At the 12th Ncell Foundation Nepal Literature Festival, political leaders, experts, and audience members discussed rising frustration in Nepali society, highlighting unemployment, migration, and political instability.

Speaking in a session titled ‘Nirasha: Byakhya ra Vastavikata’, Gagan Thapa, the general secretary of the Nepali Congress, said that the current government lacks a sense of urgency in tackling key issues.

Swastika Shrestha, co-founder of Teach for Nepal Fellowship, noted that while challenges persist, hope still exists. “I am not saying hope is blind, but it exists alongside disappointment. The key question is about priorities and responsibilities,” she said.

She also highlighted the complexities of the education system. “What we don’t understand is that in terms of education, it’s not dependent just on the principal and teacher but also on the environment the child grows in, his parents, and other things,” she said. She emphasised that the system and broader socio-economic factors should be addressed rather than blaming teachers.

Jeevan Baniya, co-director of Social Science Baha, remarked that discontentment is not unique to Nepal. “Discontent exists in many countries, but its factors vary. In Nepal, unemployment and unstable governance are major contributors,” he said. Baniya added that despite these challenges, progress has been made in the healthcare, IT, and hydropower sectors. He also discussed how many jobs fail to provide consistent income, contributing to migration.

The discussion also touched on using remittance money and the lack of domestic industries. Chhabi Subedi, an audience member, raised concerns about youth migration. “Why are Nepali people going abroad? Why are students leaving? The public expects more from young leaders like Gagan Thapa,” he said.

Another audience member questioned the effectiveness of Nepal’s provincial system. “The system should have been strengthened, but it is being undermined. There is growing disappointment in the federal structure,” they stated. In response, Thapa criticised the improper implementation of federalism. “Federalism has not been practised effectively,” he said.