Govt to provide loan to Kamaiyas

Deputy Prime Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari has announced on Sunday that the government would provide loans to freed Kamaiyas (bonded labourers) to buy land. Adhikari emphasized that the loans need to be repaid once the Kamaiyas start generating income. 

There are about 6,000 landless Kamaiyas, who had been freed four years ago and are now residing in west Nepal.

Moreover, Adhikari said that the government will bear the cost of the
education of dalit children up to secondary level. There are 600 thousand dalit children in the secondary schools in Nepal.

Adhikari said discrimination in the society has triggered conflict and
created the Maoist problem and added that this year's budget will
concentrate on providing incentives to dalits, ethnic minorities and women. nepalnews.com pd July 26 04

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Diarrhea kills 27, hundreds infected

The spread of diarrhea has killed 27, with 20 deaths in various parts of rural Surkhet in the past few days, reports said Sunday. 

Residents of Maintada VDC, including minors of Surkhet district have died due to the disease. Many more are hospitalized. The lack of medicine and health workers in the area has worsened the situation. 

The Public Health Office situated in the headquarters has said necessary preparations are underway to send a medical team to the affected area. 

Another five, mostly minors have died in Pyuthan and two more in Palpa recently. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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Two killed in truck accident in Makwanpur 

Two people were killed when trucks heading in opposite directions collided at Basahmadi of Makwanpur district along the Mahendra Highway Monday morning.

According to reports, a woman passenger Shanta Kandel died at the accident site, while Upendra Chaudhary, a helper in one of the trucks died while being rushed to Hetauda hospital for treatment. 

A total of 11 civilians are reported to have been injured in the collision with 5 of them in serious condition. The seriously injured have been brought to the capital for treatment, while the rest are undergoing treatment in a hospital in Hetauda.

Meanwhile, a passenger bus reportedly overturned in Palpa Monday morning injuring 4 passengers. The injured people sustained minor injuries. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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Maoists murder civilian in Rautahat

Maoist rebels have murdered Bishnu Prasad Phuyal in Rautahat district on
Saturday evening, according to Sunday's radio reports. Phuyal had been abducted a few days ago from his home in Gaiyatar village.

Along with Bishnu Prasad Phuyal, the rebels also abducted Tej Prasad Phuyal, whose current status is unknown.

The reports added that the two were kidnapped after the Maoists had accused them of spying for the security forces. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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Government allocates budget for regional tourism promotion

The government of Nepal has allocated Rs 22.5m to promote tourism in the regional market in the 2004-2005 budget.

As a part of promoting tourism to Nepal from the regional markets, Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) with collaboration of various trade associations and the private sector has launched a 'marketing and promotion campaign' under the regional promotion campaign initiated by the government.

Under the campaign, NTB has promoted Nepal in various Asian countries like Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka said NTB in a press release. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

2,698 Nepalis selected for DV-2005

A total of 2,698 Nepalis were selected for the Diversity Visa Lottery of the US under the DV-2005 program, according to the American Center in Kathmandu.

Applicants registered for DV-2005 were selected at random from over 9.5 million qualified entries received during the 60-day application period that ran from November 1, 2003 to December 31, 2003.

The highest number of applicants were selected from Bangladesh with 7,404 people while Bhutan, Bahrain, Qatar and North Korea were the lowest with a single winner each. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

NUS hails Wagle verdict

Issuing a press release on Saturday, the National Unity Council (NUC), welcomed the verdict of the Special Court, convicting former minister and senior leader of the ruling Nepali Congress (Democratic), Chiranjivi Wagle.

Requesting everyone to lead a corruption free life, the NUC has said, "For the welfare of Nepalis, the state should take all possible actions against the corrupt."

Meanwhile, Wagle said that the verdict was politically motivated and said that he would appeal it in the Supreme Court. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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Refugees demand clear pre-conditions before repatriation

Protesting the one-sided conditions imposed by the Bhutani government, the refugees living in Khudanabari refugee camp have stated that they will not return to Bhutan under them.

The refugees have forwarded a six-point demand as a pre-condition for repatriation to the Druk government via Prime Minister Deuba and also asked that Nepal disregard the current Druk proposal. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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Foreign powers asking NC to join government: Koirala

President of Nepali Congress (NC), Girija Prasad Koirala, said that foreign powers are pressing his party to join the present government.

Speaking during a program held at Malangawa, Sarlahi on Saturday, Koirala added that despite the pressure, his party has no intentions of joining the present government which according to him is a continuation of 'regression'.

According to news reports, Koirala added that alternatives including constituent assembly elections and a referendum should remain open to initiate talks with the Maoists.

The reports added that Koirala also claimed that his party did join the government to address the Maoist insurgency in the country. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04 

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Peace talks with Maoists soon: Adhikari

Talks with Maoist rebels will begin within two months, according to deputy prime minister, Bharatmohan Adhikari.

Speaking in a program in Biratnagar, Adhikari said the government is trying to create a favourable atmosphere for talks and added that the government would be as flexible as necessary to end the insurgency.

"The government was waiting for positive signals from Maoists regarding restoring peace in the country," the reports quoted Adhikari as saying.

Earlier, Adhikari had asked government employees to contribute in whatever way they can in order to create an atmosphere for peace and assured them that the coalition government would not interfere in their attempts. nepalnews.com pd July 25 04

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