Amend coat of arms

Nepal’s coat of arms should not hurt the sentiment of any of its citizens. But the coat of arms recently approved by the Cabinet, which shows a man and a woman shaking hands, gives the impression that those who approved it are not concerned about the sentiment of common Nepalis.

The Cabinet has ignored our own culture and allowed Western culture to affect our coat of arms. In Nepali culture, a man and a woman do not shake hands. This coat of arms, therefore, will send a wrong message to the people. The depiction of handshake is not only irrelevant and out of context but undesirable too. Instead, we demand that the two hands should be shown supporting the map of Nepal. The government should immediately make the necessary change to the coat of arms. If the aim is to show equal contribution of men and women to the country, even then, two hands supporting the map of Nepal will be appropriate and do the job much better.

Sumodvardan Kaundinnyayan, Representative, Svadhyayasalakutumba, Svadhyayasala, Lazimpat

Strikes

The word ‘strike’ has almost become synonymous with Nepal. Are there no better ways to express one’s dissent? Don’t the organisers realise the adverse impact of strikes on society?

Unconcerned, the political parties and other interest groups continue to call strikes to voice even minor differences. The building of a new Nepal will not be possible without changing this mindset.

Ranjeev Shrestha, NCCS College, Paknajol

Water project

Apropos of the news report “ADB-funded water project not serving urban poor:

Report” (THT, Dec. 3), the NGO Forum for Urban Water and Sanitation (NGOFUWS) would like to thank THT for the investigative report on the Small Town Water Supply and Sanitation Sector Project (STWSSSP).

However, project manager Hari Prasad Sharma’s reaction “Incorrect” (Letters, THT, Dec. 6), merits some comment. The government is carrying out STWSSSP with the ADB’s financial backing. The members of NGOFUWS involved in the project are concerned that project implementation has not been up to the ADB’s Water for All policy commitments. NGOFUWS, in support of Water Aid Nepal, thus documented its concerns and presented the report to the ADB Water Policy Review Panel to highlight shortcomings of the project.

The document has been sent to the ADB NRM office, which, acknowledging our findings, has announced a rebate of one per cent interest rate that earlier stood at eight per cent. The formulation of ADB’s five-year Water For All policy (2005-2010) also reflects the findings. THT report was based on the same report highlighting the inequity, inadequate participation of the poor and lack of transparency in the project. Our report also led to the intervention of the UN-Habitat in the project, as reported in “UN-Habitat to support water projects” (THT, Dec. 4).

Similarly, Narayan Prasad Silwal, secretary at the Ministry of Physical Planning and Works, has voiced his dissatisfaction over STWSSSP’s progress. The management should make the project pro-poor and see to it that it is completed in the stipulated time.

Lajana Manandhar, President, NGOFUWS