Gandaki, Oct 10: Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said the alternative to democracy is democracy itself.    

Addressing the Literate Gandaki Province Declaration Programme organized by the Gandaki Province Government here today, PM Deuba said nobody could hijack democracy and nobody should ever dream of doing so.    

He congratulated the citizens of the Gandaki Province on becoming the residents of a literate province.    

"The Constitution of Nepal has ensured education as the fundamental right and everyone should get this right," Prime Minister said. He said the international community and the World Health Organization (WHO) as well have appreciated the efforts made towards prevention and control of COVID-19 in Nepal.    

According to him, various experiences and studies show that literacy and prosperity are directly related. He pointed out the need of conducting additional programmes by determining the exact data on the literate and the illiterate populations. The budget should be arranged and the continuity of the literacy programme should be ensured.    

Noting that the history of the Gandaki province is that it is the birthplace of luminaries like Bhanu Bhakta Acharya and Motiram Bhatta, the Prime Minister said the declaration of the province as a literate province is an important achievement.    

Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel was of the view that Gandaki Province was home to several potentials, insisting on the need for support from the federal government to explore such potentialities. The construction of the Tribeni-Korola route remaining as the lifeline of the Province and other road projects was essential here, according to him.    

Stating that the implementation of some projects had remained hindered in absence of land acquisition, he urged the federal government for support and facilitation towards that end.    

He also drew the attention of the Prime Minister towards helping for upgrading the Pokhara Stadium to conduct night sports events.    

National Assembly Chair Ganesh Prasad Timilsina underlined the need of introducing Nepal as a nation of educated citizens. “Along with the announcement of ‘Literate Gandaki Province’ the campaign for unstopped education should be continued.”    

Gandaki Province Speaker Netranath Adhikari and Minister for Education, Culture, Science, Technology and Social Development, Mekhlal Shrestha, among others said it was a matter of pride for all Province people that the Province was declared literate.