Foreign generosity

Foreign generosity Nepal is one of the luckiest countries among others to have abundant natural resources and a wonderful geographical structure. It has a number of Himalayan peaks, including Mount Everest. It is considered to be the second largest source of water resources in the world. This is the land of varied social and multi-cultured inhabitants. In 1979, Kathmandu Valley was inscribed as a World Heritage Site on the basis of seven groups of outstanding cultural monuments.

Many international organisations were engaged in different kinds of development activities in the field of education, health, agriculture, forestry, livestock and so on with their technical and financial assistance in the late 70s and 80s. Integrated rural development projects launched in the 1970s remained crucial for implementing many productive development activities in the rural areas. Community forestry and Rural Health Development Programmes launched in the remote villages of Dolakha and Ramechhap were successful in expanding and preserving the forest areas and providing quality health services, thus saving many innocent lives with the active involvement of the local people. However, the sustainability of these development activities could not be maintained due to lack of political commitment. Many infrastructure projects are now in a dilapidated state. Among them, Jiri Technical School (JTS), one of the oldest schools in the country, was established with the help of the Swiss Government in 1983. It produced thousands of semi-technical and health related human resources required for the country.

It was wonderful to read the news item “Seven quake-damaged buildings of Jiri Technical School reconstructed” (THT, June 4, Page 3) about the generosity of the Swiss government.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Take action

It is appalling to learn that as many as 14 schoolchildren were brutally thrashed by a school teacher of Bhanu Basic School of Runtigadhi Rural Municipality-8 in Rolpa, on May 26, leaving the forearms of five pupils fractured. The victims were allegedly assaulted with a broken leg of a wooden desk on charges of being late to the morning assembly. This is a severe form of violence against children. Stern action must be taken against the miscreant.

The bare facts of the incident reveal that this is simply the tip of the iceberg as various forms of corporal punishment are rampant throughout the country.

Moreover, the hapless and innocent young souls are often subjected to such inhuman maladies, especially at home or in an educational setting, and also the parents and school management committee are found to be mute spectators.

Leaving young minds in the hands of such a frustrated mentality is always unsafe and will obviously have perennial physical and psychological repercussions.

Though it is clear that inflicting physical pain on children is illegal, the centuries-old mentality of teachers to discipline young ones with physical means is yet to be restructured.

Som Nath Ghimire, Kawasoti