An Appraisal

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 has spelt out in clear terms that democracy and Constitutional Monarchy are the very basis of the existence of the country. There can never be any compromise of the preamble of the Constitution. The Constitution that we have been following over the past eleven years has not been framed overnight or on an ad hoc basis. Much energy, time, studies and consultation have gone into its making. And in this sense, just because a few people want something else does not mean that the whole Constitution has to be revised. But this is what has been heard in recent times especially from the leadership of Nepal Communist Party (Maoist). There can be no justification for such a demand as the Constitution has fulfilled all the expectations of the people for over a decade since democracy was reinstalled after a three-decade dark period. When the Constitution has vested sovereignty on the people there is no reason why some elements are targetting it. It is not the Constitution that is at fault but those who misinterpret it according to their vested interests. There is greater need to adhere to the Constitution and act accordingly as nation’s interest is well protected by it.

It was in the same vein that former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has come out against the "politics of violence" that has for the past few years disrupted the smooth sailing of the country, while speaking the other day at a reception on the occasion of Bada Dashain for Nepalese and foreign journalists. He was firmly for "reconciliation and national unity to stop unscrupulous activities of unwanted elements in the country". In fact, he was hitting out at the Maoists who were trying to destroy the social structure by creating division among the races, castes, religion, culture and languages. This was a right appraisal of what has been going in the country for the past six years. Violence as such does not offer any solution. All problems and their solutions must be sought within the framework of the Constitution. As for the republic’s demand by the Maoists, Koirala was frank in stating that any strike against the constitution was an attack on people’s freedom and democracy. This was a right observation in that it is the Constitution that guarantees freedom and rights to all its people irrespective of caste, creed, religion, language or gender. The equality that has been bestowed on the people must be respected by the Maoists as well. Pitting one citizen against another cannot be praised in any term. It is a timely message to the Maoists to eschew violence and join the mainstream of national politics which will be in the interest of the country and the people themselves.

Health & Vitamin A

A COUNTRYWIDE Vitamin A programme began the other day with an objective to reduce child mortality. A large number of children die each year or are forced to live in eternal darkness due to Vitamin A deficiency. Vitamin A is necessary not only for good eyesight, but also provides resistance against other diseases. A large number of people, however, are unaware of this basic knowledge about health in Nepal as more than half of the population is illiterate. A country without healthy citizens cannot prosper in any field. On top of that, if the children who have to shoulder the responsibility of the entire nation in future are not healthy, then the country suffers. Already listed as one of the least developed countries in the world, Nepal cannot afford to have people with unsound health condition, which poses as an obstacle in the national development process. Under the two-day National Vitamin A Programme, around 3.15 million children aged between six months to five years are to be administered Vitamin A in 73 different districts of the Kingdom. The programme has been implemented in Rolpa district for the first time this year and is to be implemented in Rukum and Jajarkot districts in western hilly region of the country next year. In order to make the campaign a grand success, about 40,800 women workers have been deployed across the country. The government has been carrying out the campaign for the last eight years in a bid to reduce child mortality rate, prevent blindness caused by Vitamin A deficiency and to end all Vitamin A deficiency related problems. Vitamin A is administered to all the children below the age of five twice a year – in April and October.

Though the programme aims to feed Vitamin A to a large number of children throughout the country, it is just a short-term method to prevent the health problems caused by Vitamin A deficiency. A long-term strategy would be to create public awareness about the importance of regular intake of Vitamin A found in different food items, including green vegetables, carrot, pumpkin etc. Therefore, the programme should also be used as an opportunity to make the people realise the importance of Vitamin A as well as create awareness regarding appropriate health care to ward off the common diseases.