It was not surprising but unfortunate to read the news concerning foreign junkets of bureaucrats and ministers at a time when the country is gearing towards holding two crucial elections in another three weeks time. Millions of rupees are spent from the state coffers every year on their foreign visits. However, it does not seem so far that the nation has benefited out of these trips. Their priority seems to be visiting foreign countries rather than focusing on issues concerning the general public “Bureaucrats’, ministers’ foreign junkets top Cabinet agenda” (THT, October 25, Page 1). Surprisingly, during the last three cabinet meetings in the last fortnight, 25 out of 78 agenda were about bureaucrats’ and ministers’ foreign visits; 10 out of the 26 agenda that the cabinet discussed on last Monday were related to foreign visits. Defense Secretary Shreedhar Sapkota flew to Japan to inspect a wheel loader track dozer that Nepal wanted to buy for the Kathmandu-Madhes expressway even before the cabinet approved his visit on Monday “Flying abroad before Cabinet approval” (THT, Oct 25, Page 1). Couldn’t the government assign his juniors for such a procurement job? This shows that how serious is the government in dealing with the national issues and concerns affecting the lives of the common people. Another funny news to read was that Minister of Physical Infrastructure and Transport Bir Bahadur Balarar has gone to Hong Kong to participate in the 27th conference of the International Railway Safety Council that began last Sunday. Was it necessary for the minister to participate in such an irrelevant conference? Does PM Deuba not have control over the ministers and bureaucrats? Or does he want to please them thinking that they would cooperate with him whenever their favour is asked for? Otherwise, why does not he control such unproductive foreign visits? Time has come for the government to be serious about laying down the necessary criteria for the foreign visits of the government officials and ministers.

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Education 

This is with reference to the news story “Govt committed to increasing investment in technical education: State Minster Adhikari” (THT, Online, Ocotber 23).

There is no doubt and true that the strong foundation of development of a nation can be achieved by dint of technical education and skilled human resources who can be employed in productive sectors.

The developed nations in the world are doing so many things because of the fact they invest much money in the technical areas. For example, the United States has achieved many discoveries due to their appreciation for what technical education has to offer in the first place. We can also do many things if we just practice what we preach.

Institutional capacity must be strengthened to achieve the goal of enhancing technical education in all sectors.

Shiva Neupane, Melbourne