Research on landslide hazard

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KATHMANDU, Aug 1 – A research is being carried out to better define landslide hazard and risk assessment methods in remote mountain regions by the Department for International Development (DFID).

The project, in the next two years, will produce a set of guidelines for rural access planning and land management with the long-term aim to mitigate the impact of landslides on rural roads, states the DFID.

The study is now being carried out in Arghakhanchi and Baglung districts and also in Ilam after the results of the current two districts are known. It will also identify landslide hazards, route alignment planning and field mapping techniques, the DFID adds.

‘Government,Maoists asked to hold talks sincerely’

JANAKPUR, Aug 1(RSS)- The participants of a talk programme on the "Maoist People’s War and Its Solution" organised by the Local Society Uplift Centre to commemorate 9th memorial day of human rights leader Prakash Kafle here yesterday have stressed the need for His Majesty’s Government and the Maoists to hold talks sincerely.

They said that all the political parties should play the role of a mediator for creating a congenial atmosphere for talks between the Government and the Maoists.

The participants also stressed the need to resolve the problem of unemployment, develop a machinery to check corruption among officials of the political parties and control corruption in the country.

Speaking on the occasion secretary of the CPN-UML district committee Shital Jha welcomed the steps being taken by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba for creating an atmosphere for talks to resolve the Maoist problem.

Jha asked who will guarantee that the Constitution to be made by the Constituion Assembly will be in favour of the people?

Advocate Harikrishna Uprety said that one should rise above party interests in order to resolve the burning issues of the country.

Convenor of the Social Uplift Centre Navaraj Basnet said that 1,801 people had lost their lives till Magh 15, 2057 BS. after the Maoists started their "People’s War."

Basnet stressed the need to immediately release the Maoists being held in custody and the release of all the persons and policemen kidnapped by the Maoists.

At the talk programme chaired by advocate Thir Bahadur Karki, secretary of the Nepal Intellectuals Council, Janakpur Jayakishore Lal, advocate Kishori Saha, secretary of the Hearing Impaired Federation Shailendra Jha and secretary of the District Dalit Utpidit Samaj Bechan Rabidas also expressed their views on resolving the Maoist problem.

District development program in Syangja

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SYANGJA, Aug 1 - The Participatory District Development Programme run with the cooperation of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has been implemented in 22 VDCs of Syangja district.

The programme was first launched in Arjunchaupari and Shreekrishna Gandaki VDCs six years ago. The aim of the programme was to uplift the living standerd of the poor people residing in the rural areas through the medium of skill, savings and organisation.

As the programme was found positive, the programme has been implemented in 22 VDCs which include Aruchaur, Panchmool, Daraun, Rapakot, Dhapuk Shimal Bhanjyang, Khilung Deurali, Kalikot, Sworek Kolma Baradchaur, Rangbhang, Pelkachaur, Biruwa Archale, Kebare Bhanjyang, Jagat Bhanjyang, Kuwakot, Pidikhola, Nibuwakharka, Birgha, Alamdevi and Chandi Bhanjyang.

The District Development Committee has said favourable impression was felt in the rural areas regarding the upliftment of their living standard after the programme was implemented.

188 child labourers in Butwal: Report

BUTWAL, Aug 1(RSS) - About 188 child labourers have been found working in Butwal municipality.

A survey conducted by the Ama Jagaran Samuha on behalf of the community development branch reveals that 70 boys and 118 girls are working in the municipality.

The ratio of child labourers working in homes and hotels is 1:2.

According to the report, 55.8 percent of the child labourers receive remuneration while 50 percent work without remuneration.

About 8.8 percent of the child labourers earn Rs. 250 per month while 48.8 percent earn Rs. 250 to Rs 500.

About 4.4 percent of the child labourers recieve Rs. 1,000 to Rs 1,500 as remuneration whereas 24.4 percent are not aware about their remuneration.

On the one hand, the parents take away the remuneration of the child labourers while on the other, no fixed remuneration they are entitled to are paid by their masters.

It may be infered that some amount of the renumeration are given to the parents from time to time in accordance with their needs.

