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The Nepal Digest Friday 10 Feb 95: Magh 26 2051 BkSm Volume 36 Issue 8
Today's Topics:
1. TAJA_KHABAR - News From Nepal
Economic News
2. KURA_KANI
Education - Re: TU and VC
Re: BKS
Some Thoughts on TU
Nepali Language for Kids on Seatle
Social - Cultural Education
3. JAN_KARI
New Appoinments
Grahamites Assoc. Nepal
Email Searches
4. SODH_PUCH
Anybody know poem "Kalo Mandakini Ko"?
5. TITAR_BITAR
Top 10 and Humor
******************************************************************************
* TND Board of Staff *
* ------------------ *
* Editor/Co-ordinator: Rajpal J. Singh a10rjs1@mp.cs.niu.edu *
* SCN Liaison: Rajesh B. Shrestha rshresth@black.clarku.edu *
* Consultant Editor: Padam P. Sharma sharma@plains.nodak.edu *
* Discussion Moderator: Ashutosh Tiwari tiwari@husc.harvard.edu *
* TND Archives: Sohan Panta k945184@atlas.kingston.ac.uk *
* Book Reviews Columns: Pratyoush R. Onta ponta@sas.upenn.edu *
* News Correspondent Rajendra P Shrestha rajendra@dartmouth.edu *
* *
* The Nepal Digest(TND) is a publication of the Nepal Interest Group for *
* news and discussions about issues concerning Nepal. All members of *
* nepal@cs.niu.edu will get a copy of TND. Membership is open to all. *
* THE EDITOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO EDIT ARTICLES FOR CLARITY. *
* *
* +++++ Food For Thought +++++ *
* *
* "If you don't stand up for something, you will fall for anything" -Dr. MLK *
* "Democracy perishes among the silent crowd" - Sirdar Khalifa *
* *
******************************************************************************
**********************************************************************
Date: 09 Feb 1995 12:38:16 EDT
To: nepal-request@cs.niu.edu
From: MAmatya@sma.gov.au
Subject: Request to be in mailing list
The Editor
I had been for some time on your mailing list. Around the middle of last year
the coomunications broke down as a result of a Division of the Department I
was working for split away to form an Agency which took almost seven months
before it was able to restore the communications link - that enabled me to
contact you pioneers at the Nepal Digest once again.
Could you please enlist me on your mailing list once again.
My address is "MAmatya@sma.gov.au"
May I also draw attention of all those who had been in touch with me in the
past to please note that I can now be contacted again.
Thanking you TND Team in anticipation,
Best wishes & regards
Mohan Amatya
**********************************************************************
Date: Wed, 8 Feb 1995 21:49:28 -0500 (EST)
From: mahesh maskey <mmaskey@acs.bu.edu>
Subject: Dr. Kamal K. Joshi
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
In response to Ashutosh Tiwari's inquiry about Dr Kamal Krishna Joshi.
I do not know about the administrative abilities of Dr Joshi but some
of his records may provide a glimpse of his leadership qualities.
* In the prelude of 1990 people's movement the pro-left and pro-nepali
congress university teachers had joined forces to coordinate activities
against corruptive policies of the then pro panchayat lobby . Two persons
were entrusted in that coordinating committee. -Dr joshi representing the
left and Mr Narahari Acharya representing Nepali congress.
* Dr joshi had chaired the historical Chaitra 7 incidence (2046 BC) in
Kirtipur auditorium ( a symposium on 'role of intellectuals in present
day Nepal') which was stopped before complition by naked use of police
force leading to on the spot arrest of about 700 leading professionals
of the nation.
* He had been presidential candidate for Nepal university teacher's
association from the left pannel on 1991. He lost election but continued to
be their spokesperson for next two years.
* He was the candidate for the Mayor of Patan in 1992. He lost with narrrow
margin, the vote being divided between him and the other left candidate.
* He has contributed to the establishment of 'Mulyankan' monthly a
leading left magazine and also to 'Nepal Buddhijivi Parishad' in its
formative period, an organization of left intellectuals now
mainly under the influence of UML.
mahesh maskey
2/8/95
***************************************************************
Date: Wed, 08 Feb 1995 23:55:35 -0600 (CST)
From: RKP6723@UTARLG.UTA.EDU
Subject: Deep Thoughts by Robin Swayumbhu Pandey
To: Nepal@cs.niu.edu
We are Time, the Soul
We live in Space, the Body
Subject: Kabita Ko Khoj
Hello Everybody!
