Apropos of the news story “NDL starts production after nearly a decade” (THT, May 8, Page 10), but for the incumbent minister Nepal Drug Ltd. would have passed into Nepali folklore.

His efforts at reviving the public sector enterprise that had once saved many a life with its iconic but simple oral rehydration powder - Jeevan Jal - is worthy of mention in golden letters.

Government ministers do not need to promise Singapore, Switzerland, 5000 dollars income, 19,000-MW power, 4 million tourists etc, which will take a long time coming.

Simple medicines, affordable healthcare, simple and efficient public transport like Sajha; simple, affordable, pesticides-free food, fruits and vegetables; 1 or 2 million high end tourists of the type that visit our tiny neighbour are all that we need.

We hope NDL will take on the momentum started by the minister and will produce drugs that are within reach of the poor masses of the country.

It will also help if we can invite 100 percent FDI in drug industry as well as insurance firms “Licensing process for new insurance firms gathers pace” (THT, May 8, Page 10).

FDI need not be limited to hotels, lodges, homestay, restaurants only. We can invite FDI for banks and insurance as well.

Manohar Shrestha, Kathmandu

Grammar

This has reference to article by Rameshwar Baral “Nepali varnavinyas” (THT, May 8, Page 6). I fully agree with the author’s opinion while he talks about Nepali varnavinyas and its consequences for the coming generation.

I feel the same kind of awkward situation when I go through Nepali grammar because the coming generations do not have interest in learning Nepali grammar. They feel that pseudo mentality of phakhe in their mindsets.

This needs to be changed. While “carefully” read some latest textbooks I find many grammatical errors especially in the “raswas and dirghas”. Similarly, it is no surprise to say that there is a shocking scenario when it comes to teaching practice for children, too. I mean to say “poor” teaching methodologies are being applied by untrained teachers who do not even know how Nepali spellings are written.

But, what I have noticed is that in the name of quality education most private schools are playing with innocent children. Children will forget to write the Nepali language if grammar is not taught properly. After all, all educated Nepalis can write in Nepali but they must be able to write correctly with standard grammar and vernavinyas.

Otherwise, the day may not be far away when one foreigner might be teaching us the Nepali language about how to pronounce correctly and how to write the spellings. Central Department of Nepali at TU must do something so that all teachers in schools can teach Nepali in a uniform manner.

Language is such a means of communications among human being without which no society can move forward. Maybe we are poor economically, but our literature, history and culture are rich, and they are expressed through linguistic skills in written or in spoken forms.

Saroj Wagle, Bara