The Mail-Journal, Volume 15, Number 7, Milford, Kosciusko County, 8 March 1978 — Page 15

NEPAL — Seventh In A Series

Nepalese King cares about his people

By ARCH AND DELLA BAUMGARTNER KATHMANDU, Nepal, February 14 — Another day in Nepal, and our group of touring journalists continue to learn more about this quaint and remote country about which so little is known in the western world. At a reception last evening, in the formal atmosphere of Mr. and Mrs. John Eaves’ home, we continued to learn from our host and hostess and the gathered dignitaries. Mr. Eaves is the American Charges de Affairs. A Real Working King Nepal is ruled by a real working King — His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikrom Shan Deva — and at his side is his Queen — Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Lekshmi Devi Shah. Our informants at the reception at the Eaves home last evening spoke in glowing terms of the dedication of the 33-year-oid Monarch to the betterment of the lot of his people. In the first place, he does not receive wide publicity, but chooses to go incognito among his people. Just after he became King, upon the death of his father, he and his young Queen took a rickshaw ride in the city of Kathmandu, we were told. The young rickshaw driver explained the city’s sites to his clients. Finally, the King asked the young driver what his ambitions in life were, and he was told his am-, bitions were to someday own his own rickshaw. Thereupon, the King and Queen each gave the astonished youngs rickshaw driver a thousand rupee note with which he could purchase his rickshaw immediately. The slightly portly, bespectacled King spends much of his time in the hills among the native

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villagers, the better to learn first hand the problems of his subjects. He and the Queen dress modestly and sleep in tents in the villages, and many villagers refuse to believe he is actually the King. For one reason, they have always seen photos of the diety with multiple arms, and think their King, whom they revere as diety, should also have multiple arms. Tibet Rugs A number of our party, including Della, managed to ferret out a “rug factory,” and made purchases of genuine Tibet rugs. The rugs are 3 by 6 feet and cost an average of SBO. In the U.S., if indeed they could be purchased at all, they would more than likely cost S3OO or more. The “factory” was a three story building with girls in ages ranging from nine to 30 years, in small darkened room done the tedious art of hand weaving. We managed to speak to one girl through the man in charge, and we found her to be nine years of age. But she seemed to happy at the attention we gave her. When we photographed her and - gave her a stick of gum, we made her day. We were told two girls, working together, can weave one of these magnificent rugs in two weeks, working eight hours a day for a six-day week. For this they receive 250 rupees or about $24 in American dollars. Figure it out: it amounts to one rupee or 12 cents per hour. This reminds one of the early American sweat shops. Watch Your Shoes On our tour of Kathmandu yesterday another member of our party nearly lost a shoe, giving rise to our new catchword — “Watch your shoes.”

Bob Rouse, a resident of Santa Cruz, California, got his shoes shined by a street vendor, and when the job was completed, the young fellow demanded S2O. Bob had nothing like that in rupees, and trod off to a local bank to get some money changed. Later he found the young fellow and gave him a few rupees, then told him to “beat it.” Americans get suckered into these situations so easily. At our hotel this morning we noted a large contingency of Japanese. These days the Japanese are all over the world promoting their export trade. All at once it dawned on us that here we have Japanese talking to Nepalese in English and spending American money at this Nepalese hotel. It should give one an idea of the American influence around the world. More Briefings Yesterday we were slated for a number of briefings by government officials for more background on this remote country. Our first was with a Mr. Tappa who was the minister in charge of the country’s Back to the Village Movement. He told us there is a strong tendency for people in the villages to come to the city, principally Kathmandu, to live, creating an overcrowded condition. In order to improve the quality of village life, the government has issued an edict ordering all government officials and employees to work one week per year, without compensation or remuneration for transportation in a village. Even the country’s prime minister takes part in the program. The idea, the minister told us/ was to give villagers a feeling of nationalism, a feeling of having a hand in the decision-making of their government’s policies. The program, in effect now for eight years, has been successful. The minister also explained the composition of the 132-member Panchayat (Parliament), how each village elects its own local council member, who in turn elect' representatives on a regional level, with this form of * representation working its way up to the Panchayat. With a literacy rate of oily 18 per cent, this form of representation works out well, we were told. The young King, then, selects