Does anyone know this poem "Kalo Mandakini ko Jala, Jalanidhi ka Moti Ka
Jyoti Kalo..." I would appreciate if someone post it or send it to me.
Thank you.
Swayumbhu rkp6723@utarlg.uta.edu
*******************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 02:44:47 -0500 (EST)
From: Dilip Parajuli <parajuli@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: BKS
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
> I have been reading the postings on BKS, and even though I don't go
> through each and every argument thoroughly I have the the feeling
> that the supporters of BKS just don't get it. Shyam Bahadur has been
> looking for the answer to a couple of simple and straightforward questions;
> (in Shyam Bahadur's words)
> > "Why should I, Shyam Bahadur, have to plough the fields while Ram
> Bahadur goes to BKS ? Why can't we both go to the same school
> here in Manang ?
>
> Almost everyone here in America knows how alumni help fund various
> programs at universities. If BKS grads really think that their school is
> essential why don't they help in the financing. Approximately 15 years
> have passed since the first class graduated. Why should the rest of Nepal
> pay for extravagance ?
> Ashutosh seems to be in a no win situation. How can one argue
> when people just don't (or refuse to) understand ?
Shyam Bahadur's question, I agree, is simple. But as far as I
know, the educational problem in Syam's Manang is not the absence of a
school ( there might be very few but that is in conjunction with the
population there- thus economy) but its quality (as those who are agaist the
Budhanilkantha funding would agree). And I claim that if
Ram is able enough to qualify-through testing program- for very high
quality overall education-not only the academics but also the
extra-curriculum, which again in many cases has proved to be extremely
thorough and
innovative( such as Anti-AIDS campaign, rural health, scholarship
program run by the students), Shyam should be strong enough to convince
himself that he lacks the ability to get such education. I don't want
to be harsh against Shyam, but I would like to mention that Manang
needs some people to plough its land: the technology can't reach this
place easily, even if it did would be economically-inefficient. I also
know that someone might say shyam should be taught good-farming
techniques. I would agree with him. But again, there are numerous
vocational trainings conducted throughout the nation. But the
big factor, in this case, is the administrative-channelling which
is, I say, pathetic in general.
About the alumni-funding. Again looks simple enough. But this is
applicable to high-earning 'pesebars' only.And I mean those who go after
earnings( either by staying back In the US, or by joining popular
business namely travel-agencies and so on). But for the ones- who had
been recruited from the rural areas and the ones who are supposed to pay
back to NEPAL( for they were the ones to get the expensive scholarship),
it's difficult to save part of their earnings from their meagre salary
(even the engineers- supposedly high earners- get paid around 3500-basic
salary). I am not against the point(funding), it's actually a good
suggestion. But I am not sure whether that's going to work ( for the
SEBS-society of ex-BKS students- seems not that strong fanancially, I
hardly know all the reasons behind this). How does GAA work in that context-
this is
not meant to offend St. Xaviers/and its partner St. mary's- if it does or
did in the past? I honestly do not know about it.And many of you might
instantly say that St.Xaviers didn't/doesn't have such
government-expenditure for its set-up and why should one talk about the
alumni-funding. But I just want to know the possibility of fund-raising
from BKS-grads not yours(there might be some other reasons for your
contribution to the nation).
And finally on Ashu's no-win position. If the discussions are
meant to give birth to more ideas, I don't believe that he should ( and I
guess he is not looking for a win)aim to try to win the game-if that is the
right term to be used. Many views come up. He should be able to take them
easily however blunt or bad they may be. And I believe that no single
person will be able to convince everyone. I also believe that they aren't
as haughty-or-unyielding-as one so easily concludes. I personally think
that this issue is going to be sorted out on its own time rolls on. But
I would like to see some changes-for-good overthere in Nepal not
only the debates here in the electronic paper.
Thank you
Dilip Parajuli
Harvard college.
