Conflict Resolution

IN the present complex society, interests differ. The difference of interests creates conflict in the society. Conflicts can be of varied nature. Conflicts can be political, social, economic, ethnic, cultural or regional. Conflicts are a part of a lively society. However, such conflicts need to be addressed and resolved in a healthy manner. Healthy conflict, however, is necessary for the development of the society. The most important aspect of the conflict management and resolution is the recognition of the parties involved in the conflict. The other way for effective and sustainable conflict mitigation and resolution is the identification of the root causes of the conflicts and efforts to be made to address those causes. Without properly identifying the causes, conflict resolution efforts yield no fruit. Debate, discussion and dialogue are the best ways to resolve conflicts. However, in certain situations, conflicts turn violent and dangerous if they are not resolved in time and in an effective way. Society and community is where conflicts occur and it is also the community that suffers if they are not resolved in time. Thus, a community is also equally responsible for managing and resolving conflicts and disputes. If efforts are made to resolve the conflicts at the grass roots level, the capability of the community must be strengthened and developed. Such efforts would definitely be more effective and sustainable. Thus, a community needs to be strengthened and encouraged to manage and resolve conflicts in the society. This need has been well and widely realised in the society. Against this background, a workshop was organised in Kathmandu the other day, in which experts and participants underlined the need for promoting and encouraging the role of community in mediating and resolving disputes and conflicts. Nepal, at present, has suffered heavily due to violence and terrorism. The violence is the result of heightened conflict of interests. Some elements with ulterior motives try to inflate this conflict to mislead and misguide the people to fulfil their vested interest. If the conflicts had been resolved in the initial stage, the situation would not have been so grave as it is today. Had efforts been made in time, problems could have been solved when it occurred. Now, it is high time to mobilise people from the grass roots level and community as a whole against violence and resolve conflicts and crisis in a healthy and sustainable manner.

Timely Act

MINISTER for Education and Sports Devi Prasad Ojha, while inaugurating the first national conference of the Munda ethnic community at Birtamode, Jhapa, the other day, informed that the government has made a provision for free education up to the higher level to the students of the Munda community, from the forthcoming academic session. Minister Ojha disclosed the encouraging information just after a month the Ministry introduced a 29-point reform measure in the country's education sector, which has been suffering from a number of problems. This speaks how true the government's attitude is towards its commitments and how dedicated it is in turning its words into deeds. With the disclosure of the provision, all the students belonging to the minority and downtrodden communities must be delighted as they do not have to quit their studies just because of their inability to afford them now onwards. In fact, rampant poverty among the rural people has been regarded as one of the important causes behind the increasing dropouts of the students belonging to ethnic groups and the girl students. Considering this reality the government made a provision in its latest reform measures to impart free education to all girl students and the students belonging to minority and down-trodden communities to be enforced from the coming session.

In fact, illiteracy and poverty are often interrelated. Without eliminating one we cannot eradicate another. So to fight poverty, a nation has to first educate its people. For this an environment should be created in which all the people can have an equal access to education. However, in the Nepal it is yet to materialise. About 50 per cent of the Nepalese people are illiterate mainly due to poverty. Moreover, the existing violent activities have had a great negative impact on the country's education sector and educational institutes. A large number of school-going children misguided by the Maoists are now unwillingly carrying weapons instead of books and pens. Others are unable to continue their studies for fear of them. As such there is a high need for creating a conducive environment in which all the students as well as the teachers can attend the schools regularly without any fear and panic. Similarly, all the students willing to go to school but unable to do so due to financial reasons should be provided with opportunities for free education. Now, it seems the government has done all that is necessary to overcome all these shortcomings.