Focus on development of science and technology

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KATHMANDU, Nov 28 - The infrastructure of science should be improved for the sustainable development of science and technology in Nepal, researchers said.

"In the present context of Nepal, science and technology is not that much developed as it has to be after the restoration of democracy", said Dr Prem Raj Panta, Rector, Tribhuvan University.

He said the University has prepared different programmes to improve science education.

The programme was organised to mark the 37th Anniversary of the Central Department of Chemistry of Tribhuvan University. On the occasion, Prof Dr. Shiva Prasad Dhaubhdel delivered his speech.

Speaking on the same occasion, Prof. Dr. Chhavi Lal Gajurel said, "We should implement effective courses and programmes to identify ourselves in the international forum."

Stress on development of agricultural sector

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LALITPUR, Nov 28 - Director of Agriculture Department Bhairab Raj Kaini today said that time has come to start agriculture decentralisation to promote commercialisation in the agriculture sector.

He said there should be a sound co-ordination between the local and the central government to make local plans successful.

He was speaking at a discussion programme on "Long-Term Agriculture Perspective Plan of Sankhuwasabha", organised by Sankhuwasabha District Development Committee Wednesday.

Tulsi Prasad Neupane, DDC chairman of Sankhuwasabha, said the plan has been prepared at the local level after much discussion with farmers of the district. "We have now brought the plan for discussion at the central level to give final shape," he said.

The Sankhuwasabha DDC has prepared a twenty-year Agriculture Perspective Plan with the objective of developing the agriculture sector of the district where more than 82 percent of the people are dependent on agriculture. The plan has schemes to increase the productivity of the district from the present 37000 metric tonnes to 58000 metric tonnes by the end of the plan.

According to Vice-Chairman of Sankhuwasabha DDC Hem Raj Ghimire, the DDC has given top priority to the agriculture sector in the district as the majority of people in the district are farmers.

Johannes Knapp, co-ordinator of Rural Development Programme, GTZ, speaking at the programme, underlined the implementation of the plans to improve the agriculture sector of the district.

Doctor Jagadish Chandra Gautum, who headed a team for one year to prepare the draft of the plan on behalf of IDRS said, "The plan has objectives of developing agriculture sector, transportation network, water resources and the tourism of Sankhuwasabha district

Road accidents on the rise

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KATHMANDU, Nov 28- Speakers at an interaction programme here today said that road accidents are on the rise due to various reasons.

Keshav Prasad Baral, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP), Valley Traffic Police Office (VTPO) urged every individual to help maintain crime-free traffic and abide by the traffic regulations in their individual capacity as responsible citizen of the country. He was speaking at an interaction programme on " Averting Road Accident" organised by the VTPO.

According to the data provided by the VTPO, a total of 5,734 people have died due to road accidents in the last nine years.

Every year around 600 to 1,000 people lose their lives in road accidents in the country, which is very high in the context of the country where only 300,000 vehicles are registered.

The Valley Traffic Police Office pinpointed some of the main reasons for road accidents to be drunken driving, careless driving, over speed, overtaking, wrong-side driving, overloading, U-turning from wrong places and not maintaining the braking distance.

"The various means of transport like buses, microbuses and Safa tempos that carry passengers beyond their permissible capacity in their mad rush to earn money is one of the main reasons fo increasing road accidents," Baral said.

However, Hom Prasad Adhikari of Federation of Transportation Management said, "This is not only the fault of the driver and pedestrians but also the fault of mess traffic rules and regulations.

"Traffic police personnel sometimes skip their duty while dealing with intruders like the bull violating the act on the spot. Why can’t traffic implement strong rules and regulations and if there occurs an accident, why can’t they make fair judgement? " he enquired.

At times, traffic rules violators are allowed to go scot-free because the road actors stretch their arms and ask for few amount from drivers and release them precociously, one of the speakers pinpointed the weakness of the traffic police.

"The latest effort of the VTPO is now to decentralise the role of once-single authority of the police which has been often misunderstood and confused," said DIG Om Bikram Rana adding "the local people and the public in general can play a pivotal role to check increasing mishaps."

SP Sagar Thapaliya said that "park-and-ride" system designed to reduce accidents has often been violated by the transport system in the capital. Further, shrinking space and booming vehicular movements in our city have made more people vulnerable to accidents.

Some of the accidents are caused due to negligence of drivers and some due to the ignorance of pedestrians. Unless a stern penalty is imposed, no accidents can be averted. "Traffic safety is the responsibility of every individual citizen and not only the police, "he added.

Women representation in DDCs sought

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LALITPUR, Nov 28 – The two-day 8th Council Meet of the Association of District Development Committees (ADDCs) concluded Monday deciding to bring about amendment in the ADDC Statute 1995 to increase women representation in the ADDC.

