Promote IT sector:

It is a good thing that the IT exhibition organised by CAN is currently being held at the BICC in Kathmandu. Development of Information Technology is more significant in a developing country like Nepal. However, the government’s inefficiency in formulating a pragmatic set of policies and regulations to boost the IT sector are disheartening.

The government has been giving repeated assurances to the public on its commitment to develop IT in Nepal, but there has been a delay in enacting the Electronic Transaction Act. Cyber law is still not implemented. It is discussed only during conferences. Reduction of tariff on IT goods and services to zero level, as in other SAARC countries, is still not put to practice in Nepal. We hope that the government would show seriousness in promoting the IT sector like in other countries and implement the recently formulated cyber law as soon as possible.

Ramesh Neupane, Mahankal

Child rights:

The news published on January 24 in THT about the imprisonment of a 14-year-old boy by security personnel without any charge of misconduct shocked me. It made me feel like I am living in a country where child rights is just confined to papers and not applicable in real life at all. Innocent children are often caught in the crossfire between the government and the Maoists. On the one hand, the rebels are still abducting school students and forcing them to get involved in terrorist activities, while on the other, the security personnel are also violating child rights in various ways like in this instance.

How will the country move towards development if this situation continues? It seems that the voices of child rights groups are falling in deaf ears and the situation is deteriorating each day.

Pravesh Joshi, via e-mail

Swart’s art:

I was pleased to see such a thoughtful coverage of an emerging force in the US-Nepal relations in Neeta Maskey’s article titled “Little gems from Nepal.” Swart’s paintings are not only deeply engaging works of art; they reflect his true and deep understanding of Nepali culture. While current US-Nepal relations are dominated by economic and military concerns, Mr Swart’s paintings have shown that a transcendent cultural exchange is still possible.

Prof Matthew Steele, Bay State College, USA

Explain:

These days a reputed company producing noodles is offering mobile SIM card on its sales promotion campaign. Many winners are seen holding the SIM cards on television and elsewhere. It may be a general marketing strategy of the company.

But, what bothers me is that Nepal Telecom (NT) sold out all the SIM cards in two days few months ago. And the public had to face the police batons while queuing up at the Telecom’s office when they could not get the card. Now, the question arises how can a company offer so many SIM cards to a noodle company when it is not available in the market? Does Nepal Telecom has a special policy to give SIM cards for such commercial purposes? Or, is it that NT is telling the consumers to buy noodles and get a card free instead of directly taking from its office? The NT should clarify this policy to the people to check illicit sale of the cards. Moreover, a company of such repute should not engage in a practice that ultimately harms the interest of the people.

Amit Sharma, V S Niketan