Book Review (Spotlight Weekly)

Dimensions Of Assistance

The book presents diverse picture of governance and human rights in international cooperation

By A CORRESPONDENT

At a time when debates are going on various matters of foreign aid, different international organizations have been making efforts to show how really the foreign assistance has supported in the area of poverty alleviation.

Published by the Reality of Aid Project, the book highlights global trends of foreign aid, roles of donors and utilization of foreign aid in various countries around the world. Written by authors from NGOs worldwide, the book draws on knowledge and expertise from aid agencies, academia, community-based organizations and governments.

"Reports from NGOs in this Reality of Aid present a very diverse picture of governance and human rights in international cooperation. At one end of the scale we see donors and developing country governments focusing on the very practical questions of how aid can be better managed and coordinated. At the other end, we see how selective interpretation of good governance may be used, consciously or unconsciously, to reinforce long standing patterns of economic and political domination, and the new hegemony of wealth and power concentrated in the hands of a very privileged elite in uni-polar world," writes Antonio Tujan Jr, IBON Chair, Reality of Aid, in his introduction.

Established in 1993, the Reality of Aid Project has published a series of reports and reality checks on aid and development cooperation. The book analyzes the international trends and state of foreign aid. Even though the book tries to highlight all aspects with impartial point of views, they seem to be one sided in many circumstances.

Thanks to the one-sided perception of international non-governmental organizations, who want to portray themselves as a pro-poor, poor people have to suffer. Over activism in the name of environmental conservation by INGOs and imposition of criteria by the multi-lateral donors have led to the situation where many projects directed to poor were cancelled or withdrawn. Unfortunately, politics is being played in the name of the poor.

Whether in the national level or international level, there prevails cynicism rather than reality. The time has come to stop the aid politics. Based on extensive research, some of the articles are very interesting and eye opening as well.

At a time when the gap between the rich and poor is expanding and people in many countries lack basic human facilities, particularly in Africa, there requires a sustainable development program that will benefit the people.

In the book, Gopal Siwakoti Chintan - an NGO activist of Nepal - also explains his perspective regarding the foreign aid and human rights situation. "International development aid should primarily be for the recipient countries and their people, not the local elites and international business," writes Chintan.

The report, among others, provides a critical analysis of how governments address the issues of poverty and whether aid and development cooperation policies are put into practice.

"Less than five years after they were endorsed by the world leaders, the Millennium Development Goals are off the track. The goal of halving the proportion of people living in absolute poverty, who still number 1.3 billion people today, is being put at risk, by donor countries who again are failing to live up to their commitments on aid and policies needed to achieve a more equitable world order" writes Tujan Jr.

The Reality of Aid 2004
An Independent Review of Poverty Reduction and
Development Assistance
Edited by: Judith Randel, Tony German and Deborah Ewing
Published by: IBON Books Manipla
Pages: 319
Price: Undisclosed

Remembering Late Panta

The book highlights life of renowned educationist late Shaker Dev Panta

By A CORRESPONDENT

In the history of Nepalese education, Panta has made enormous and significant contributions. Late Panta, founder of Shankar Dev Campus, opened institution of higher education when there were no such institutions at the private sector.

After the political change of 1951, Panta decided to dedicate the rest of his life to the cause of higher education for the people of Nepal. He established Nepal National College and begun night classes there.

"Panta earnestly believed that in the changed atmosphere of the post 1951 era, education would prove to be the best cure for all the ills of the nation," writes late Rishikesh Shaha in his tribute to Panta. "Shri Shankar Dev Pant was content to be a simple teacher all his life. The future of his students and his college was his only concern. He did not care for official or public recognition and honors of any kind. He was a man of puritanical habits and believed in an austere life."

"Principal Shankar Dev Panta, who was born in 1909 in Kathmandu, was the first man to run M.A. classes in Nepal. His contribution in the field of education in Nepal is second to none," writes senior journalist Dhruba Hari Adhikary.