SEBS Feedback: Yubaraj Acharya, Sagar Onta, Pramod Aryal
Paramendra Bhagat
January 10, 2004

The Road Ahead
by Yubaraj Acharya

In response to Paramendra dai�s proposal earlier, I argued that his agenda sounded too ambitious and lacked pragmatism. With the decision of the World Bank to fund Doko Dai/Didi project, some of the objectives that Paramendra dai set on his proposal earlier seem less ambitious than before. However, for SEBS to be established, it is imperative that we understand our limitations and not get swayed by the boom-effect. Projects like Doko/Dai will come and go�by saying this, I do not mean to undermine the assiduous effort the NSP team has put into it�and just because we got selected from a highly competitive pool does not mean we can achieve whatever we dream of. Kudos once again to all involved in the Doko project! But, let's sit back, relax and define where we are heading.

My random thoughts on some of the fundamental issues, which I think need to be decided upon, follow. Some of them relate directly to Paramendra dai�s comments; others related to SEBS in general:

1.In a highly sensitive political climate, we should figure out a way to balance ourselves. The recent decision of the government to introduce the Unified Command forces every citizen�at some point�to choose between the establishment and the Maoists. SEBS has members that are aligned to both the �old regime� and the �new regime�. While members make their own decisions as to where they should be aligned, SEBS has to remain impartial. So far, we seem impartial. But eventually a merely inviting the Crown Prince to a SEBS function might turn out to be problematic. This is just an example. While it is not possible to make everybody happy, we do not afford to subdue the interest of the minority�which in this case would be those aligned to the �new regime�. Up to what extent do we entertain the call of the political minority has to be defined. This is necessary because we might be able to remain free from politics one or two times, but as the number of our projects increases and our domain expands, we WILL have to make a choice somewhere.

2.Decentralization is a good thing. But let us not jump into forming too many sub-chapters and committees, as this might create complications more than simplifying our working procedures. If it takes 2 years to decide on the Working Guidelines between SEBS and SEBS-NA, mark my words, it will take decades to decide on working guidelines between chapters, sub-chapters and so on. There are so many things that need to be strengthened within the organization. Be it in SEBS or SEBS-NA, what we achieve has so far, let�s face it, been highly contingent on the strength of the individuals in the committees. This probably is not unique to SEBS or SEBS-NA. But it is worth munching over before too many branches complicate the situation. At the moment, we need �institutionalization��strengthening ourselves�more than �decentralization��expanding ourselves, although the distinction might not appear very clear since decentralization sometimes could be a part of institutionalization.

3.We need to define our limitations. The two (rather similar) projects so far� NSP and Doko dai�are related to education (needless to state that all the projects at BNKS are education-related). Is this what we are going to limit ourselves too? Youth for Peace is slightly different and, from my understanding, addresses the political problem. I do not see it directly addressing the social problems, such as ethnic and gender discriminations. A common response to this point would be�we will tackle each project one by one and decide whether to pursue a project when the time comes. I however feel that we should not save this dilemma for the last minute. Let�s define our domain. Dos and don�ts.

4.Participation. More than a decade has passed since co-education was introduced at BNKS. The first batch of girls graduated, if I am not wrong, in 1994. What have we done in the last decade to encourage the participation of girls in SEBS? We do not just afford to raise the issue all the time and not do anything about it. Also, we should not be complacent by looking at one or two girls who �participate� in SEBS programs and a few who benefit from NSP. There were only two girls during the AGM in Kathmandu this summer! Certainly, we can not force anybody, but what have we done to create the �suitable environment� for better participation? I can not think of anything right now, but let�s brainstorm. I am sure we can come up with something.

5.Minor projects, such as hosting during breaks, SAT/TOEFL loan for BNKS students, etc., should not be made SEBS�s headache. As somebody has suggested in sebsonline�I think it is Nischal dai�we can have a page where people interested to help and people needing help can login and post what they are willing to offer or need help for and contact each other. This can extend to voluntary internships, etc. I do not think we need lengthy discussions on issues like these. �The government� (SEBS/SEBS-NA) should not interfere�and should not be called to interfere�in things that can be sorted better by the �market� (sebsonline). Projects such as Amir dai�s Net Working, Tanka dai�s Health Campaign, etc., however, need more helping hands and therefore should be brought to the ex-comm�s attention.

