LETTERS: No financial burden

There are a considerable number of people in Nepal who are suffering from several kinds of non-communicable diseases such as cancer, spinal injury paralysis and kidney failure.

Not all of them are in a position to afford expensive treatment. The government has made some provisions for concessional treatment. Lack of awareness, unhealthy life style, deficiency in nutritious foods and consumption of contaminated foods are some of the common reasons behind the growing number of patients suffering from these diseases.

The government and concerned authorities still need to be more proactive in designing action-orientated programmes to reach out to all the people suffering from these killer diseases. The recent decision made by the Deuba-led government with regard to providing monthly living allowance of Rs 5,000 to each of the patients suffering from kidney failure, cancer and paralysis due to spinal injury was praiseworthy.

Likewise, the decision of lowering the age for senior citizen allowance from 70 to 65 years was also commendable keeping in view the demands of the senior citizens for the past several years. Some senior citizens had even passed away during the course of protest. None of the previous governments seemed to be serious and passionate enough to consider their plights.

However, these decisions were widely criticised for known or unknown reasons. Even, the UML Chairman KP Oli publicly said that the recent decisions made by the caretaker government would be reviewed by the new government “New government to review all decisions of caretaker government, says Oli” (THT, January 26, Page 1).

Billions of rupees are unwisely spent from the state coffers for former VIPs as their perks and benefits. Would not it be rather wise to welcome such pro-people decisions and look around for generating revenue, as collected by this caretaker government from tax that has been levied on sale of tobacco products? “

Rai Biren Bangdel, Maharajgunj

Lunar eclipse

It is quite interesting and amazing that the rarest celestial occurrence, not witnessed in the last 150 years, took place on January 31, 2018. This event in the skies is called Super Blue Blood Moon.

This celestial treat occurs due to “a blue moon, the lunar eclipse and the moon being close to Earth” at the same time. The celestial beauty of the sky always holds the attention of the people.

During my school years, I had been increasingly attached to the sky whenever I was going out in my native state of Tamil Nadu. Having said this, I always maintain my balance with the environment because I strongly believe that the life and the earth are being highly enriched by the sky.

People should understand the fact that the sky is the cornerstone of our environment and start taking right steps towards maintaining good balance with the environment.

P Senthil Saravana Durai, Mumbai