Software export of $ 1 B could be pipe dream if computer graduates lie useless

By Neeraj Vajracharya

When the demand of the IT professionals is soaring high around the world, many of these professional lot in Nepal are still jobless. This is a sad story and if Nepal makes any delay in creating employment opportunities for them, the country may be left very far behind in the present technology driven world.

As the country observed the sixth year of CAN Info-Tech, a yearly IT exposition organized by the Computer Association of Nepal (CAN), it is ironic that the number of jobless computer literate people in the country has risen in a manifold manner.

“If we are unable to absorb those computer graduates,” said Bijaya Krishna Shrestha, President of CAN, “the problem may become very serious.” In that case, the projection of Nepalese IT industry making software exports worth more than US $ 1 billion in the next ten years may not transform into reality. This optimistic report was submitted to the World Bank by Telecon, a Finnish consulting firm, in October 1998.

With the rapid development of the IT sector, careers in IT have become very attractive to many students around the world. The same trend also continued in Nepal. In the past few years, thousands of Nepalese students have gone to India and third countries to study Computer Science and Software Engineering courses.

Though their is no exact mechanism to measure the number of Nepalese IT professionals, it is expected to be in thousands. “Beside them, about thirty thousand Nepalese students are in the pipeline to join them,” Shrestha further informed.

Presently, Nepal has a surplus of computer graduates. Many of them who are employed are also not satisfied with the very little opportunities they are getting. Large numbers of software and hardware engineers are being treated as low-level technicians by their employers.

“This economically impossible scene will continue to prevail in Nepal until the IT sector gains the necessary momentum,” the CAN President pointed out. In order to place Nepal in the world IT map, CAN is presently working with the government in multiple platform to solve these issues. It has given priorities to the establishment of an IT Park, development of infrastructure, development of telecommunication services and Cyber Law.

Recently, CAN has also joined hands with the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) to develop the IT sector and marketing links with other countries. “Our concept is to piggyback on Indian companies to develop the Nepalese IT sector, as we did to boost the ready-made garment industries in Nepal a few years back,” Shrestha said.

CAN to organise international IT expo

Meanwhile, after this sixth consecutive year of CAN Info-Tech, CAN in association with the FNCCI has also announced that it will organize Summit 2000, an international IT exhibition and conference, to be held in Kathmandu from May 5-9, 2000. The organizers have expected this event to be the gateway to IT revolution in Nepal.

This first ever international programme is the follow up of the EMMIT 2000 held in Pune, India in 1998, and the exhibition is expected to be participated in by representatives from more than 56 countries. 

Finally, Poudel made DPM

By A Staff Reporter

Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai made some changes in his cabinet yesterday (Tuesday). Former speaker Ramchandra Poudel has been made Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Information and Communication. Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has been given the additional portfolio of Finance Ministry. The resignation of Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya was also accepted yesterday.

The government also decided to appoint Dr. Tilak Rawal as the governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, the central bank of the country.

The present changes have come more as an effort to wriggle free from the crisis generated after the resignation of Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya than to make any credible change in the government.

Minister Acharya had resigned from the government on Friday citing the reason of difference with the Prime Minister over the appointment of the governor. Acharya had wanted Finance Secretary Ram Binod Bhattarai as the new governor, and the promotion of Bimal Koirala, special secretary at the Finance Ministry, as  Finance Secretary but PM Bhattarai and some other ministers wanted Dr. Tilak Rawal, the chairman of the Rastriya Banijya Bank to be appointed as governor.

The issue of who should be the next governor had snowballed into a major crisis for Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, when Acharya refused to come back to the government.

It was the height of indecisiveness of the government when it failed to find a replacement for the outgoing governor Satyendra Pyara Shrestha in time. More than inefficiency it can be called as gross negligence on the part of the government.

Dr. Mahat being given the additional portfolio of the Finance Ministry is seen as Prime Miniter Bhattarai failing to find a suitable replacement for former Finance Minister Acharya at such a short notice.

But Prime Minister Bhattarai will have to find a Finance Minister soon. Yet finding a new finance minister with enough credibility in the financial sector and also among the donors could be a difficult job.

