52% Nepalis believe the country is moving in right direction, finds survey

 

Kathmandu, April 30

Around 52 per cent people of the country are optimistic that the country is moving in the new direction, according to a new survey report.

The ‘survey of the Nepali people in 2018′ carried out by the Kathmandu University  School of Arts, Interdisciplinary Analysis and the Asia Foundation found that 51.5 per cent of Nepalis are hopeful about the country’s direction.

The report was launched in Kathmandu on Monday.

The researchers inform that the survey is based on a nationally representative sample of 7,056 people randomly selected across all seven provinces.

The survey report represents views and preferences of the Nepali people regarding the political, governance and development related issues in 2018.

Though majority of people are happy about the country, the ratio is lower by 1.6 per cent than the result of a similar survey carried out last year.

The report informs that Province 3 appears to be the most pessimistic at 58.9 per cent people believing that the country is moving in the wrong direction whereas Karnali Province appears to be the most optimistic with only 24.9 per cent respondents reporting that the country is heading in the wrong direction.

“Nepalis residing in rural areas are more optimistic than urban areas; less educated Nepalis are more optimistic than more educated; Nepalis with lower income are more optimistic than Nepalis with higher earnings;” the report says, “And Dalits are more optimistic than other caste groups.”

According to the survey, 61.9 per cent Nepalis report that relationship between social groups including inter-ethnic relations are improving.

Interestingly, the survey has reported people’s mistrust of politicians at the national level. Whereas Nepalis’ level of trust in media is 91.3 per cent, it is just 30 to 40 per cent for political parties, federal parliament and provincial parliaments.

Likewise, 35 per cent of Nepalis cannot cite a single change brought by the new Constitution of Nepal 2015. Of those citing at least one change, federalism is the most cited, at 36.6 per cent.

Their trust in local level politicians, including mayors , rural municipality chairpersons and ward chairs is above 80 per cent.

Meanwhile, a majority (54.5 per cent) of Nepalis state that they have experienced some sort of threats to their personal security, which includes threats from natural disasters in addition to crime-related or other bodily threats.