Peace And Security
The Country's Urgent Need

By Prem N. Kakkar

PEACE and security are the prerequisites for the development of any country. Nepal as such has been undergoing harrowing experiences since the violent activities were initiated some seven years back. It is not the right atmosphere for the development of the country.

Loss

In the past seven years, there have been great destruction of property including many VDC buildings, government offices in various districts and so on. After all they are the assets of the nation. A poor country that Nepal is, it had taken decades to establish the infrastructure. Their destruction naturally means that the development thrust has been stopped and it will take many years before the original infrastructure will come in place again.

In this backdrop, the past twelve years have been quite frustrating as far as the ordinary people are concerned. The restoration of democracy in 1990 was seen as the harbringer of prosperity in the country but it did not happen. What happened was that accountability and transparency were not to be seen. Corruption, a malady of almost every developing country, too was evident in the country.
When Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) came into action a few months back, it was clear that even the civil servants with limited income had amassed cash and property which defied all imagination. It is talking in tens of millions of rupees. This was a facet revealed when raids were carried out first of all on the residences of 22 officials related to the revenue department.
CIAA, despite the limitation of the necessary personnel, is moving ahead with interrogation of various former ministers and others. Of course, it is a complex process yet it is taking place which is quite a welcome step.

This is one aspect of bringing the corrupt to book but this alone will not lift the country out of the quagmire that it is in at the moment. What is needed now is the return to normalcy where killings and destruction of property has to stop. Any loss of property affects the country. Destruction, it needs no reiteration, is easier than getting the whole structure back into place. The situation is such that the economy has been shattered and at the moment there is no sight when it will become robust.

Exports have plummeted and as a recent report has suggested, the carpet work force is a mere twenty per cent of what it was a decade back. The same is true for the foreign exchange earner, the tourism sector. The 500,000 mark that was set as part of the Visit Nepal Year 1998 is nowhere evident in recent years. The Destination Nepal Year, International Year of the Mountains and the Golden Jubilee Celebration of the first successful ascent of Mount Everest (Sagarmatha) have not been able to attract tourists to the country in the number that was expected.

Of course, situation in Nepal is not only to be blamed for the low flow of tourists. Since the 9/11 event, the global movement of tourists has reduced. It is security that tourists require when traveling outside their country. But there are various trouble spots in the world so traveling is not as safe as before.
Nepal considered to be a very safe destination too has suffered in this respect. Tourists being intimidated by the Maoists has not been reported so far except for an exception or two. But on the whole, the tourists who have visited Nepal in recent times have not had to face much problem. Yet, news travels very fast these days with the advanced communication set up. Tourists being a sensitive lot do take things very seriously when it comes to making their itinerary for travel abroad.

Whatever that may be, the present government led by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand has a great responsibility on its shoulders. First of all, it has to spruce up the law and order situation and the next important responsibility is the holding of general elections at the earliest possible date. In the background, there is dissolution of the House of Representatives by the then prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the elections stated for last November 13. Seeing that the elections could not be held with the security situation that was prevailing an extension was sought but there was a radical shift in the scheme of affairs. As a result the new government came into being.

Hope

The present government has made the commitment for bringing about peace and security in the country and then hold the elections, it is yet to be seen when it materialises though some positive linings are being seen even in these turbulent times.

Science & Technology Development In Nepal

By Rajesh Man K.C.

SCIENCE and technology are indispensable for the development of any country. It is a key factor as well as crucial determinant in the socio-economic development of a country. The development of science and technology and its proper application over the last few decades have enabled many countries to exploit the full potential of their natural as well as human resources and enjoy higher quality of life.

Progress

Take the case of our two neighbours China and India. They have been able to make considerable progress in various fields such as industry, agriculture, energy, space etc. This is because they gave national priority to science and technology. However, many developing countries have lagged behind in the development of science and technology. Nepal is not an exception in this regard.
In 1982, His late Majesty King Birendra constituted the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) with a view of enhancing science and technology for the country's all-round development. The aim of this Academy, as mentioned in the Royal Charter, is to facilitate development activities by promoting science and technology in the nation. In this backdrop, RONAST is working as a facilitator, an innovator and a catalyst for the development and application of science and technology in Nepal. RONAST is supposed to be the 'think tank' of His Majesty's Government of Nepal regarding the formulation and application of science and technology in the country.

Though funded by the government, it is an autonomous body of scientists. Having constituted such an autonomous body of science and technology, His late Majesty King Birendra not only provided inspiration to Nepalese scientists but also encouraged them to utilise their skills and talents for the welfare of the country and the people.

RONAST initially, has been launching some in-house research projects on selected topics either in its own initiation or in collaboration with other national or international agencies. apart from this, the academy is providing research grants to individuals and institutions as well as fellowships for research works in science and technology.

The activities of RONAST are focused in the field of research and development. Some major activities undertaken by the Academy in research and development can be explained as organic tea, natural product chemistry, mychorhiza (an important product for pine-plantation) and collaboration study with Mahendra Sanskrit University (MSU) on establishing a medicinal plant pilot project in Dang. RONAST scientists also conduct research on indigenous technology that is applicable and practicable particularly in rural community. Apart from the ongoing activities in research and development, study of specific plant species like taxol called Loth Salla in Nepali is also getting priority. In promotional activities, RONAST conducts radio programme on science and technology through Radio Sagarmatha and Radio Nepal, which is very popular among Nepalese listeners. And other activities of this Academy are the publication of monthly science feature (Bigyan Lekhmala), RONAST Communicator, Journal of Science and Technology and several periodical proceeding papers.

