Former Maniging Director of the Nepal Electricity Authority, Kulman Ghising, has urged Nepali workers in the Gulf to contribute to the “Ujyalo Abhiyan” (Bright Campaign) by joining hands and supporting the initiative.

Announcing the launch of the Ujyalo Abhiyan (Bright Campaign) in Bahrain and arriving in the UAE, Ghising urged people to join the campaign, saying it aims to transform growing frustration in Nepal into hope.

“Nepal can develop. The country’s economy can progress. The nation can be built. Nepal is a land of great opportunities. We can move forward through energy. It is up to us - together - to build the country. Simply criticizing on Facebook or TikTok is not enough. Everyone must commit and take action,” he said while receiving honors at separate events held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

“I am here to express solidarity with your commitment to building the country. I am ready to walk forward hand in hand with you.”

He said that by developing the energy sector, the country can be led toward economic prosperity.

“It’s not necessary to return to Nepal immediately. But a policy should be introduced to invest 10 percent of the remittance sent by each individual here into hydropower projects like the 1,063-megawatt Upper Arun Hydropower Project. With such investment in the hydropower sector, the country can achieve economic prosperity within 20 years,” he said.

“We have the vision to increase investment. This cannot be done by just one employee - it must happen through the state mechanism. And for that, it requires leaders who can earn the people’s trust.”

He stated that the main driving force behind the Ujyalo Nepal Abhiyan is the workers themselves.

“You are my greatest source of strength. The respect and recognition I’ve been receiving from both within the country and abroad speak in my favor. That is my biggest source of self-confidence,” he said.

“I haven’t paid attention to what the government has done to me.”

Ghising said that instead of being recognized for the leadership and achievements he has contributed to the country’s energy sector at various times, he has faced disrespectful treatment from the state.

“Whenever I do something for the country, bring some success, I am unjustly and disrespectfully dismissed at that very moment. This hasn’t happened just once or twice - it has happened many times,” he said.

Although the state machinery has continued to act in ways that spread frustration, Ghising said he has not allowed the flame of hope and confidence within him to die out.

“I have been consistently working to inspire hope and confidence. But the governing system continues to create despair,” he said.

“I ended load-shedding. Achieved 99.9% electrification across the country. I brought the Electricity Authority - once believed to never turn a profit - into the black. I exported electricity to India and Bangladesh. And yet, efforts are being made to turn the promising energy sector into a source of frustration, based on baseless information.”

Ghising said that Nepalis living abroad are holding up Nepal’s economy and emphasized that the door to the country’s prosperity can only be opened through remittances, energy, and public participation.

“Currently, nearly 1.4 trillion rupees in remittances are coming in annually, which is about one-fourth of the GDP. Over 700 billion rupees come just from the Gulf countries. Yet, these workers are treated with disrespect. Development cannot happen that way,” he said.

Source: Kantipur