Poor people dying

14 Jan 2006. Maoists attacked two police out posts in Kathmandu. 12 police persons died. Poor people are dying because of the worst form of governance and selfish politics of all political forces in Nepal.

Stand on your feet

One should not be carried away by the whiffs and moods of others. We should not be the toy for others' amusement.People respond to promises and threats. One has to attain capacities--the power-- to promise or threaten. There are, of course, two ways of getting those capacities or power--peaceful or bloodshed. We all know by now that violence does even the justice unjustly. It is during the hours of frustration that one commits more serious mistakes. Therefore there is a need for caution and wisdom to pursue strategically, tactically and technically with speed(we are too slow to act by ourselves and bank heavily on others to do something for us).

Citizens' role in security policy making

25 Dec 2005. Nepal police inaugurated the Post Graduate Diploma in Police Science course today. In fact this is a basic training course designed for fresh inspectors which has been recently endorsed by Tribhuvan University for Diploma level certificate. It could be successful only after some years of efforts on our parts and cooperation of the University family. With the notion that we need to educate citizens in the issues of crime and security management, Nepal police had taken initiatives (proposal for Master’s Degree in Police Science was forwarded to ministry of home through police headquarters by National Police Academy—at that time I was the Director) in 2058 BS (2001AD) to establish a center where matters of crime and security management could be dealt institutionally. In countries where major decisions pertaining to crime and security management—at the level of personal or national-- are prominently dominated by security agencies, such programs are necessary to involve citizen’s participation in policy making and cooperation in implementation. I am of the view that this program should be open for outsiders also. This will have multiple impacts— at individual, institutional and national level. I also dream of having a Police University in coming years—like they have in other countries.

Dedication for mankind

14.12.2005. I attended the marriage ceremony of one of the orphan girls nursed, brought up, educated and solemnized as bride by Indira Rana Magar, Chair person of Prisoners Assistance Nepal. This girl was abandoned by her parents. This organization has been rescuing innocent children from prisons who had to live inside the jails with their convicted parents with out their own faults. Indira had established this organization five years ago. PA Nepal’s mission is to rid prisoners of unnecessary suffering and hardship, in particular the suffering experienced by innocent children and prisoners who are poor and disadvantaged. It wants to help transform prisons into places that work to help prisoners build worthwhile and rewarding futures.

There are fifty five children in her home at present. She is the mother of all these children. Indira was recently awarded Ashoka Fellowship for her dedication and devotion to her love and care for helpless children. She was also awarded Top Fifty Women of Nepal Award. She is also running a primary school for poor and orphan children. Her organization is entirely dependent on the donations of friends and supporters- not on any INGO. Looking at her determination, hard work and dedication, I felt myself very much selfish and petite in front of this great lady who has sacrificed her happiness and whole life for the sake of poor and needy children. My regards and best wishes to such a leader.

Sani Sherpa committed suicide

13 Nov. 2005. Sani Sherpa, 27 years old woman, committed suicide few hours ago here in Kathmandu. She committed suicide out of utter poverty and frustration. She had two children, one two year old girl and the other one a five days old boy baby. Now the baby is sent to the hospital and the girl child is with the police. Her husband had apparently abandoned her with her fate. She was looked after by her neighbors. It is unfortunate that despite of many social organizations to help poor woman like Sani, such incidents keep on happening.

Looking for talents in the streets

28 Oct. 2005. The seven party coalitions have called for “Valley Bandha” (Valley Closedown) today in protest of the government’s law on media. On the eve of the general strike the police radios and walkie-talkies were already blaring harsh instructions to “arrest street children in as many number as possible” in a bid to foil their participation in today’s rallies. Street children quite often suffer most in such events.

Contrary to this, Sadak Pratibha Sarokar Nepal (Street Children Concern Nepal), a NGO of street children, organized a closing ceremony to mark the end of the six month long skill development training. Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare was the chief guest. Ms Komal Oli, a noted singer, and me were some of the guests. On this occasion, the shooting of the first take of the tele film “Aawaaj”(Voices of street) was also inaugurated. The Save the Children, Norway is assisting this organization’s activities.

The problems are—why we can’t stop bullying children? And why we can’t stop children landing up in the street? A more proactive role is required instead of taking reactive ones.

Prerequisites of elections

18 Oct 2005. The local municipality elections are scheduled to be held in Magh of this year and the general election for parliament has been slated by the end of next year i.e. end of Chaitra 2063. Sounds good! But the pertinent questions are: will these elections solve all the current political problems? Are we not going to resolve down imminent things before these elections? Two key issues remain to be addressed before these elections--the re-establishment of peace by prevailing law and order, and restructuring of the political system. What about the inclusive type of political system that we have been talking lately? And what about the proportionate representative election system associated with these issues? Don’t you think that these are prerequisites to any elections if we really wish to settle things once for all?