EDITOR'S NOTE
The long delayed Nepal Development Forum is
being held in a few days in the capital city of the recipient country for the first time.
Despite liberal grants and loans by friendly donors and other multi lateral agencies, the
twenty three million poor people of Nepal are still a long way behind a reasonably decent
human existence. The politicians who have wielded powers in the last twelve years have
sucked the country dry. The Indian plane hijack more than two years back had severely hit
Nepal's tourism industry which has been totally paralyzed by a few sequences of
international and domestic traumas and the coup de grace was dealt by the civil war
started by the Maoists some few months back. Consequently the economy of the country is on
the brink of bankruptcy. In such an austere scenario the Nepal Development Forum is going
to meet. Since Nepal has been diverting the developmental budget to the internal security
all developmental projects are almost at a stand still. As reported the government is
planning to ask for a much enlarged amount that could meet the requirements of the
exigencies a large budget for the security forces, new development projects for Maoists
infested areas and less developed region of the country as well as the regular
developmental projects. It could not be ascertained what would be the actual demand of the
government but that it is going to be fairly high no one would deny. it can be assumed
that the Forum would view the demands of the government with sympathy and understanding.
Since the performance of the government has been much below par and the ruling politicians
of the country are stinking with corruption, how far the Forum would go to oblige the
government is anybody's guess. Even though most of the donors have been quite critical of
the government they have, so far, not taken any punitive action. But then it is high time
the Forum put its foot down and impressed upon the government the utter necessity of a
cleaner and more effective performance. In such a calamitous situation the government must
have exercised extreme restraint and practised all possible austerity to put every red
penny to productive use. Instead by inducting an unnecessary jumbo government and
appointing numberless advisers with ministerial status, they have not only squandered the
meager and invaluable resources of the poor country, but clearly exemplified their
obsession to stay in power to enrich themselves by illgotten wealth. It is needless to
state that the Forum will not fail to take note of all these facts while taking final
decisions. They must also introduce a new measure by which every donor will have to review
the performance of the government every three months and if the performance is
unsatisfactory without valid reasons suspend the aid. They just cannot go on pampering the
corrupt and nonperforming politicians at the cost of poor millions who do not get even two
square meals a day. They must understand that democracy is not the end. It is only the
means to a better and fuller life in countries where honest and dedicated politicians are
hard to find the policy of Trial and Error has to be adopted. And on this point the Forum
can play a very positive role. There are some donors who advise patience. But they have
never experienced hunger or starvation on the contrary. They have been trying to shed off
extra pounds of flesh from their fat bodies. But those who are being advised to have
patience are people who have continuously failed to put on few pounds of flesh on their
emaciated bodies. Where you can count how many ribs they have. Moreover, one cannot over
look the fact that "abject poverty" is the mother of all terrorism. As such, the
Forum should not only limit its activities to granting aid but impress upon the host
government to use purposefully. Meeting for the first time in the host country. Let us
hope, it also makes a new beginning to sincerely help the poor and the needy.
* *
*
The sad passing away of Babu Gajendra
Narain Singh, President of the Sadbhavana Party, has left a void in the politics of the
country that will be difficult to fill. Gajju Babu, as he was fondly addressed by his
friends and admirers, was a perfect gentleman and simple politician ardently dedicated to
his cause. His contribution to uplift the Madhesis — the people living in the Terai
— is unparalleled. In his untimely demise, SPOTLIGHT has lost a true patron and
friend and we all in the SPOTLIGHT family have taken it as a personal loss. While praying
for eternal peace for the departed soul, we wish to extend our heart felt condolences to
his bereaved wife and all our good friends in the Sadbhavana Party.
| Chief-Editor & Publisher |
: Madhav Kumar Rimal |
| Editor |
: Sarita Rimal |
| Managing Editor |
: Keshab Poudel |
| Associate Editor |
: Bhagirath Yogi |
| Senior Reporter |
: Sanjaya Dhakal |
| Reporter |
: Akshay Sharma |
| Photographer |
: Nishchal Chapagain |
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