-Dr. Deepak Chaudhary
When taxes of more than 100 rupees were put on buying goods from India, people had mixed reactions. It did, however, spark a debate in Nepal. A lot of Nepalis prefer to go to the Indian market because it is cheap. Nepal is more socioeconomically linked to India due to its geographic location and historical ties. More than half of Nepal’s population resides in the southern plain area adjoining India. This southern border is touched by India’s most populous states, like Bihar, UP, and East Bengal. Three provinces of Nepal are primarily touched by the Indian border, namely Madhesh province (~ 450km), Koshi province (~250), and Lumbini(~400km). Major economic and revenue hubs are located along or near Nepal-India’s southern border areas. Despite opportunities, many development gaps and disparities can be observed along the southern border villages of Nepal.
During my long observation, I found that the Nepali villages up to 5-10 km stretches from the border were fragile in terms of security, governance, and development. Even so, there is a vast difference in socioeconomic life between the northern parts of Nepal (along the East-West highway) and the southern parts (border areas and the Hulaki road stretch), with the former enjoying economic precedence. Subsistence agriculture is dominant in the absence of adequate irrigation and fertilizer in the border area; agriculture is heavily dependent on rain. The non-agriculture sectors are found to be negligible except for some big cities lies in border. For example, about 20% of people are unemployed in Madhesh province, mostly in the border areas. The poverty rate in Nepal represents 20%, though Madhesh stands at a high (25%). Literacy rate in Madhesh province is dismal, as it only stands at around 50% or below, whereas the national literacy rate is 76.2% as per the 2021 census. The literacy rate along the border villages is alarmingly low and disgusting.
The political economy of the southern border is characterized by an open border composition and socioeconomic interconnectedness. Despite gaps, Nepal’s southern borders are socially well integrated with India, and minimal political tension compared to Bangladesh. However, periodic diplomatic and nationalist activities in Nepal have created some tension between Nepal and India.
In the Indian border site, there is a strong market, and Nepalis are the main customers. Economically, informal business is common on the Nepal-India border. After the advent of the United Nations, borders were encouraged in terms of connectivity and economic assistance through frameworks of the 1950 Treaty of Peace and Friendship. However, some Nepalese have voiced it as an unequal treaty, though the concept of ‘open border’ is the main theme of the treaty, which is still relevant due to Nepal-India’s societal and historical connection and economic point of view. But the main question is now, how does it make it safer and economically vibrant?
The southern border regions largely remain vulnerable and neglected in terms of poverty, inadequate infrastructure, services, and governance due to their isolation and neglect. Such vulnerabilities have led to human insecurity. After 1962, border areas have been managed for strategic purposes and treated as a buffer zone. Researcher Leo E. Rose, in his book ‘Nepal: Strategy for Survival’, mentions that Nepal was viewed as a buffer state between India and China in early post-independence Indian foreign policy. Consequently, socioeconomic development in the southern border areas remained secondary, which contributed to long-term regional disparities and neglect. It resulted in a weak state, which in turn fueled crime, smuggling, social exploitation, casteism, and elitism. In an atmosphere of fear and terror, people could not vote freely, and fair politics could not take place. Such negligence and isolation lead to caste politics, which may be currently known as identity politics. Bihar was known as lawlessness state in India for 15 years before, and UP’s situation was not so different. Likewise, the border is often used by offenders to avoid arrest and jurisdictional boundaries on both sides. Nepal has been facing such border crimes and smuggling along the border areas for a long time. Similarly, many know that India’s concern is for terrorism entering the country through the southern border. Therefore, inclusive development initiatives are required to fill the gaps.
Agriculture development and manufacturing have been priorities, though results are not satisfactory. In the present context, ‘tourism development’ may be an option for bridging these gaps by linking with international communities and technologies. Because Nepal and its adjacent Indian states, like Bihar and UP, belong to an old civilization and richness in heritages. The Vedic, Buddhism, and Jainism philosophies flourished in the land of Nepal, Bihar, and UP thousands of years ago. People from East-North Asia are eager to travel to these locations. Along with industrialization, tourism development can help to break caste and gender gaps in South Asia, as these two are prominent social issues for both Nepal and India that need to be addressed, if we talk about social development in a true sense.
Therefore, the development of the southern border villages is imperative, and it should be initiated with a slightly different strategy because of their location and vulnerabilities. The bilateral approach with India may be effective because it can enhance coordination and implementation, and guarantee security phenomena. A bilateral cooperation is the only way to fight crimes, illegal activities, women trafficking, floods (blockade by dam or road), drought, and other problems. Moreover, issues related to development, such as currency and taxes, can only be addressed bilaterally. This affects prices and could be a reason for smuggling.
The border crossing areas need to be developed to an international standard, as it reflects the country’s identity. We can see that the South Asian border areas are less developed and systematized compared to the East Asian borders. As India is emerging as a world power, to maintain global competition, India must develop its border areas seriously because it prevents crimes, smuggling, trafficking, and terrorism. Nepal should ensure that terrorism is not allowed from the southern border.
From an economic perspective, Bihar, UP, and East Bengal states of India are potential markets for Nepal, especially for electricity export. Likewise, the border areas of Nepal, Bihar, and UP have numerous historical sites and heritage. Nepal is a more favorable travel destination. It is essential to develop border areas with adequate infrastructure and social services, as well as a border monitoring system to ensure human safety and sustainability. It can address the vulnerabilities associated with open borders. The best example of it in the world may be ASEAN.
Nepal’s Southern Borderlands: Lives, Inequality, and Development Gaps | New Spotlight Magazine
Source: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/borderland-lives-southern-nepals-development-gaps-chaudhary-bq3wc
