Doctors' absence delays post-mortem

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KHANDBARI, Sankhuwa-sabha, Jan 29 - A dead body was kept waiting for post-mortem since Saturday, as there is no doctor available in the whole district, says a report received here today.

The 42-year-old police ASI Ram Bahadur Budhathoki, resident of Dolakha VDC-8 and posted at Chainpur, had committed suicide at Hiti Tole, Chainpur, around 10 P.M. Saturday.

Two doctors are on the posting at the district, one each at Khandbari and Chainpur. But, at present, the Khandbari-based doctor Mohan Prasad Dahal is away for training in Thailand, whereas the Chainpur-based doctor Purushottam Sedhain is on duty at a vasectomy camp in Diktel, Khotang district.

Nevertheless, a doctor was summoned from Biratnagar, Monday, and he is expected to carry out the post-mortem on Tuesday.

Solar power gains popularity in Kavre

KATTIKE DEURALI,Kavre, Jan 29 (PR) - The residents of the areas across the Koshi river in this district have been able to get their homes lighted even without electricity connections - thanks to the affordability of the solar power.

Proprietor of Ram Bhojanalaya at Kattike says that the solar power has enabled him to run his business more efficiently. "The solar system can be installed at a cost of about 10 to 20 thousand rupees, that too payable in instalments," he adds.

The solar power is increasingly getting popular in Kavre at the initiative of Rural Energy Development Office(REDO), which provides subsidy for fixing up the solar power system, says Program Counsellor at REDO, Mahendra Neupane.

In addition, companies like Wisdom Lights Company, Kathmandu Power Company, Lotus Engineers and Alternative Energy Resource are also active in the area for providing solar-power services.

Another businessman, Manoj Adhikari, told The Kathmandu Post that had the solar power not been installed in his village, he would never have been able to pursue photography as a career. "My business is going on quite satisfactorily nowadays," he added.

Meanwhile, the REDO has provided a sum of about five hundred thousand rupees to the Solar Power Work Group at Pokhari Chauri for the completion of the project Solar Home System Works. "We are happy now, after all our homes are going to be lighted," says a local.

AMK for promotion of girlchild education

KATHMANDU, Jan 29 (PR) – On the occasion of National Learning and Teaching Day (NLTD – Rastriya Pathan-Paathan Diwas) today, commonly known as Shree Panchami, Aama Milan Kendra (AMK),began a week-long campaign to motivate parents to send their children to schools.

According to an AMK press release, the Lalitpur-based Non-Governmental Organisation is going to organise the campaign in 243 Village Development Committees of Baglung, Lalitpur, Morang, Rupandehi and Syangja districts.

" AMK has been conducting reproductive health education and non-formal education campaign aimed towards young and uneducated girls of the districts," the release said.

Likewise, Child Awareness Group (CAG – Bal Chetana Samuha) yesterday organised a street drama. After acquiring a 13-day training on "Child Rights and Drama", children performed the drama, which highlighted poverty, violence and superstitions that deprived the children of their needs and rights.

Ways to eliminate child labour discussed

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NEPALGUNJ, Jan 29 - The second two-day Regional Consultation Workshop for Mid-Western Region ended here today, aimed at formulating a five-year Time Bound Programme(TBP) to eliminate the worst form of child labour in the country.

"We are seeking inputs from the local authorities because they can have a tremendous contribution in identifying the prevailing worst forms of child labour in the region," said Yadav Amatya, National Programme Manager of International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC).

During the discussion, the participants recognized the problem of exploitation of child labour which poses a serious threat to the development of society as a whole.

Earlier, addressing the inaugural session of the workshop yesterday, Director of ILO Leyla Tegmo-Reddy stressed on the need to give special attention to the situation of girlchild while building TBP.

According to ILO, Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention-182, the worst forms of child labour that have been identified are - slavery, forced labour, prostitution and pornography, illicit activities, trafficking for exploitative employment and work likely to harm health, safety or morals. The Convention will be presented to the up-coming session of parliament for ratification.

The workshop was participated by more than 25 representatives from the district authorities of Mid-Western Development Region, NGOs, trade unions and teachers’ associations.

Maoists held with explosives

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DAMAULI, Tanahu, Jan 29 - Police arrested two senior Maoist cadres along with some explosives near Bandipur bazaar Friday evening.

Those arrested by the police, who were on regular patrol, have been identified as Keshav Raj Singh from Bar Bhanjyang VDC-6 and Padam Bahadur Rana from Majhkot VDC, Tanahu. Singh is believed to be a Maoist regional commander.

Police have seized two socket bombs, four detonators and some Maoist literature. Although Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Keshav Adhikari, declined to furnished details about their arrest. Police source said that the Maoists were arrested while they were heading towards Bahun Bhanjyang VDC to make plans for the six year anniversary of the ‘People’s War’ on February 12.

Locals said the Maoists had asked the villagers to inform their relatives about their arrest so that police would not conceal their whereabouts.

Police claimed that the confiscated documents revealed a plan to attack prominent people of Damauli and its neighbouring areas on February 12.

The police source said that the Maoists would be charged with crime against the state as well as five other crimes committed by the Maoists in the past.