~Binaya Kasajoo~
Mr. INGO once went to a village along with Mr. NGO. Around midnight Mr. INGO fumbled towards by bush to attend to a call of nature. He was greeted by a cacophony of foxes wailing together. Next morning at breakfast Mr. INGO asked Mr. NGO why the foxes made such noise at night.
“Sir, it’s their way of life, they always cry out after dusk.”
“Well, what do you think can be done to quieten them down?”
“Why would we want to alter their way of life?”
“Because they don’t let the villagers sleep in peace. If people cannot sleep in peace it hampers their work potential, which in turn results in loss of revenue. Without income there is no development. So you see if the villagers want to prosper it is very important that these foxes are made to shut up!”
Mr. NGO then had an enormous brainwave. “How about distributing sleeping bags for the foxes so that they can sleep snugly and quietly through the night?”
Excellent idea. Why don’t you prepare a proposal along the same line?”
The following year Mr. INGO visited the same village again. Once again as he went out at night, he heard the foxes wailing. Only this time, there were foxes wailing from neighbouring hillocks too. The thought that the sleeping bags had not been delivered as scheduled robbed Mr. INGO of his sleep.
Early next morning he told Mr. NGO about the wailing foxes.
“Oh, yes! I heard them too. In fact this time there were two sets of wails. I bet you could make out what they were saying.”
“Could you be more explicit?”
“You see sir, the foxes in this village, knowing of your arrival were singing praises about you. The foxes from the neighbouring hills, meanwhile were voicing their demand for the project that gives away sleeping bags.”
“Ah! So I should say that the project has had a very positive impact. Good! Now we should expand programme to cover the whole district. Why don’t you come to Kathmandu and file in another proposal?”
(This English version was translated from Nepali version printed in Haka-Haki Vol. 2 p. 42 and reprinted in PDDP Bulletin, No.3, July 1997.)
(Source : Writer’s Blog)
