Regulate quality of drugs

The other day, Nepali drug manufacturers welcomed the government’s move to levy registration
charge for foreign drug suppliers to Nepal. Obviously, this benefits them more than the health
sector of the country since foreign drug suppliers will have to register individual brands before
they enter the Nepali drug market. However, it must be cautioned that the regulation to protect
domestic industries could result in the entry of cheap and low quality drugs into the domestic
market. The government has to introduce some mechanism that will prevent substandard drugs
from being sold in the market before it makes it difficult for foreign drug suppliers to sell their
products in Nepal.

The new provision on the import of foreign drugs states that a pharmaceutical company of
SAARC countries will have to pay 50,000 rupees to supply their products to Nepal. For
non-SAARC drug manufacturers or suppliers, the charge will be US 1000 dollars. For individual
brand registration, the companies of SAARC region having export recommendation letter will be
levied a fee of one thousand rupees every year. Companies from outside SAARC will have to pay
US 30 dollars. Similarly, drugs categorized under life saving will have to pay 500 rupees for
registration and 50 rupees for annual renewal. For non-SAARC countries, every company will
have to pay US 15 dollars for registration and 10 dollars in annual renewal fees.

Nepali drug manufacturers have so far managed to capture less than 30 percent of the domestic
drug market. Nepal imports over four hundred thousand brands from India. It is a sad fact that in
South Asia, Nepal is the only country that imports maximum number of brands without
monitoring the quality of drugs. Have all these companies met the criteria set by World Health
Organisation (WHO) ? How many of them have acquired good manufacturing practice certification
from WHO? If these drug companies have been violating international norms, then what are the
steps the government has introduced against such practices? These are a few questions the
government has failed to answer.

The new measure to restrict the import of foreign drugs will no doubt boost the domestic drug
industry. This apart, the measure will generate additional millions of rupees in revenue every year.
But, how many domestic drug companies have met WHO’s criteria so far? In a recent WHO
survey, there were hardly a few Nepali companies that conformed to good manufacturing practice.
Under such circumstances, how can the government ensure that the health sector will improve if
it introduces such measures? The government must realise that while it is a good idea to
encourage domestic manufacturers, the health of the people is even more important. The
government must ensure that the quality of drugs dispensed at retail outlets, whether locally
manufactured or imported, meet the minimum quality set by organisations like WHO. The
government surely owes at least this much to its citizens.

Nepal’s cultural heritage under serious threat

Keshab R Jha

Twenty one years after Kathmandu Valley was listed in the World Heritage List, it faces a serious
threat from a UNESCO World Heritage Committee high level mission which is visiting the city
from 24th-30th September. Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site comprising three palaces in
their urban settings (Kathmandu, Patan, Bhaktapur), two Hindu temples (Pashupatinath and
Changu Narayan), and two Buddhist centres (Swayambhunath and Boudhanath), were inscribed
in the World Heritage List along with Sagarmatha National Park in October 1979. These
monument zones present highly developed architectural, religious, political and cultural life of
Kathmandu Valley with a concentration of monuments unparalleled in the world.

Since 1979, much water has flowed under the Bagmati Bridge and many changes have taken
place in Nepal. Rapid social and economic developments have created a number of problems for
the management of Kathmandu Valley Heritage Sites. The major problems are demolition of
privately owned traditional buildings, construction of buildings without approval from the
municipalities and Department of Archaeology, construction of buildings not in accordance with
the approved design, and the use of modern materials and concrete structures. Electrical
transformers, floodlights fixed on or adjacent to monuments, advertising billboards, and obtrusive
displays of merchandise are all directly affecting the environment of the monuments as well as
monument zones.

The World Heritage Committee is a powerful twenty one member intergovernmental committee
elected by the General Assembly of States Parties to the Convention, adopted by UNESCO in
1972, concerned with the protection of world cultural and natural heritage. Nepal acceded to this
international treaty in 1978. Although States Parties, like Nepal, can propose heritage sites, the
UNESCO World Heritage Centre checks these proposals, and ultimately the World Heritage
Committee decides whether to approve them.