The meet also passed a proposal demanding the government to amend contradictory provisions in the Local Self-Governance Act and its Regulations as they are against the spirit of decentralisation.

From now a woman representative from each DDC will compulsorily represent in the ADDC according to the proposed new amendment, said a circular distributed at a press conference organised here Wednesday by ADDC.

Likewise, four district council members will also join the ADDC from now instead of present three council members, the release stated.

The meet also passed the ADDC’s budget, which amounts Rs 700 thousand for the Fiscal Year 2000 –2001.

"The ADDC also organised a two-day programme on "Participation of Women in Local Governance", said the chairman of ADDC Krishna Prasad Sapkota talking to media personnel at the press conference.

The meet also passed a proposal demanding the government to make arrangements for giving rights to nominated members of the DDC to cast vote in the election of the members of Upper House of Parliament.

"We have decided to demand the government to adopt administrative decentralisation so that local governments will have control over government officials", the release said.

The meet has also passed another landmark decision demanding the government to hand over government offices like primary education, health, agriculture, post office to the local government.

Border pillars in dilapidated condition

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MORANG, Nov 28 - Several border pillars along the Nepal-India border laying between Mooring district and Indian State of Bihar are in dilapidated condition and some of them have been completely rooted out from their foundations.

There are 30 Junge Pillars and 53 secondary pillars along the 72 kilometres section of the border area.

The no-man’s-land has been encroached upon by the people from both the sides and sheds have been built in some places.

Chief District Officer of Morang, Dolakh Bahadur Gurung, who is also the chief for looking after the border along the district, admitted the fact that border pillars are not in proper condition and the no-man’s-land has been encroached upon by people of both the sides.

"Almost all the border pillars are in poor state and the no-man’s-land has been encroached upon," CDO Gurung said. He also said that officials from both the countries had agreed to submit separate reports about the condition of border to their respective governments.

The district administration said there are only traces of 16 pillars laying between the pillar No. 152 to 181 from Mahadev VDC to Biratnagar Sub-Metropolis. People from both the sides have planted crops on the no-man’s-land and have erected huts on the area, DAO officials said, adding that they needed immediate reconstruction or repairs.

CDO Gurung said he and his Indian counterpart, the Magistrate of Arariya district in Bihar, had earlier agreed to reconstruct the pillars immediately.

But the reconstruction work has now been postponed due to the state of emergency in the country, he added.

A happy couple living with HIV

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HETAUDA, Nov 28 - After knowing that a documentary based on her life won an international award, Chakkali Lama is desperate to see the documentary that has truly reflected her horrible life as a prostitute in Indian brothels.

The documentary titled "Four Years in Hell" manufactured by Young Asia Pacific TV recently bagged an International award in Japan. The 25 minutes documentary exclusively features the story of a young girl who was lured and sold in India to work as a prostitute at a nearly age of ten.

Chakkali, now in her late twenties, returned from India four years ago after she was tested positive for AIDS.

However, she was unaware that a documentary on her pathetic life was being made when team of camera men came to film her daily activities. "I don’t know who made the documentary may be it was the work of few people who filmed me", said Chakkali.

"I wish to watch the documentary", she said in excitement. She also expressed her gracefulness to the Kantipur Publication for writing the news about her marriage and how they plan to lead a healthy life ahead. "In fact we have received a lot of help after the news was published".

She is an inspiring example to society that an infected person can also lead a happy life by practicing safe sex. A couple of months ago she got married with a young youth Sujit Lama from the same village after six months of acquintance with each other. Prior to the marriage, she had clearly told him that she was infected with the disease and would live only a few more years. The couple got married and have promised to practice safe sex and produce no children.

Even my husband openly reveals that I have the disease and we don’t hesitate to say so, she remarked. "There’s no need to hide from society", she added.

The couple are now happily living in Hetauda and working to support each other. Chakkali is busy in her sewing machine while her husband works as a carpenter. The Kathmandu based organisation Sahara had helped them by donating them a sewing machine and carpentry equipment for the livelihood.

Despite her own work Chakkali is also busy with periodic AIDS awareness campaigns organised by various NGOs. "She travels to places awakening the people about the AIDS", said Bharati Batoula of General Organisation.

"She is a true example to every youth and has taught a lesson that people can lead a happy life even after getting the disease", said Banmali Subedi, Coordinator at General Welfare.

Different organisation working to rehabilitate the AIDS affected people say that documentary has in fact helped them to aware the community.

"The documentary will help us as it reflects the happy life of disease affected woman", said Subedi.