I don't think the solution to our nation's problem is hefty
construction of Presidential palaces and ministerial suites. Our country needs
a grassroots change movement simultaneous to a change in the private sector.



The prime necessity to draw in investments, local or foreign, is security. With
a two-fold security system currently in place--where the police and the army
are very weak because of the Maoists and other political factions still at
large--our country's security situation is very hard to solve. From abroad, I
don't think we can contribute much to this besides request for international
pressure. The Association of Nepalese in America and other NRN organizations
would have to figure out how to muster up support from foreign governments in
order to boost up the security. I am most pessimistic about this aspect.



From a local level, however, there can be a great change that can be delivered
in Nepal. This grassroots movement starts with our villages. In Bangladesh, the Grameen Bank initiative
has empowered thousands of women leading to economic success in smaller
communities that transcends upon larger communities, and then eventually the
world.



I can think of a similar project that empowers local communities. The Dollar-a-Month campaign
by Mahabir Pun comes to mind. Mahabir Pun went back to Nepal from University of
Nebraska Kearney and started an experiment in the rural parts of mountainous
Nepal. This wireless project has now expanded to serve over 20,000 people in
seven villages. Local communities can communicate between each other, deliver
goods and services through the internet, and eliminate the travel for a lot of
things. This includes services like telemedicine, teleteaching, and the
villagers can also readily access to news and information.



Changes like this--on a smaller level--is what an individual can do for the
country. If you really want to help many people right away, I think this
program serves as an excellent start. Don't target fixing Nepal's highway
system or curbing corruption right away. One step at a time.