Grassroots democracy :

Apropos of Lok Raj Baral’s article “The way ahead” (THT, August 23), I agree with him that we need a drastic restructuring of the state. We need to empower the people at grassroots and focus on bottom-up development programmes. We also need to build a solid institutional framework for the functioning of the state machinery.

In many democracies, real power is in the hands of a few people and corporations, and the people at the lower rungs are further being marginalised, giving rise to “illiberal democracy”, as was also the case in Nepal.

Power should be devolved to local people and one person should not have sweeping control over the state machinery. The concept of participatory democracy, whereby people of every gender, culture, ethnic background and locality take part in the political process, should be implemented.

Our foreign friends should refrain from suggesting alternatives that are not workable in Nepal. While it is natural for them to look after their interests, they should also not try to foist their solutions on Nepalis, who should be left to decide their own fate.

Suman Dahal, Ghattekulo

Oil pricing :

There is always a hue and cry when fuel prices are raised, but there is a solution to it, too. Why doesn’t the government increase the price of petrol to twice the present level?

A person who can afford a petrol vehicle can surely afford to pay for its fuel whatever the cost. This will help reduce the cost of kerosene and diesel, both essential fuels for the general public. If some people are rich enough to own a car in a poor man’s world, then the government has the right to expect them to pay more for the greater benefit of the middle and lower classes. The greater use of bicycles can be another way of reducing fuel consumption.

Steven William Pitts,

via e-mail

Clarification :

This refers to Bikal’s letter “Wrong” (THT, August 23) on my write-up “Money mania” (THT, August 21). A careful reader will easily make out that my article deals with the pursuit of material riches. I intended to convey that money is not the be-all-and-end-all and that the relentless pursuit of wealth is akin to the futile labours of Sisyphus.

The sentence “Fathers are ready to sell their daughters, husbands their wives and brothers their sisters (for money)” came in the context of explaining how ‘some’ people can stoop so low for money and it did not refer to ‘all’ Nepali people. Some people, indeed, prefer money to their kith and kin. This is true everywhere in the world and Nepal is no exception.

Dhananjay Shah, Kirtipur

Immature :

I am dumbfounded by the government’s lack of vision, as no one in the government is interested in serving the people. It does not seem ready to give priority to the demands of the masses. The recent demonstrations over the hike in the price of petroleum products exposed the government’s immaturity. Only pressure from the streets forced those in power to revoke the decision.

The government should pay attention to woes of the poor Nepali people and also bail out the Nepal Oil Corporation, which is on the verge of bankruptcy.

Shiva Neupane, Golphutar, via e-mail