******************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 95 18:26:52 +1030
From: Deepak <drajopad@physics.adelaide.edu.au>
Subject: New appointments
V.C. KAMAL KRISHNA JOSHI
RECTOR MADHAV PD. SHARMA
REGISTRAR BAL MUKUNDA KHAREL
AMBASSADOR TO CHINA TULSI LAL AMATYA
AMBASSADOR TO U.N. PRAMESH HAMAL
" " U.S.A. BASUDEV PD.DHUNGANA
GERMANY RAM MAN SHRESTHA
Source: Rabindra Nath Shrestha
******************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 08:25:11 -0500 (EST)
From: SURAJ BASNET <sbasnet@welchlink.welch.jhu.edu>
To: The Nepal Digest <NEPAL@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Re: The Nepal Digest - Feb 9, 1995 (25 Magh 2051 BkSm)
GRAHAMITES ASSOCIATION NEPAL
Former Nepali Dr. Graham's Homes (Kalimpong) students have established an
Alimuni Center in Kathmandu. The executive committee members are
currently locating the addresses of old boys and girls (OGBs). If you are
a former DGH student or know anybody who is, and are interested in the
organization, please write to the following address:
Prakash Manandhar
POB 2736
Kathmandu, Nepal.
(977)1-410577
Thank you.
Suraj Basnet.
**********************************************************************
Date: 09 Feb 95 11:01:40 EST
From: Rajendra.P.Shrestha@Dartmouth.EDU (Rajendra P. Shrestha)
Subject: News2/6-7
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
February 6
Nepal begins India visit
Excerpts from Xinhua, Reuters and UPI reports
Nepal's Deputy Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal, who also handles
the foreign and defense portfolios, arrived in India on Monday for a
five-day visit, his first since the Communist party won power in Nepal
two months ago. Nepal started the visit just after his powers within
the ruling communist party were curbed Sunday amid an internal power
struggle.
Talking with reporters before leaving Kathmandu, Nepal said that he
hoped his visit would promote relations between the two countries. He
said he would talk with his Indian counterpart on all sectors
concerning with bilateral relations including the tanakpur, trade and
transit issues. On the Bhutanese refugee problem, he said that nepal
welcomed cooperation from all countries in the world to solve the
problem, and also hoped to get cooperation from india.
During his visit, Nepal is sheduled to hold talks with Indian Prime
Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao, Foreign Minister Dinesh Singh, Commerce
Minister Pranab Mukherjee and other officials. During his stay in the
Indian capital, Nepal will also meet President Shankar Dayal Sharma
and Vice-President K.R. Narayanan and is due to address Indian
business officials. Prime Minister Man Mohan Adhikari is due to
travel to India next month. Nepali foreign secretary kedar b. shrestha
and water resources secretary surya n. upadhyaya along with six other
officials had left for india sunday in connection with the deputy
prime minister's visit.
The visit came only hours after Nepal was stripped of most of his
powers within the ruling UML party. Nepal, who is the party's
secretary-general, was stripped of his executive powers on Sunday,
when the central committee decided to transfer his authority to Bamdev
Gautam. Gautam was the previously second in seniority to Nepal, the
party said in a statement. After protracted meetings Sunday, the
committee also decided to remove Nepal and Prime Minister Man Mohan
Adhikari from the central secretariat, which was formed to give party
directions to the government. The party said Gautam will now exercise
all executive powers of secretary-general. Ever since being elected to
power, the Communist Party has been locked in a dispute with a faction
led by Gautam. The faction is pressing for a one-man, one-post
system.
The deputy PM's visit has evoked mixed reactions in
Nepal. Pashupati Shumshere Rana, a legislator in the Rashtriya
Prajatantra Party, said Monday the communists had toned down their
anti- India rhetoric during the election campaign. ''Madav Nepal
seems to be going to India leaving all the three issues (emphasized)
during the election campaign out of the agenda,'' Rana said. ''The
communists have definitely changed their tone. ''They had stressed
three major issues with regard to Nepal -- India relations during the
elections, review of the 1950 treaty, and control of the open border
and work permits,'' he said.
Nepal is also likely to ask for softer trade terms to offset his
country's huge trade deficit with India. India accounts for more than
28 percent of Nepal's total foreign trade. The deficit with India, its
largest trading partner, was 15.2 billion rupees ($305.7 million) last
year.
February 7
Nepal meets Indian Leaders
Excerpts from Xinhua report
Visiting nepali deputy prime minister and foreign minister madhav
kumar nepal today called on indian president s.d. sharma here and
exchanged views on enhancing mutual ties. madhav kumar nepal also
briefed the indian president on the discussions he had with indian
leaders earlier today.
