Empower Local People

Dipesh Thapa’s article entitled "Development of Decentralisation" published in The Rising Nepal (TRN) November 7, 2000) drew my attention. The article says that almost half of the national population is under the absolute poverty line. This shows the true plight of the Nepalese people even after decades of planned development.

But it is not impossible to reduce this plight if the leaders and planners have clarity of vision. I agree with Mr. Thapa’s opinion that the local people should be empowered so that they make their own decisions for their community. This means decentralisation, if applied in the true sense, is one of the surest weapons to combat poverty and bring about socio-economic changes at the grassroots level.

Sabina Khatiwoda
Mandikhatar, Kathmandu