Nepal committed to work for development of Mother Tongues in the SAARC Region

-Amod Prasad Upadhyaya, Minister of Education, Nepal

The initiatives taken by Bangladesh have proved instrumental in giving shape to the mother tongue movement both at the regional and international levels. The Mother Tongue Movement of Bangladesh has been a source of inspiration for all of us. The sacrifices made in Bangladesh for the mother tongue have been remarkable in the history of linguistic and cultural emancipation. The historic resolution of UNESCO to adopt the Bangladesh proposal on the International Mother Language Day has paved the way for protection, promotion and development of the languages across the globe.

The 21 st of February carries symbolic significance to celebrate the global phenomena of multi-lingualism and linguistic diversity. Linguistic pluralism is the reality of our age. The world languages are the pedigrees of the whole human race. Human existence is unthinkable without developing our languages. Languages are important not only because they facilitate human communication, but also more importantly, they shape our thinking. Hence, languages are the source of knowledge and wisdom. They have contributed to creating global civilizations and to conserving the human heritage. The linguistic heritage of Bangla has been inspiring to the creaters and critics of Nepal. Equally, Bangla has contributed to the enlightenment of the people in general in this country. The literary creations of Rabindra Nath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam, in particular, has been a source of great knowledge and inspiration to the people across the globe.

His Majesty's Government recognizes that the languages of the nation are the resources of the country. The government has accorded high priority to implement mother-tongue teaching in educational institutions. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal has made provisions for children's education through their mother tongues. The government has remained committed to providing basic and primary education through children mother tongues. Curriculum materials have been prepared in local languages to ensure children's education in their mother tongues. It aims to enable students to acquire subject knowledge and develop high-order thinking in an environment with the least barrier.

It has been acknowledged in the education sector that mother-tongue teaching helps enhance students' cognitive and learning ability. We recognize that the provisions for mother-tongue teaching facilitate more lively discussions in the classrooms, expedite the progress of teaching, and promote more in-depth learning. The government is fully aware of the benefits of the mother-tongue teaching to learning. We are fully committed to the policy of using mother tongues in primary schools. The government has taken the National Languages Policy Commission, 1993, and the Education Commissions' Reports as bases for the use of mother tongues in our schools.

The role of local communities is fundamental to promote and develop indigenous languages in the country. The partnerships between the government and the local communities are extremely important for the attainment of EFA (Education for all perhaps-chief editor) goals in the line with the Dakar framework. We strongly believe that the use of local languages in inevitable to ensure children's equitable access to quality education across the country. We believe that the local languages are effective tools to empower the indigenous peoples and ethnic minorities. Mother tongues are instrumental in building awareness and making our poverty reduction programs effective. I am convinced that education through mother tongues is more meaningful to children and adults alike. Thus, local languages are crucial for the human resource development, capacity building and for the sustenance of our development efforts.

Recent studies have also shown that linguistic diversity and bio-diversity are interrelated. In order to maintain the bio-diversity, it is crucial to protect our languages. For this there is need for language planning to save endangered languages. This also can't be done without people's support. The private sector and civil society organizations can make significant contributions to government in planning, developing and acquiring languages which are the pedigrees of the nation.

On this occasion I would like to share with you that HMG/N is committed to working together for the development of Mother Tongues in the SAARC Region. I highly appreciate the initiatives of Charge de' Affaires of Bangladesh and the Embassy for organizing this important meeting and for taking initiatives towards recognizing the Mother Tongues as fundamental human assets and resources for human potential development.

I believe such discussions will open ways for further interactions among professionals, policy makers and planners at wider levels.

Minister Upadhyaya made these remarks at a program organized by Embassy of B'desh in Kathmandu on 21 February, 2002-chief editor.

Some Export Potential Projects in Nepal

- Dr. Suman Kumar Regmi

In order to lessen trade deficit and promote exports, some potential export products have been identified. They are: medicinal and aromatic plants and products, vegetables, mushroom, vegetable seeds, fruit preservative products and canned products, ginger, tea, saffron, sericulture, readymade garments, leather products, mineral products, carpet washing, flower and orchid, woolen goods and Pashmina, agro-based products like garlic-soya and others, horticultural products like flowers-seeds- mushrooms and others, textiles-apparels like bed-linen- knit-garments-undergarments and others, cane furniture, essential oils, tiles, stones, studded jewelry, terry-towels, grey cloth, industrial gloves, weather shoes, production of malt, assembly of electronic parts, parquet flooring, processing mica and others.

Commercial cultivation of plants have been started for domestic and export market. Mushrooms production could be undertaken on a commercial scale for export. Production of vegetable seeds is being carried out successfully and some of the varieties have been already been exported. Production and export of flowering seeds can also be undertaken. Some of the products like squash, fruit juice, jam, jellies, marmalades can be exported. About a quarter of ginger production is exported to India. The initiation to produce ginger oleoresin can also be undertaken. Good prospects exist to grow high quality tea for export from Nepal. Saffron cultivation can be developed successfully in Nepal to capture the needs of overseas markets. Goods prospects exist for commercial production of silk in Nepal. Quota restriction has not been imposed on Nepal by major industrialized countries, other than USA and Canada. Nepal should able to utilize the quota and non-quota garments orders from abroad. Terry towels, napkin, and bed linen can be manufactured for export from Nepal. Bulk of leather items export are in semi- finished wet blue condition. Nepal's grown a large number of flowers and orchids can be commercially cultivated for exports. Hand-knitted sweaters and other woolen goods can be developed as export products. Pashmina items are being exported to different markets at present.

(The writer is associated with Trade Promotion Center-editor).

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