It is in accordance with this procedure that as of January 2000 a total of 630 heritage sites have
been inscribed in the World Heritage List. The List include Nepal’s two cultural sites, Kathmandu
Valley and Lumbini, and two natural sites, Sagarmatha National Park and Royal Chitwan National
Park. Currently UNESCO is also assisting His Majesty’s Government in preparing its request for
the nomination of additional heritage sites. These include Khokana, Panauti, Kapilvastu and
Ramagram. Another UNESCO delegation is visiting Nepal at the end of this month to consider
inclusion of the Phoksundo area of Dolpa district as a natural site in the World Heritage List.

The World Heritage Committee has warned Nepal since 1993 to comply with the guidelines of the
Committee when it served a 16-point notice to correct its course. A joint UNESCO/ICOMOS
review mission visited Nepal in November 1993. This mission pointed out its concerns about the
need to amend provision under the Ancient Monument Preservation Act, 1956, the
reconsideration and definition of the boundaries of the monument zones, and the preparation of
master plans for these monument zones.

The responsibility for conservation and restoration activities, the strengthening of administrative,
technical and professional capacity in the Department of Archaeology, and the documentation of
house and street elevations in the monument zones were all to be clarified and prioritized. The
prevention of demolition of historic structures within monument zones except with approval of the
Department of Archaeology, a funding mechanism to support conservation activities, use of
traditional materials, demolition of illegally erected structures, and exclusion of vehicular traffic
from the three Durbar Squares, were other recommendations of this mission.

Since then His Majesty’s Government has undertaken extensive measures for the protection of
Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site, and several updated monitoring reports have been sent to
UNESCO.

In compliance with the decision of the 21st Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in 1997, a
joint mission of UNESCO, ICOMOS and His Majesty’s Government convened in 1998. This
mission reviewed the management of the zones and agreed on 55 recommendations
(incorporating the 16 points raised in 1993) and a time bound Action Plan. At the Marrakesh
Meeting of the World Heritage Committee in 1999, it was decided that a high level delegation
would be sent to examine the sites in Kathmandu Valley in order to decide whether they should
remain on the World Heritage List or be put on the endangered list. This is the delegation which
arrives in Kathmandu on 24th September and which will present its findings to the next meeting
of the World Heritage Committee in Australia towards the end of this year.

The principal points in the 55 recommendations are:

- to strictly implement the protective bye-laws controlling demolition of historic buildings, and the
design of a new buildings,

- to resolve overlaps in the prevailing legislation,

- to establish a Heritage Conversation Unit,

- to prepare a master plan,

- to prepare inventories of the monuments and their classification,

- to establish a Monument Conservation Fund and develop criteria for providing construction
materials,

- to remove obtrusive signboards and restrict souvenir vendors,

- to fix stone boundary markers and plaques.

Since the Marrakesh Meeting, Nepal has submitted three further monitoring reports on the status
of Kathmandu Valley World Heritage Site. The Nepalese side is looking forward to a period of
constructive dialogue in pursuit of the common goal--the continued preservation of the World
Heritage Site.

The high level mission is to be headed by Mr Abdelaziz Touri, President of the World Heritage
Committee, and Secretary General of the Ministry of Culture of Morocco. The delegation also
includes Mr Andre-Pierrre Parrisol, a French former Minister of Housing, Dr Eduard Sekler,
Professor of Art History and Architecture at Harvard University, Mr Henrik Lilius, Finland’s
Archaeologist, and other members and UNESCO officials.

As a developing country, Nepal needs local awareness, international support and a huge amount
of money to preserve its heritage. Local awareness cannot be developed overnight. It takes time,
patience and the combined efforts of line Ministries, municipalities, INGOs, NGOs, UNESCO and
private individuals. Numerous initiatives throughout the sector are assisting in raising levels of
awareness. Not only is His Majesty’s Government doing everything possible to preserve the
natural and cultural heritage of Nepal. Municipalities, local communities and individuals are
demonstrating increasing awareness of their duties and responsibilities. A case in point is the
Local Self Governance Act, 1999, which devolves many important planning and development
powers to municipalities, and is a significant example of progress being made toward a more
transparent management of heritage matters. His Majesty the King in his address to Parliament
this year highlighted the importance of conserving the cultural heritage of Nepal. Prime Minister
Koirala signed a joint statement during his recent official visit to New Delhi in which both Nepal
and India agreed that they share a rich cultural heritage and that there are a large number of sites
of importance to the people of both countries. The two Prime Ministers agreed to joint efforts,
both at governmental and non-governmental levels, to conserve such cultural sites.

