This is with reference to the news story “Inform United Nations about rotten rice” (THT, July 3, Page 2). Unified CPN-Maoist lawmaker Agni Sapkota urged the Parliament to direct the government to keep all necessary equipment and foodstuffs in adequate amount, including sirens in disaster-prone areas, so that the people living close to the river banks can be informed and food distributed to them in case of any natural disasters. Addressing the Parliament on that day, Sapkota said that he had long been urging the Parliament regarding the disaster preparations, but despite that, districts were yet to get even a bulldozer to remove debris. It signifies that the government should not make delay in informing the people about the impending disaster that may take place especially during the monsoon. In the past, there were complaints that foodstuffs which were supplied to the people suffering from the April 25 earthquake of 7.6 magnitude were substandard and rotten that could have impact on their health. However, the government was too slow to take action against those involved in providing the rotten foodstuffs. A parliamentary committee which visited some warehouses found that the WFP supplied foodstuffs were inedible but were found to have been distributed to the quake victims in Gorkha and Sindhupalchowk.

The Department of Food Technology and Quality Control also found sub-standard food and oil distributed or being distributed to the quake affected people who are still struggling to return to normal life from the natural disaster. The government should take punitive action against the WFP officials for playing with the health of the affected people.

Pratik Shrestha, Kathmandu

Citizenship

This is with reference to the news story “Ending patriarchy sought in Preamble” (THT, July 7, Page 3). It should not merit endless debates. As a democratic federal republic we could just emulate the biggest democracy in the world: America. The incumbent President of the USA is born of Kenyan father and American mother. Do we need to debate over the bane of patriarchy anymore? Women, who constitute over 50 percent of the population, could help their cause by not playing second fiddle to men at public functions. Women personalities who fought for the cause of democracy and human rights are highly qualified intellectuals and they should be able to decide on their own to end patriarchy in the Preamble of the new constitution which is getting more and more complicated. I am also on the same page with some leaders who say that “all citizens should have equal access to top posts”. But there must be some strict provision regarding the citizenship issue considering Nepal’s geopolitical situation. All the countries have made certain provisions with regard to providing the citizenship certificate as per their size of territory and population.

J.Talchabhadell, Bhaktapur