RONAST has also relationships with a large number of institutions around the world. Collaborative study, exchange of view and sharing information are some of the major activities undertaken within this network. In addition to this, science students are provided travel grants and reasonable facilities for higher studies abroad. As part of sharing knowledge and developing linkages among science professionals, the academy frequently organises different seminars, workshops and conferences related to science and technology. The holding of national conference on science congress in 1998 and an international seminar on mountain research are some of the examples to justify this claim.
The major challenges of RONAST scientists, as Vice-Chancellor of RONAST Prof. Dr. Dayananda Bajracharya opines, are to work for the nation's welfare and contribute something substantial for planners, policy makers and ultimately to the entire nation.

RONAST prepared a draft proposal of S & T policy that may be adopted after necessary discussion. Some of the selected programmes were also incorporated in the policy that are expected to further the development of science and technology and contribute to the poverty alleviation in the country. But as the new political development took in the country after the Royal announcement in October 4, 2002, the policy could not be materialised. However, Dr. Upendra Devkota, Minister for Science & Technology and Health of newly formed government, has announced new policy and programmes for the coming year for the development of science and technology in the country. The policy and programmes incorporate various projects for the current fiscal year. Such as, establishment of 24,000 Gobar Gas plants, production of 500 kw micro hydro electricity power, installation of some 9,000 solar household power systems as well as 22,000 improved ovens will be carried out for the sustainability of such services. It has also been stated in the policy and programmes that necessary measures will be taken to set up an information technology development trust in order to establish and improve the quality of educational institutions and training centers for skilled and qualified manpower in the sector and to develop information technology that could benefit the rural and poverty-stricken community. Besides this, development or modernisation of National Forensic Laboratory for DNA test inside the country and establishment of a planetorium and science museum and an observatory in Kirtipur are also mentioned in the policy and progrmames.

However, development of science and technology is not possible without a large portion of capital investment. It also takes a long gestation period. But such investment made in developing countries like Nepal, is marginal. As financial constraint seems to be one at the major causes for a poor country like Nepal, to invest big amount of money in science and technology sector. So the observers point out that we should better focus our efforts on such technology that is required to the needs of the common people say, agriculture or agro-based industries, alternate energy and mountain development activities. Fortunately, the newly announced S & T Policy has emphasised RONAST to be established as a center for bio-technology and mountain research development.

Attention

It is obvious that development of science and technology is not possible without strong for political commitment. It is also true that attainment of such noble objective remains a far cry in the absence of support or assistance from science and technology community. The government should therefore, pay its due attention to suggestions made by scientists and technologists for the development of science and technology in the country.

The author is Radio Programmer at RONAST

Passage To Paucity

By Krishna Sharma

IT was a matter of pleasure for thousands of other regular commuters when they read and heard the news that the bumpy road to Dillibazar from Ghattekulo in the downtown Kathmandu was going to be blacktopped. Upon listening to an FM's announcement that the work was to start that morning, one of my friends jumped high for joy, "Now we will have an easy ride there." This is the second time that the locals were deceived by the authorities while it comes to the making of the road.

That was the very road which was all set to be pitched last March. The people were as enthusiastic that time as they were recently. The presence of bulldozers and other heavy equipment at the site that time had made all the locals and other wayfarers feel that their bumpy road was going to be smooth as a moth's nose soon.

In a changed scenario when it was announced about face-lifting the road, the people again were forced to expect that it was going to be implemented this time. But their hopes did not last long. To their dismay, neither any bulldozers nor authorities appeared nearby. There are myriad potholes from Ghattekulo junction to the historical Dillibazar Pipalbot.

It is not only the case of one small section of road in the capital city of Kathmandu. The plight of Ghattekulo road replicates our poor and unmanaged road network of the country. Our roads are very old and are hardly maintained. Except for the road that leads from the nation's only international airport to the principal government secretariat at Singhadurbar, Royal Palace and some other important places like Hotel Soaltee and Narayani, the roads in and outside the capital Valley are awaiting maintenance since long.

There are certain sections in various highways of the country where one can't find any evidences that they were once pitched. Take for example some sections of road from Mugling to Narayanghadh. The situation of the busiest East West Highway is also the same. If one travels along the highway, he will find the road swept away by the flood at various places and still awaiting to be repaired. It must be a sorry tale to tell that the roads are in no way suitable for the expensive deluxe class vehicles that a few people ride. The bad roads this way are shooting trouble to not only the health of the commuters but also to our national economy as the vehicles need frequent maintenance and overhauling.
The hope for better roads in future is turning out to be a distant dream because the heavy equipment division, the government body responsible for maintaining the roads, has fallen short of money at present. With the recent rise in the price of POL products and the deduction of government expenditure, the division has got yet another set back in its routine task of maintaining the damaged roads.

But while talking about internal roads in the city areas, we cannot set ourselves free by blaming the government. It is not only the responsibility of the state but also of the civilians. The people need to come to the forefront while it comes to developing and maintaining the internal roads like the one between Ghattekulo and Dillibazar. If the local people join hands and the government provides them the logistic support along with heavy equipment support, the internal roads can be maintained in time. It is yet to see when the locals will stop waiting for the government's promptness and become united for the development of their own area.

With these harsh but unwanted realities we are walking forward in a snail's pace while there is urgency for us to walk fast as we have miles to go before we sleep.