Selfless service

LETTERS

Any of us might have noticed or ignored her. At Chakrapath Narayan Gopal Chowk, an old lady in her mid-40s wearing fluorescent jacket, giving traffic directions. I believe she is neither a traffic official nor is she a Japanese volunteer to help the Nepal traffic police. She is a Nepalese woman you will always find in the early morning there, whether in the middle of the sunny day, rainy day or late at night. Our leaders should learn something from her. She is serving her nation in her own way making the traffic flow smooth. She is neither paid nor appreciated for her contribution. She works off hours and she works overtime. I think the media should bring her into notice.

Tenzin Dolkar, via e-mail

Old mind-set

Although a lot of speeches are given on gender perspective, the implementation aspect has proved elusive. Despite all the fine speeches, discrimination is rife and particularly the women are meted out the worst of treatment. We can see the example of many women who keep on begetting children or opt for abortion for having a male child because of the stubborn demand of their husband. If there is any parent having a daughter as the only child, the society criticizes her a lot. The conservative people have the belief that a son can only ensure his parents’ journey to heaven. Such a mentality has to change for the better if an equitable society is to materialise. It is the responsibility of the government to raise awareness among the people that discrimination between girls and boys is unjustified. The social workers too should take this task urgently so that the society will be one of equals.

Anu Gautam, Nardevi,

Kathmandu

Act fast

The recent bomb blast in Janakpur of Dhanusha district, where there was a peaceful

sit-in protest to press the government for their demands to be fulfilled shows that it was really an act of cowardice as those criminals tried to show that they were powerful by

carrying out such an attack. However, it wasn’t a good act as five innocent people lost their lives and their family members are highly bereaved. They were the caretakers of their family and without them, all the five families will now be facing numerous problems and also hardships. So, I would like to appeal to the government to find out the perpetrators of the crime and punish them.

Pratik Shrestha, Kathmandu

Thoughtful

With the government on way to add the five killed in the Janakpur bomb-blast as martyrs, many more millions of rupees from the public purse would be paid to honour them. Since the number of people killed in the traffic accidents is increasing everyday, the number of martyrs also seems to rise. The definition of martyrdom seems to have changed very much in the new republic of Nepal.

Megha Nepal,

Kathmandu