About 93.03 percent of the child labourers who work in homes, hotels and restaurants are found physically sound. The literate child labourers account for 47.87 percent while 54 percent have an opportunity for their personal advancement.

According to the survey, 47.29 percent of the child labourers who work in home and hotels are living in difficult conditions.

About 78.41 percent of the child labourers work for the whole day while 24.59 percent work for eight hours or lesser hours a day.

Medical check-ups have not been provided to the child labourers on a regular basis.

In case of minor ailments, the master himself takes care of the children and bears the expenses
for treatment whereas in serious cases, such children are handed over to their parents. 

Even though 47.87 percent of the children have an opportunity to recieve education, 88.45 percent are deprived from acquiring other skills.

New book on civic education published

KATHMANDU, Aug 1(RSS) - A book entitled ‘civic education in Nepal’ has been published with an objective of developing skills for becoming an ideal citizen in a democratic system.

The American Aid Agency ( USAID) and the Frederick Ebert Stiftung(fes) and the National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDIIA) had provided financial and technical help for the publication of the book which was prepared in the pattern of ‘samakalin samaj’ developed by the Higher Secondary Education Council (HSEC) for the class-12 curriculum.

Releasing the book at the programme organised by the Civic Education Promotion Society(CEPS), Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav said that the book will be instrumental in strengthening democracy.

CEPS chairman Dr. Trailokyanath Upreti said the book was published for strengthening our infant democracy.

CEPS General Secretary Ramesh Prasad Gautam said the book will be a milestone for generating civilised citizens.

Acting UN Ambassador to Nepal Larry Dinger and USAID acting director Donna Stauffer also expressed their views.

Ex-speaker Daman Nath Dhungana, prof. Sriram Upadhyay, Dr. Man prasad wagle, Dr. Srikrishna Yadav, director of the Curriculum Development Centre(CDC) Shiva Prasad Satyal and vice-chairman of HSEC Dr. Narayan Kunwar also expressed their views.

Legal practitioners change job due to lack of cases

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DOLAKHA, Aug 1 - Sundar Shrestha, who had been pursuing the profession of a legal practitioner through his firm ‘Bhimeswor Kanuni Sewa’ (Law Firm) to earn his living over the last 12 years. However, he has been running a stationery shop in recent times as a means of livelihood.

" I had embarked on the legal profession with the intention of following this profession throughout my life. I did not learn any other skill, but of late, this profession is in crisis. Cases suddenly dropped to such an unprecedented level that the very profession is in crisis. I opted for a stationery shop when I found that the legal practice could no more support me," Shrestha said.

Many of the legal practitioners who are currently engaged in Dolakha district are in similar crisis like Sundar Shrestha.

Advocate Rajendra Pokhrel of Dolakha Law Firm has given up his job and left for Kathmandu in search of better opportunities.

Similarly, Narayan Lal Shrestha, who was in the legal practice for the last 20 years, is now busy in his poultry farm after it was impossible for him to maintain his life from his legal practice.

Secretary of Nepal Lekhapadi Byabasayi Sangh, Narayan Bhakta Shrestha, said as the volume of work had dropped, he was also in search of another job.

These are some of the examples, but the same is true with most of the people involved in this profession in this district.

The premises of the court used to be filled up with people from both plaintiffs and defendants in the past. The bar association was similarly packed with legal practitioners in black coat. However, these areas appear desolate these days.

In the previous years, 20 cases were registered every month on an average.

However, hardly two to three cases per month are being registered now. Similarly, the monthly income of advocates exceeded Rs 10,000 in the past, but now it is difficult to earn even Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000 per month, lamented advocate Sundar Shrestha.

One of the oldest employees of the court, who is 22 years in this service, expressed his surprise at the low rate of cases being filed these days. He said he had never seen so few caseloads in the court in his life.

The cases that remained to be settled in this court were 1,026 in the fiscal year 1999-2000 , 506 in the fiscal year 2000-2001 and now there are only 130 cases to be settled by the court, according to Rishi Ram Acharya, employee of the court who maintains the record of cases.

The main reason behind this decline in the registration of cases with the court is the impact of the Maoist rebels who settle cases in the village and discourage people from going to the court to seek justice.