CK Lal dismisses the 15 chapters that comprise Unequal Citizens-which took four years of research and consultations to compile-in eight paltry sentences. The work is a summary that analyses the outcomes of exclusion and discrimination within Nepal with hard data, starkly revealing the extent of inequality. Such data is essential to begin negotiating a more equitable and inclusive society. The study was designed to amplify the voices of citizens from excluded groups who lack the social and political influence to attract the attention of decision-makers and development workers.

Lal reveals his disdain for and lack of understanding of the entire development dialogue by presenting a pseudo-history that reduces five decades of development to a string of buzzwords. Particularly offensive are the slighting comments he makes about our colleagues, who carried out the bulk of research and writing.

The writers, academics and activists who contributed to the study rank among the finest of Nepalis seriously engaged in creating a more inclusive nation. To malign them by writing that "the project was probably conceived to keep possible activists occupied while the king . (governed)," is both snide, and false.

Judith R Stahl Amtzis and Isabella C Bassignana Khadka,
Gender and Social Exclusion Assessment of Nepal team

. The inclusion preached in Unequal Citizens ('Development Laboratory', Review by CK Lal, #314) is a donor buzzword, but quite different in practice. Distinguished Madhesi scholars work on gender and ethnicity issues, but none are on the study's advisory committee or research team.

In the study, data analysis, facts and figures concerning Madhesis are inaccurate. How can all Madhesi, whether Brahmin, or middle castes such as Rajput, Baniya, Madwari, Bengali, and Nurang be put in the Brahmin-Chhettri (BC) category?

Donors, INGOs, and NGOs exclude Madhesis in the recruitment and decision-making processes, and in consultations to determine what they need. What percentage of the total staff of the World Bank or DFID are Madhesi? Inclusion isn't about organising seminars, but involving the excluded. Make your own organisations inclusive.

Baldeo Lal Shah,
Sarlahi

. Unequal Citizens is right on track, and the inequality is evident from the selection of its key consultants-Bahun, Chhetri or Newar, with one Tamang woman. It further reeks of disparity when you know that the project leader's salary made up 15 percent of the ?7,00000 project budget. Convert into rupees and multiply by four (years it took to publish the book). Talk about inequality.

Based on the findings of this ridiculously expensive work, DFID has developed an action plan to be led by the same foreigner donors think has influence at the Planning Commission and ministries. Around 20 percent of the total projected money will make up this person's salary.

This is not to criticise Nepal-based bideshi consultants, but it is disgusting to see money meant to reduce the poverty of Nepalis spent like this. Unequal citizens? Right on.

Siddhartha,
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