Issues related to the 1950 Indo- Nepal treaty, water resources and
trade are expected to have figured prominently during his discussions
with indian leaders.
**********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 11:32:57 -0500 (EST)
Subject: Economic Nuggets (fwd)
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
>From Neal Cohen in Kathmandu:
1. Privatization: The new High Level Commission to oversee
privatization ought to be announced next week. Aside from the
mandated members, the new members will be Dr. Khanal from National
Planning and Dr. Mahat (the former Vice-Chairman of National
Planning). The new UML person has not been named.
a. Dr. Khanal noted that enterprises which do not have a social
obligation or are necessary to maintain supply of critical
goods and services (specific examples given were water,
sewerage and electricity) could be privatized. He did not
feel that Janakpur Cigarette, the sugar mills or Ag Tools
were "necessary". If an enterprise can operate as profitably
in the state sector then this Government will not privatize
it. They want to analyze the status of firms, capital
invested, staff, accounting and prospects, as well as the
results of existing privatized enterprises.
b. Earlier discussions had indicated Raghupati Jute as an
example of an enterprises to privatize, and maybe Biratnagar
Jute. They have decided NOT to proceed with privatizing Nepal
Bank and Rastriya Banijya Bank. The Minister of Communication
had noted that the media would not be privatized (the previ-
ous government had put Gorkhapatra on the list to be priva-
tized).
c. Allegations of impropriety against members of the Cell are
being investigated. They appear to be baseless.
2. Tax Reform: Prof. Glenn Jenkins of Harvard was here last weekend
for extensive discussions on tax reform and VAT. While impressed
with VAT, Government has constituted a Commission to make a thor-
ough review of all taxes including VAT. The deputy head of the VAT
Task Force, is the member secretary of the new Tax Study Commis-
sion. They must present their conclusions in time for the summer
budget speech. Janendra Jeevan, the head of the VAT Task Force,
and Director General of Sales Tax and Excise has been asked to
"clarify" allegations of abuse of authority related to approvals
for increasing alcohol production (excise tax).
3. Rastra Bank: Governor Tripathi retired after having just been
reappointed for a new five year term last year by the previous
government. S. P. Shrestha, Deputy Governor (and member of the ELP
Policy Dialogue Committee) was promoted to Governor. Dr. H. D.
Pant (the other Deputy Governor and a former USAID employee) also
resigned. Dr. Pant is the guiding light behind Nirdhan (NGO) a
very successful Grameen Bank clone. Dr. Prafulla Kafle is likely
to be one of the new Deputy Governors. In the past he had not been
supportive of liberalization.
4. Electricity Tariffs: Dishanter newspaper reported earlier this
week that the Electricity Tariff Commission has recommended a
reduction in electricity tariffs of 20% across the board, but that
this would not be done AT THIS TIME. Implementation of this would
violate the terms for Arun 3 and for the World Bank's Power Sector
Efficiency Project. The topic is likely to be discussed in next
week's discussions in Washington with the Bank on Arun.
5. Garments: India recently removed the floor prices on export gar-
ments. India had imposed floor prices to increase production of
higher valued garments. Some lower valued garments were farmed out
for Nepali production. By removing the floor prices India is pre-
paring for the elimination of all quotas by allowing the increase
in production of any and all garments. The result is likely to be
a decline in production in Nepal. Nepal did improve its approach
to allocating quotas last month (closer to first come first
served) which might mitigate some of the impact of the Indian
move.
6. Carpets: The fall in carpet production was primarily because of a
shift in the type of carpets demanded in Germany. Discussions with
German importers do not show that environmental or child labor
issues were of much consequence. The recently concluded carpet
fair in Germany, Domotex, was not a success. The reduction in EU
tariffs on Nepali carpets (there was no reduction on carpets from
India, China and Iran) did not appear to help. Quantity sold is
likely to remain at about the same level as last year, but there
continues to be a fall in price (to $35-40/m2). This government's
first effort to help the industry was not useful as they were not
prepared for the meetings, nor did it have anything to offer. How-
ever, maybe they learned that the problem is low quality.
