Have stance on MCC
The Himalayan Times
13 February 2020
Have
stance on MCC
These days, Nepal and its
government has been caught between the people and Millennium Challenge
Corporation (MCC), which is an innovative and independent U.S. foreign
assistance agency that is helping lead the fight against global poverty. MCC
was created by the U.S. Congress in January 2004 with strong bilateral support.
It provides time-limited grants to a partner country aiming to promoting
economic growth, reducing poverty, and strengthening institutions. MCC forms
partnerships with developing countries that are committed to good governance,
economic freedom and investing in their citizens.
As per its mission, MCC projects
tackle some of the most pressing challenges people face in developing countries.
Major focus of its projects include anti-corruption, education, energy, finance
and enterprise development, health, land rights and access to land,
transportation infrastructure, water supply and sanitation. Its investment in Nepal
focuses on energy and power and transportation infrastructure, with the
objectives of increasing the availability of electricity and lowering the cost
of transportation. These investments will help the Government better deliver
critical services to its people, ease the movement of goods around the country
and improve the availability and supply of electricity.
Having said all these, the
government has been facing wide criticism in the streets. It seems that either
the government has completely failed to disseminate appropriate information to
the people about the MCC or the government itself is not fully aware of MCC’s consequences.
People have interpreted MCC as being a crucial part of the Indo-Pacific
Strategy (IPS), which was disclosed by David J Ranz, Assistant Secretary for
South Asia at the US State Department, during his Nepal visit in May last year.
If it is so, why can’t the government request the US to nullify the project rather
than creating social chaos in the country?
Rai
Biren Bangdel
Maharajgunj
