Govt set to launch Three-year Rolling Plan

By Tilak Pokharel

KATHMANDU, Nov 20 – With the failure of traditional Five-Year Plans, the government has now decided to launch Three-year Rolling Plan to implement the high-priority projects from the current Fiscal Year.

As many projects planned under the existing five-year plan did not materialise, the government is all set to introduce the Rolling Three-year Plan from this fiscal year to accomplish the high-priority projects, Vice-Chairman of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Prithvi Raj Ligal told The Kathmandu Post today.

The proposed plan will particularly look into the projects in four sectors – water resources, construction, housing and agriculture, according to Ligal. "All the projects will be prioritised in a sectoral basis," he said.

Officials in the NPC said the need of the three-year plan was felt after the projects put under the five-year plans were not properly implemented.

This is the first time that this Three-year Rolling Plan has been introduced in the country, which is expected to push forward the prioritised projects.

The NPC is planning to enforce the proposed plan with close co-ordination with the Finance Ministry, said Ligal. "The Finance Ministry will be responsible for allocating funds and other required resources for the proper implementation of the selected projects."

However, he did not rule out the roles and responsibilities of other concerned ministries on the high-priority projects. He said the NPC is working on it to implement the project right from the current fiscal year, 2001/02. "We are working so as to implement the plan from this year, but sectoral budgets will be allocated from next fiscal year and then the plans will be implemented in the war-footing."

Joint Secretary at the NPC, Hira Lal Singh Dongol, said the three-year plan was proposed to achieve anticipated goals by increasing supervision and monitoring. "The planning will be done this year and the implementation will start from next fiscal year," Dongol told The Kathmandu Post.

The then government had also made an effort some five years ago to introduce the three-year plan, but it could not be materialised, according to Dongol.

"During this three-year plan, special efforts will be made to properly utilise the lump sum budget allocated to prioritised projects," Dongol further said.

Other senior official in the NPC, requesting anonymity, said the initial efforts were made by the Finance Ministry to start the Three-year Rolling Plan but it never materialised. "Now, the officials are jointly working on the upcoming Tenth Five Year Plan and the three-year plan," he said.

These types of rolling plans have earlier been implemented in Australia and some other western countries.

80,000 TB patients in Nepal : Report

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KATHMANDU, Nov 20 – Despite the introduction of the National TB Programmes over 40 years ago, TB has not yet been controlled in South Asia, says the report presented by the SAARC Tuberculosis Center (STC) at the Eleventh Meeting of the Governing Board of STC, held today in the capital.

The report also states that SAARC region alone accounts for 38 percent of the global burden with 1.1 million new smear positive cases and nearly 2.5 million in all forms of new TB cases with 0.6 million deaths each year and almost 50 percent of adults have already been infected.

While in context of Nepal, the country has 80,000 TB patients, half of them infectious and every year 44,000 new TB patients occur, 50 percent of those are estimated to be highly infectious, according Dr Dirgha Singh Bam, director of the STC.

However, he said, "DOTS therapy has proven its significance in Nepal and we have achieved WHO targets much ahead of the time fixed by the WHO".

According to him, more than 85 percent of the population has been covered by DOTS and over 90 percent deleted cases have been registered under DOTS.

But today the co-epidemic of TB and HIV/AIDS is taking a sharp rise of TB in the developing countries. Speaking on the occasion, Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari said, "Since SAARC has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WHO to work for TB and HIV/AIDS control by collective efforts in the region, this will help us to strengthen our effort of TB control".

The meeting held once a year is conjoined with a workshop for Preparation of Strategic Long Term Plan of the STC for TB and HIV/AIDS Control in the region.

STC members of Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, along with representatives’ from SAARC Secretariat, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nepal are participating in the two day meet that seeks to formulate policies and programmes ad review the achievements of past activities carried out by the centre.

These high level technical experts are gathered in the capital to review the progress of the centre and discuss the situation of TB and HIV/AIDS in the region in order to find out a solution for these complex diseases by mutual co-operation.

