France to provide food aid

KATHMANDU, Aug. 27 (RSS) - The Government of French Republic has agreed to provide 4,000 tonnes of soft wheat to His Majesty’s Government of Nepal under the grant aid of food.

An agreement to this effect was signed between His Majesty’s Government of Nepal and the Government of the French republic at the Ministry of Finance today.

Under the agreement, 25 percent of the proceeds from the sale of wheat in the domestic market will be used to cover the cost of internal transportation. The remaining 75 percent of the proceeds will be used to finance projects, designed to strengthen food security, as mutually agreed between the two governments.

The agreement was signed on behalf of their respective government by Dr Bimal Prasad Koirala, Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Claude Ambrosini, Ambassador of the Government of the French Republic to Nepal.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of the French Republic for the assistance to strengthen food security in nepal.

Accord signed on dissemination of information

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KATHMANDU, Aug 27 - Transparency International Nepal(TIN) and The Asia Foundation has signed an agreement to organize and disseminate to the public, iformation on corruption issues in Nepal.

"Under the agreement , the Asia Foundation has committed up to almost 1 million rupees for the programme which prepares news-scan database, publish investigative reports, update its website and library within August 24, 2002," says the press release.

Similarly, another agreement between TIN and the Embassy of Finland was signed to organize the workshop on "Transparency in Development Aid" during the visit of the Finnish Minister for Environment and Development Cooperation to Nepal.

"The Embassy will provide Rs 180, 000(one hundred eighty thousand) to TI Nepal to hold the workshop on September 2, 2001 and publish its report", the release adds.

Workshop on HIV/AIDS prevention kicks off

KATHMANDU, Aug 27 (RSS)- A workshop seminar on Legal Environment for HIV/AIDS Prevention in connection with creating a legal environment for harm reduction under the aegis of the Harm Reduction Advocacy Programme of Youth Power Nepal began here on sunday.

The workshop also aimed at making timely reforms on the Narcotics Drug Prevention Act-2033. Thirty persons including psychiatrists working in various hospitals in the Kathmandu Valley, senior psychologists and former and incumbent Bar Association presidents in the Kathmandu Valley took part in the workshop seminar.

The seminar was organized with the objective of collecting suggestions for timely reforms in the Drugs Control Act in the context of resolving the policy-related problems encountered in the implementation of the Harm Reduction Advocacy Programme aimed at reducing the HIV/AIDS and blood-related disease at a time when the number of drug addicts using syringe has increased tremendeously as a fall out of the growing drug abuse and HIV/AIDS in the country.

The workshop focused on the kind of policies and programmes necessary to prevent the chronic drug adicts from contagious diseases like HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis ‘B’ and ‘C’ in the context of the growing number of drug adicts using syringes.

It was disclosed that there are 50-60 thousand drug users in Nepal at present. The seminar deliberated on the harm reduction concept and emphasised on clearly defining the physicians and the programme implementing agency, defining the role and responsibility of the physicians prescribing the drugs and the drug-sellers for treatment purpose, delienation of the working area of the agencies implementing the Harm Reduction Programme and allowing these agencies to run the Harm Reduction Programme within certain framework and limitation by maintaining transparency.

Likewise, the workshop also concluded that there should be a constant supervision, follow-up and evaluation of these agencies from the government, and that certain guidelines and working limitations be set so that there will be no misuse of power and authority by the agencies running the Harm Reduction Programme, the physicians prescribing the psychotropic drugs and those selling such drugs.

The workshop also underlined the need to provide financial assistance to such implementing agencies for the running of the Harm Reduction Programme, its promotion and extension.

Knee replacement surgery performed

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KATHMANDU, Aug 27 – The first ever Total Knee Replacement Surgery (TKRS) was done successfully for the first time in BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS), a leading hospital of the country, here today, states BPKIHS press release issued here today.

The patient was 78-year-old lady RK Pandey from Kathmandu, who was suffering advanced osteoarthritis of both knees to such an extent that she had bowing of legs and was not able to stand or walk and suffered great pain.

According to the release, the right knee joint was replaced by a team of orthopedic surgeons comprising of Prof. Dr. M. Farooque from All India Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr. Shisir Lakhey and Dr. Pradeep Gupta both of BPKIHS under specialised analgesia given by Dr T Reheman.

