National 6 (Spotlight Weekly)

Future Uncertain

Thanks to the dilly dallying by the communist minister Ashok Rai, future of UMN- country's oldest international charity- is uncertain

By KESHAB POUDEL

From offering medical facilities to the rural population of remote parts of the country to providing drinking water and education, United Mission to Nepal (UMN) has made significant contribution to the development of the Himalayan Kingdom over the last five decades. Whether in the care of health patients or providing quality education and building schools, UMN always helped Nepal in its move towards modernization.

The UMN remains an eyewitness to Nepal's all-round development and modernization process as the institution entered Nepal along with the establishment of democracy in 1954. It worked even during the thirty years of Panchayat days. However, its trouble has begun now at a time when there is an open and liberal democratic government in power.

Thanks to the dilly-dallying tactics of the communist minister (Minister for Health) Ashok Rai, the country's pioneer international charity organization's future is uncertain as the ministry is trying to drag charity organization into controversy. Ministry officials have even threatened not to renew its agreement (which allows it to operate in the country).

"We are yet to take decision whether to renew the agreement with the UMN or not. We are studying several complaints filed by different individuals about its role in religious conversion," said Harinath Acharya, spokesperson of the Ministry of Health. "Many individuals have complained us against the role of the UMN."

Over the years UMN has spent billions of rupees in the areas of health, social development, community programs, hydro-power and education. Be it a Gandaki Boarding School in Pokhara or Mahendra Bhawan Girls Higher Secondary School in capital or technical school in Karnali and Butwal, UMN's contribution to upgrade the quality of education and impart the technical school is significant.

"When we first came soon after the change of 1950, Nepal had just opened its border to the outside world. There was enormous need particularly at the rural level," said Jennie Collins, executive director of UMN. "There are many people who are influenced by the UMN. From schools to hospitals, people have gotten various kinds of assistance."

Along with providing support to the education sector, the UMN is also running the hospitals in Patan, Okhaldhunga and Palpa providing basic health facilities to the poor and vulnerable people in the remote parts of the country. From construction of Tinau hydro power to other infrastructures work, the UMN's contribution in Nepal is immense.

Unfortunately, some people with vested interest are trying to discourage the organization on the ground of its religious affinity. In the last five decades, there were no cases of UMN's volunteers involvement in religious conversion. People from all walks of life have praised the contribution of UMN.

Then how come the policymakers have suddenly raised objections over its activities. As many know, this is a mysterious step taken by few people against the broader interest of the country. In the last fifty-years, no minister had made such effort.

Despite constitutionally being declared as a Hindu Kingdom, Nepalese law and constitution guarantees the religious freedom to all its citizens and there is no discrimination against any person on the ground of religion.

If Ministry of Health will not renew the registration of UMN, it will send a wrong signal around the world including in Christian community about Nepal's religious intolerance.

This is not the first incident when communist ministers in Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's government took decision to sabotage the institutions working to promote Nepal's interest.

Because of the intervention by the Supreme Court, Labor Minister Raghuji Panta's effort to block the Nepalese laborers from going to South Korea has been halted temporarily. Department of Value Added Tax under the deputy prime minister Bharat Mohan Adhikary is taking action against Shree Distillery – country's biggest remaining distillery competing with foreign companies. The communist ministers seem to have a common design to work against the national interest as much as possible benefiting none. Whether Adhikary or Panta or Rai, all of them seem to be working against the interest of Nepal.

If minister Rai declines to renew the agreement with the UMN, it will tarnish the image of Nepal sending the message of a religiously intolerant country. Country's Hindu monarchy will also face embarrassment from the bad decision made by a communist minister. After all the communist minister Rai - who has never stopped thumping his chest as a nationalist pointing to his action of voting against the motion of Integrated Mahakali Treaty in 1996 proposed by present prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba – will be exposed.