Govt releases 64 children from jails, vows to rehabilitate them

By Pragya Ghimire

KATHMANDU, Nov 20 – As the world braced for another International Children’s Rights Day, the Home Ministry in a rare gesture today decided to release more than five dozen children languishing in various jails across the country and vowed to take rehabilitation measures to ensure their bright future.

State Minister of Home Devendra Raj Kandel made an announcement to this effect at a function organized by Nepal Bal Sangathan (Nepal Children’s Organization) in the capital Tuesday. "The government has decided to release all the children with effect from today and the children will be kept in this rehabilitation centre, where their rights will be ensured," the minister said to the applause of the large gathering of children.

Nepal Bal Sangathan, which is owned by the government, also runs a child shelter home which is regarded as the country’s oldest and biggest. A total of 64 children are languishing in various jails across the country, according to the figures made available by the Ministry.

The Ministry has already directed the Jail Management Department to release all the children living in various prisons across the country, in line with the Cabinet decision of September 13. A copy of the letter issued by the Ministry, obtained by The Kathmandu Post, states that the government took the decision in keeping with the provisions in the existing laws dealing with the rights of children.

Rita Singh Vaidya, an official at the Nepal Bal Sangathan, informed that five children have already been brought to the shelter home. "We already have five children who came here from Nakhu Jail," she said. "They are very happy."

Nine-year-old Tilak Tamang, Sharmila Tamang, 9, along with her two younger sisters and one brother, and Bishal Karki have been brought to the shelter home.

She said, "However, their mental state is not very well, they appear disturbed and finding it very much difficult to adapt in the new environment. We are trying our best to comfort them."

The Sangathan-run shelter has 17 rooms with 50 beds and 9 working staff with 1 sister.

There are a total of 450 orphan children living in its various branches across the country.

"We have trained many young girls of age above 15 and involved them in income generating fields like sewing, knitting, hand spinning, beauty care so that they could be self -dependent and lead an independent life. We also play the role of guardian and marry them off when time comes."

Children’s rights activists are all welcome. Gauri Pradhan of CIWIN said that the government move indeed is really very appreciable because jail is supposed to the place for criminals not for children. "It’s laudable, the government should keep the spirit up," he added.

‘Mahakali Irrigation to be completed in 20 years’

By Chitranga Thapa

MAHENDRANAGAR, Nov 20 – A Dutch consultant company, NEDECO, has finally completed a detailed feasibility report of the third phase of Mahakali Irrigation Project, project officials said here today.

Estimated 34,000 hectares of land in southern parts of Kanchanpur and Kailali districts would get irrigation facilities after the project is completed, according to the detailed feasibility report. "But it will almost take 20 years to complete the project with total estimated cost being 11.160 billion rupees," the report said.

According to the Integrated Mahakali Treaty reached in 1996 between Nepal and India, Nepal would receive 1,000 cusecs of water from Tanakpur barrage, 350 cusecs from the Indian-built Sarada Canal and an additional 1,000 cusecs of water from the Sarada barrage of the Mahakali River. Mahakali is a border river between neighbouring India and Nepal in the far-western region.

Chief of the Mahakali Irrigation Project, Dev Narayan Mishra, said that the detailed feasibility report of the third phase of the project was prepared in such a way that Nepal’s total share of water from the border river could be used for irrigation purposes. For this, a main canal would be developed from the Tanakpur barrage, Mishra added.

A 52-kilometre long main irrigation canal has already been constructed from Bramhadev in Kanchanpur to Malakheti VDC in Kailali district under the first and second phases of the project with loan assistance from various funding agencies.

The project at present provides irrigation facilities to more than 6,000 hectares of land in Kanchanpur district. Mishra said the mega-irrigation project would be able to irrigate a total of 33,500 hectares of land in the two districts after the project’s completion.

The report also states that 280 kilowatts of electricity could also be generated from the water available from the Indian-built Sarada canal for Dodhara and Chandani villages of Kanchanpur.

Mishra said that the third phase of the project has also been divided further into three phases. As envisaged by the report, Dodhara, Chandani and Bramhadev areas would be provided with irrigation facilities under the first phase.

