Kathmandu. The Ministry of Finance has published a study titled ‘Understanding the Genji Movement: Root Causes, Reality and Roadmap for a Strong Nepal’.

The study conducted by the Central Department of Economics under Tribhuvan University has described the Zenji agitation in Nepal on September 7 and 24 as not just a momentary dissatisfaction but also a collective and structural response of the youth against corruption, misgovernance, lack of economic opportunities, social injustice and institutional weakness.

The study concluded that the Genji generation, which grew up with digital technology, had expected transparency, justice, opportunity and accountability in a democratic system of governance, but failure to meet these expectations on time has led to widespread dissatisfaction and manifested itself in the form of a movement.

“Overall, the Genji movement is not just a momentary anger of the youth. It is a collective and structural response against corruption, misgovernance, lack of economic opportunities, social injustice and institutional failure,” the study summed up. Social stability and sustainable democratic and economic development are possible. ’

The study points to the decline in trust in political leadership, restrictions on digital freedom, lavish lifestyle of political leaders and their relatives, access to state service, lack of employment-oriented education, lack of merit employment, and nepotism-favoritism in political appointments. Similarly, the report states that the anger of the marginalized communities of the society has manifested itself in the form of agitation as they have not been able to integrate into the mainstream of development.

Similarly, the study points to rising unemployment, compulsion to go abroad for employment, low income, low wages, economic instability, limited opportunities for entrepreneurship and increasing income inequality as the main economic reasons for the movement. According to the study, there is a huge gap between the education system and the labor market. It is mentioned that the main reason for the dissatisfaction of the youths is not getting employment as per the qualification despite having higher education.

According to the report, the main reasons for the agitation include the hassles of administrative process, lack of one-door system in the service system, lack of service spirit in the offices paying land revenue, tax and service tax, lack of transparency in public institutions, lack of efficiency and sluggishness in the justice system. Regarding corruption, most of the youths have expressed the view that corruption is more prevalent than the general level in Nepal. They see corruption as the result of systemic failures, not individual moral weaknesses, the report said.

The report states that the youths are under the perception that political appointments are made in the anti-corruption bodies and these officials are more accountable to the political leadership, which is why the control of corruption has not been effective. Youths have taken digital freedom as an important indicator of democracy and good governance. The study shows that they consider digital rights as a natural right of citizens. While some improvements have been seen in digital services, inequality, technical weaknesses and managerial problems still persist, according to the study.

According to a field survey, the agitation has had a negative impact on economic stability and the investment climate of the private sector. This has weakened investor psychology and entrepreneurial confidence, the study said. According to the study, the incidents of arson, vandalism and looting during the agitation have caused physical loss of around Rs 84.45 billion.

However, the study has also shown some positive effects of the movement. These include a reduction in the arrogance of traditional political leadership, an increase in the sense of accountability in the political leadership and bureaucracy, an increase in political awareness among the youth, and an increase in institutional pressure against corruption.

The study has suggested various policy reforms based on the signals received from the Genji movement. Among the suggestions included understanding politics as a sacred task for nation-building and national service rather than a profession, political appointments should be made through open competition rather than on family basis, education system should be linked with skills and employment, marginalized communities should be included in the mainstream of development and income inequality should be reduced.

Similarly, the recommendations include making economic policies stable for at least five years, making service delivery transparent, speedy and people-friendly, providing trade and business services through a one-door system and appointing competent and honest people on the basis of competition in constitutional bodies of anti-corruption control. The study has recommended that regulation of the digital sector should be made rights-friendly rather than control-oriented, vocational subjects should be included in secondary education and investors should increase investment in employment generation projects.

The study also suggested that moral education should be included as a compulsory subject at the secondary level. The study has stated that the immediate priority should be taken up to reconstruct the physical damage caused by the agitation. The study suggests that the government can expedite the reconstruction work by taking loans from the banking sector as there is sufficient liquidity in the banking sector, demand for loans is low in the market and interest rates are historically low. The study also concluded that such investment would help revitalize the economy by boosting national income and overall demand.

According to the study, around 98 percent of the youths who participated in the protests have completed secondary or higher education. The highest participation was found in the age group of 16 to 25 years. From the professional point of view, the presence of students, unemployed and self-employed youths is remarkable.