7. Impact of Economic Liberalization: A draft study by Dr. S. P.
Gupta of ICRIER on the impact of liberalization in India was
leaked to the press. It purports to show that the benefits have
gone mainly to rich with an increase in rural poverty from 1990/1
to 1992/3 of 7 percentage points (to 42%), and urban poverty
increasing one point (to 38%). The results come about because of
increases in prices, elimination of subsidies, and only slow
growth in wages. This result is not surprising, studies elsewhere
point to the same result. The benefits of liberalization begin to
be obvious in the fourth year of a program (in Nepal the benefits
only became noticeable last year). The Indian data begins before
liberalization and only goes through 1992/93. As Dr. Gupta is
still working on the article, we shall have to wait for the com-
plete results.
Neal
******************************************************************
From: dk@accunix.wjc.edu (Diwas Khati - student)
Subject: bks
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 11:50:38 -0500 (EST)
investing on BKS ........ummmmm
One more on BKS before somebody might come up with a brilliant idea of
giving the whole debate a well deserved burial..(just my thoughts...no
offense intended), in the "TND format", ie. subdivided into an
introductory piece for those in a hurry, and the more elaborate for those
who have nothing else to do.
{By the way, am I the first one to come up with yet another stupid idea of
a "TND format"?}
{This is for those who do not have the time for the whole stuff}
Let us look at the issue this way.......whatever has happened is
history. There is virtually no way anybody is going to pay back to the
country at any time in the future. Even if someone wanted to do so, what
would be the mode of payment, and how much? Maybe the economists at the
Hah-ved could come up with some figure. But can the pay-back really
happen? If not, why argue on it any more?
{If you are still interested, continue, otherwise you may skip the entire
material....and may also lose some interesting(?) thoughts.}
Taxpayer rupee has been unwisely used to create a priveleged few out of
almost twenty million Nepalese. The achievement is not discouraging, but
the yield on investment is not serving the purpose of the investors. Where
are the BKS grads? Is there anybody out there in the fields of Nepal doing
"halo and kodalo" and chanting "desh ko bikash garnu parcha"? Maybe those
folks did not belong in those places anymore after coming out of the BKS.
Nepal surely does need a school that meets some international
standards. And BKS was established for that purpose(?). But Nepal also
needs more than just a few hundred people who can read, write and do
mathematics. Is it not economically wiser to raise a cattle that yields
milk and more calves than a few for the beef?
Not all BKS grads are products of the extravagant investment of the
taxpayers' rupees. Not all were awarded the "chhatravritti". But the
interests of a Panchayati few have not left them clean and I do not blame
those BKS' grads. I feel that they have been disadvantaged against, and
they have become victims of the lavish enculturation and education
process of those who enjoyed it all (buy none get...free). But the
taxpayers are more concerned with the returns on their investment. And
the returns are nowhere to be found.
Would any BKS grads like to disagree on these?
:) signing off
sawid
**********************************************************************
Date: 9 Feb 1995
From: PSHRESTH@MIAMIU.ACS.MUOHIO.EDU
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Sub: BKS BKS BKS
This is my say about the debates that have been showering the last twenty or so
issues of TND.
While the funding for a few poor, bright students for quality education aguably
isn't the "perfect" use of gov't money, no one can deny that it is one of
the better uses of Nepalese gov't funds. And it is surely one of the best
Nepalese gov't operations, in terms of the actual amount of money reaching the
people it is intended to reach. So what we need do here is actually come up
with better and not too far-fetched (and reasonable) altenates to this partcula
-r program at BKS or simply stop complaining.
To the few guys who are so against the gov't funding of BKS, I wish good
luck in trying to come up with a better,solid alternate, convincing the taxpaye
-rs and the related officials in Nepal,getting rid of the gov't funding for BKS
and,thereby, maybe even attain nirvana. Seriously, good luck. Prabin
**********************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 14:56:14 -0800 (PST)
From: Sujata Rana <srana@u.washington.edu>
To: nepal digest <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
Subject: Nepali for american grown kids(khoj-khabar)
I was really interested to read about what is happening in Boston about
teaching american grown nepali kids Nepali. I've been in Seattle since
june last year and would like to know if there are other Nepali families
in and around Seattle who want to get together and start something
similar here. I know that there are not that many Nepalis here but if
there is anyone interested, please contact me.
Namaste
Sujata.
