This has reference to the news story “Dr KC at increased risk of infection” (THT, July 20, Page 2). We all know that Dr. Govinda KC has been on fast-unto-death for a noble cause of the medical science education.

Sad to say, the government is still not willing to address his demands.

It has already been 10 days since he went on hunger strike but none of the government officials have visited him and his team to find a negotiated settlement of the issues that he has been raising.

Major political parties, including the Nepali Congress which is poised to be part of the next government has already said that Dr. KC’s “political demands” – proceeding with an impeachment motion against CIAA chief – cannot be fulfilled.

Then, a question can be raised shat kinds of demands the parties in power are ready to fulfill? News reports pouring in from TUTH state that his health condition is deteriorating day by day. The resident doctors and students at TUTH have backed his demands.

Apart from acetone in his urine, his blood sugar levels are low.

He is at increased risk of infection. So, if the government does not address his demands at the earliest it will be difficult to save his life.

The parliament, government and all major political parties must find a way out of the problems that have plagued the medical education sector in Nepal.

Saroj Wagle, Bara

Peafowls

Peafowls are majestic pheasant bird species and two of them are found across Asia in the wild.

The widely abundant blue peafowl is found in South Asia while the green peafowl is restricted to some isolated habitats of SE Asia.

The blue peafowls have become extinct in the wild in their former ranges across Bangladesh and Myanmar; while the green peafowls are mostly believed to be extinct in their previous habitats of NE India mostly due to anthropogenic impacts.

While the blue peafowls are abundant across the range, the green peafowls are quite restricted to their isolated, pocket habitats.

If the SAARC and ASEAN member nations could get together at a common platform for initiating Joint Conservation Initiative (JCI), then green peafowls could be introduced from SE Asia into their former habitats of NE India and in adjoining areas of Bangladesh; while blue peafowls could be introduced in suitable wild habitats of Bangladesh and in specific Myanmar where there will be no direct competition within their indigenous green peafowl sub- populations.

Captive breeding of both species is equally easy and has been found to be successful in Europe and the US. The blue peafowl population in India has exploded and in many parts they are being unfortunately regarded as vermin and poached viciously.

Excess blue peafowls could be thus introduced in parts of their former ranges where they have become extinct.

Several other species like blue bulls, elephants, and deer could thus successfully be exchanged between different countries to conserve precious wildlife without culling them where their population has exploded.

Saikat Kumar Basu, Canada