LETTERS (Spotlight Weekly)

Wave Of InfoTech

Your cover story on the state of information technology in Nepal was quite a relevant one (Race Against Time Spotlight January 28). Indeed, time is running out if our country is to tap the potentials thrown up by this new digital revolution. Planners and policy makers seem to be taken off-guard by the sweeping cyber wave. What is required at this stage is a carefully drafted policy on InfoTech to guide the country through the digital millennium.

Sagar Shrestha
Patan

Is There Real Potential?

Although your cover article on the information technology in Nepal suggests a tremendous potential, there may be some basic misconceptions (Race Against Time Spotlight January 28). At a time when the story itself mentions only 15 percent of Nepalese population being connected to electricity and only five out of 1000 people connected to telephone, how suitable will it be for us to concentrate on IT?

Dibya Krishna Joshi
Chabahil

Possibilities And Challenges

The tremendous growth of Information Technology around the world has opened up new possibilities and challenges before the humanity (Race Against Time Spotlight January 28). But the possibilities presented by the information technology can only be utilized by a section of population who are already enjoying good quality of life. What about the rest of the humanity that is barely surviving? Does this new technology have answers to cater to these poverty-stricken people?

Sandesh Acharya
Thapathali

Check Harmful Sites

There is a plethora of pornographic sites in the internet and anybody can get access to them regardless of their age (Race Against Time Spotlight January 28). As such, the web can be a very dangerous tool if it falls into the hands of children. It is, therefore, required that the government together with the help of local ISPs ban access to such sites.

Ramesh Sharma
Balkumari

About Nepal

Your cover story "Race Against Time" (Spotlight January 28), although, a very relevant subject, did not dealt with the informations on the web about Nepal. New web sites giving various informations -- social, cultural, economic and so on -- on Nepal are available these days. These sites can prove to be a very effective source of information to international audience. Your story should have included some of these sites too.

Bikas Poudel
Satdobato

No More Vikrams, Please

Apropos to the story "Cleaner Air At What Cost?" that appeared in Spotlight, January 21, it seems that underhand dealings are underway to replace the recently-ousted Vikram tempos with similar diesel-operated vehicles that are bound to pollute the atmosphere. All of us, including the media, NGOs and political parties should be on red alert to prevent the government from taking any such decision.

Gauri Nath Lamsal
Balaju

Following Pasang's Step

The decision by four Sherpa women to climb the world's highest peak has shown that Nepalese women are not far behind their male counterparts (Aiming High Spotlight January 21). Late Pasang Lhamu Sherpa had achieved that feat few years ago. Though she lost her life on her way back, Pasang has earned wide national reputation. Her footsteps are now being followed by four courageous Sherpa women. Hats off to them.

Meena Karki
Baneshwor