Now it's donor's turn to act!

How things change for the better even if a small community aims at doing things that is directly concerned with the upliftment of their lives has come to the fore just the other day. The news that a small community in far flung remote mountaineous area of this beleagured Kingdom have succeeded in generating electricity on their own for the exclusive use of their community should perhaps open the eyes of those leaders or for that matter the politicians who day in day out lecture that unless money is pumped, there would be no development. The success story of the people in Okhaldhunga district in the eastern region has summarily come as a slap in their face who claim to represent the people of that particular area. The news in itself is loaded with meaning for this success story hints primarily at the fact that not every time money plays a decisive role and that if the population of any less developed area wish to develop their lot, they can do so easily provided there is a concerted and united effort.

The people of Okhaldhunga must be congratulated for their resounding success that they have bagged through the kind courtesy of their own efforts which resulted in harnessing the waters going waste and thus became able to generate 1 Kilo Watt of the electricity which definitely would brighten their yet dark evenings. The story does not end here. According to the enthusiasts who remained instrumental in the generation of the electric-power for their personal use also plan to add some more Kilo Watts of energy come what may. Their dedication , motivation and the firm determination that they have already exhibited in this regard to go in for increasing the capacity of the Wattage amply suggests that not every time the people should remain hostage to the government support that is more often than not negligible or summarily rejected on grounds known to us all. This story must also come as a blow to the government and the men manning the system now in place that when the state remained averse to the pressing problems of the population, the latter could do things which must be ranked in the miracle category. The present case is one, which must be put under this category. This story also exposes the congress parliamentarian, unfortunately a senior colleague of ours, who use to tell his voters that investment of a huge amount of money could only change the face of that district, thus the poor parliamentarian has been taught a befitting lesson by his own voters through the completion of this act.

It is time that donors, INGOs and the likes who wish to bring about a change in the life-style of the rural, more so of the poor and the rejected ones, should come forward and help support such enthusiasts who have shown a way for the others to emulate. If the donors really wish to see a Nepal developed even in the inaccessible mountains, they should boost the morale of such individuals and the communities who have embarked upon ventures remaining till the otherday the prerogatives of the state or for that matter the support of the government. In essence, the powerful donors should go straight to those areas and mingle with the people and get their ideas and plans of the development that they wish to do themselves. For, by this time the donors must have understood better the government and her corrupt leaders currently manning the system, plus the NGOs who individually or even combined, practically siphon most of the chunk of the donations donated by them that ultimately hits hard the projects for which the money were allocated in effect. The donors must also take into account that it is the money which their own taxpayers have paid which finally comes to the poor countries of the less developed world, including Nepal for example, with a view to improve the lot of the poor segment of the society.

The persons involved in the generation of the electric power in Okhaldhunga need some financial support to add more KiloWatts to what they possess now. The sum, we are told, is meagre and the donors have the desire to support such fresh initiatives that exclude governments' financial support. It is high time that the responsible donors talk to the community men here and there who honestly mean doing some thing for themselves. A partnership in their local development will also enhance the credibility of the community such as the one we mentioned above and will also send positive signals to those communities in Nepal who till now remained dormant or were expecting government doles and grants.

This is a testing period for the powerful donors indeed.

Kudos to the community in Okhaldhunga. Proceed fast and the development will soon follow.

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