Open Letter to HH Sushila Karki, Interim Prime Minister of Nepal: Strategic Adoption of Needonomics for Economic Governance and Youth Empowerment

From Prof. Madan Mohan Goel Proponent, Needonomics & Former Vice-Chancellor (Thrice)

Respected Prime Minister,

On behalf of the Needonomics School of Thought (NST), I extend my warm greetings and heartfelt congratulations to Your Holiness on assuming the responsibility of Interim Prime Minister of Nepal. Your elevation to this high office is not only recognition of your distinguished legal acumen as the first woman Chief Justice of Nepal but also a symbol of the faith reposed in your wisdom, integrity, and commitment to the people of Nepal.

As an ardent well-wisher of Nepal, I feel a deep emotional and spiritual connection with your nation because of my reverential visit to the sacred Pasupatinath Temple in Kathmandu, a pilgrimage I made by road from Raxaul (Bihar) in 2016. This journey strengthened my conviction that Bharat and Nepal are not just neighbors bound by geography, but civilizational partners rooted in shared culture, spirituality, and mutual aspirations for peace and prosperity. It is, therefore, my duty to write this open letter, humbly offering suggestions to build a credible bridge to Nepal’s economic stability through the lens of Gita-inspired Needonomics.

 Needonomics: A Strategic Pathway for Nepal

Needonomics, as propounded by NST, emphasizes economics of needs, not greed. Unlike conventional economics which often fuels materialism, consumerism, and inequalities, Needonomics seeks to harmonize material progress with ethical values, spiritual wisdom, and social justice. The vision of Needonomics is to replace Greedonomics—the unrestrained pursuit of profit and power that has caused corruption and misery across the globe, including Nepal—with a framework that prioritizes genuine human needs, sustainable development, and holistic well-being.

For Nepal, a nation endowed with natural beauty, resilient people, and rich cultural heritage but plagued by unemployment, poverty, and underutilized potential, Needonomics can serve as the panacea for systemic challenges.

 Addressing Youth Exodus: The Imperative of Employment Creation

One of the most alarming trends in Nepal today is the steady exodus of frustrated youth to India and beyond. Millions of young Nepalese, disheartened by unemployment, underemployment, and lack of opportunities, migrate in search of livelihood, leaving behind families and contributing to brain drain. This scenario reflects the sorry state of affairs and must be addressed with urgency.

The new government under your leadership must constitute an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) that works with faithfulness and wisdom to design and execute innovative policies focused on youth empowerment. The Council should include economists, social scientists, entrepreneurs, and youth representatives, ensuring that policies are grounded in both practical feasibility and moral responsibility.

Integrating Nepal’s Economy with India: Silent but Strategic

Given the historical, cultural, and geographical proximity, economic integration with India offers a natural pathway to prosperity for Nepal. This integration, however, must proceed in a silent mode without worries, meaning it should be pragmatic, gradual, and consensual, avoiding political controversies but focusing on tangible benefits such as cross-border trade, infrastructure, energy cooperation, and tourism.

Creating large-scale jobs through joint ventures, manufacturing hubs, and service-sector linkages with India can transform Nepal’s economy. Nepal’s youth, particularly Gen Z, are aspirational and technologically savvy. They must be engaged not as passive beneficiaries but as active partners in nation-building through inclusive dialogue and participatory policymaking.

Gen Z and the Language of Trust

In this age of uncertainty, Nepalese youth are looking for more than just jobs—they seek dignity, trust, and purpose. To connect with them, the government must cultivate a language of trust, spoken not merely through words but through genuine listening, empathy, and actions that align with their aspirations.

This requires leadership that communicates from the heart and soul, creating faith in institutions and higher values of governance. Sustainable development is not only about building roads or dams but also about nurturing trust, fairness, and moral values that give young people confidence in their own country.

Needonomics vs. Greedonomics: A Clear Choice

The experience of nations worldwide shows that Greedonomics—the obsession with unchecked consumerism, profit maximization, and corruption—only breeds inequality, instability, and disillusionment. Nepal, too, has suffered from these challenges.

By contrast, Needonomics emphasizes:

• Prioritizing needs over wants, essentials over luxuries.
• Promoting self-reliance while engaging in fair globalization.
• Cultivating ethical governance with transparency and accountability.
• Encouraging productive employment through labor-intensive, eco-friendly sectors like agriculture, tourism, and renewable energy.
• Embedding spiritual values from the Gita, which teach balance, duty (dharma), and detachment from greed-driven pursuits.

Thus, adopting Needonomics is not just an economic choice—it is a civilizational necessity for Nepal’s stability and prosperity.

Strategic Challenges and the Role of Leadership

Your role as Interim Prime Minister is both challenging and historic. To meet new strategic challenges—whether in political consensus-building, economic revival, or social harmony—you must act as a guardian of Gen Z’s dreams.

The youth of Nepal envision a nation that is not dependent on remittances alone but is capable of standing tall with its own enterprises, innovations, and values. To realize this vision, your government must:

1. Launch youth-centered employment missions with clear, measurable goals.
2. Promote skill development programs aligned with global market needs.
3. Foster entrepreneurship ecosystems with access to finance, mentorship, and technology.
4. Encourage green economy initiatives, leveraging Nepal’s natural wealth responsibly.
5. Build transparent governance mechanisms to restore public faith in institutions.

 NST’s Commitment to Nepal

The Needonomics School of Thought is committed to extending full cooperation and support in this journey. Through dialogue, research, and policy advocacy, NST can provide intellectual and ethical guidance for Nepal’s economic transformation. Our belief is that a Nepal guided by Needonomics will not only stabilize its economy but also emerge as a role model for South Asia, proving that sustainable development grounded in ethics is both possible and desirable.

Conclusion:

Respected Prime Minister, Nepal today stands at a crossroads. On one side lies the path of despair, marked by unemployment, migration, and corruption. On the other lies the path of Needonomics, illuminated by trust, values, and sustainable prosperity .

To build the Nepal of dreams—for Gen Z and future generations—you must courageously embrace the latter. With wisdom drawn from the Gita, guided by the principles of Needonomics, and supported by the goodwill of neighbors like India, Nepal can transform itself into a nation where youth do not have to leave but proudly choose to stay, build, and thrive.

With best wishes and prayers for your success in this noble endeavor.