PM pledges to strengthen KMC

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KATHMANDU, Dec 14 - Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the government is ready to empower the only metropolis of the country if it proceeds through formal channels.

He was addressing the Seventh Anniversary of the Kathmandu Metropolitan City today.

"Bring some concrete proposals in the form of bill to strengthen the metropolis soon. I am ready to table it in the Parliament."

Deuba said any local body cannot work full-heartedly until it is given all the rights to decide and introduce development programmes in its territory.

"Kathmandu is developing but we have to admit that there are lots of things to do. We can give rights to broaden the roads and take back encroached land. But we will not allow KMC to do business," he said.

"The government will give the rights but it means responsibility too," he said.

He remarked that Kathmandu is a rich city with a thousand years old civilization and it should not be attacked by "barbarians".

Bamdev Gautam, the general-secretary of Communist Party of Nepal (ML) said the mayor dreams a lot but only those who have dreams and vision can develop the unmanaged metropolitan city.

He added that the High Level Commission,headed by Deuba himself,suggested that the metropolis needs to be made a local government.

Mayor Keshav Sthapit said that KMC does not have the right to mobilize its resources though the government has promised to give many things from different forums.

He also briefed different development programmes carried out by KMC on the occasion.

Deputy Mayor Bidur Mainali said the Capital needs a separate Metropolis Act to deal with innumerable problems being faced by the metropolis.

Officers and technicians of the Kathmandu Valley Mapping Programme also briefed about the on-going programmes to the political leaders present there after the conclusion of the formal programme.

Disabled women await proper govt policy

By Pragya Ghimire

KATHMANDU, Dec 14 - Kumari Niraula, 25, of Taplejung district is blind by birth.

A bubbly young lady who is now young enough to get married has her own wishes and ambitions in life.

Kumari a degree final year student at the Tribhuvan University says, "My parents are farmers so it’s very hard for them to take care of four children. Economic problem had a bad impact on my studies; I couldn’t afford to buy the book in Braille script (book specially made for the blind); it was very hard for me to learn English and Maths but any way I passed SLC".

She was enrolled at Purvanchal Gyan Chachhu Vidyalaya of Dharan, school for blind children, where she read along with her younger brother who is also blind but has completed SLC from one of the village schools.

"The most worst part of it was that it was very hard for her to learn everything from the Braile book so we had to search for the writer who could read thoroughly and we could grab the subject matter by hearing alone but it was very hard to find such a person".

She recalls her bitter past. That was her first day in Padma Kanya (P.K) Campus where her classmates made fun of her poor eyesight and said that instead of attending the college, it would be better for her to stop studies altogether.

But I didn’t give up the hard struggle with the hope to become a graduate. My desire was fulfilled and moreover I was selected for the Leadership Development Training which was held in New Delhi.

I have a dream to become a teacher after passing my Master’s Degree and will take up the field to spread the light of knowledge among the blind children.

"The present state of disabled people, especially women, is pitiable. All the disabled people across the country should thus be united, work hard, be educated and independent to uplift their state", she said.

On the occasion of the 10th International Disabled Day, many disabled across the country organised rallies and programmes with a slogan "We for Ourselves."

The number of disabled people in Nepal is estimated to be around 2.4 million while about 0.6 million covers the population of disabled women.

Ganesh Prasad Upadhayay, Under-Secretary in Ministry for Women, Children and Social Welfare said, " The national policy could not be implemented due to budget constraints. The policy also takes account of integrated education, free health checkup services, counselling services, training and equal opportunities.

He said if any organisation comes with proper proposal for the production of useful appliance for the handicapped people, they may qualify from the government.

"The parents should play a positive role and should not feel themselves humiliated if they bear such children. Moreover, the children should be given continuous support, care, affection and encouragement. They shouldn’t be deprived of fundamental rights, and education is the only approach to build their confidence".

Talking to The Kathmandu Post, he said the government has not given proper attention to the disabled society for their development so co-ordination is a must among the 80 institutions and organisations working for its welfare.

"International Declarations have guaranteed laws against any form of discrimination. All have the right to personality development. The problem of the disabled people should be included in the national agenda. Further awareness-raising programmes in the urban and rural areas, income-generating training, social mobilisation and political commitment are the important factors", he added.

Sushila Paudyal, 30, a graduate from Terahthum district, lost her leg at the age of 11 when she had a truck accident. She also has her own bitter experience of discrimination, which she faced in her past life.

She said, "After completion of Diploma, I got a marriage proposal from a qualified and good-looking gentleman, now in America. I accepted the proposal because of his commitment that he would support me in every step and do his best to give happiness."

"I had to face lots of difficulties as I was not used to upbring my son who is now 4-year-old. Gradually, I learnt and collected experience of many things from my husband and other family members. Now I have enough guts to face whatever comes in my life. All disabled people need encouragement and chance so that they can uplift themselves.", says Sushila.

Japanese equipment to National Museum

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KATHMANDU, Dec 14 – Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K .C and Takamichi Okabe, Minister of the Embassy of Japan jointly inaugurated the newly installed exhibition equipment at the National Museum today.

The equipment has been provided to the National Museum under the Cultural Grant in Aid Scheme of the government of Japan, states a press release issued here today.

Considering the importance of Buddhist cultural heritage in Nepal, especially to revive the cultural and spiritual significance of the Buddhist Mandala, the government of Japan has provided the exhibited equipment worth Rs 31,709,000 to the National Museum.

Bir Hospital to provide exemplary service

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KATHMANDU, Dec 14- The management team of Bir Hospital, the oldest state-run hospital of the country, has taken some vital decisions to help the patients receive exemplary services, a press release said.

The release states various measures will also be taken to provide prompt services to the patients.

The emergency ward will provide necessary treatment to the patients from concerned consultants within one hour, the release states.

"The patients who queue in line to get the Out Patient Department (OPD) tickets will be provided the tickets within 15 minutes and the OPD counter will remain open from 8 am," it adds.

Similarly, senior doctors and the registrar will start their duty from 9am. All the check-ups including pathology test will be conducted daily. The reports of all the checkups other than those which require certain time will be provided on the same day.

The decision was followed after the Minister for Health Sarad Singh Bhandari and State Minister for Health, Mohan Bahadur Basnet observed the hospital yesterday.