the Prime Minister and his various ministers. The subject went astray when we asked the minister about Nepalese marriage customs. He said all a couple has to do is tell their friends “we are married,” and a marriage becomes recognized. He added, “The best marriage certificate are the children.” He noted that their drinking water is their biggest problem, and somewhere in here he cited President Kennedy’s famous inauguration statement, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Foreign Affairs Minister Our group was next to meet Udav Dev Bhatt, who had been foreign secretary in the United Nations for four years, who noted that his country’s best policy was one of friendship toward China and India. He said India’s Prime Minister Desai visited Nepal in January and that the Chinese Prime Minister also visited Nepal recently. He said Nepal was the first recipient of U.S. foreign aid under President Truman’s Four Point program, noting that American interest in his poor country has continued since that time. He said Nepal also receives aid from the USSR with whom they have good relations. Complete Disarmament Mr. Bhatt told us his small country now has relations with 37 countries and that there are 27 foreign embassies in Kathmandu. “The only way to solve world problems is with complete disarmament,” our host said, noting a world disarmament conference coming up in June. We informed him, that from a major power point of view this is impractical, but he stuck with his point. He said the arms race has a spill-over into smaller nations. He added, “Any step that leads to less world tension is welcomed by us. He also said there are strict laws in Nepal against the growing and use of drugs. We met the minister in a large, cold room, with the only light coming into the room from large floor-to-ceiling windows. USIS Briefing Yesterday, Monday, Feb. 13, we were taken to the U.S. In-

formation Service where the U.S. maintains an excellent library which circulates books, magazines and periodicals that tell the American story. We found it well stocked with literature and well used by many Nepalese. We were briefed by Diane Stanley and Sam Peale, two members of the United States Information Service, stationed here. They gave us the background of the agency’s work in Nepal and the methods used to distribute their bulletins and other informational material to the people of this country. A chief effort is not mass distribution, we were told, but to get this material into the hands of policy-makers. There are regular Friday briefings, and there are tapes of U.S. television programs such as “Meet The Press,” that are available for use by anyone who desires them. The slick, highquality magazine “Free World,” published in the native Nepalese tongue and printed in Manila, has about 5,000 copies circulated in this country to important personages. The USIs has 350 students in its English-speaking classes, where emphasis is placed on speaking English. Mr. Stanley, attractive and admitting to 41-years-of-age, is a Missouri School of Journalism graduate and has her eye on an ambassadorial post. And Sam Peale showed himself to be an articulate, knowledgeable representative in Nepal. The USIs budget is small at $160,000, but some members of our party were chafed to learn that the present aid budget of sl2 million is being asked to be increased to sl7 million in the ensuing year. In all, Mr. Peale told us, Nepal gets nearly S6O million yearly in foreign aid, and has difficulty using it all productively. Mr. Peale said there are 55 Americans in Nepal, all told, and 147 Peace Corps volunteers who are doing a real good job. Here since 1962, he called the Peace Corps efforts a “real success story.” He said there is some Hashish grown in the hills of Nepal, and noted there are political prisoners in the country. He pointed to the country’s real

Commissioners table permit fee schedule

County commissioners tabled the proposed fee schedule for the Kosciusko County Area Plan Commission at their March meeting. Three commissioners voiced objections to the adoption of a schedule. The schedule and requirements for rebuilding damaged structures, due to disasters, were opposed by commissioners Fredrick Gilliam, Gerald Smalley and Maurice Dorsey. The proposal was created when the Kosciusko County Council suggested the plan commission become self-sufficient by the readoption of fees. A fee schedule for the obtaining of permits was suspended in March 1977, at the plan commission’s suggestion. Fees are only charged for persons not obtaining permits before building from that time to the present. Fees, generated from a schedule, would go into the general fund. If fees would have been collected on the 1,165 permits issued last year, $17,475 would have been added to the fund. Under the fee schedule, charges would be S2O for a multifamily residence plus $5 for each additional unit; sls for a single family residence up to 2,200 square feet; $25 for a single family residence over 2,200 square feet; $5 for an accessory structure in excess of 150 square feet; and $25 up to 2,500 square/" feet with $5 for each additional 1,000 square feet for all over structures. The three commissioners stated they opposed the adoption of the schedule because it charged anyone who wished to build and is an additional charge. Commission attorney Rex L. Reed will consider the fee schedule from the point if it is required by state law. An interpretation of the law is disagreed upon.

