A Vision For Nepal (II)
Paramendra Bhagat
August 2, 2002

I plan to use this space to respond to the responses to my article A Vision For Nepal.

Responses to MatribhumiNepal
• ".....how to break the cycle of poverty and education?"
  This is an open debate. I appreciate your stating that problems are rather complex. There are no quick fixes. But one has to start somewhere. Discussions are no solutions, but that is where solutions start.
• ".....So, first the private sector has to have enhanced economic activities before hungry kids will be fed?"
  It is not a priority list, or a shopping list, first item 1, then 2. They have to be done simultaneously. Your comment smacks of unnecessary cynicism.
• ".....Another one "Put in place clear anti-corruption laws that ensure a transparent government". Whom do you expect will put this law? There are many good laws already in the land, but, how to implement it? If a police man has to think of how to feed his hungry children when he goes home at the end of the shift, do you think that he will be interested in enforcing traffic laws? He will be happy to grab a 50 rupees note and give the violator a green signal after a trafiic violation....."
  (1) Obviously the parliament enacts laws. (2) It is not true there already are good-enough laws in place, though it is true whatever laws exist have not been put into action fully. For example, we need a law that all members of parliament, and all ministers have to publicly disclose their total assets upon coming into office, and when they leave office. (3) You implement laws by giving the anti-abuse-authority law enforcement agency real teeth. Make it autonomous. (4) The policeman is not the poorest person in Nepal. On the other hand, as the country prospers, so should there be an increase in salaries for policemen/government officials. Why not? Corruption among policemen has to be tackled just like among politicians.