Forgotten fighters

It is disheartening that the government has done virtually nothing to commemorate the sacrifice of great martyrs who fought for the people’s freedom from tyranny. Though our political leaders are fond of delivering lengthy sermons on oft-unnecessary things, on the occasion of Martyrs’ Day, almost all of them forgot to pay their tribute to the martyrs. As Nepalis prepare to build a New Nepal, the contribution and sacrifice of the martyrs should not be forgotten.

Ashruti Adhikari, HWHIC

Try again

The leaders of Seven Party Alliance (SPA) have decided to hold CA polls on April 10 at all costs. However, political outfits in Tarai do not seem keen to participate in election as the

government has not taken any concrete initiative to address their grievances. The common Nepalis yearn for peace. The government should spare no effort to bring the disgruntled groups into the political mainstream to hold the CA election successfully. In addition, intellectuals, civic bodies and professionals should put pressure on the government to fulfil the legitimate demands of such groups.

Dorji Tsering Sherpa,

Galfutar, Kathmandu

Not us

The news report “Pharmacists selling banned drugs with impunity” (THT, Feb1) has drawn our attention. There are only a few drug stores in Nepal run by genuine pharmacists, who are knowledgeable about proper use of drugs. On the other hand, the majority of drug stores are run by chemists. It needs to be understood that there is a clear distinction between a pharmacist and a chemist. I can vouch for the pharmacists working in retail sector that they are practicing ethically with the sole aim of improving general health of the public. Involvement of pharmacists, though they are comparatively few, has helped make people aware about the risks associated with improper drug usage.

Saroj Nepal, President, Nepal Pharmacy Students’ Society, Institute of Medicine

Punish them

This refers to the news report “Pharmacist selling banned drugs with impunity” (THT, Feb1). Dearth of pharmacists in the country has resulted in chemists running most drug stores. The pharmacists cannot be entirely blamed for the negligence of those chemists. In fact, a large number of pharmacists are either engaged in industrial research or are employed in hospitals. In order to reduce improper use of drug, the government has to adopt a clear mechanism to supervise pharmacies and take strict action against unscrupulous chemists who dispense drugs freely.

Bibhu Raj Acharya,

via e-mail

Great irony

Nepal is one of the richest countries in water resources. Ironically, all that the Nepalis have to show for it is 36-hour weekly load-shedding.

Students have been forced to use candlelight, and factories to cut production. Shortage of petroleum products has only added to the woes of the populace. There is no alternative to building more hydropower projects. This will not only help Nepal become self-reliant in energy but will also open up new possibilities.

Suraj Upadhaya,

Kathmandu