Peace and prosperity:

People want the government to focus on bringing a lasting peace and economic prosperity in the country. It is good that the lawmakers, government officials and Maoists claim to be working in unison to fulfil the needs of Nepalis. All the three factions should work as people’s representatives and not to meet their own narrow ends. The people expect them to iron out all their differences. They expect the MPs and the members of the newly-formed parliamentary committees to work on a war footing. Waiting for the completion of formalities like receiving official missives to get the work started is uncalled for. The Maoists should agree to the management of their arms and join the government as a political party. The government, for its part, needs to make appropriate budgetary allocation to create employment opportunities for the Maoists, even if that means cutting the budget for development purposes. It is hoped that both the government and Maoists will stop playing the cat and mouse game and join hands to create a better Nepal.

N M Dixit, Dillibazar

People power:

Democracy calls for direct and dynamic involvement of the people in governance. It entails guarantee of fundamental rights, liberty, equality and justice for all the citizens. For almost 250 years, we were accustomed to living under servitude. We were polite and obedient and never dared to speak against the monarch, who was considered an incarnation of Lord Vishnu. A revolutionary change was called for to bring about a change in our attitudes and age-old values. The recent show of defiance by the people against the dictatorial King that ushered in revolutionary changes in our political landscape aptly demonstrates the strength of the people.

Ganga L Pradhan, Bharatpur

Experience:

This is in response to Sushil Pandey’s letter “Job search” (THT, July 3). While Pandey’s frustration is understandable, one must also understand the people’s mindset at the other side of the table. Fresh graduates, especially in the field of engineering, need to realise that an employer, weighing his financial constraints, opts for experienced people. In this field, time is money. Although Pandey’s question: “How can one get experience without getting hired?” is justifiable, one needs to realise that experience is hard earned in this competitive world. Maybe, a change in approach to job-seeking — to seek experience rather than money — especially at the beginning of one’s career, would yield a better result.

Uday S Shrestha, SPADECO

Sacrilegious:

Kathmandu has been a renowned abode of umpteen deities since time immemorial. This is the reason why tourists flock to the capital city. But Kathmandu is desperately short of toilets. People relieving themselves by the sides of the roads is a common sight here. Some smart locals have resorted to planting vermilion-smeared stones by the roadsides to discourage people from littering. Even temples, the symbol of purity, are being desecrated through such practices. We clearly need to differentiate between toilets and temples.

Raj Upadhyaya, Jawalakhel