Handicaps deprived of basic facilities

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 19 - Handicaps residing at Nepal Handicapped Association, Khagendra Navajeevan Kendra today lamented that they were being deprived of higher education and basic facilities since the last five years.

They blamed poor administration for their state.

Speaking at the programme organised to mark the 71st birth anniversary of the founder Khagendra Basnet, Lal Bahadur Gurung, a visually-impaired resident said their demand is ususally brushed off with the excuse that they are short of budget.

According to the residents, the organisation, which has its branches in 6 different districts, has been incapable of providing the five sets of clothing and the Rs.100 monthly pocket money in time. "When we want a sweater in winter, we’ll have to wait until spring," laments Gurung.

The residents have other grievances,too. According to them, eight months ago, Social Welfare Council had given a loan of up to Rs. 20,000 per person without any collateral. They claim the loans never reached them.

Speaking at the programme they also raised the question of the validity of the 60 odd non-governmental organisations opened for the welfare of handicapped persons. General Secretary of the association, Tirtharaj Onta said, "Nobody knows what those organisations are doing."

Speakers also stressed on the need to have a National Policy on the handicaps. Ishwori Adhikari, vice chairperson of the association, said "In the past 10 years after democracy, the handicapped population of the country have not been able to get any security and the government has not been sensitive to their needs."

On the same occasion, Minister of State for Women and Social Welfare inaugurated the "Khagendra Memorial Library". The organisation plans to develop the library into a resource centre. Currently, there are 16 thousand books in the library.

Pant also inaugurated a painting exhibition by 23 children and gave away prizes and cash award of Rs. 7 thousand to the residents who had excelled in the International Olympics for the handicaps.

AAAN for social service

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 19 - What do CP Mainali, Kamal Thapa and Jhalanath Khanal have in common?

They all went to Amrit Science College, the country’s first all-science college. All the star students and other less prominent ones of ASCOL today formed Ascol Alumini Association of Nepal (AAAN) and pledged to work together to improve the conditions of their college, and to contribute to the nation’s overall development.

According to Narayan Shrestha, President of the ad hoc working committee AAAN, the association will be a platform for "social service", adding since the creme de la creme of the country in are from the campus, they could be influential in making changes in the society. "We agree that the campus is politicised nowadays. We want to depoliticize the campus atmosphere and re-establish a system that used to prevail during our times," said he.

Pradeep Man Vaidya, vice chairperson of AAAN said this could be done through the debates in a public forum within the campus. AAAN has appealed to students to join its fold. It plans to hold elections by March after which a plan of action would be drawn.

Activism through poetry

LALITPUR, Jan 19 (PR) - Nepali poets could publish poetry as posters and paste it on moving vehicles to get their poems out to the general public, said a London based publisher today.

Speaking at a talk programme on Current Art and Poetry Scenario in England, artist and editor of poetry Emily Johns of a London based Hearing Eye Publications said Nepali poets could adopt the method known as underground poetry which is widely practised abroad so that everyone would have access to their fine poems. Besides,teaching at a university, Johns has held exhibitions protesting nuclear arms, militarism and other matters of human concern such as homelessness.

She also spoke on the small press and political activism through art and literature at the talk programme organized by Spiny Babbler at its premises in Kupondole Heights.