Despite what Prime Minister Bhattarai has done now, which is to solely to patch up the present crisis, a bigger crisis looms ahead for the government. No matter how many days Bhattarai may have as prime minister, the government is certain to be in wilderness with more nagging from the party. The Bhattarai government has truely become a lame duck government now.

Govt confirms concept of two IGPs

By A Staff Reporter

A cabinet level decision has confirmed that the government is serious about forming two divisions within the Nepal Police. In its meeting on Monday, the cabinet decided to form a high level task force under the convenorship of former Home Secretary Khem Raj Regmi to take suggestions from experts regarding the formation of an armed division within the police force.

The Independent had reported last week that two IGPs would be appointed by the present government. When an armed division is created, this would be a necessity.

In spite of the government’s present decision to form the present seven member task force, which also includes former IGP Moti Lal Bohara, AIGP Pradeep Shumsher Rana, former additional secretary Ramananda Baidhya, representatives from the Attorny General’s Office, representative from the Defence Ministry and  Dr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire as member secretary, observers predict that a commitment has already been made to have a separate wing of police to combat the increasing terrorist activities.

However, some police officials are sceptical on how the armed wing of the Police Force will function. “Unless some very attratractive incentive are given, no one will be willing to join the armed section of the Force”, an Inspector said on the condition of annonymity.

He explained that police in softer areas have a good opportunity to expand public relations and at the same time earn money, many time illegally. “But on the other side, the armed police will be only facing danger in remote areas, so many people may not be interested in this new wing of the police,” he opined.

Observers have pointed out that even now, the police operation in the Maoist hit areas have been largely unsuccessful just because the top brass have made it as if it was a punishment for the officers and other ranks to be sent there. “How can any one work well when he or she feels they are being punished?”, they quite rightly ask.

The government however, may be feeling that it will have more space to maneuver, with posts for two IGPs open. In the past, there was cut throat competition, when two eligible officers were there for the one post of IGP. But the same situation is there now with four AIGPs being there to succeed one or now two IGPs.

Multi-Platoon Training Event ends

By A Staff Reporter

The successful completion of the Multi Platoon Training Event has given an impetus to Nepal’s proposal to establish a United Nations Regional Peacekeeping Training Centre in Nepal, the first of its kind in South Asia.

The 10-day long Multi Platoon Training Event organised by the Royal Nepal Army ended at the Royal Nepal Army’s Training Centre at Panchkhal on Sunday amidst a grand ceremony.

One platoon each from Nepal, the US Pacific Command, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh had taken part in the training, which included coordinating different aspects of the peacekeeping operations. Observers from 18 different countries had also participated in the training.

The concluding ceremony was participated by Dr. Henning Karcher, resident coordinator of the UN system in Nepal, Lieutenant General Edwin  Smith of the US Pacific Command, Lt. General Muhammad Mustafizar Rahman of Bangladesh army and Major General L.P. Balagalle of the Sri Lankan army.

At the concluding ceremony, the Chief of the Army Staff of the Royal Nepalese Army General Prajjwola Shumsher Rana sought endorsement of the proposal, and he got it from the UN   resident coordinator in Nepal.

Speaking at the concluding ceremony Dr. Karcher said, “What could be a better place to look to (for the establishment of a peace keeping centre) than Nepal, where Lord Buddha, the apostle of peace, was born and where peacekeeping has been an honoured tradition.

Indeed, Nepal has been one of the most enthusiastic participant in the peacekeeping operations under the United Nations. More than 35,000 Nepalese soldiers have so far rendered their services to  peacekeeping operations worldwide.

At the concluding function Rana also distributed certificates and awards to the commanders of the participating nations, and plaques and moments to the observers. RNA’s Assistant Chief of Staff Pyarjung Thapa had delivered the welcome address. 

British Gurkhas-pensions briefing

By A Staff Reporter

Colonel Mark Dowdle, commander British Gurkhas Nepal, held a most informative briefing session, for regimental and other British Gurkha Association chairmen and representatives recently. He said it was vitally important to communicate the quite outstanding results of John Spellar’s (the British Minister Armed Forces) detailed examination into British Gurkhas pensions and gratuities announced last year. He thanked the associations for their valuable contributions to the examination, which had been sent direct to London by His excellency the British Ambassador Ronald Nash. Colonel Dowdle emphasised, however, that the minister had received advice from many other sources. And the resultant decision on the award was that solely of the British Minister Armed Forces. He confirmed the British Government’s policy is that this award is non-negotiable. Colonel Dowdle commented that His Majesty’s Government of Nepal had welcomed the award.

