Pro-Poor IT

TALKING about harnessing the information and communication technology or ICT for a pro-poor and inclusionary social development, as Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand stressed while inaugurating the Ninth Nepal Information Technology Show and Conference at the Birendra International Convention Centre Thursday, has far reaching implications for a country like Nepal. The key words of his speech are ICT, pro-poor and inclusionary and they are far from compatible in the first place. ICT has to do with a range of knowledge and gadgets that the poor people cannot simply afford to acquire. So making ICT pro-poor means extending outside help to those who are at the receiving end of the latest information and communication processes. Making it inclusionary means putting a well-functioning democratic system in place where everyone, especially the poor rural populace, is enabled to participate in the emerging 'information' society. It looks like it is a tall order to bring all the Nepalese into the information network, which needs electricity in the minimum, let alone telephone lines, computers and knowledge to use them.

Not oblivious to the gloomy ground reality, the authorities have introduced the IT Policy 2002 which aims at popularising the ICT business and industry to reduce poverty and establish the knowledge based society. An action plan ensuing out of the policy targets to reach the rural communities through community information centres. Among other things, plans are afoot to apply IT in government offices, develop human resources to meet the demand and complete the ongoing IT Park in Banepa. Unicode Nepali font has already been developed. It will help develop application tools and databases in the native language, which is likely to significantly increase the number of people participating in the process. These measures will give a fillip to narrow down the knowledge gap or the digital divide to some extent. The high priority accorded to IT in the Tenth Plan should give a further boost to the process of expanding the outreach. It augurs well for Nepal that the countries of the Asia-Pacific region who assembled in Tokyo recently were trying to develop a shared vision and common strategy for the development of information society. Chand's ambitious targets should be seen in that light.

Martyrs Remembered

THE Nepalese across the length and breadth of the nation are at the moment bestowing their tributes on the martyrs who sacrificed their lives for the sake of democracy and freedom in the country. The Martyrs' Week, which started Friday, is an important yearly event when leaders along with common citizens spare time to recall the selfless untiring efforts of individuals who laid down their lives against the 104-year long Rana oligarchy. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) office has formed a 501-member committee to pay tributes to the national martyrs. The KMC unveiled a programme the other day to pay tributes to the martyrs. The names of Shukraraj Shastri, Dharma Bhakta Mahtema, Ganga Lal Shrestha and Dasrath Chand with other known and unknown martyrs have been written in golden letters in the history of Nepal. They hearalded the struggle for ushering in an era of democracy. The four martyrs in particular and others in general had in their own right raised voices against the dictatorial Rana rulers at a time when the nation lacked citizens with the courage to demand for their civil rights. The citizens of Nepal had been forced to live a life of uncertainties without access to education and other civil liberties, which are so essential to a dignified life.

The country had limited educational institutions and the Rana rulers were against the idea of educating the masses for fear of losing their grip over the reins of power. The 104-year long Rana rule has left bitter memories in the minds of the Nepalese at large who saw limited prospects for individual development. The martyrs were constantly worried over the state of the Nepalese who were barred from exercising their civil liberties for their betterment. Only those who frequented the palaces of the Ranas could make their fortunes. Against this backdrop, the martyrs sowed the seeds of rebellion that culminated into the popular movement of 2007 BS. Had it not been for the ingenuity, courage and determination of the martyrs, Nepal would have probably taken some more years to break the sickles of oppression and despotism. As we join hands to pay tributes to the martyrs, we should resort to instrospection on how much we have achieved in terms of our services to the nation. Unless individual Nepalese give a serious thought to the sacrficies made by the martyrs, we will not be paying sincere tributes to them and their vision of a prosperous Nepal. The inspirations are there but it is up to us to take them in earnest and work accordingly in the nation's service.