Price dip hits farmers

By Bhaskar Sharma

KATHMANDU, Sept 24 - The slump in the price of domestic agro-products, especially food crops, caused chiefly by flooding imports from India has hit hard upon farmers.

A field visit from Rupandehi district to the far western district of Kailali revealed that the price of major food crop like paddy and wheat has plunged by over 40 percent within a year.

The prices of common paddy and wheat in Bhairahawa currently stands at around Rs 600 per quintal, against last years' Rs 1058 for common paddy and Rs 1,200 for wheat. Similarly, per quintal price of fine paddy presently stands at around Rs 700, down from Rs 1500 last year.

Likewise, the prices of common paddy, fine paddy and wheat in Dhangadi, a far western town in the Terai, within a year has come down from Rs 1,050 to Rs 500, Rs 1,250 to Rs 700 and Rs 1,125 to almost Rs 625 respectively.

"Most of the farmers here had hoarded paddy anticipating a possible hike in its price. However, the declining price has proved costly," says Nandalal Belbase, a farmer of Shankarnagar VDC in Rupandehi district.

Cheap import of food grains following bumper harvest in India is the major reason behind dipping prices in the Terai belt. According to Nepal Rastra Bank figure, last year rice worth Rs 2.7 billion was imported from India, out of which Rs 1.9 billion  worth rice entered Nepal through Bhairahawa customs alone.         

Nepalese farmers are fighting a losing battle to compete against cheap imports from India due to increasing cost of production. While Nepal has been gradually phasing out subsidy since the last few years in agriculture, India continues to subsidize three major agriculture inputs, namely: fertilizers, irrigation and electricity. Removal of subsidy in Nepal, compounded by blotting labor costs, has begun to create a substantive difference in the costs of production of Nepali farmers compared to the cost of production of their Indian counterparts.

The government removed subsidy in basic agricultural inputs like irrigation and fertilizer since 1997/98 as per the agreements reached with the Asian Development Bank (ADB) during the signing of Agriculture Program Loan. The government then launched the 20-year-long Agriculture Perspective Plan the same year.

ADB had pressed the government to eliminate subsidy on chemical fertilizer and irrigation facilities arguing that inadequate allocation of subsidy was hampering the supply of these basic inputs. The Bank had also argued that subsidy removal would benefit the farmers through increased supply of these inputs. 

"The government has done nothing to provide relief to farmers. If it does not take quick measures to protect farmers' interests, it would be a catastrophe for over 80 percent of the country's populace," says Ratna Dhoj Shahi, chief of Rupandehi District Agriculture Development Office.

Farmers say that the worse is yet to come. With favourable monsoon both in India and Nepal this year, further erosion in price of food grains is likely as new harvest begins.

"The government must seriously review its decisions for the protection of domestic farmers. At a time when even developed countries continue to subsidize agriculture sector, it is wrong to remove subsidy to the farmers of one of the poorest countries" says Gyan Bahadur Khatri, acting Zonal Chief of Nepal Food Corporation at Nepalgunj.

Even agreement on Agriculture, a supposedly illiberal international agreement governing agriculture issues in the WTO regime also recognizes the need to subsidize the poor farmers and allow developing countries to provide investment and input subsidies to low-income or resource poor producers.

In addition, the government must impose quantitative restrictions on imports of agro-products and simultaneously increase tariff on it, which presently stands at a meager 5 percent. It should also resume the practice of fixing support price for farmers, which was abolished two years back.

(With inputs  from Madhav Dhungana-Bhairahawa, Yagya Bikram Shahi and J Pandey- Nepalgunj, and Man Mohan Swar- Dhangadi.)

NHRC discouraged by govt's attitude

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept 24   - The chairman of the recently formed National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) today said that the Commission has been accused by some government agencies of exceeding its rights and disturbing the functioning of the government.

Addressing a function to mark the completion of 100 days of the Commission that was formed by the government a few months ago following pressure from political parties and human rights groups, NHRC Chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri said the Commission has been discouraged in its work by such attitude.

"We take such statement as indicative of lack of understanding of human rights among administrative organs," Khatri said. "We shall not be discouraged by such comments and are committed to perform our duty in accordance with the NHRC Act."

The Commission that was expected to be formed couple of years back was finally constituted this year after Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala assumed office.

The Commission has the authority to conduct inquiry and investigations into matters involving violation of human rights and abatement thereof and recklessness or negligence in the prevention of violation of human rights by any person, organization or body.

It can conduct public hearing or inquiry of any event, visit, inspect and observe any authority, jail or any organization under the government and submit necessary recommendations to the government on the reforms to be made in the functioning, procedures and physical facilities necessary for such organization for the protection of human rights.

It can review the provisions and protection provided by the Constitution and other prevailing laws for the enforcement of human rights and make necessary recommendation for effective implementation of such provisions.

Meanwhile, RSS adds that Prime Minister Koirala while speaking to journalists on the occasion stated that he had "no grievances" against the NHRC and that "the recent comments by governmental agencies was due to uneasiness in a new set up".

Koirala also said that the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (UNHCHR) had congratulated him for constituting the NHRC during his recent visit to Geneva and that he had directed the NHRC to be in touch with UNHCHR.

