Letters (Spotlight Weekly)

Positive Point Of View

This is in response to the cover story “Focus on the Poor” (SPOTLIGHT May 7). I would like to thank you very much for speaking from the side of the people. While the agitating five parties who claim themselves to be the representatives of the people- and were (although not now)- are vehemently expressing their disagreement to the holding of the Nepal Development Forum, it is a good point of view that you have expressed. In fact, the help the donor agencies provide is for the people not for the political parties. The parties ought to understand that the NDF (with a different name though) was being held regularly before the multiparty democracy as well. I also appreciate the fact you have raised that all donors agree on one thing and that is the poverty alleviation. While most media focused on the differences of their agenda, it was good of you to point out where they were uniform in their opinion.

Rabin Thapa
New Baneshwore

Agenda Of Development

Apropos your cover story “Focus On The Poor” (SPOTLIGHT May 7), it was disheartening to know how our political parties boycotted the meeting, which was being held to discuss how to help poor Nepalese. Quite clearly, the political parties exposed their double standard by keeping off the meet at the eleventh hour. If they were so keen to boycott eh NDF, why did they participate in its pre-consultation meetings held a few weeks earlier. Had they boycotted the pre-consultation meetings, the government as well as the donors might have been compelled to give second thoughts about the right time to hold it. Unfortunately, they made a terrible mistake by backing out in the last minute. They were also exposed before the international community by their childish behavior.

Sugam Bista
Jhamsikhel

Practical Education Required

This is in response to the article “For the Children by the Children”(SPOTLIGHT April 30). The campaign of “Education for All (EFA)” in itself sounds wonderful. But, at the current situation when unemployment rate of educated people is tremendously high, there is no use of giving only the bookish education to the children. While formal school education is a must for all round development of kids, the emphasis should be on teaching them the arts of survival through skill-oriented trainings to make them self-dependant.

Dhan Kumar Limbu
Dharan

Challenges Ahead

With the entry of Nepal into the World Trade Organization (WTO) Nepalese businessmen are all set to face new challenges “Nervous Embrace” (SPOTLIGHT April 30). As far as I know, Nepal had been enjoying reservations in some of its major export items like garments and carpets as a developing country. Now, as a full-fledged member of the WTO, it can enjoy all privileges provided by the trade regime. So, the Nepalese now have to work real hard to compete in the global market. Although it has entered the organization as a poorest member country, lets hope that with a concerted effort from all quarters, Nepal emerges as a strong economy in a few years.

Nabin Shrestha
New Road

May Day Movement

The "Chicago Movement", which started for the adequate and better-treatment condition for the laborers, is observed around the globe as the labor day or the May day every year. Only the development countries’ laborers in the west have benefited from this genuine movement. Whereas due to the inappropriate government policies, laborers of countries like Nepal have never enjoyed similar benefits like that of other developed countries. Whether it is in the "Gurkha recruitment" in the foreign armies since 1815 or the Nepali laborers working overseas, they have always experienced many difficulties.

Yam Gurung
Lalitpur

In And Out Of Power

It is very disappointing to know that the situation of the press freedom is worst in Nepal “Walking A Tightrope”(SPOTLIGHT May 7). It is very ironic that every leader tends to support the calls for press freedom whenever they are outside the government and misuse the state-owned media when they reach to power. Likewise, the view of looking at the role of press is also totally opposite when they are in power and when they are in the opposition. It is but true that majority of the Nepalese people depend on state owned media for information. So there is a need of making the state owned media free from any pressures.

Sabina Gurung
Pokhara