According to Dr Lakhey, the left knee will be replaced after a week. It is expected that within 10 days after the knee replacement on the opposite next week, the patient will be totally pain free and be able to walk without support.

Website for employment promotion

KATHMANDU, Aug. 27 (RSS)- The Employment Promotion Commission (EPC) has launched its own website (www. rojgarayog.gov.np) with the objective of assisting in employment promotion within and without the country.

The website launched by the Employment Promotion Commission constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister is only such Internet portal which is being operated entirely in a new fashion.

Besides information on the history, establishment and the jurisdiction of the Employment Promotion Commission, the website contains detailed information on the employment and human resource development policy and programmes mentioned in the Ninth Plan, the Labour Act, the Foreign Employment Act, the Industrial Enterprises Act and the Amended Foreign Investment Act.

The website also contains articles on the problems of employment and self-employment in its feature section while it contains success stories, working papers on employment and analytical write-ups in the analysis section. The information on all these topics will be updated regularly.

The website also has a helpline on which Nepalese workers employed in foreign countries can relate their problems and woes and the full address of the place and country of their employment either in Nepali, English or Roman Nepali, in which case the commission can provide the required help through the ministry concerned or other agencies.

Expressing his appreciation to the Employment Promotion Commission for starting the website, Commission Chairman and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba hoped that the commission would also soon launch the labour market information system which is so essential for employment promotion.

Former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala said that the website would help the governmental, non-governmental and private organizations as well as donor agencies involved in employment promotion to determine related policies and programmes and establish itself as a reliable means for resolving the problems of Nepali workers working in foreign countries.

Chairman of the Employment Promotion Commission Central Executive Committee and National Planning Commission Vice-Chairman Prithivi Raj Ligal also hailed the launching of the website.

Member-secretary of the commission Binaya Kumar Bhattarai said that the commission has already started the necessary procedures to set up the labour market information system within the current fiscal year by mobilizing additional funds from the International Labour Organization and the United Nations Development Programme.

Delegates head for US 

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KATHMANDU, Aug 27 - Eleven delegates of Round Table Nepal have left for Eugene, Oregan, USA, where the annual convention of World Council (WOCO) is going to be held from 26 August to 2 September 2001.

In this coming convention, Round Table Nepal is going to bid for organising the WOCO convention in 2004, states the press release issued here today by Round Table Nepal.

Singapore is also bidding in this year’s convention to organize WOCO convention in the 2004. In the convention Round Table Nepal is going to present Nepal as an economy and tourism destination country that is rich in old monuments, cultural heritage and natural beauty.

WOCO has more than 60 thousand members in 60 countries. More than 1500 participants from member countries are participating in the convention of 2001, states the release.

According to the release, if Nepal gets chance to organise the 2004 year convention, more than 1500 delegates from various countries will come to Nepal, which in turn will help to boost Nepali tourism and exposure to tourist all over the world.

Round Table is an organization expanding its movement in the field of health and education in Nepal, but is the youngest member of the World Council.

Alcohol business in standstill

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MYANGLUNG (Tehrathum), Aug 27 - The business of alcohol has come to a standstill in different major bazaars and rural areas of the district.

However, there has been a flourishing business of alcohol in Myanglung, headquarters of the district after the sale of the same stopped in the rural areas.

As there is less influence of Maoists in Myanglung, they have not warned the people here

There is a weekly market in Myanglung on Fridays, but currently, it seems that every day is a market day because of the large number of people thronging to the district headquarters for alcohol from distant places.

Major hotels as well as small ones are being closed in different parts of the district after the Maoist workers warned people not to sell alcohol. On the contrary, all types of alcohol businessmen are earning a good profit from alcohol business in Myanglung.

Such a profitable business of alcohol was experienced only during election time. Our business has flourished because people from far and near come here and even spend the night to drink alcohol, a businessman said requesting anonymity.

He said they used to sell liquor at a cheap price when it was available everywhere. Now that alcohol has become a scarce and much sought-after commodity, people do not complain even when they charged thrice the real price, he added.

A local body representative has been staying in Myanglung for weeks after completing his job simply because alcohol is available here but not in his village. There are many people here like him.

