Matter of vital concern

With reference to recent decision of the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC) to phase out development project in Nepal by 2007 (THT, May 29) the two major points enmeshed to such a withdrawal (a) policy related issues, (b) compelling paucity of working environment, need to be singled out as a matter of national concern by heterogeneous political aggregates and leaders of civil societies. The Occupational Skill and Enterprise Development sector having notable inputs for over 35 years and which has been deemed to include rural dimension in addition, is as yet to ascertain “benchmark” for technical

education/vocational training, and as well required to work out quantifiable objective for ensured performance within a given timeframe. These revelations made by SDC are both primary and vital. If precious fund raised faithfully by international community cannot be

effectively used for the cause of the people and country (as referable in this illustrative cause), Nepal is destined to drift, in developmental sense, to a state of failing nation. Given this as a diagnostic picture Shree Agni Prasad Kafle’s aspiration of getting inputs from other donors to fill up the gap of SDC’s withdrawal, would be too remote to materialise. If we do not open our eyes to record the major failings, do not heed to critical warnings echoing around, and fail to regenerate vision to attend to the imperatives our functional existence and

diagnostic identity may last no more.

Chiranjeevi Vaidya, Maharajganj

Thank you

This is to profusely thank Kiyoshi Baba for opening the footpath at Maitighar for everyone. This is the kind of service all our security personnel should also learn to provide to the countrymen and earn goodwill in the process. It does not make sense to expose pedestrians to dangers of traffic in the name of guarding an open ground reserved for a petrol pump. My friends and me are grateful to Baba for his continuous effort to improve life in Kathmandu. You have shown us a great example. Thank you!

Deepesh Raj Rimal, Old Baneshwor

WTO entry

With Nepal’s ascension to the World Trade Organisation, the discussion on its benefits and costs to the economy has been intensified. Many view WTO positively, as a boon to expand market worldwide and help strengthen the economy. That is due to the fact that WTO calls for transparency and good governance, with the provision of special facilities to the developing

economy and non-discriminatory trade policies. But a lot of groundwork will have to be performed to reap the fruit WTO brings to us. Most of the commitments and agreements will be expected to be complete by the end of 2006.

However, contrary to the popular belief, WTO membership might affect a developing economy

like ours. Nepal has so much to do in order to start deriving tangible benefits out of it. There is no point in running away from it, as globalisation has made it impossible for any economy to keep itself isolated from the international trade circle. It will be wiser of us at this juncture to make the economy stronger beforehand by restructuring human resource development.

Rupesh R Khanal, TU, Kirtipur