Timely Tale
The cover story on Youths: High Expectations (June 20-26) was very relevant. At a time when a large number of youths are unemployed and uneducated, the country is always vulnerable for political and economic instability. With the number of young population entering into the job market reaching 300,000 a year, we require a high economic growth rate. However, the country's economic performance is yet to grow to meet the demand. I agree with you that as the country does not have programs to generate employment, growing number of involvement of youths in criminal and other political activities have already indicated that the human time bomb is ticking.
Janaki Shrestha
Via e-email
Shocking Situation
It is shocking to know that the number of youths involved in criminal activities has increased. If these trends continue, the country will have to face serious consequences in the future. The incident of Tiwari is a good example how an unemployed youth can agree to kill a person just for a small amount of money. This is an alarming situation. During the twelve years long Maoist insurgency, many youths joined the insurgent group but some of them have now come out and are involved in criminal activities. Thanks to legal impunity, most of the insurgents were given amnesty for their past crimes. Unfortunately, they are now active in such activities hoping that they will receive similar amnesty.
Shital Lama
Via e-mail
Exploiting Resources
Political parties, which are supposed to work out plan for betterment of youths, are exploiting unemployed youths to pressure the government. One can easily see the number of youth participation in political activities. It is very unfortunate to know that large numbers of youths are recruited in party forum but they don't have any economic program to engage them in productive sector. In the last few years, all the political parties tried to attract youths in their student wings. Instead of encouraging students to join their student wings, the political parties should provide them employment opportunity. Youth need opportunities not protection.
Sunil Shakya
Via email
Commercial Key
I agree with you that the commercialization is the key to increase the agriculture productivity (Cover story Agriculture Commercialization Is the Key June 13-19). Although the government has made several efforts in the last few years to transform agriculture from subsistence-based to commercialisation promoting the off-season vegetables and other cash crops resulting in the increase in the income of the farmers. However, this practice is still confined to just a few areas. At a time when the world is facing food crisis, the only way out is to increase the production or yield. The diversification of the crop system is another important aspect to increase the production. One can hope Nepal will follow the market oriented approach.
Astha Karki
Via email
Agro Story
It was good to read the cover story on Agriculture. I hope you will increase coverage of such stories in the coming days. One of the important aspects about your cover story is the improvement made in the agriculture sector by applying new methods of production of vegetables. Our experiences have shown that Nepalese farmers have comparative advantages in the agriculture sector than in other areas. As the farmers of our neighbour India receive high subsidy to grow rice and wheat, Nepalese farmers who do not get any subsidy, cannot compete in the market by producing such products. But by switching to growing vegetables, Nepalese farmers can not only make the money but also compete with the farmers from neighbouring country.
Ashok Chaudhary
Birgunj via email