**********************************************************
From: S n o w m a n <snowman@thumper.labs.gmu.edu>
Subject: Email search
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 18:22:03 -0500 (EST)
Hey All,
I have been working on setting up an EMAIL/ADDRESS search for all
Nepalese. It can be accessed graphically with Mosaic, Netscape and textually
via Lynx (or any net browser). The site is located at the address below:
<http://thumper.labs.gmu.edu/~snowman>
If you want your Address, email address etc, please send it to me in the
following address:
<snowman@thumper.labs.gmu.edu>
or
<sbhattar@site.gmu.edu>
Currently, I have created the following fields so please send Information
accordingly. There aren't many addresses right now so I will need all of your
help in compiling a relatively large list so that this search is worthwhile.
Name:
Address(line 1):
Address(line 2):
Address(line 3):
Phone Number: (XXX) XXX-XXXX :
Email address:
If you want me to create more fields or have any suggestions, please email me
as soon as possible.
Sush
<sbhattar@site.gmu.edu>
<sbhattar@osf1.gmu.edu>
<snowman@thumper.labs.gmu.edu>
**************************************************************
Date: Thu, 9 Feb 1995 19:51:08 -0800
To: NEPAL@cs.niu.edu
From: bhushan@Tanner.COM (Bhushan Mudbhary)
Subject: Humor
Ashu, In your nth but consistently earnest rebuttal on the BKS epic you have
managed to coin the following amazing phrase:
"Think like a Nepali taxpayer"
To loosely borrow another popular phrase "...both 16 and twins..imagine the
odds.."
So I tried...ke garne ;-)
and here's my top 10 list of what a Nepalese Tax Payer thinks like..
10. Na ta timra bau le tire, na ta hamra baule tire.
9. Kar prem ko kaichi ho.
8. I'm still thinking...call me bholi about paying
7. Ghush is the most efficient form of kar.{Harbard ka biduanka lagi bibad
ko bisaya)
5. "6" hunu parne re? Hisab ta mero ek matra kamjori!
4. Dharo dharma, gai ko burger khau, hijo matra tire tyatro tax.
3. Tire ko chaina re? BKS ka Syangjali kasari pade ta? Ashu lai sodhnus.
2. Sarkar lai mero upadesh, "na tiraunu, na banaunu"
1. "Modulo one" ko arithmetic bare sunnu bha cha baje?
...and then Shirley Cheung asked " who do teenagers do daily?"
enquiring minds want to know!
Namaste
Bhushan
********************************************************
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 01:51:58 -0500 (EST)
Forwarded by: Ashutosh Tiwari <tiwari@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Getting to know what's going on on the Nepali economy.
To: Nepal Digest <nepal@cs.niu.edu>
From: Neal Cohen <ncohen@usaid.gov>
ECONuggets #20
1. BANK CHANGES: S. P. Shrestha, former Deputy Governor of the Rastra
Bank, and on the ELP Policy Dialogue Committee was promoted to Gov-
ernor. Dr. H.D.Pant, former USAID employee, and Deputy Governor,
resigned and will now work full time on his NGO, NIRDHAN (a Grameen-
Bank clone). Dr. Prafulla Kafle has been promoted to Deputy Governor
(doctorate from the USSR, not a good analyst, nor pro-liberalization,
a command/control type person), as has Puspha Rajkanikar who was in
charge of supervision and before that was in charge of Development
Finance. We had worked with him on liberalizing finance and leasing
companies. He was good, open, and benefitted from a trip we arranged
to see how other countries regulate their finance companies (however,
he did not improve the regulation).
P. Panday resigned as head of Nepal Bank Ltd and is replaced by the
Chief Accountant. Those senior to him, the current Deputy GMs, might
resign. Dr. Tilak Rawal, who had a week to go on his contract at ADB/N
will not be extended. Keshev Acharya, the personal economist to the
Minister of Finance (for the last three weeks, before that in charge
of national income accounts at the Nepal Rastra Bank) will become
chairman. He is rather junior with no commercial banking experience.
His General Manager is Ram Kumar Sharma, who was an officer at APROSC.
He also lacks any banking experience.
G. P. Neupane, the GM at Rastriya Banijya Bank, has been elevated to
Executive Chairman as S. P. Shrestha, the former executive chairman
moved to be Governor of the Rastra Bank.
The head of NIDC was promoted to Executive Chairman of NIDC and thus
has more power than before.
2. CHILD LABOR: Government pulled back the carpet certification because
of complaints from the industry as to whether the new process would be
believable, and could be monitored without corruption. The industry
feels that child labor is no longer an issue (almost all children have
been let go, except from a few small producers), but that government
needs to address the quality issue and illegal imports from India.
