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Neighbor’s Progress
 The cover story “Development at Doorstep” (SPOTLIGHT, October 13) showed how our neighbor to the north – Tibet Autonomous Region – has started making swift progress towards modernization. For a long time, Tibet was considered as an under-developed region. But no more. The authorities and people of Tibet have brought about a marvelous transformation in their socio-economic status. As Tibet is also a mountainous region, the models of development applied there can provide important lessons for Nepalese authorities in their efforts to develop the remote mountainous terrains of the country.
Sujata Bista
Kamalpokhari
Good Signs
The serious manner in which the seven parties and the Maoists are engaging in intensive meetings to sort out all outstanding issues is a welcome sign (“Baluwatar Brainstorming” SPOTLIGHT October 13). This provides Nepalese people with excellent opportunity of living in durable peace and stability. The leaders need to rise above their petty personal and partisan interests and keep their eyes focused on the future prosperity of this nation. If they can do that, then the country will definitely have the peace it so clearly deserves.
Bikas Lamsal
Ghattekulo
Evaluation Of Foreign Assistance To Nepal
Foreign assistance for developments, in the form of technical assistance, grants and loans, started pouring into Nepal specifically after 2007 BS (1951 AD) political changes ending the 104-year-old Rana autocracy. Following this initial political change, Nepal continues to receive foreign assistance after the 2046 (1990) and the current 2063 (2006) political revolutions for the implementation of development projects in various sectors. It must be noted that most of these so-called development projects were politically motivated rather than the need of the country. While projects with long gestation periods were financed by the donors, little considerations were given for short gestation and quick-yielding projects so badly required for uplifting the lives of rural poor.
It is now after 50 long years that Nepal has fallen in the trap of receiving such foreign assistance but there has absolutely been no reports either by the Nepal Government (except hand-shaking) nor by any donor concerned as to the impact of such assistance to the Nepalese economy including the urgent need of poverty alleviation except the idle talk. The donors boast of granting financial assistance and appear at the TV signing agreements but have very miserably failed to publish the results of their assistance and the benefits Nepal has received/derived from such assistance. It is high time, therefore, to stop such nonsense and to evaluate the impact of such assistance by the Nepal government and publishing a comprehensive report focusing on the impact by sector the loan and technical assistance provided including the date of approvals, amount, implementation period and reasons for delays, major problems encountered and the results of the Impact Evaluation Studies, if any. Furthermore, the future programming should very seriously consider the specific projects Nepal really needs for which she has no financial and/or manpower resources for implementation. Until such an exercise is undertaken and the foreign assistance program’s impact evaluated, the Nepal government and the donors should stop such assistance. Furthermore, for technical assistance and advisory programs the available manpower in Nepal should be utilized and no foreign consultants should be hired. Then only we can hope for actually required projects implementation saving the country from idle talks, wastage of time, and heavy debt burden. In view of the very high level of corruption in Nepal , the donors should not give Nepal government any cash but should implement themselves all development projects for Nepal .
Mrigendra Mani Dixit
Develop A Package
Apropos the article “Baluwatar Brainstorming” (SPOTLIGHT October 13), I would like to point out the apparent need to evolve a package solution that provides a lasting impact. The arms management and interim arrangement along with procedures of Constituent Assembly should all be included in a single package. This will boost the confidence of whole countrymen. It is also necessary that such package include a comprehensive peace pact between the government and the Maoists. Furthermore, the Maoists must also demonstrate solid commitment towards their intention to renounce violence for good. Otherwise, the CA elections will end up being a farce and lose legitimacy if it is held under the shadow of guns.
Kushal Bista
Narayanthan
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