Livelihoods at risk

As a result of the global financial crisis, while hundreds of Nepali labourers returning home

almost every day, the government seems oblivious to the impact it might have on the country’s economy. Remittances, for the past several years, have been the major source of government revenue. Employment in foreign countries also offered unemployed Nepali youths lucrative opportunities. Now with foreign companies starting to retrench the labour force, the livelihoods of tens of thousands of migrant labourers and their families seem to be at risk. Moreover, this will directly affect other economic activities in the country. I wonder if the

government is prepared to deal with such eventualities. Though creation of employment opportunities for all the unemployed people may not be an immediate possibility, it is high time the government took immediate measures to cushion the impact of the global recession.

Sukriti Sharma, Old Baneshwor, Kathmandu

Temple row

Apropos of your news report “Pooja casualty in priests’ tug of war” (THT, Jan. 3), I strongly object to the decision taken by the Maoist-led government to replace former priests with Nepali priests, which has disrupted the regular pooja rituals at the Pashupatinath temple. Nor should the others politicise what the Hindus believe to be a hallowed tradition in our country. Religion and culture should be respected, and nobody should try to take political advantage out of them. There is some confusion that while the importance of the Supreme Court order is indisputable, the idea of restoring the priests who resigned and whose resignations were

accepted appears to be odd. At the same time, we should guard against the danger that comes from the attempts of unscrupulous elements to exploit the row over priests to serve their vested interests.

Mihir Shrestha, Ekantakuna, Kathmandu

Reservation

It has been learnt that Dalit lawmakers have refused to pass the new bill on scholarships. I believe that until Dalits are empowered and have representation in all organs of the state, the state must accord privilege to them to all government scholarships.

Rabi Sayami, Kathmandu

Bad signs

The row over appointment of priests for Pashupatinath temple should be settled on the basis of understanding, law and tradition. Politics should not be allowed to play a role. It is unfortunate that the regular pooja offerings at the temple have been disrupted because of the groups who support or oppose the decision of the Pashupati Area Development Trust (PADT). The scuffles that happened in the Pashupati area also do not augur well for the

country.

Dipa Baral, Pokhara

Illogical

This is in reference to the news report “Badal against bandhs” (THT, Jan. 4). I agree with Maoist leader Ram Badhur Thapa that shutdowns are not a logical solution to problems. By calling for bandhs, political parties and other groups are doing a huge disservice to the nation. The only logical way to sort out differences is through talks.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne, Australia