Such a licensing, with AAFLI, UNICEF and CWIN involvement could reduce
the number of Indian carpets being sold as Nepali carpets. The indus-
try wants to deal with the quality issue rather than the child labor
issue. The Minister continues to study the issues, will call a meeting
within two weeks to decide whether to put certification back on track.
He appears to be more concerned about dealing with bonded labor.
Harkin has gotten $2million as a US contribution to the ILO to imple-
ment their program for International Program to Eliminate Child Labor.
It is possible that Nepal could get some of that money, if it signs an
MOU with the ILO (still being awaited--Nepal has signed very few of
the ILO conventions). Further, Harkin touted in a press conference the
new voluntary RUGMARK label which some Indian producers are using.
This is being used as a marketing tool for Indian carpets. We had
hoped to get the same coverage for Nepal's mandatory requirement.
However, that was not possible. British papers covered child labor in
the Indian garment industry last week. The issue may not be on the
front burner, but it remains an issue.
3. TRADE UNIONS: The certification as collective bargaining agent at the
enterprise level was supposed to occur in September 1994. Because of
the political problems it was delayed. The new Government is looking
at the issues, will issue rules governing the process after discussion
with a new Labor Court, and with trade unions. It is hoped that elec-
tions could occur in April, but it is more likely they will be delayed
until the summer to give Gefont more time to catch up to NTUC in
organizing.
Government is considering a change in the minimum wage. Something
between Rs300-600 per month is likely. This usually happens every
three years, with the last being the summer of 1992. [Currently Rs1150
including the dearness allowance.) In a report we did in October 1994,
we noted that an increase of Rs150 was justified if the goal was to
maintain the level in real terms. That would translate to an increase
of nearly Rs300 if inflation remains around 9% for the rest of the
fiscal year. NTUC will push for a Rs 600 increase.
Neal Cohen
***************************************************************
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 02:05:25 -0500 (EST)
From: Ashutosh Tiwari <tiwari@husc.harvard.edu>
Subject: Some thoughts on TU
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Thanks to Amulya Tuladhar for supplying the background info
on botanist Dr. Kamal Joshi, the new Vice-Chancellor of TU. Though I
respect Dr. Joshi's political activism and views (even though I do NOT
share his enthusiasm for them), I sincerely hope that he puts his
'leftist' views aside and continues on with some of the works that Kedar
Mathema had initiated. BASIC among Mathema's works:
1. Sticking to a university-wide calendar that makes it easier for students
to attend classes and take exams on time.
2. Making entrance exams a requirement for admission to every faculty
at every level of the university.
3. Increasing the number of class-days so that it is comparable to that
at good Indian and other Asian universities.
4. Requiring professors to do their work at TU, and not working outside
on their own (for a long time) by merely using the university as a
remote, if prestigious, base.
5. Making sure that ALL classes are held regularly at the scheduled
times by the scheduled instructors.
6. Cutting down on unnecessary costs (such as the notorious TU cafeteria
that sold a plate of rice-and-meat at a ridiculously low price, at the
expense to Nepali taxpayers), and raising money through rentals of TU
facilities and reseach services, and so on.
7. Not giving in to the student-hadtals, which are, quite frankly, full
of ridiculous demands. [I don't know why TU students act as though
they were some oppressed laborers rising against the hated bourgeoisie
(i.e. the administration). But I guess that happens everywhere]
At any rate, Mathema was a skilled negotiator who could, by and large,
charm the fiery student-leaders with his straightforward, open, yet
trustworthy approach to problem-solving). On the whole, I suspect that
even the most politically active students have a grudging respect for
him.
8. Pushing forth the idea that higher education at state subsidy is NOT
everyone's right, but a PRIVILEGE and an HONOR that comes with
responsibilities.
And to these basic points, Dr. Joshi MUST gradually add:
1. Instituting a set of graduation requirements which would include
courses on writing and reasoning and perhaps doing original research
(such as senior honors thesis or related works) for ALL students.
2. Taking steps to devise criteria for faculty promotion. The current
practice of promoting professors on the basis of their seniority
flies in the face of academic integrity and productivity that should
be at the heart of every university. But this is a tough nut to crack,
especially for a person like Dr. Joshi who presumably has his friends
on the Faculy Council, and does not wish to alienate them.