Colonel Dowdle said that the new death in service gratuity, which equated precisely to British soldier counterparts, was excellent with the upper payment exceeding £50,000. This came into effect from 26 May 99 and the explained that a liberalised family pension would be available to the widows of those either killed in action or whilst training in preparation for an operational deployment from that date. Continuing on the theme of widows, he stated that widows’ pensions no longer had a flat rate, but had been adjusted to ensure that widows received a large proportion of their husbands’ pensions. He said that widows pensions had been revised to reflect all 5 IPC changes, backdated to 1 Jan 96, which meant that widows would benefit considerably from arrears payments. Finally, he informed the chairmen and representatives that should a pensioner, who had commuted his pension, expire, the pensioner’s widow would receive a large proportion of her husbands’ pension and not have to repay the commuted sum. This was warmly welcomed by the association chairmen and representatives.

Colonel Dowdle explained that all service pensions were now paid at one rate and this benefited, particularly, the older pensioners who had retired before 1969. He noted that the cash uplift, within the excellent pensions award, had recognised and therefore included benefits received by Nepalese serving in the Indian Army. Major Deepak Gurung asked whether those soldiers who had been sent on redundancy without the benefit of a pension would, in future, be able to receive a service pension. Colonel Dowdle emphatically said that they would not. He explained that gratuities had been given to the young men who had left the British Army early. But he added that should any ex-serviceman be experiencing true hardship or distress, they should approach the Gurkha Welfare Scheme’s Area Welfare Officers in any of the 24 Area Welfare Centres in Nepal for assistance.

Our lost women and girls

By Sushma Amatya

Tulasa   was saved after her traumatic experiences in Mumbai brothels. Her father was courageous enough and loved his daughter enough to pursue the case. Thousands of girls from Nepal are kidnapped or lured to the dens of the racketeers every year. Once the innocent victims are ensnared by flesh traders, very few escape the agony of dying a gradual death of their spirits. Life in the hapless victims die long before their bodies give up on them.

They are soon lost in the sea of nameless, faceless sea of human bodies. Poor parents without any means to track them down are no means of hope for the girls, who can only pray for a miracle before it is too late. Miracles like in the case of Tulasa occur every now and then. For others it is an interminable journey filled with horror, shame and sorrow.

How long are we going to be mute witnesses to this unending, despicable drama? How long will it be before we stop blaming each other and act to get rid of the loopholes that glare at us in face? We  must act before we earn the dubious distinction of being a good source of flesh market, however unintentionally. Not raising our voices loud enough, not taking concrete actions to put a stop to this growing market is in a way encouraging the trade and fanning the fire.

Parents must be educated to treat their daughters and sons equally.  Education of the adults and the children coupled with awareness of what takes place in and around their villages, towns and country can help save other Tulasas of our country. Not to mention the dire need of strict laws that need to be implemented honestly, effectively.

Other women suffer without crossing their country borders. They suffer at the hands of the superstition of their own neighbours and village-folk. Recently two women in Kalainche, Maling VDC-1 were accused of being witches by a witch doctor. The Jhankri declared them and the inhabitants of other five houses as the source of all problems in the village including a severe drought. Ironically, a woman who holds the position of a chairperson of a group of activists supported the witch doctor instead of helping the two women.

Where ignorance prevails, superstition thrives. It is easy to put the blame on evil spirits for problems all around; little realising the evil spirit in each and every one of those who came up with the idea of allowing a Jhankri to do his act.  The accused women are ostracised from the society and some are put through untold humiliation and torture. There have been cases where the victims are forced to eat faeces and cases of extreme torture leaving the victims dead. Some women tolerate it all and survive, some simply leave the village, alone.

If at all there are witches today, they exist in form of poverty, ignorance and the lack of will and commitment among those who can bring about positive changes. The victimisation of women in our society in all forms must stop now. We cannot build a healthy society on a shaky foundation as it exists today.