CPN-UML forms body to study Maoist problem

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept 24 - The working committee formed by the main opposition Communist Party of Nepal (United Marxist Leninist) to "study murder and violence perpetrated by the Maoists and the state" today fixed area of its study and plan of work, a UML press release said.

"The committee has outlined its area of study as collection of facts on the incidents of murder, violence, and terror perpetrated by both the Maoists and the state. The committee has also included the cause of emergence of Maoist problem and ways to solve them in its study area," the press release said.

The committee has also appointed its members to study the Maoist  affected areas, delegated districts and development regions at a meeting held under the chairmanship of Jhala Nath Khanal, convenor of the committee, the press release added.

Jhala Nath Khanal will look after   Rukum, Dang, Gorkha and western development region. Surendra Pandey will be responsible for the activities happening in Salyan, Sindhuli, Rautahat, and the mid western region, Shankar Pokharel will study incidents in Rolpa, Kalikot, Dolakha and mid-western region.

Likewise, Prakash Jwala has been appointed to oversee Jajarkot, Kavre, Dhanusha and the eastern region and Hari Phuyal has been appointed to look after Pyuthan, Sindhupalchowk and far western region.

The committee was formed two weeks ago to study five-year-long armed rebellion waged by Communist party of Nepal (Maoist)in which more than 14 hundred people including the Maoist guerillas, civilians and police have lost their lives.

Writ filed against govt over Indian vehicles

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept 24  - Some individuals and agencies concerned with conservation of environment filed a writ at the Supreme Court recently seeking revocation of the agreement between India and Nepal to import Indian vehicles without the mandatory certification of Indian government or its concerned agency.

The writ petition filed by PRO Public, an NGO and some environmentalists points out that this provision is against the law of the land ultra vires of the Constitution. "The hearing on the writ is slated for tomorrow," said Bimal Aryal, one of the petitioners at a press conference organised jointly by NGOs PRO Public Leaders Nepal and Martin Chautari here today.

According to Nepal Emission Standard-1999 no vehicle can be imported into Nepal without being certified by the government of the manufacturing company or an agency licensed by it. The NES requires Type Approval and Conformity of Production from the government.

However, Clause 11 of the joint communique issued by Nepal and India in New Delhi on August 3 during Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala's India visit reads thus : "It was all agreed that imports of Indian vehicles into Nepal under Nepal's new emission norms would be permitted on the basis of self certification by Indian vehicle manufacturers based on type approval." 

The activists voiced apprehension that Nepal would become a dumping ground for sub-standard vehicles from India that can easily sneak through into Nepal now.

In lieu of easy access to Indian vehicles into Nepal, India is required to withdraw the four percent Special Additional Duty imposed on Nepali goods exported to India. "India is yet to make the necessary change through its gazette," said an activist.

The writ points out that Ministry of Foreign Affairs had issued a circular to Ministry of Population and Environment, Ministry of Labour and Transport Management and Ministry of Finance to make necessary arrangements to implement the agreement reached by Nepal and India. The writ has asked for the circular to be made public.

Although the agreement reached with India allows the manufacturers to self certify the vehicles to be imported into Nepal, the same vehicle-makers have to obtain certificates of being environment-friendly from either ARAI, IIP, VRD or CMITTI -all four recognised agencies to monitor emission standards.

The apex court has been appealed to court to issue an interim order prohibiting the concerned ministries and agencies from going ahead with their plan to permit the import of vehicles with only the manufacturers' certification, so that if the court's ruling goes in favour of the petitioners, "it would be practically difficult to send back the vehicles imported during the period.  

The petitioners have named PM Koirala, the Cabinet, Ministries of Finance, Foreign Affairs, Population and Environment, Labour and Transport Management, Department of Customs and Department of Transport Management as defendants.

South Asian Human Rights Court mooted

By a Post Reporter

KATHMANDU, Sept 24 - The 8th SAARCLAW conference concluded  here today endorsing 19-point Kathmandu Declaration which promises to work towards establishing South Asian Court of Human Rights and South Asian Commission of Human Rights.

Dr Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Vice-President SAARCLAW India reading out the declaration said that SAARCLAW undertakes to assist in developing a feasible and transparent system for the appointment of judges ensuring judicial independence and accountability of the judiciary.

The declaration also looks forward to review  existing laws, if necessary for the quick enforcement and execution of foreign judgements and arbitral awards.

"Effort will be made to establish SAARC Centre for Arbitration, Mediation and Conciliation and also SAARC University of Legal Sciences," said Singhvi. Existing sources of legal information will be upgraded by more vigorous exchange of publications, case laws, research findings employing the latest advances in information technology, he added.

SAARCLAW also promises to promote, enhance and opera-tionalise reservation for women by direct election in all legislatures in respective countries and to suitably empower them.

Justices and legal experts of the SAARC member countries participated in SAARCLAW conference which takes place every year. Next year Bangladesh will host the conference.

Speaking at the concluding session of the three-day conference Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, Chief Justice of Nepal said that the 5th conference of the Chief Justices of SAARC countries emphasized on the need for training the judges through utilisation of available facilities in the region.

Fifth conference of the Chief Justices was also going on simultaneously with the 8th SAARCLAW conference.

 "We all Chief Justices expressed our commitment towards strengthening capacity of Judiciaries in our respective countries through the exchange of information with the use of Internet, and other means of information technology," said Upadhyaya.

Chief Justice  of Bhutan, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka also addressed the concluding session.