Folk Culture

MINISTER for Information and Communications Shiva Raj Joshi, while inaugurating the "Deuda Society" the other day, called for attention from all sectors concerned to the importance of folk culture like Deuda which represents the way of life, feelings and sentiments of the people of Far and Mid-Western Regions of the country. Nepal, according to cultural anthropologists, is a virtual treasure house of folk cultures. This is because Nepal, over these centuries, has become the home to diverse races, tribes and communities, all of which having their distinct identities. Almost all these communities still adhere to their distinct socio-cultural practices, norms and beliefs. This, in turn, has greatly enriched the very societal fabric of the nation with their diversity. Additionally, one unique feature of this socio-cultural diversity is that all these communities, despite their adherence to their own folk cultures, have been living in peace and harmony until the present time. This uniqueness is what sets Nepal apart from many nations that are home to diverse races, tribes and communities.

Yet, not all seems to be going well in the nation’s unique folk cultural front. For, notwithstanding the diverse communities’ strong adherence to their folk cultures, some communities are undoubtedly facing some amount of challenges in preserving their unique identities. This has come about due to the inexorable encroachment of foreign socio-cultural influences, mostly beamed into their homes through foreign satellite channels. And, to some extent, from foreign films and publications. Such challenges are bound to surface, thanks to the rapid advancements in the field of information and communication technologies. As such, it has become next to impossible to halt these foreign influences from making inroads in the nation’s unique folk cultural front. However, what is also true is that until and unless efforts to preserve the various folk cultures for posterity are not forthcoming, then the nation as a whole would be left much the poorer in terms of its socio-cultural diversity. As such, if the nation’s unique folk cultures are to be preserved for posterity, then it behoves upon all sectors to not only forward their co-operation but, more importantly, to work in a co-ordinated and concerted manner.

Transparency In NGOs

EXPERTS and activists working in social and non-governmental sectors are of the opinion that non-governmental organisations need to be recognised and treated as the true development partners. In a one-day workshop held in the capital the other day, social and NGO experts demanded new and NGO-friendly laws as well as change in the policy towards non-governmental organisations. Evern since the multi-party democracy was restored in the country in 1990, several NGOs have come up with different programmes in the country. Some of them have, in deed, done a very positive and significant service to the society and the nation. It is true that there is no separate and specific law governing non-governmental organisations. People who are working in the NGOs sector have, thus, demanded new laws clearly specifying the status of NGOs vis-a-vis donors and the government. The objectives of NGOs, among others, are selfless service to the community and society and to compliment the development works of the government.

However, not all seems to be well in the NGO sector as well. In the public eyes, the performance and image of some NGOs is not that positive. Although NGOs claim that their service is selfless and community and society-oriented, only a few NGOs seem to be transparent in their activities. Transparency is the today’s issue among NGOs. As a result, people often point their fingers at some of the NGOs and their activities. Moreover, the funds NGOs receive from donors and how they are spent is yet to be transparent and properly monitored. There is a general view among the public that there has to be some sort of regulation or coordination between NGOs and donors and strong monitoring mechanism of their activities, including their expenditures of the funds. Laws, therefore, are necessary even to ensure transparency in NGO activities, including the receiving and spending of funds. There is a tendency among donors and NGOs to reach direct agreements and the governments in many cases, does not even know about the accords. This has made it difficult to regulate and monitor NGOs’ activities and budget. Against this background, there has to be coordination between the government and the NGOs, right from the time of reaching agreements with the donors and carrying out their activities. Since NGOs are development partners, there has to be good coordination between the government and the NGOs coupled with transparency in the activities of non-governmental organisations. For this, necessary mechanism needs to be developed in close cooperation between the government and non-governmental organisations, even to the extent of effecting some changes in the present legal measures as well as policy governing NGO sector.