The business of hydropower:

Being an avid reader of THT, I do not miss articles and reports in the Business page. Most of the reports published in the Business page are readable. It is also gaining popularity among the youth. The article on Butwal Power Company (BPC) dated February 2 was a revelation that the company was doing good business and distributing dividend. Being the first

hydropower company that was privatised two years ago, its performance is not all that bad. BPC is being reported as the only Nepali company to register profit on the bourses. It has done the 900 BPC shareholders proud. This shows that our options lie in privatising hydropower. It will help double our GDP.

Ramhari Dhital, Kirtipur

Wheels:

I have found the issue of Wheels published in THT quite informative. It is helping me to increase my knowledge of automobiles, particularly of the kinds of models launched by various players in the market. I believe that will go a long way in helping people choose good automobiles for themselves.

I would like to thank the THT for providing a comprehensive sheet on automobiles. It feeds information on vehicles available in the Nepali market.

The main vehicular segment aside, the other two platforms, Rolling In and Fast Lane, carry stories mostly about the brands that are not available in the domestic market. It would certainly be a value addition for the readers if those two sections also carried news

regarding automobiles that are launched in Nepal.

Lastly, a colour Wheel page would work wonders with the readers.

Ram Subedi

Gender bias:

I would like to bring to your attention the status of women in Nepal. We all know that Nepali society has a greater influence of patriarchal norms and values where males always have a greater say in all spheres of life. That is also true with the decision-making process.

Women, in our country, are still regarded as inferior citizens. Even in a family, they always have to seek permission of male members when they plan to do something. From the childhood women have been socialised in such a way that they themselves come to internalise their traditional roles and responsibilities.

They rarely dare to speak out against it.

Therefore, I think the women should be treated equally. They should be given an equal opportunity in education and employment. The government should also give importance to the women’s issues in its national agenda. A concrete mechanism is necessary for translating words into action.

Pratibha Shrestha

Tsunami aid:

It is good to know that a lot of enthusiastic young people in Nepal have shown their

concern and collected whatever amount they could for the tsunami victims of our neighbouring countries. Also, both the public and the private sectors have donated huge sums of money for the relief work. Soon after the tsunami hit the coastal regions of some South Asian countries, Nepali people from all walks of life, especially the musicians and students, actively initiated donation drives.

There is no doubt that the amount collected for this noble cause would tremendously help those in desperate need. This gesture on the part of the Nepalis will also benefit Nepal in the long run when similar aid and sympathy would be required if ever Nepal had to deal with natural calamities. Being a poor country, Nepal needs its neighbours’ help in times of crisis.

Rajat Rana, Kathmandu