WTO Doha meet: From chaos to progress

By Ram Sharan Sedhai

KATHMANDU, Nov 20 – Cautioned by the failure of launching a new round of talks in Seattle in December 1999, the members of the World Trade Organization (WTO) exercised restraint and showed flexibility which lent some success to the fourth Ministerial Conference held in Doha, Qatar, which ended a week ago.

And despite some anti-globalization demonstrations, the five-day conference was unlike the Seattle fiasco that was vehemently opposed by anti-globalization activists from the world over. The lack of violence in Doha in itself makes the meet a success, to most observers. But, in addition, the Doha meet actually broke quite a few grounds on global trade.

The most important achievement was the inclusion of China and Taiwan as WTO’s newest members. That sends a message that the WTO is willing to encompass nations making it truly a global trading regime. Bringing China, the world’s largest country, into the multilateral trading system means not only strengthening of the WTO, but also weakening the anti-capitalist force.

Likewise, the US representatives announced that they would eliminate export subsidies, reduce trade-distorting domestic support and substantially reduce or eliminate tariffs. This also encouraged trade ministers to further negotiate.

Representatives of the Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) and development activists played a constructive role this time raising their voices against unfair practice and the WTO’s failure to live up to its commitments rather than just staging protests at the conference venue.

India backed by other developing countries vehemently opposed the launching of new round of trade talks unless the WTO members fulfilled the commitments made in the Uruguay Round. And certainly many of the promises made by the developed member countries are yet to be fulfilled.

Flexibility shown by the developed countries on the agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPRs) was another breakthrough in the Doha conference. Even the Doha declaration reads, "We recognize the gravity of the public health problems afflicting many developing and least-developed countries, especially those resulting from HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and other epidemics."

The final text on TRIPs states that the Agreement does not and should not prevent members from taking measures to protect public health. The agreement, which contains stringent provisions regarding patenting of drugs, can and should be interpreted and implemented in a manner supportive of WTO members’ rights to protect public health and in particular to promote access to medicines for all.

That such a breakthrough occurred is not surprising in light of the fact that the US - which had always argued for stringent enforcement of patent rights – itself recently threatened to break the patent on ciprofloxacin – the anti-anthrax drugs – to combat the anthrax scourge.

Meanwhile, for the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), the Doha declaration also had some goodies. Most notably its extension of the time-frame for the patenting obligation from 2006 to 2016. This would allow LDCs to better prepare themselves for patenting.

Despite skepticism of critics over the developed economies’ commitment to address the pending implementation-issues, the Doha conference has reaffirmed to extend special and differential treatment to developing and underdeveloped countries.

It has also reaffirmed the commitment to full and faithful implementation of the Agreement on Textiles and Clothing and has agreed that the provisions of the agreement relating to the early integration of products and the elimination of quota restrictions should be effectively utilized. This is going to affect the garment and textile industries of the LDCs like Nepal as they are not in a position to compete with the products of other developing countries.

Member countries also showed a degree of flexibility on labour standards, one of the causes of the Seattle debacle. The declaration took note of the work underway in the International Labour Organization (ILO) on the social dimension of globalization.

On agriculture, the Doha declaration has committed to comprehensive negotiations aimed at: substantial improvement in market access, phase-wise reductions of all forms of export subsidies and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support.

The meeting also agreed to include special and differential treatment for developing countries as an integral part of all negotiations by embodying it in the schedules of concessions and commitments. This will enable developing countries to effectively take account of their development needs including food security and rural development.

The Doha meeting has recognized the needs of developing countries and LDCs for enhanced support for technical assistance and capacity building in trade and investment including policy analysis. On trade and environment front, it has agreed on the reduction or, as appropriate, elimination of tariff and non-tariff barriers to environmental goods and services.

The Doha declaration states that the WTO acknowledges the seriousness of the concerns expressed by LDCs in the Zanzibar declaration and commits to the objective of duty-free, quota-free market access to products originating in the LDCs. It further commits to consider additional measures for progressive improvements in market access for the LDCs.

