Posted by: rajan101 November 22, 2010
Anuradha Koirala may be disqualified
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EDITORIAL from myrepublica.com
It clearly indicates that her NGO lacks the financial transparency hope she will improve it in the coming days.














 
Ms Koirala, congratulations
 
 









We wholeheartedly congratulate Founder and Chairperson of Maiti
Nepal Anuradha Koirala for being named CNN Hero 2010 for her relentless
and tireless fight against trafficking and sexual exploitation of Nepali
women. That a Nepali national was voted ahead of many other deserving
candidates from across the world indeed gives us a very good reason to
be happy in these otherwise trying times. Ms Koirala’s non-governmental
organization (NGO) has indeed done a commendable job since nearly two
decades and the award is a fitting recognition of that.   



But, unfortunately, awards do not always give a complete picture of the
recipients, be it an individual or an organization, and that is sadly
true when it comes to Maiti Nepal and Ms Koirala as well. If awards
reflected the reality as it is, the world would never have been divided
into two camps when the prestigious Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Liu
Xiaobo this year and Barack Obama last year. That said we are not
taking anything away from Ms Koirala. She has done a fantastic job so
far. Our only feeling is that she surely could have traveled this
distance a bit differently.



One issue that is synonymous with Ms Koirala and her NGO is the lack of
financial transparency. Maiti Nepal is a mammoth NGO and the fund that
it receives is evidently quite huge. But there are allegations that the
organization’s fund is not managed transparently. In fact, this issue is
not isolated to Maiti Nepal. This is a problem with almost all the NGOs
of Nepal. Besides, much like the hundreds and thousands of NGOs in the
country, Maiti Nepal is also not considered free from nepotism,
favoritism and cronyism.



After receiving the award Ms Koirala was quoted as saying: “I feel this
award has added more responsibility on my shoulders.” It certainly has!
Now that the global recognition will ensure further flow of funds to her
NGO, it has become even more pressing for her to make her NGO
financially transparent so that accusing fingers are not pointed toward
her. In fact, we believe, that this award has given her the leverage to
lead a movement in the country to make the NGO’s transparent and
accountable. If she can do that besides continuing her commendable fight
against trafficking and sexual exploitation, she will have done enough
to justify this international recognition.



Congratulations once again for highlighting a burning problem of the
country in the midst of the international community and for making Nepal
proud
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