Utilise remittances:

This refers to Dr Raghab D Pant’s article “Remittances and development” published in THT on March 31. I was surprised to read the author’s opinion regarding the negative correlation between the GDP growth and remittances. It is not obligatory for the remittance holders to invest in any sector to increase the GDP. Remittances increase the disposable income of households. And even if they don’t invest, demand for products remains high because these households have disposable income to buy various products. There are many uneducated people who receive remittances from their family members working abroad. It is not practically possible to invest in any sector given their limited exposure to inadequate market situation. Remittance itself acts as an indirect investment. Also, the author’s remark that remittance has been a substitute for income not investment doesn’t hold much water. There have been many investments in real estate and financial institutions that are attributable to remittances alone. As far as making people stay in Nepal is concerned, we know that there are less opportunities here, so no one can be stopped from going abroad. The only thing the government can do is to find out how remittances can be utilised for generating employment opportunities.

Manish Bikram Shah, Old Baneshwor

Eye-opener:

Dr Raghab D Pant’s article “Remittances and development” (THT, March 31) should be an eye-opener for the people in general and the government in particular. Our highly educated finance minister needs to refer to his university books and note that remittances in no way lead to investment and further economic development. Working abroad and sending money for the family has only helped solve somewhat the balance of payments problems but it has also contributed to slow GDP growth. It is high time the government took serious steps in creating a favourable investment climate and developed the human resources. Why would any Nepali want to go abroad if they could earn the same here?

Manish Pokhrel, Biratnagar

Humiliating:

Nowadays, using public transport services seems to be very inconvenient. Although public transport is meant for the welfare of the common people, it has turned out to be a nuisance. Sometimes even when students pay the full fare, the conductor still manages to snatch away the identity cards of college students and accuses them of being in possession of fake identity cards. How can the conductors, most of whom cannot even read, know the originality of a card? It’s not just about having identity cards taken away wrongfully, but also about the humiliation and harassment we have to go through.

Anjali Basnet, via e-mail

Good effort :

As I went through the news “Housewives give new life to Rani Pokhari fish,” (THT, April 2) I felt that even in the present age of selfishness, we still have good human beings like the women of Tibetan origin who think of the welfare of the environment and thus of the society. All Nepalis should join hands to save our environment and the species.

Samridhi Shrestha, Texas, US