Sense Of Security

AS the paramount concern as well as responsibility of the government are to ensure law and order and provide the people a sense of security, it has taken some additional precautionary measures to assure the people that the security system of the country is well and strong. The head of the government as well as other members of the cabinet have time and often reiterated the commitment of the government to maintain law and order in the country. However, there have been attempts from certain quarters to weaken the security system of the country and consequently terrorise the people. The violent incidents perpetrated by the so-called Maoist insurgents have created insecurity among the people of some remote districts of Nepal. It is against this background the preisent of the Nepali Congress Girija Prasad Koirala reminded the government of its responsibility to protect the life and property of the people. However, the government’s recent efforts have brought the situation under control, to some extent.

In order to contain the insurgency, the government has taken two-pronged strategy. It has offered financial support for the rehabilitation of those who denounce violence and pledge to live peacefully, for which a budget has already been allocated under Ganesh Man Singh Peace Campaign. At the same time, the government has clearly spelled out its intention and determination to suppress violence even by suing force, if insurgents continue their undesirable activities and challenge the government’s security system. Accordingly, efforts are underway to seek a broader national consensus for the resolution of the problem created by the insurgents. The formation of a high level panel headed by former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, which has already started its work, is yet another move the government has taken to bring about a tangible solution to the problem. One thing that needs to be specially mentioned here is that the present government inherited the problem relating to the insurgency as a legacy of the previous governments. It is obvious that the solution cannot be found overnight given the nature of the problem. Thus, absolute control of the insurgency may take time. What can be said from the moves of the government and concern expressed by leaders of different political parties is that the entire nation is serious about the problem and calls for bringing about a permanent solution to the problem as soon as possible.

Special Drive
AS PER WHO’S call, the final battle to eradicate polio has been initiated in the country since yesterday with the launching of a Special Anti-Polio Immunisation Programme in thirty-three different districts of the country. For this programme, January 23, February 27 and March 26 have been selected for administering polio drops to some 2.5 million children under the age of five years. And this special programme covers 20 districts of the Terai region which borders with India and other 13 districts including the Kathmandu Valley. In fact, most of the selected VDCs and municipalities are believed to be prone to polio as most of them adjoin India where the largest number of polio cases have been recorded in the past. Polio, no doubt, has been a major scourge, especially in the developing countries of Asia and Africa. Polio badly affects the children by making them crippled forever or even leading to the death of the affected. Regarding this very nature of polio, WHO in 1988 began the global initiative to eradicate polio by the end of the year 2000. This initiative is spearheaded by WHO, Rotary Club International and UNICEF. Nepal has actively participated in this global effort by launching national programmes to administer anti-polio drops for three consecutive years since 1996. All of them were able to exceed the target that was set. The success of the anti-polio campaign is evident from the fact that, in Nepal, cases of polio have considerably decreased in the last three years.

The special anti-polio programme has been conducted in the districts bordering India so that polio can be completely eradicated from the country thereby making the global campaign a grand success. As such some 16,000 health workers and 80,000 volunteers were mobilised nationwide for the purpose the other day for the immunisation programme. They will also be mobilised for the same purpose on February 27 and March 26. Besides, it is expected that all the political parties including social organisations and local bodies will extend their cooperation as in the past. In this context, it is also essential that such aggressive steps be taken against other diseases which lead to the death of many children and old alike.