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VOL. 27, NO. 10, November 02, 2007 (Kartik 16 2064 B.S.)
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ON THE OCCASION OF DASHAIN FESTIVAL, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala issued a message stating that only joint efforts can help transform the country. “To transform the country into a new and prosperous Nepal is possible only through mutual goodwill, unity and harmony,” PM Koirala stated in his Dashain greeting. He has also urged all to brush aside their petty interests for the sake of sustainable peace in the country.
KING GYANANEDRA EXTENDED Dashain greetings to Nepalis residing both in the country and abroad as well as all Hindus, wishing them happiness, peace and prosperity. The king, in his message, said that the success of the ongoing peace process to guarantee peace and security was the aspiration of the people and the need of the country.
THE OFFICE OF THE HIGH COMMISSIONER for Human Rights in Nepal (OHCHR-Nepal) has welcomed the decision last week of a cabinet meeting to allocate quotas for women and members of marginalized groups - Janajatis/Adivasis, Madheshis, Dalits and people from backward areas – in vacant posts in Nepal Police and Armed Police Force (APF). “The police forces’ adoption of quotas for filling vacant posts can serve as an example to all civil services of the steps they can take in order to make their recruiting processes inclusive,” a release issued by the OHCHR said. "During riots in Nepalgunj in December 2006, the Nepal Police was accused of acting partially. The issue resurfaced again in the January and February 2007 Madheshi Andolan in Terai districts. The recent violence in some Western Terai districts again stresses the need for such inclusive hiring measures." OHCHR, however, expressed disappointment over the appointments in 28 secretary-level posts last week because only three persons from marginalized groups got chances. “Making provisions to include historically marginalized groups in the police forces and other civil services will signal that the commitment to inclusion made by political leaders is indeed genuine. It will also address some current demands of these groups, thus strengthening the peace process as it moves toward Constituent Assembly elections,” said Richard Bennett, Representative of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Nepal.
INDIAN GOVERNMENT HAS agreed to help in the construction of Dharmashala and school in Mustang district. The Embassy of India, Kathmandu has signed two separate memoranda of understanding on October 26, 2007 with (a) DDC, Mustang and Muktinath Development Committee for providing grant assistance of Rs. 30 million for construction of a Dharmashala at Muktinath; and (b) DDC Mustang and Shree Jana Shanti Secondary School, Kagbeni for providing grant assistance of Rs. 6 million for construction of school’s new library building and provision of books and furniture. “Considered as one of Nepal’s most sacred religious shrines, Muktinath Temple located in ward number 1 of Muktinath VDC in district Mustang is a symbol of age old cultural bonds between India and Nepal, and of significant importance for followers of many religions, including Hinduism and Buddhism. Pilgrims visiting the temple provide an important base for the VDC’s local economy. In order to encourage greater inflow of pilgrims and tourists, the need for a good quality and affordable Dharmashala for the visitors has been long felt by the local authorities. The new infrastructure to be constructed with the Indian assistance will be managed by the Muktinath Development Committee and have a capacity of 56 beds with separate space for office, reception, meditation hall, kitchen, cafeteria, dining hall, a guard-house and furniture,” states a press release by the Embassy. Likewise, Shree Jana Shanti Secondary School in Kagbeni VDC of Mustang was established in 1965 as a primary school and later upgraded to secondary level in 1995. The new library building to be constructed with the assistance of Rs. 6 million from the Government of India with provision of furniture and books will provide better reading resources and space to the children and residents of Kagbeni and adjoining VDCs. “These are among five developmental projects undertaken by the Government of India in this remote northern district and overall, form part of more than 265 large and small projects currently being implemented under the India-Nepal Economic Cooperation Programme in the sectors of education, health, community development and infrastructure covering all the districts of Nepal with an outlay of over Rs. 21 billions.”