Ideally, Mathema should have been allowed to stay on at TU and
continue on with his work. [TU needs a strong team at the top for at
least 10 years to make it a good university] Failing that, the new
government could at least have chosen Dr. Kamal Prakash Malla, an
England-trained linguist who is probably Nepal's foremost authority on
higher education as the new VC. Or, they could have chosen someone
younger, say, like Sri Ram Mathema, the former Campus Chief of St.
Xavier's College, who's a top-rate administrator, a well-liked teacher
and somebody with a passion for higher education.
All said and done, Dr. Joshi appears to be more of a politician
than an academic leader. From what I do know about him, I am not sure that
he's a good fund-raiser, a cost-conscious manager, a good coalition-builder,
and a visionary with great enthusiasm for higher education in Nepal. But
I am waiting to be shorn of all my doubts as he takes over the helm of TU
and surpasses even Mathema's achievements.
namaste
ashu
***********************************************************
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 1995 15:52:44 -0500 (EST)
From: Nirmal Ghimirez <NGH42799Q236@DAFFY.MILLERSV.EDU>
To: nepal@cs.niu.edu
Subject: no good, no bad
This is in response to a very difficult question asked by Camille Richard.
In December she had asked what is good in your culture that is not in mine.
First of all, I want to clarify that no one culture is perfect.I have never
said that one culture is better than the other. I will never do so,for that
only shows ignorance of oneself. I also believe that first we are all human
and that is primarily very important. Then came this culture. Infact we are all
a part of the same unknown soul. I am not saying that this is the absolute
truth but that is what I think. Then again she wrote that maybe I have not been
long enough in America to be a critic this culture. But what I believe is once you
are in a society it is your social obligation to speak against the things you
think is not correct. Then if you are wrong you learn from it and if not others
learn from it. So, being here in this place for some time,i thought of speaking
out. It is nothing offensive.
First of all one very big problem that I have seen so far is the treatment
of elderly people. I really feel sorry when I see some of my American friends
talk to their parents. It is good to be frank and talk, but the respect must be
there. I do not say that they should fear.But maybe we should also think from
the point of view of the parents. And if we just respect them due to fear then
that is bad too.Or maybe the concept of parents mean different in different
cultures. But that is hard to believe.Mother and father are mother and father
after all. I think the word mother has the same affect in every culture.
Secondly I said last time that maybe abstinence is one of the way to slove
problems like,AIDS, abortion, and rape. And when I said maybe that is something
West can see from east. I am not saying that the other culture is better.But
according to time it seems appropriate.
The other sad factor is the very basic family. I think it is very hard to
become a full person when you are deprived from the love of the family.
Unfortunately that is the case with many children here. Is it good to stay
together as a joint family or is it better to separate? Forif you stay
together there is a better chance of learning more and more support.
There is a support when children are growing up and a greeat time when you
grow old. Home is far better a place than nursing homes. How much has it really
affected by the breakdown of the conventional structure of the family?
There is also the truth that western influence is growing in many places.
But that does not indicate of any one culture being great. I think one of the
biggest problem today is family values and family ethics. I am again
not saying that either is better, but the truth is a stable family is
more secure and happy than the other. If one grows up in a family he has
a higher chances of seeing things from others point of view too.
The bottom line is that all human beings are striving for the eternal
freedom,salvation, nirvana or moksha. All are trying to escape from the
cycle of birth and rebirth(i.e.if one believes). Maybe one is trying to
move by oneself and for one's own benefit. Maybe going alone satsfies them.
And mayber some other are trying to move together. But either is good.
And what is honey for some maybe poison for others.SO, once again I am
not saying one is better than other. But, however I can't deny that some things
look more apt in one culture than the other. There is nothing bad in learning
good and wise things from others.The world and ideas is to be shared for the
upliftment of all. I have a lot to learn from this new civilization and this
new country. I have learnt some very positive things like human rights,
Animal rights etc.Besides that I have a lot to comment to and eithe you
like it or not I will do so. I do not at all mind on any comments in
either culture as long as you have respect for it. It would be nice to hear
about the drawbacks of other cultures or misunderstanding of some
other cultures.In this way maybe we can learn a lot about other culture and our
own culture too .By the way I am not a sociologist, anthropologist or
a culture major.it is all from personal experience.Last but not least
culture is here to unite us bring us more closer and never and never to
separate us.All comments are appreciated.Thanks.Nirmal
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