Unwilling to change

Even months after the declaration of Nepal as a republic, the official websites of some of the

government bodies, such as Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) and University Grants Commission (UGC), still bear the royal hologram instead of Government of Nepal. This is sheer negligence on the part of the officials of those bodies, or rather their indifference to the political changes that the country has undergone. Though this has very little to do with the actual business of these offices, such negligence indicates the lack of professionalism and

unwillingness to accept the change.

Dr Sital Kaji Shrestha, India

Referendum

It seems the details of the conditions for the integration of Maoist combatants soldiers have not been precisely outlined in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA). The integration of the Maoist combatants into the Nepal Army and the process of implementation of other agreements also seem to have hit a snag. The human rights bodies and civil society should urgently come forward with fool-proof models of the new constitution that precisely sets minute details of the qualifications and composition of the Nepal Army. A referendum on the

constitution after it gets the green light from the Constituent Assembly may be even better.

V P Sayami, Kathmandu

Necessity

Following the April election, the Nepalis were optimistic that they would enter into a new era of peace and progress. The victory of the former rebels, who participated in democratic polls for the first time, made us believe that change was indeed possible. However, Nepalis in general still do not seem to be aware of their own responsibilities. As Nepal is in a transitional

phase, the call for frequent nationwide strikes and bandhs cannot be the solution to our umpteen problems. This is an opportunity to rebuild the nation. It’s high time for us to realise that our collective efforts and contributions are required to build the new Nepal that we have all aspired to.

Robin Dhakal, Asheville, USA

Punishment

This is in reference to the letter “No stick” (THT, Nov 26). I agree with the writer’s view that corporal punishment spoils the learning environment in schools. A teacher entering the

classroom brandishing a stick not only creates fear among students but also evokes hatred. I myself have gone through harsh punishments for minor offences while I was a schoolboy. Perhaps, the teachers believed that punishment was the best means to discipline students. In my own experience, however, every time a teacher beat me up I felt strong hatred for him

instead of being tamed. Moreover, punishment made me more obstinate and often encouraged me to defy school authorities. Teachers in Nepal ought to be trained to deal with

students before they are employed in schools. It is considered a criminal offence if school children are dealt with in a similar fashion abroad. The government should abolish corporal punishment in schools and punish the teachers who physically or mentally torture their students.

Shiva Neupane, via e-mail