Exclusive Interview With Ram Prasad Dhungana
B.E. in Computer
First Man to Implement Voting Machine in Nepal

Ram Prasad Dhungana is a young and energetic IT professional. He is B.E. in Information Technology and currently working in Nepal Development Bank, Katmandu as an IT Incharge.

Just 25 years of age, but he has been rewarded with a prestigious reward from RONAST for his electronic voting machine, which was his happiest moment. He and his team is the first to develop Electronic Voting Machine in Nepal.

His future plan is to implement his voting machine for upcoming election of Constitutional Assembly. The following is a brief interview with him by Sovit Basyal.

Question:	How were you inspired to study IT?
Answer:	Well, from my childhood, I was very much interested in Science and Technology. I used to be surprised watching TV, Radio, Telephone, and other electronic devices and used to wonder how they actually work. I used to open the devices, observe the logical boards and circuits inside and try to repair the damaged ones. I think from that time I had planned to study technology and involve myself in the very field.
Question:	You've been rewarded by RONAST for your electronic voting machine, how do you feel now?
Answer:	It's a pleasure that RONAST has really encouraged me to do more in the field of information technology, but there are still challenges to implement the machine for it's real task. If the government also appreciated our work and cooperated with us, we can implement the machine for the upcoming election of Constitutional Assembly. And I think that'd be a true encouragement, reward, and a fair appreciation. Otherwise, the machine has no use by itself.
Question:	Do you think the Government would cooperate?
Answer:	Well, I can only hope. But they are only busy on their political games. Seems that they have nothing to think except politics. But everybody's excited about the new coming government. Let's see what happens.
Question:	How does your voting machine overcome the disadvantages or inconveniences over the traditional voting system?
Answer:	Well, that's a good question I suppose. Traditional voting system has many disadvantages and it can't be always fair, because one man can vote many times, capture the booth by force, vote counting is time consuming because it's manual, and many other disadvantages. But my voting machine completely overcomes those disadvantages. There is no chance for a man to vote more than one time neither his physical power is useful. The votes are stored in a centralized computer, like, suppose you're in Pokhara but your vote is submitted and stored to the centralized computer in Kathmandu, vote counting is performed by the computer itself, which is the fastest medium, and so on… In fact our voting machine is a technical solution for voting problem of Nepal.
Question:	How do you find the future of Information Technology in Nepal.
Answer:	In fact, I can see the future of IT very bright in Nepal. Today the Internet and the Information Technology is a constant in the lives of millions of people around the world, and it's reach and usefulness seems almost unlimited. If we are able to take and use it in a planned way, IT can be a pillar of the development of the nation. Due to lack of proper plans, we are missing lots and lots of opportunities. Computer in Nepal and India were introduced almost at the same time, but Indians saw the potential of the computer and we could not. It's really sad. But still, we have lots of chances. All we need is a proper plan and dedication.
Question:	Finally, thanks for your time for the Pokharapage.com's Technology Talk. Anything you'd like to tell to us and our viewers?
Answer:	In fact, the Internet may be one of the most important factors shaping the near future. Its existence has already changed the way many people work, communicate, and do business. The Internet has enabled us to access nearly any kind of information from a PC, and it has freed us from many kinds of chores. It has given us a new place to shop, study, work, and socialize. I've figured out that the potential of Pokharapage.com is beginning to be understood. I hope your work will be appreciated by all people.

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