He said alcohol was available everywhere. Now after it has been banned in the villages, shop-keepers charge Rs 80 for a local variety of Rs 20 and Rs 200 for ‘chalani’ variety of Rs 80, he added.

In Sakranti Bazaar, 15 families belonging to Bhote community have been out of work after the warning was served not to sell alcohol. Similarly, 10 small hotels selling alcohol in their huts have also given up their job.

People from Limbu community are, however, angry with the Maoists for banning alcohol as alcohol is compulsory in their community during birth, marriage, death etc. "We cannot change our traditional culture at the order of the Maoists," they say.

Maoists say they are against the wrong activities and effects created in the society as a result of alcohol consumption.

Projects affected people outnumber refugees

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KATHMANDU, Aug 27- There are 114 high dam projects being studied in Nepal and if the rehabilitation of the project affected people is not managed properly, it may cause severe problems, said Dr Ananda Mohan Bhattarai.

Dr Bhattarai was speaking yesterday at a talk programme organized by Nepal Bar Council on a book written by Dr Bhattarai Displacement and Rehabilitation in Nepal, Law, Policy and Practice. Ten million people are being displaced by projects and the total number of such displaced people exceeds the total number of refugees in the world but there are few laws regarding rehabilitation especially in South Asia, he added.

Dr Bhattarai further said whether people are to be displaced arbitrarily and the definition of the term " just" compensation are the prime concerns regarding displacement. Development is not a need based concept but it is a right based concept which provides an opportunity to the people to decide about their development.

Dr Bhattarai disclosed that involuntary displacement not only infringes people’s right to property , it is also a massive violation of human rights. If rehabilitation is not managed properly , the 114 high dam projects may create acute problems in the whole Terai and Chure range of Nepal, Bhattarai said.

Speaking on the occasion advocate Harihar Dahal said it is the routine business of the Bar Council to apprise the lawyer about the new and developing academics.

Local authority to probe into road irregularities

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JANAKPUR, Aug 27 - The district administration office in Dhanusha started inquiry against three technicians including an engineer over the alleged irregularities involved in the construction of a country road from Hamsapur to Kathpulla of the district.

The local administration began its investigation in response to a collective complaint filed by the locals who stated that engineer Mohan Babu Yadav and two other overseers made wrong evaluation of the road in connivance with Hamsapur VDC chairman Ram Prasad Kapar.

Chief District Officer Narayan Gopal Malego said that the accused were summoned at his office for recording their statements regarding the alleged irregularities.Locals accused the concerned persons that they developed false bills and receipts of using equipment that were "never used while constructing the country road."

The plaintiffs also claimed that some District Development Committee (DDC) officials were also involved in the wrong doing.Asked to comment on the issue, DDC officer Laxman Kumar Thapa said that necessary procedures must have been followed by the DDC before releasing budget for the road construction.

Evaluation of the road to be constructed from the VDC budget is carried out by the DDC technicians.

But local representatives claimed that the technicians usually demand at least 10 to 25 per cent commission out of the total budget kept aside for any development work.

CDO Malego assured of taking legal actions against the accused if they were proved to be guilty after the investigation was over.

Focus on equality among citizens

NEPALGUNJ, Aug 27(RSS) - Member of the Human Rights Commission(HRC) Sushil Pyakurel has said that the social and economic problems of the country will not be resolved if the talks between the government and the Maoists is focussed on the political changes alone. Addressing a seminar on ‘Peace and Good Governance: The Agenda for Talks and Its Sphere’ organised here yesterday by the SAP-Nepal mid-western regional office Nepalgunj, he called for putting into practice the programmes for equality among citizens so as to dismantle the structures of economic, social and cultural suppression. Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana said rebellion is the result of concealing facts in democracy and that the people themselves decide if they are well informed.

We can agree with the maoists in the issues of people’s livelihood but we can not agree in carrying bombs and guns, he added.

Columnist Sri Krishna Anirudra Gautam said all the demands of the Maoists other than that for a republic can be fulfilled within this system itself.

At the function presided over by the central member of FNCCI Achyut Prasad Prasain, various other speakers including SAP-Nepal Central Director Rohit Nepali, Regional Director Nawin Upreti and Gita Pradhan also expressed their views.

Participants from all walks of life had presented recommendations that talks will only be successful if the talks are centred on the welfare of the people and the nation.