"Accession of the LDCs remains a priority for the membership and we agree to work to facilitate and accelerate negotiations with acceding the LDCs," says the declaration.

UML calls for ‘result-oriented’ peacetalks

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KATHMANDU, Nov 20 - The main opposition party CPN-UML today made an appeal to the government to make the ongoing talks with the Maoists "result oriented" and to seriously consider its proposal for constitution amendment. It has also appealed to the government to give a serious thought to the 22- point proposal for national consensus, which the party had prepared after the 22nd meeting of its Central Committee more than a couple of months ago.

The appeal was made by the party after its standing committee meeting, which was held at the premesis of its central office at Madan Nagar, Balkhu from 9am to 12pm today.

This UML appeal comes after a day, the general secretary of UML Madhav Kumar Nepal demanded to dissolve the present Sher Bahadur Deuba Government and replace it with an all-party interim government, which would oversee the polls. Talking to the journalist Nepal on Monday had accused the government of failing to fulfil its commitments and had said that it did not have any relevence staying in power.

According to a press statement undersigned by party spokesperson Pradeep Nepal, today’s standing committee meeting also decided to give continuity to the all opposition party meeting initiated by the UML, in order to solve the present political crisis in the country. The all party meeting was called by the UML before Dasain with the aim to form a powerful third front to help solve the country’s present political deadlock and to check the ruling Nepali Congress and the Maoists from "going their own way" and making decisions harmful to the country.

The press statement adds that the continuous Maoists attacks on general people even as the peace talks are on has made the law and order situation in the country very weak. "At this juncture lengthening the Government- Maoist talks would only mean to hinder the country’s politics from going on a right track," the statement further adds.

Meanwhile, Yubraj Gyawali, a standing committee member of the party speaking to The Kathmandu Post said that it was also decided to carry out talks with the government and other political parties regarding constitution ammendment and the party’s 22-point proposal for radical reforms and lobby for a national consensus.

NC leader rules out constituent assembly

KATHMANDU, Nov 20 (PR)- Nepali Congress leader today ruling out the possibility of a constituent assembly said that there was the possibility of an interim government if the Maoists came under the present Constitution.

Speaking at a programme organised by Reporters’ Club Nepali Congress leader Arjun Narsingh KC said that the Maoists demand of an interim government was possible but not that of constituent assembly.

On the occasion, government-Maoist talk facilitator Padma Ratna Tuladhar pointed out that Maoists have now placed their sole demand in the table which is the formation of a constituent assembly. Tuladhar even said that formation of a constituent assembly was necessary to prevent the country from plunging into civil war.

Rastriya Prajatantra Party leader Rabindra Nath Sharma said that his party could in no way accept the formation of a constituent assembly. "Our party is against the complete change of the constitution but is ready for any amendment so as to reform the present constitution," said he.

Speaking on the occasion main opposition CPN-UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said that the Maoists should withdraw their demand of constituent assembly.

Dhaka Energy-meet concludes

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KATHMANDU, Nov 20 - Two-day secretarial meet on Energy concluded today in Dhaka, capital of Bangladesh with the participation of member states-Nepal, Bangladesh, India and Bhutan- of the sub-regional co-operation.

A team led by the Secretary at the Ministry of Water Resources (MWR),Lokman Singh Karki recently returned from Dhaka participating in a meet, said the press release issued by the MWR.

Member states discussed the ways to strengthen different sectors like tourism, environment, business and transportation in the meet.

The release also said that meet discussed different issues related to the energy in the member states. He had said that Nepal is willing to import gas and export water resources to Bangladesh.

South Asia sub-regional economic co-operation programme as a part of the South Asia Growth Quadrangle conceptualised by the Asian Development Bank in 1996 was launched recently.

The programme focuses on supporting each other economically in a sub-regional level.

Next meet will be held in early 2002 in India. The Meet is expected to discuss the possible projects by experts of member states. Asian development Bank has agreed to support the identified projects financially.