Nepal is determined to implement in both letter and spirit, and within the time limit of 2004, the
55 recommendations agreed between UNESCO, ICOMOS and His Majesty’s Government. The
high level mission will certainly observe the positive progress and determination of both
government and public. The UNESCO Peace Award bestowed on Bhaktapur Municipality in 1999
for outstanding management within the World Heritage Site is a glowing example of the ability of
local people to preserve heritage.

In view of these facts and other positive developments, it is most likely that the high level mission
of the World Heritage Committee will reconsider its threat to put Kathmandu Valley on the
endangered list. It will not serve their purpose if they put in on the endangered list just to satisfy
those who will benefit from the consultancy work which will inevitably follow. Nor will it serve the
purpose of the Kingdom of Nepal which is resolved to preserve its status with great zeal and
determination. Thus the threat to delist, or put the Valley World Heritage Site on the endangered
list must remain a threat only.

(The author is an ex-ambassador and permanent delegate of Nepal to UNESCO)

Welcome back... Arun !

Hitesh Karki

Talk about our abundant supply of natural resources and the very first thing that strikes your mind
is 83,000. Yes 83,000 megawatts of total hydroelectric power generation potential. Second in the
world to Brazil. The kind of things we have been hearing right from our school days.

Arun, when you were here earlier, our expectations were obviously high. You were here to boost
and increase the total hydroelectric power generation almost by double. As only about 10-12
percent of the people had access to electricity then (well it hasn’t increased that much even now
) the dreams were sky high ,so as to say. We all had a feeling then that the time had now come.
No more tukis and languishing in the dark.

Well, for reasons unknown to us, all of a sudden you left us. Arun, we (meaning the general
public ) don’t still know what made you decide that Nepal was not a suitable place for you. May
be (well I’m not sure) there was something wrong with our hospitality... maybe those sitting at the
helm asked a bit more (read commission ) which you didn’t approve of or whatever but then you
left us. All dreams...they just crashed, boom, bang!

The news of your arrival, this time around has once again rejuvenated our hopes, lifted up our
spirits. Well better late than never. Now that you are back again, please take into consideration
certain things, just so because we don’t want the history repeating itself, and you leaving us once
again.

Well, the first thing that you’ve got to realize is the term "stability" has a different meaning over
here. For instance, the MoU signed today may just be considered completely invalid the very
next day.

Even when one party is enjoying a full majority in the House, never take it for granted that this
one is going to be stable. Over here you never know what’s going to happen tomorrow.

Next, I’m pretty sure there will be hordes of people (well I think labelling them as brokers would
be more appropriate) standing at the entrance of each and every ministry’s door before you can
manage through the "red-tape". Well don’t opt for scissors...just put some green bills, hundreds,
thousands...into the pockets of their black coats...you will be comfortably through. And as far as
I can comprehend that won’t even make the slightest dent in your pocket...I’ve heard you are here
this time around with 1000 million dollars! Almost 1.5 times the size of our entire annual budget.
You surely are a rich guy.

Finally once you are through with all this (there might be few more obstacles on the way) it will
be your turn to strike back with vengeance. The ball will never be on the other end of the court.

From here on you can start dictating terms. No matter what terms and conditions you lay on us,
everything will be readily accepted. For instance you want to hike the price, go-ahead. There
won’t be any stopping. Those green bills will come back to your rescue. Believe it or not here
they won’t even hesitate resorting to wrestle in the parliament just to make sure that things go
your way. After all they are indebted to you. They won’t let you down.

Well I’m sure you must be worried what if the public don’t accept your demands...let me tell you
that please don’t get worried a bit. Nowhere in the world will you find people as "flexible" as us.
We don’t make a fuss, protests (we do but then over here these things subside almost instantly
as the events themselves take place). Here today, gone tomorrow. We take things as they come.

So this time around, have a ball. Enjoy yourself. I bet you won’t find a better playing ground
anywhere in the world than Nepal. Don’t let the chance slip by.

Happy staying!

