Access To Social Security

MINISTER for Health Dr Upendra Devkota said that social protection of the people has been the prime concern and objectve of the present government, which has brought about a package programme to accomplish its goal of providing social protection to the people. Addressing a one-day interaction programme held in Kathmandu the other day, Minister Devekota said that the government has announced a new health policy to provide the people especialy those who are poor and downtrodden with easy access to health services. Nepal has always given priority to social service sector in order to uplift social and economic condition of the people, and bring them into the mainstream of development. These sectors include, among others, education, health and human resource development. A large portion of national budget is spent every year in these sectors. Similarly, various donor agencies have provided financial as well as technical support to Nepal in the sector of social services. As a result, there has been some quantative progress in the field of health and education. The number of schools, students, teachers, hospitals, health posts and medical workers has definitely increased. However, the qualitative development is far from satisfactory. Moreover, the Maoist violence and terrorism has damaged schools and health posts in rural areas, which have not only made the people's life difficult but also have deprived them of their right of access to education and health care. While limited resources of the government have not been able to meet the growing demands and needs of the people in social service sector, the violence and terrorism has made people politically, socially and economically vulnerable and insecured. The first and foremost right of the people is the right to live. However, people have not felt secured because of violence. Unless people feel safe and secured, any other efforts for social security cannot bear fruits in real terms. The priority at present should, thus, be to ensure physical security of the people. People cannot enjoy their rights, be that social, economic or political, at the time of conflicts. Thus the conflicts and violence, which has seriousely and severely affected the country, must be stopped by whatever means possible. As the governemnt has been seriously working towards ending the violence, all sectors within and without the country including Nepal's true friends and well wishers need to cooperate the efforts of the government to restore peace and stability. It is only after the restoration of peace that people can freely enjoy other rights including social security.

Promoting Tourism

THOUGH small in size, Kathmandu Valley is a fascinating place. It has been blessed with a very good climate, beautiful natural scenery and a rich cultural heritage. Visitors from outside the country are enraptured by such qualities of this City and the friendly people that inhabit this place. Two unique places which such visitors never fail to visit when they come to Kathmandu are, Patan and Thamel. While Patan is famous as a heritage site, Thamel is a very new tourist centre, where the environment is more casual and relaxed. Patan boasts of some of the most beautiful temples, ancient courtyards and intricate crafts work, that are the handiwork of the people that made this city so culturally rich. Meanwhile Thamel, in comparison, is a neighbourhood that has different types of services for visitors, from restaurants and book stalls to souvenir shops and moderately priced hotels. Both in their own ways, have contributed significantly in attracting more visitors to Nepal and thus helping in boosting its tourism industry.

It need not be over emphasised here that tourism can be taken like the backbone of this country's economy. While there may be more earnings from other sectors, tourism helps in instantly benefiting a vast network of people, even those who are not directly involved in this sector. However, it is unfortunate that this sector is also being affected by incidents in recent years that have taken place in the international sector and within the country as well. Reports say that tourism is floundering even now, when tourists should have been packing the streets of Kathmandu. One of the biggest blow to Nepalese tourism has been the frequent political unrest of the past and the terrorist activities carried out by the Maoists. These have greatly affected tourist arrival to this otherwise serene and beautiful place. Quite naturally, no one likes to come to a place where their holidays can be disturbed by violence and other such unpleasant incidents. The perpetrators of such activities are thus doing nothing but hurting their own country and people. But it is encouraging that efforts are being made to revive this sector through various programmes. For example, a Lalit Heritage Exhibition was organised at Patan, where tourism development was one of the major themes. Similarly, a Himalayan Mountain Bike programme was started from Thamel, the tourist hub of Kathmandu. It can be hoped events like these will help in giving a more positive image of this country abroad, and bring in more visitors, even if not instantly, then in the coming months.