Yak farming on the decline in Taplejung

GOLA (Taplejung), Aug 27 (PR)- The chief occupation of yak farming in the Himalayan ( high mountain) belt is gradually going to be extinct for various reasons.

Yak farmers, who raise yaks in the Himalayan regions, complain that yaks are dying due to lack of medicine. They complain that livestock technicians never visit the yak herds which are located at long distances from Livestock Development Office and Service Centres.

Another hurdle in yak farming, according to farmers, is lack of artificial insemination service. There has been a decline in the breeding of yak due to lack of ‘Kiku’ ox found in Himali region with the result that farmers are discouraged on finding that it is difficult to increase the yak herd. Only a few Kiku oxen can be found in Papunga Himal region, according to farmers.

Kiku ox has become rare. Nak and Dimjo are also vanishing and yak farmers in Nepal possess only Urad breed of yak, a yak farmer of Lelep VDC said. Another important hurdle faced by yak farmers is lack of grazing land.

The government forest is gradually being handed over to the community as community forest. Therefore, the pasture land which is essential for yak farmers for grazing the yak round the year is gradually declining with the passing of every year.

There are at least 15 yaks in one herd but they require vast area of land for grazing and shifting them from time to time.

Yak farmers buy yaks from Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It takes four days’ walk from the border to reach the Tibetan yak herds. Farmers reach there walking in the waist-deep snow in autumn season and bring Tibetan yaks bearing great risk and hardship.

Yak herds need to be moved to 12 places in a year. A user of community forest can be a member of only one community forest. Therefore, they encounter problems in moving their herds to different places. If they graze their yaks in the community forests they are fined. Very few yak farmers are found to be members of the community forest user groups, member of Milke community forest users group Shyam Tamang said. There is a stiff competition in registering big pasture land as community forest due to the race for medicinal herbs found there. Once they are handed over to the community, they enforce their own rules. As a result of this, yak farming is in crisis, the chief of the District Forest Office told The Kathmandu Post.

There is a big market for the cheese produced from the milk of yaks found in Gola. In addition, ‘durkha’, ‘chhurpi,’ ‘khuwa’ yogurt and whey are also produced from yak milk.

Yaks are also used as a means of transporting goods in the high mountain belt. The hair of yak is used to produce ‘chhora’, ‘radhi’ and rope.

Shoes, jackets and bags are made from the hide. The tail of yaks is used for religious purpose and yaks are also given to daughters as dowry. Despite all these benefits from yaks, there is a problem of transporting the yak products, food for yaks and men, yak farmer Phurba Sherpa said.

Although a few families depend on yaks for their livelihood, technicians hold the view that yak farming needs to be boosted for the utilisation of high mountain pasture land and its products.

According to available reports, a total of 140 million hectares of land has been covered by high mountain area in Asia. This land should be utilised for yak farming to achieve economic upliftment, a technician of the Livestock Development Office said.

He added that there were 60 thousand yaks in Nepal in 1993 supporting the 28 thousand families of farmers, but the number has declined now.

Yaks die in significant number due to lack of treatment, labour complications and falling.

Kanchanjunga Conservation Project, which was established three years ago has been helping yak farmers through training and financial assistance to protect yaks and increase the number of oxen, project office Uday Gurung said.

Floods sweep away several houses in Tanahun

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DAMAULI, Aug 27 - At least 10 families have become homeless after an unprecedented flash flood in the snow-fed Seti River washed away the houses situated close the river banks last week, local administration said.

The flood in the river also swept through two other houses on the other side of the river bank at Dulegauda.

Currently, the homeless people are taking refuge in a Tibetan Refugee camp expecting some pieces of land for their rehabilitation from the government. The flood also completely washed away the fertile soil of the area and filled it with huge boulders and sediment with no more possibility of further cultivation in the future. Shanti Devi Malla, who is one of the 10 family members to become homeless, said that misfortune poured upon her family when she was about to uplift herself from the level of poverty. Although the local administration provided Rs. 4,000 in cash to those whose houses were washed away by the flood as immediate relief, the flood victims said that the amount was insufficient to built another shelter.

The victims have demanded the administration the unused land at the Tibetan refugee camp where they could make sheds for their survival. But the administration has yet to decide on the requests of the flood victims.