The importance of being Paswan

Kuldip Nayar

Not many ministers realise the sanctity of government revenue, the public earnings. Minister for
Communications Ram Vilas Paswan is one of them. Having reached the top the hard way, he
should have known that how every rupee counts to the people living in dire poverty. Lakhs of them
are in the queue for such government measures which would make their life a bit more bearable.
If ministers like Paswan go on draining funds, how will any benefit reach them?

Once upon a time Paswan was a Socialist, soaked in the philosophy of welfare state. He, for
one, should be more sensitive to the problems of those who live at the lowest tier. It is the same
kitty from where money is drawn, whether the expense is economic or uneconomic. But Paswan
knows no bounds when it comes to government funds. He spends and spends. He does not
realise that while doing so, he is denying even the basic needs to the crores of people.

The latest gift from him is that he has made all temporary casual and quasi-permanent
employees in the department of telecom services permanent. That he made the offer even before
the strike began indicates that he cares little for the repercussions his profligate ways will have
on the exchequer. Indeed, his reputation has travelled far. Once the employees find that Paswan
is the arbiter, they sit back with the conviction that they will gain by just sticking around.

Paswan has the distinction of leaving behind a trail of unwanted employees in whichever ministry
he has served. The Railways is a glaring example. He made the entire casual force permanent.
The Centre has now on its hands so many employees in the Railways that it cannot find any
useful work for them. The ministry is always stretched for funds to pay their salary.

The reason why Paswan behaves in such a manner is because his target is the electoral base
and he is always looking for measures which will earn him popularity. Whether the state will
suffer in the process is besides the point. It does not strike him that by diverting funds from
education, health or water, he is denying crores of people their minimum needs. He is putting
unnecessary burden on the exchequer.

Even if someone points out to him that he is setting a bad precedent, he merely shrugs his
shoulders.

There are reports that he was criticised in cabinet meetings. But this did not stall him from
adopting a similar posture whenever there was another bout with the employees.

Not long ago, Paswan was in the news because he wanted to give free telephone to every
employee of the department. The announcement met with resistance because it meant a big dent
in the treasury. Still Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had to agree to make Paswan’s
announcement good. It was too populist a step to be withdrawn. The government would have
probably lost its image. But then it is Paswan’s trait to announce the largesse first and approach
the government later for approval.

Since Paswan has seldom got a ‘No,’ he does not face the facts. He should draw a lesson from
the difficulties he confronted during the strike of the telecom employees. The government had to
find extra money. The settlement with the telecom employees will cost the exchequer Rs 456
crore, an additional burden even before the Corporation on Telecommunication has come into
operation. Were all ministers to follow Paswan’s steps, what would happen to the budget?

There is a lesson for the trade unions, too. If the past is any guide, they have not learnt anything.
They are content with rummaging through the treasury. They may not be more than 30 percent,
both in the public and private sectors. Compared to them, there are crores who are unorganised.
But when it comes to concessions, organised labour hogs them all.

Even the trade unions of communists, supposed to be committed to the ideology of interest of all
workers, behave much the same way. Organised workers go on cornering benefit after benefit and
flattening themselves at the expense of the unorganised.

True, the trade unions have a clout because a mere threat from them brings the establishment to
its knees. Practically, every strike is a repetition of the exercise where workers put pressure and
where the government surrenders. And there is no one in the country to tear a leaf out of the book
of Mrs Margaret Thatcher who, as Great Britain’s Prime Minister, fought practically all powerful
unions and vanquished them. The UK knows no strike now.

The trade unions should themselves feel the helplessness of unorganised labour. It is not getting
even the minimum wage, much less concessions. The coutnryside is particularly full of the
unorganised. They have no union. Nor can they dream of organising themselves on one platform
to be able to dictate terms. Should their case go by default and if so for how long?

All political parties concede that if ever the landless were to organise themselves, there would be
no respite in the country. As far back as 1931, Bhagat Singh, a revolutionary, who was hanged
by the British, said in his last message to his comrades that they should organise the
unemployed in the countryside. If it ever happened, he said, the entire scene would change.

How would Paswan react to such a scenario? Probably, it would take him no time stage a
volte-face and tell the unorganised that he had always stood for them. He would even recall the
days when he mouthed slogans to effect socialism in the country. The tragedy is that many
people would still believe that his heart bled for the poor. At least the employees in the Railways
and Telecommunication seem to be under this impression.