराना दलहरू सत्ताको खेल र आन्तरिक भागबण्डामा मात्र व्यस्त भई जनचाहनालाई बेवास्ता गरिरहेका थिए भन्ने कुरा उजागर भयो। युवाहरूको “Enough is Enough” को नारा नागरिकहरूलाई आधारभूत स्वतन्त्रता समेत नदिइएको, सामान्य काम गर्न पनि अत्यधिक झन्झट पारिएको भन्ने कुरा देखायो।
नयाँ आशा — र स्पष्ट चेतावनी
यो आन्दोलनले एक बलियो सन्देश दिएको छ — कति धनी वा शक्तिशाली भए पनि जनताको सेवा नगरे भ्रष्ट शासन ढल्न सक्छ। यसले युवामा आशा जगाएको छ कि उनीहरूले भविष्य बनाउन सक्छन्, र भ्रष्ट नेताहरूमा डर जगाएको छ कि सुधार नगरे हटाइनेछ।
अब राजनीति वा सार्वजनिक सेवामा आउन चाहने जो–कोहीले साँचो मनले जनताको सेवा गर्ने उद्देश्य लिएर मात्र आउनुपर्छ। अन्यथा छोडिदिनु राम्रो हुन्छ।
प्रणालीलाई पुनर्विचार गर्ने समय
नेपाललाई सही बाटोमा ल्याउन ठूला संरचनागत सुधार आवश्यक छन्:
साना संविधानसभा र मन्त्रीहरू: संविधानसभा सदस्य ९० भन्दा कम र मन्त्रीहरू १५ भन्दा कम राख्ने। मन्त्रीहरूलाई जनताले सीधा छान्ने — योग्यता, अनुभव र कामको आधारमा, न कि पार्टीप्रतिको निष्ठाको आधारमा।
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भूमिकाको स्पष्टता: संविधानसभा नीति बनाउने, मन्त्रीहरूले कार्यान्वयन गर्ने।
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सात प्रदेशमा केन्द्रित संरचना: अनावश्यक स्थानीय मन्त्रीहरू हटाएर प्रदेश र स्थानीय सरकारलाई बलियो बनाउने।
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डाटामा आधारित योजना: देशभर युवाको चाहना, राष्ट्रिय क्षमता र रोजगारी अवसरहरूको नक्साङ्कन गरेर लक्षित रणनीति बनाउने।
नेपालका बलहरूलाई उपयोग गर्ने
पर्यटन नेपालको अर्थतन्त्र उठाउने मुख्य आधार बन्न सक्छ। सिंगापुर जस्तै सानो देशले पर्यटन र रणनीतिक विकासबाट विश्वमा नाम कमाएको छ, नेपाल पनि प्राकृतिक सौन्दर्यका कारण अझ धेरै गर्न सक्छ।
पर्यटकको सुरक्षा, ट्र्याकिङ र सहजता सुनिश्चित गर्ने पूर्वाधार बनाए नेपालमा लाखौँ रोजगारी सिर्जना गर्न सकिन्छ। नेताहरूले देशभित्रै अवसर सिर्जना गर्न यस्ता क्षेत्रलाई प्राथमिकता दिनुपर्छ।
तीन चरणको योजना: छोटो, मध्यम, दीर्घकालीन
नयाँ सरकारले सफल हुन तीन तहमा योजना बनाउनुपर्छ:
छोटो अवधि (०–२ वर्ष): जनविश्वास जगाउने छिटो सुधार — दुई महिनाभित्र देशभरका खाल्डाखुल्डी मर्मत, प्रत्येक कार्यालयमा लक्ष्य आधारित काम, कर्मचारीको कार्यक्षमता ट्र्याक गर्ने, स्वचालन र पारदर्शिता ल्याउने।
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मध्यम अवधि (२–५ वर्ष): सुरु भइसकेका महत्वपूर्ण परियोजना छिटो र समयमै सक्ने।
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दीर्घकालीन (५+ वर्ष): देशको अर्थतन्त्र रूपान्तरण गर्ने ठूला आयोजनाहरू — जस्तै ठूला जलविद्युत, अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय पर्यटन गलियारा, वा अत्याधुनिक डिजिटल पूर्वाधार।
विदेशी सहयोग पनि यस्ता ठूला परियोजनामा मात्र लगाउनुपर्छ, स–साना योजनामा टुक्र्याएर खर्च गर्न हुँदैन।
अब होइन भने कहिले पनि होइन
शिक्षा, स्वास्थ्य, पूर्वाधार, डिजिटल सेवा — सबै क्षेत्रमा तीन तहको रणनीति लागू गर्नुपर्छ। कडा जवाफदेहिता र दण्ड व्यवस्था बनाउनुपर्छ। नवप्रवर्तन, सिर्जनशीलता र युवाको विचारलाई प्राथमिकता दिनुपर्छ।
अब जनता केवल पदमा बस्ने नेताहरू खोज्दैनन्, उनीहरू नेपालको उज्ज्वल भविष्य देख्न सक्ने, साहसी योजना बनाउने र परिणाम दिन सक्ने नेताहरू चाहन्छन्।
यो सबै राजनीतिक दल र सार्वजनिक सेवकहरूको लागि निर्णायक समय हो — अहिले सुधार गर्नुस्, नभए जनताले परिवर्तनको छालमा बगाइदिनेछन्।