6.Budhanilkantha School Endowment Fund. I think this should get priority over Learning and Reading Resources Center. There have been enough discussions about how the school is being run and the difficulties it is facing. The only way to sustain its present status is to decrease it�s reliance on the government. And that we can do by generating fund for the school. I am worried that, despite the authority�s effort, BNKS, after some years, might turn into a private institution with no uniqueness that it presently embraces (such as the scholarship scheme, small class size, heavy co-curricular activities). After all, how many parents will be willing and able to help the school build/maintain its infrastructure and for how long? I have heard that BNKS already has an endowment fund (probably with a different name). If we plan well and start building up on it now, BNKS could be an autonomous institution�with SEBS, FOBS and the school itself deciding on its policies. Let�s give this a thought.

7.SEBS Mediation Team. More like a professional team consisting of SEBS- experts in mediation and counseling, autonomous of SEBS, SEBS-NA or any other chapter committees.

8.Paramendra dai�s idea of ONE�one SEBS President and one budget�is impractical. It should be dropped. If we can not keep SEBS-NA in the Working Guidelines as a �Chapter�, we can not probably pass through all the legal barriers saying, �all of our fund goes to the SEBS-main, ask them for details� while filing taxes. Or did I misunderstand it? I would be interested in knowing what, if any, is the advantage of having everything ONE.

9.In his response to my comments, Paramendra dai mentions that fund-raising for NSP has been confined to SEBS members alone. I am not sure if this is factually correct, but I am not going to indulge in a lengthy discussion regarding this since I agree with his main idea that SEBS should open up to outsiders. The concept of Learning and Reading Resources Center that was recently raised by Pramod dai will probably address this issue. Also, Doko dai involves DEPROSC. In a way, we are already picking an avenue towards �opening up.�

Sagar Onta

Yubraj, My comments are provided below. While I agree that the ideas and issues put forward are important, it has to be championed by SEBS before any of it is goes forward. May be this email is a start. There has always been awesome ideas put forward continuously by someone or other. But seems like few, if any, gets past couple of emails, even if that. We would have to find a mechanism to support one/two of ideas and committ to champion them. I am not sure whether we are ready to that or not. Sagar

Yubraj, you bring a lot of thoughtful issues forward and I really appreciate that. But before we move forward, I want to clarify that this is a personal view and not an official position of SEBS-NA. Having said that, the point you put forward is probably corrrect, we will have to make a choice sometime. But having already clarified in our constitution (I am guessing) we are an apolitical organization, and making sure our events do not align us too close to one side or other, how do you propose that we assert ourselves as a non-aligned body? I am not sure how that can achieved?

I cannot agree more. Before we start opening other working partners/chapters, lets make sure there is are solid guidelines for these working partners to help integrate into the bigger SEBS body. So I would like to emphasize adoption of the working guidelines between SEBS and SEBS-NA first before moving forward.

I would say that SEBS domain is defined. What we may need is schedule of annual programs or some other mechanism that will give more structure and institutionalize programs.

This has to be worked from BNKS. When girls are treated like crap by guys in BNKS, they don't want to be part of SEBS or to do anything about BNKS.

Lot can be done. These tasks should be deligated to the web committee or something like that.

I support this idea. It has to be put forward in front of the school before it moves forward. For that to happen, SEBS has to be behind the cause. Are we ready to take this on?

Pramod Aryal

Onta bhai,

1) Apolitical nature of organization: Let me try to explain how we can maintain or try to maintain our apolitical nature. The reality is that we have members from royal family, ruling elites, and other components of so called old regime. And definately we have people aligned to the political parties in dissolved parliament, and I have heard that we have some in maoists set up. In order to have harmony among the members, and have its apolitical nature, I think SEBS should now refrain from having royal family member, or minister or prime minister as its chief guests in any program. Like for Indra Pradhan Arts competition, we can have some artist as the chief guest. I think we have to come out of hang over of having politicians as chief guest for media coverage. Say if Paras would like to join any program he may join as a SEBS member, however he will be having his security set up along with him which SEBS can not control and this issue should not be considered much as a political stunt. For programs going in districts and village level, it is really tough to have the delicate balance. I think we unknowingly happen to communicate with a person who might be influential in his or her loca niche, and generally these people are aligned to some kind of political force. There we should be pretty clear with our program objective and goals, and not to try to entertain all but having communication with all. They might tend to impose their idea, but we should analyze properly and convince them why we want that program to be there. Like selecting a student for NSP could have some political implications, but we should be clear enough to explain the locals that why we selected the particular student. I think SEBS would be more practical to explain this.

