Egalitarian society

LETTERS

Apropos of your news report “Patient held captive in hospital” (THT, April 23, Page 1), it is the fundamental responsibility of the government to provide succor to the needy. This is the reason why a country needs the government in the first place. Private businesses, including schools and hospitals, cannot be expected to take on the government’s role by doling out free educational scholarships or free medical services. If some do, that is their greatness. That is why our government, like other Republican governments, notably France, has to make

appropriate laws for arranging bank loans to students, small businesses, farmers without our father, mother, uncles and aunts standing guarantee. Also, as the medical cost is quite high, almost beyond the reach of the middle class, lower income and highly marginalized groups (which our country has aplenty), the government must either open Janata hospitals or force the

insurance companies to offer medical insurance. Recently, I told a group of people raising money on the streets that you cannot have a heart operation by collecting money in that fashion. Along with Janata hospitals, the government should also open Janata schools, Janata homes, Janata kitchen gruels to provide basic services to the poor free of charge. Let us not just import ideas for Federal Democratic Republican constitution from France, Germany, Japan or India, but also copy their strong laws on social responsibility for our transformation into a

truly egalitarian and dignified society.

J. Talchabhadell, via e-mail

It’s jumbo!

This is with reference to your news item “Cong, UML MPs against huge House” (THT, April 25, Page 1). The general public is extremely

disheartened and has lost

trust on politicos as most of them, despite widespread

opposition from the people and the media, indulge themselves in things which serve their

personal interests rather than the nation’s. A jumbo federal parliament is yet another

unjustifiable move in this regard. Such a huge federal parliament, on the basis of population, can be found nowhere in the world. Even the most populous countries of the world such as China, India and the USA have very small parliament in the centre on the basis of their population. They are, however, functioning very well.Then, why Nepal as small, in terms of population, and one of the poorest countries in the world needs such a huge parliament? Generally, it is against the principle of political science to represent a smaller population by a member of a federal parliament than a member of a state assembly. If the senior leaders of the major political parties do not change their mind, the number of member of the state assemblies should also be increased. Then the total number of law makers including of the state

assemblies would stand around 1,000. Are they again going to create another recruitment centre for their near and dear ones like in the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC)? The predicament of the NOC is self-evident. And the commoners are paying heavy price for it. If this trend goes on, how can we imagine a bright future for this country? Honorable leaders, you must backtrack from your unwise decision as the operation cost of such a jumbo parliament would be too difficult for the country to bear. And that would always be a butt of laughter for the rest of the world.

Mrs Homa Limbu, via e-mail