Innocent sufferers:

Bandhs and curfews have not only disrupted the lives of the general public but hit the middle class business people hard. Since shopkeepers and others engaged in small businesses are forced to down their shutters during bandhs, they are facing problems generating enough income to sustain their families. This is inhumane. The agitating parties should consider the plight of the innocent public and not organise bandhs. It is unfair to make them suffer for no fault of theirs. We should not forget that small-scale businesses also contribute to the employment of many people as well as to the country’s overall economy. Can Nepal afford such a loss? Have the parties thought of the long-term consequences of the bandhs?

Vishnu B Karki, via e-mail

Clarification:

This refers to the news story “Govt. to release funds to ensure safe deliveries soon” published in THT on January 22. The reporter has quoted me as saying “the government could not introduce the programme on time due to the lack of reliable data.” This, however, is wrong. I would like to present a clarification. On the cost sharing scheme implemented by the government, I had said that it is supported by DFID. According to the memorandum of understanding signed by the Ministry of Health and Population and DFID, the budget has already appeared in the Red Book of the current Fiscal Year 2005/06. At present, the government and DFID are in the process of releasing the budget. Once the allocated fund is transferred to the government treasury by DFID, a budget release letter would be sent to all districts. Right now only few districts are providing incentives according to the cost sharing scheme. So, incentive distribution has been implemented only in few districts, as the budget is not released yet. Again, I was wrongly quoted as saying, “Even though the amount is small the incentive could encourage women to take help from skilled birth attendants while delivering the babies”. But my version was: Studies revealed cost as a major barrier to the low proportion of deliveries by health workers. So, the cost sharing scheme, which is providing transportation cost for women and incentive for health service providers, will contribute to reducing high maternal mortality in Nepal. Thus, this programme will help to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

Sumitra Devi Shrestha, Family Health Division, Department of Health Service

Fruitless:

The picture on the front page of THT (Jan. 24) of a protester breaking the windscreen of a government vehicle reminds me of the grave political dangers facing the country at present. Although the general public is free to protest in a democracy, it would be better if the protesters realised that violence is not the answer to any problem.

Pradip Bhandari, Gyanodaya College

Opt for polls:

The demand for the revival of the dissolved House of Representatives is a bad idea. Instead, the political leaders should go for the municipal polls and then for parliamentary elections in order to form a people’s government soon.

Shree Shrestha, via e-mail