Letters (Spotlight Weekly)

Good Issue

The issue you raised with the cover story this time is very laudable “Rice Production Under Threat (SPOTLIGHT July 16)”. While Nepal is considered to be an agro-based country, the issues of agriculture are rarely addressed by the mainstream media. By talking about the rice productions and its problems, you have done a good job. All the main media houses should follow the suit and cover issues and problems faced by the farmers.

Sabin Maharjan
Asan

Where Does The Money Go?

Apropos to your cover story “Rice Production Under Threat (SPOTLIGHT July 16)”, I have some doubts about the use of the budget allocated for the agricultural sector. While, the needy people are very less benefited by the government programs, a whopping sum is invested every year for the development of the agricultural sector. It is quite unclear to the general public where does the money allocated for the farmers really go? I know that a lot of money is used for bureaucracy and the so-called research. But the administration as well as the researches is not helping the farmers in general. The farmers’ life has not been made easier by the allocation of the budgets.

Rita Gurung
Pokhara

Spend More On Researches

Nepal has a diverse climate and topography “Rice Production Under Threat (SPOTLIGHT July 16)”. Farmers still use very traditional methods for cultivation. Because of this the productivity is also very low. Also, the increment in the productivity of the crops, which is considered as the main staple food of Nepalese, is increasing at a lower rate than the increasing rate of the population. Such a situation can cause shortage of food. So, there is an urgent need of introducing feasible technologies that all farmers can afford and apply. The technology should also be in compliance with the unique topography of the country. The government should spend more on researches. The researches should be focused on improving quality of seeds and technology that is suitable for our country.

Arjun Shrestha
Damauli

Think In Time

It is a very sad situation that while the country was hit by a dry spell earlier, now too much rain has caused floods and landslides leaving thousands of people homeless and landless “DELAYED SHOWERS: Alarming Signs (SPOTLIGHT July 16)”. Of course no body is to be blamed for uncontrollable natural calamities like this. But obviously with little planning and caution ahead of the problem, the harm due to such calamities can be reduced a lot. The government has the first responsibility in planning and making the people aware. The people should also be equally responsible. They should think well before constructing their dwellings near the bank of the river and landslide prone areas. The local government should make provisions to reestablish the people who are residing in such high-risk areas.

Bishnu Satyal
Janakpur

Government’s Irresponsibility

It is very ironic that a machine at the oldest and probably the largest hospital of the nation cannot be replaced for more than two months “CT SCAN MACHINE AT BIR HOSPITAL: Sheer Negligence (SPOTLIGHT July 16)”. Why is the government so irresponsible in such serious issues as public health, it is simply shocking to people like us.

Bharat Khadka
Nepaltar

Eating Their Words

The political leaders do change their voices time to time “POLITICS: Course Of Contradictions (SPOTLIGHT July 16).” In the past we have seen cases where leaders and the party have virtually taken U-turns in their sayings. However, at the present situation as you have written in your article that the leaders have taken a course of contradictions, I do not agree with the same. Politics is not stable. On the contrary it is very fast changing. Thus, as the situations change their policies and voices ought to change. I do not see much contradiction in the sayings of leaders Girija Prasad Koirala or any other leader.

Kumar Thapa
Teku

Laudable Move

The British Photo-Journalist Matt Daw has done a commendable job by showing the situation of Nepalese education to the British nationals and Nepalese residing in Britain “PHOTO EXHIBITION: Education In Nepal (SPOTLIGHT July 16). The difficult education system of Nepal is probably unimaginable to the people of developed countries. I would like to thank Daw for opening up their eyes towards the real situation of children in developing countries like Nepal.

Sewa Rijal
Via Email