LETTERS (Spotlight Weekly)

Rope Them In

Following the high failure rate in this year’s SLC examination, it is imperative that failed students be given an alternative route to carry on with their academic or vocational pursuits ("Test Of Failure", SPOTLIGHT, August 31). Otherwise, elements such as the Maoists are waiting in the wings to recruit such emotionally frustrated people. The failed students must be given another chance. The government should rope them in the vocational training. Institutions like CTEVT should be provided funds to train them.

Rupesh Adhikary
Dillibazar

Waste Of Resources

The astounding rate of failure has exposed how the huge resources of the government is being wasted ("Test Of Failure", SPOTLIGHT, August 31). At a time when the state is unable to provide employment opportunities even to educated youths, what will happen to these failed students is anybody’s guess. In this light, the high rate of failure is a very serious problem that has ramifications that will not only hit at the education system but the overall socio-political situation of the country.

Sudesh Rai
Kumaripati

Counterproductive Move

The land reforms announced by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is nothing but a sugar-coated bitter pill ("Where Is The Land To Distribute?" SPOTLIGHT, August 24). At first glance, the decision appears to be in favor of the poor, but it turns out to be quite the opposite if one probes deeper. The government will definitely have to buy back the additional land from the landlords after implementing the land ceiling. It is neither proper nor possible for the state to confiscate such lands without giving owners due compensation. The state will need billions of rupees to buy back the land. Where will this money come from? Even if the government manages to raise the money, isn’t it more logical to use it to build infrastructure and industries, which will ultimately benefit the poor people by giving them employment opportunities?

Suresh Khatri
Thapathali

Land Locked

The Deuba government has succeeded in diverting the attention from the much-hyped government-Maoist talks by raising the issue of land reform ("Where Is The Land To Distribute?" SPOTLIGHT, August 24). It is premature to conjecture how the government will handle the land reform issue but it is clear that it will be a hard nut to crack. Already the Terai-based Nepal Sadbhavana Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party are fiercely opposing the plan. While it should have been concentrating on the talks with the Maoists, the government has unnecessarily brought up the issue of land reforms. Now it is locked in a political battle to implement it.

Krishna Dahal
Sanepa

Population Jitters

The rate at which the population is increasing in the country is alarming. In the last decade alone, Nepal’s population has increased by five million ("More But Not Merrier", SPOTLIGHT, August 17). This unbridled growth will have an adverse effect on a poor country like ours. The authorities must find ways to check this trend and keep the country’s population at manageable levels. More effective plans must be announced to promote small families and birth control.

Baburam KC
Gaushala

Disturbing Problem

The fact that 16 percent of Nepal’s population below the age of 45 suffer from heart ailments demands greater attention of the authorities towards this disturbing problem ("Disheartening News" SPOTLIGHT, August 17). It would be fatal if the authorities dismiss the news. Better curative facilities are always welcome, but more important are preventive ones. The government and medical professionals must devise better ways of preventing heart diseases in the young and old alike.

Om Thapa
Manbhawan

Uninsured Lot

Apropos the article "Confined Coverage" (SPOTLIGHT, August 24) it is clear that the Nepalese people are largely unaware about the benefits of insurance. The fact that Nepal ranks lowest in terms of life insurance coverage in this region clearly implies that the concerned authorities have not been able to convince the people about the need to do so. Banking and insurance sectors are considered the engine of economic growth of any country. Due attention must be given to highlight this sector here.

Sri Ram Basnet
Lainchour