Declining poverty

With reference to your editorial “Quantum leap” published May 6, it is heartening to note that there has been substantial drop in the poverty prevalence rate in Nepal — less than 31 per cent for the first time. This is all the more significant in view of the ongoing insurgency that has hampered various economic activities and deterred investment in many areas.

The findings of the survey “The Nepal Living Standard Survey 2003-04” about the effect of literacy and impact of gender issues on economics have also reinforced the belief that these two factors have far reaching implications for poverty reduction and sustainable development in the country. In the context of growing unemployment among the educated youth, it is encouraging to learn that increased literacy has actually contributed to the poverty alleviation.

The results of several micro-finance projects have time and again clearly illustrated that the women entrepreneurs have definite edge over their male counterparts in terms of

saving and loan repayment. In the procurement of inputs, marketing, and other related activities also, women have proven their capability by managing to emerge successful.

Although the expanded remittance base and donors help are not to be undermined, it is

nevertheless noteworthy that education, gender equality and women empowerment play a pivotal role in the economic development of the nation.

Jeeban Thapa, Basundhara, Kathmandu

Behind times

The Short Takes photograph on the May 7 issue caught my attention. It wasn’t the usual political fare, but a blurb about Disney in the United States. This was a story about Expedition

Everest to open at Disney’s Animal Kingdom in late 2005. I bring it up as an example of how Nepali businessmen miss the boat!

In 1998, while living in Nepal the first time, I suggested a theme park for the Kathmandu Valley I called, ‘Buddhaland!’ This was primarily to create jobs rather than just profit! No one understood its significance. But now, I know of one Nepali businessman who has an idea for a ‘theme park’ (seven years behind the times).

Wake up, Nepali business people!  Where 50 per cent of the entire population is under 30-years of age, why can’t you have something for them (this demographic) to do (less likely to cause trouble)?  A ‘theme park’ would be a perfect idea.

You watch, this new go-cart track will make money! Wake up, Nepal! Stop letting other countries rip off your cultural assets (for their profit)! That reminds one of G B Shaw who said, “Most people look at something and ask why?  I dream of things that never were, and ask, why not?”

F A Hutchison, via e-mail

Beetle mania

The production of Beetles did not stop in the seventies as the article by Rita Dhital which appeared in THT on May 8 suggested.

The very last air-cooled beetle — the 21,529,464th one — rolled out of the last remaining production facility in Puebla, Mexico on 30th July 2003.  It was immediately shipped off to the VW museum in Wolfsburg, Germany.

And the founder of the rally is Susan Fowlds, not Fowler.

Raj Golay, via e-mail