2)Decentralization is good rhetoric, but complicated process. Our organization structure is not that rigid that we need to have devolution of power to every entity and chapters. Since it is more autonomous in nature, probably as a natural syndrome we might have people being interested in having their own chapter in their niche. SEBS has to think much about how it can accomodate such feelings. Having worked for SEBS in Nepal, I would like to say that people in SEBS-NA are also working voluntarily to the cause and program just like as in Nepal. I bet it must have been too expensive for Sagar Bhai to fly to DC than for me to drive there, but still we had to spend money and time. It is same spirit that drives SEBS is driving people here in SEBS-NA. So we should be pretty clear that any chapters or individuals coming with some idea and communicating in between members, or to ex. com of SEBS thinking it as an organization, we should be prompt in replying. I know it might not be that common for SEBS executive committee to spend their time writing email or replying it from SEBS office, while we might be doing it either from our work or library or dorm, but we need to find some solution to this. This will make all communication faster and we might be able to work on the issue pretty faster. As raised by Yubraj bhai, SEBS or SEBS-NA should not be organizations run in the capacity of members of executive committee, rather it should be running as an institution with define objectives regardless of who are in the ex. com. If need to have a full time secretary at SEBS office (I don't know if there is one or not) then I think we should think seriously how to hire and how to pay the person. If we need to have some fixed fund to pay for the salary we should think of it and generate fund, if needed. This will help the communication problem, and probably we might be able to work out working understanding between the chapters, and any evolving chapters can follow same route.

3. Defining limitation would mean we are looking into only some thing. As onta has said, our domain is define, SOCIAL work and harmony between the alma matters. We need some sustainable annual programs which could keep the momentum and any new idea coming from any member or group could be entertained as long as they are ready to take the lead. SEBS or SEBS-NA can not entertain all ideas and program, however to have it proper documented any program to be run under SEBS or SEBS-NA umbrella has to be properly communicated with SEBS (for documentation and records). Gradually we might have it being more organizational.

4. Participation of girl members: I don't know how the environment in school is, but if there is some thing where girl student and boy student treated in different manner by fellow students, then probably we might have to have some program that can change the attitude, but school should be the working partner in this. And, we should try to use our own connection to bring more female members to the community. This has to be done sooner.

5. These small programs would bring the pool of active members to SEBS and its chapters. This should not be a main goal of the executive committee but it should try to facilitate the thing so that we have organized committee where people can communicate for their need. This will help in creating more interest for SEBS which will eventually help to make the organization more strong.

6. Budhanilkantha School Endowment Fund, is a must and need to do it. But to venture upto this point, we need to create positive attitude towards SEBS, by its fellow members. If yo count we will have only few, less than 3 digit no, who will be moving for any causes. And this will not be sufficient and we need to have constant pool of new members. It is big investment. Then these members would be there to support. I think I wrote to Yubraj about this. We need to take program mentioned in no. 5. to have more new members connected to SEBS, and old members should try to generate fund for this in second phase once we have completed programs like host family, SAT/TOEFL application fee, and to give to school and its residing members, The Learning Resource Center project. We should be able to show to the students that SEBS is there for students, school, and the students should not just count on school but they can count on SEBS for their future. As Onta has said, we need school as working partner for this and SEBS has to deal with school. I had told NP Sharma that the projects like Learning Resource Center should have community out look and has to be done in understanding with SEBS, so rather than expecting SEBS to come to school and talk, you should take initiative to inform SEBS the need of the school, and we all will work together. I think endowment fund will also have to be talked with SEBS and school should come and talk.

Definately all these vast projects and thinking, we need to incorporate other nepali community, that is why any projects that we try to work on should have community out reach model so that we can mobilize other masses, too. As Onta said, let us not just end all of these discussions in few emails. I think Yubraj you need to keep on ringing the bell. I am trying to push for Learning Resource Center, but still it is not moving fast. We need to move, sooner than later. Pramod