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problems for progress are communications and transportation. The potential for developing hydroelectrical power is enormous, given the program know-how and financing. And, finally, Mr. Peale told our group family planning efforts in Nepal are successful. National Planning Our final briefing session of the day came when we met American-educated Dr. B. P. Shreshtha, vice president of the National Planning Commission. Dressed in the usual native garb, soldier-like cap, tight pants, vest and coat, he got into his subject quickly and showed real inspiration for his work. He said there are three aims of the planning commission —l. To improve the quality of rural life; 2. Make better use of the country's manpower by helping rural people produce more than one crop; and 3. Sharing the fruits of the country’s economy more widely. He said as late as 1961 the country’s economy was in a state of stagnation and exploitation with a GNP of from $6 to $7 million. Now it exceeds S2OO million. In 1961 the country’s total export-import trade was a mere $6 million; now it stands at S3OO million per year. He also pointed to expanded schools since 1961. Dr. Shreshtha said “something is basically wrong with our economy, with the widening of the gap between the “haves” and “have-nots.” Two-thirds of the population live in the mountains working one third of the land, each family with 10 to 11 hectors each, and in the plains there are a third of the people with twothirds of the land. People are moving down from the hills, cutting the forests and terracing the hillsides, causing real erosion problems. We were told Nepal has a greater hydroelectric potential than the U.S. and Canada combined. All of us were taken by the dedication and articulation of Dr. Shreshtha. It was men like him, educated in the western ways of progress, who were the best bet for this poor country, and offered the real progress for Nepal’s future.

The commissioners stated the proposals could be separated into two ordinances. The other part of the ordinance allows structures damaged or destroyed by disasters to be rebuilt within 12 months, if it is not of “greater content than before such casualty and if said reconstruction does not pose a threat as a public health or safety hazard.’’ At 2 p.m., Tuesday, April 4, the commission will discuss the two matters. Merry Lee Center to present program The Turkey Creek Conservation Club will meet this Thursday, March 9, at 7:30 p.m. in the clubhouse on SR 13A, one mile norm of the fish hatchery. The program will be presented by representatives of the Merry Lea Environmental Center, which is located near Wolf Lake. Slides and descriptions of the center’s varied works and projects will be presented. All interested people are invited to attend. BEERS PURCHASE WOLLMAN HOME The Levi Beers of north of Milford have purchased the Wilford Wollman home on West Street in Milford and will be moving sometime this month. -"'XThe Wollmans will be staying in a mobile home on property they own in the southwest comer of Turkey Creek Township. They plan to build a home in the future. The Beers sold their home to the Ronald Schwartzes of Fort Wayne. The Schwartz family will be moving to Milford in the near future. Bessie Sunthimer sells home to Roy Kellys Bessie Sunthimer of North Main Street, Milford, has sold her home to Roy Kelly of r 1 Milford. She will be moving into Walnut Court, Greencroft Center, Goshen, when the weather is warmer. An uncovered lemon peel will absorb refrigerator odors and add its own fresh smell.

Wed., March 8,1978 — THE MAIL-JOURNAL

I M RECEIVES AWARDS — Airman Donald E. Johnson, right, son of Mr. and Mrs. Donald L. Johnson, 424 East Boston Street, Syracuse, was recently selected as the PRIDE airman of the quarter at Rickenbacker AFB. This award is given to an individual who is outstanding among his or her peers in every day duties, as well as showing improvement academically through professional military and civilian education. Johnson also received the SAC educational achievement award for his efforts in completing a prescribed number of college credits in one year and maintaining at least a 3.5 grade average. Both awards were presented to Johnson by General Ellis, commander in chief of the strategic air command, left. Johnson was also selected to compete against other airmen, world-wide, for honors as one of the 12 outstanding airmen of the year. Johnson, a graduate of the Syracuse Christian School, is married to the former Barbara Norris of Plymouth. They have three children, Amy, Cathy and Connie. He entered the Air Force June 1975.

Commodore purchases Monarch

As of March 1, The Commodore Corporation, of Daleville, Va., a manufacturer of mobile homes, completed the purchase of Monarch Industries, Syracuse. This facility will add 80,000 square feet of production capacity to Commodore's other three operating plants in Haleyville, Ala., Danville, Va. and Lebanon, Ore. Commodore has recently announced its operating results for the second quarter and the first six months period ending December 31, 1977. Sales rose 54 per cent to $6,568,000 for the quarter and 30 per cent to $13,611,000 for the first six months as compared to the comparable prior year periods. Operating profits before tax provision and extraordinary item for the second quarter were $341,000 compared to a loss of $217,000 in the same period last year and for the six month period, were $686,000 compared to a loss of $263,000 for the same

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period last year. It is also estimated that mobile home shipments during 1978 will increase by 19 per cent over 1977. Car skids into vehicle A car driven by Robin J. Bratten, Twin Echo Horse Farms, Milford, was going south on Main Street, when it skidded and hit a car stopped for a sign at the Emeline intersection. The stopped car, driven by Debra L. Loetz, r 1 North Webster, was damaged on the left front door and rear, about $250. It is owned by B. and W. Leasing, Inc., Syracuse. The left front bumper of the first car, owned by Dionne Manns, Milford, was damaged SIOO. The accident was investigated by the Milford Police department.

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