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Spotlight Family extends best wishesh to Crown Prince Paras on the auspicious occasion of his 36th bithday
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PRIME MINISTER GIRIJA PRASAD KOIRALA has sought support of International Labor Organization (ILO) in the rehabilitation of conflict-affected children. In his meeting with visiting ILO Executive Director Kari Tapiola, PM Koirala expressed his extreme concern over the use of children in Nepal ’s recently ended armed conflict and sought ILO’s support for the rehabilitation of these children in the post-conflict scenario, states a press release issued by ILO. “PM Koirala also reassured the commitment of the Government to not only ratify, but more importantly implement, the ILO Convention on Freedom of Association (No.87). He also expressed his gratitude to the ILO for its support during the difficult times of the People’s Movement II in Nepal ,” the release states. Tapiola said that ILO would find ways to increase its support for national peace building and would be discussing this issue with other government ministers. “The ILO Executive Director also expressed his happiness at having been received at the airport by all four national trade union federations, including the Maoist trade union, who have pledged to work for a common agenda,” the release states. Tapiola said that once ratified, the ILO can provide technical support to further the implementation of its fundamental core conventions, two of which Nepal has yet to ratify - Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organize (No. 87) and Abolition of Forced Labor Convention (No.105). In this regard, he urged Nepal to join the list of countries which have ratified all eight core conventions. The ILO delegation includes Leyla Tegmo Reddy, Director, ILO Sub-regional Office, New Delhi and Shengjie Li, Director, ILO Nepal Office
THE CABINET HAS PASSED AN IMMEDIATE ACTION PLAN (IAP) for the fiscal year 2006/07 in an attempt to expedite development process and maintain economic stability in an effective way as growth still seems discouraging primarily due to low economic activities. IAP focuses mainly on achieving major economic goals such as high, sustainable and broad-based growth; social sector and rural infrastructure development, good governance and inclusive development, said a source at Finance Ministry. Under these four areas, the government, through its action plan has reiterated to take action against willful defaulters. Similarly, the cabinet has also focused on expediting the establishment of Export Processing Zone (EPZs) and Special Economic Zones (SEZs). In a bid to stabilize financial sector, Insolvency Act, Secured Transaction Act and Financial Transparency Act are also being implemented with appropriate institutional mechanisms, according to cabinet decision. The cabinet has also decided to boost professional autonomy of civil servants. Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Local Development and Prime Minister’s Office will be responsible for the implementation of IAP, according to the source.
THE COUNTRY’S ONLY CD-4 testing facility, which examines the virus infection in HIV-infected persons, has stopped for the past three weeks. The facility was stopped quite suddenly. It was being offered by National Public Health Lab under the Department of Health Services. Home and travel leaves by technicians have been pointed as major reason for its stoppage. This test is crucial to determine if the virus infection is high in the patient – which would mean that the patient will have to start taking anti retro viral drug. Infected persons have regretted the stoppage of the facility. Dr. Rajendra Prasad Pant, acting director of National AIDS and STDs Control Center , said the facility will resume from Wednesday. “We have imported a new machine that does not require reagents for the tests. I can assure you that the service will resume from Wednesday,” he said.
THE WORLD BANK ECONOMIC PROSPECT 2007 has predicted that in the coming 25 years, the average growth rate of developing countries will increase compared to past 25 years. It, however, warns that in the absence of their proper management, economic disparity and environmental degradation could also increase alarmingly. The report titled Global Economic Prospect 2007: Managing Next Wave of Globalization estimates that developing countries would grow by 7 percent in the next 25 years. It further predicts that thanks to globalization, the size of global economy would surge from the current level of US$ 350 billion (in 2005) to US$ 720 billion (in 2030). The poverty will also decrease by one half. In 2030, there will be only 550 million people living in less than one dollar a day. It predicts that South Asia, especially India , will also grow rapidly at over 8 percent.
THE INTERNALLY DISPLACED PERSONS (IDPs) have been asked to contact with local administration. In a statement issued by the Home Ministry, the conflict-displaced persons have been asked to immediately contact with the local administration in order to implement the provision regarding their rehabilitation and return of their seized lands and properties as per the peace agreement between the government and the Maoists. The Ministry has said that it has instructed all local administration offices to collect records about IDPs.
