Poor implementation of policies frets ethnic groups

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, Sept 30 – The lack of implementation of the programmes to uplift their socio-economic status envisaged in the Ninth five-year plans are disenchanting ethnic groups in the country.

Though this section remains sceptical regarding the implementation of most of the proposed plans in the Ninth Five-Year Plan which is in its final year, they are pinning hopes that one of the major programmes -- constituting Indigenous and Nationalities Development Committee (INDC) at district level – would materialise.

Formation of district level INDCs are aimed at providing fresh impetus to campaign of ethnic groups to end all forms of inequalities. Claiming to have been left out of the different mainstream development programmes, ethnic groups have been launching campaigns against the unequal treatment meted out to them by the Establishment since democracy was restored in 1990.

"It clearly shows negligence on the part of government that programme on INDCs at district level in the Ninth Five-Year Plan are yet to be implemented. However, if the government decides to implement this particular programme, studies and researches must be conducted on ethnic groups. This committee should be constituted in the districts where majority of the ethnic groups and indigenous people resides," said Til Bikram Nemwang, a noted academician.

"The committee, if formed must pressure the government to introduce different programmes to uplift the socio-economic status of the ethnic groups and should be involved in formulating plans and policies at the local level," Nemwang said.

The ethnic groups believe that if the INDCs at district level are introduced they will help in preserving local dialects, culture and tradition. They have been claiming that none of the successive governments after the restoration of democracy in 1990 have introduced plans and policies to protect the rights of the ethnic groups.

"If the district level INDCs are constituted, it will definitely help in providing equal opportunity to the ethnic groups in different mainstream development programmes. If functioned properly, this will aid in preserving local dialects, culture and tradition." says Sitaram Tamang, president of Ethnic Groups Liberation Movement.

"To make them effective, representatives from different ethnic groups must be included as decision makers. The most important of all, is that it should not be allowed to work under the Nationalities Development Committee (NDC). They should be allowed to work independently as autonomous bodies," Tamang further said.

The NDC that was established after the re-induction of democracy has not been able to contribute much towards the upliftment of the marginalised ethnic groups.

The Committee has been mired in controversy since the very beginning amid claims from the ethnic groups that it is working against their interest. They contend that, such problems wouldn’t have emerged had this committee worked for uplifting the socio-economic status of the nationalities.

However, the government opines that if the District Level INDCs introduced they will be under the NDC which it believes is currently working for the upliftment of socio-economic status of the ethnic groups

"The sole motive of constituting the district level INDC is to give equal opportunity to the ethnic groups in different sectors of the country. If it is formed then it will be under the NDC. And the charge that NDC is working against the interest of the ethnic groups is totally baseless," said Secretary at the Local Development Ministry, Udaya Sotee.

He further adds, "We are currently focused on the Bill on academy which has already been registered in the Parliamentary Secretariat. The INDC will have a new look if the academy is formed."

When asked, when would INDCs begin work, he said that since NDC right now has very low budget and he could not say exactly when it would begin work.

‘NC MPs cause behind pending Bill’

Post Report

LALITPUR, Sept 30 – The Bill on Women’s Property Rights is still pending in the parliament due to the indifference shown by the lawmakers of the ruling Nepali Congress (NC), said former state minister and NC lawmaker here today.

"Due to the indifference shown by my party lawmakers the Bill is still pending in the parliament," said Kamala Pant, former State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare. Lawmaker Pant was addressing an interaction programme on Mainstreaming of Gender Equality organised by Sancharika Samuha, a non-governmental organisation working for the rights of women.

Speaking on the same occasion, former lawmaker and president of Communist Party of Nepal – Marxist – Leninist (CPN-ML), Sahana Pradhan, expressed her doubt that the Bill tabled during the tenth session of the parliament may not be passed even in this 20th session. CPN-UML lawmaker Raghuji Pant said the parliament should endorse the Bill after making some changes on it. "If it is not done so, the country’s property will go the hands of foreign people," he said.

Woman politician Durga Ghimire, on the occasion, said there still exist discriminating laws against women, despite the order of the Supreme Court six years ago to annul all such laws if are in practice.

On the occasion, director of United States Information Service, Robert Kerr, inaugurated Information Resource Centre (IRC) instituted within the Sancharika Samuha premises. The IRC aims at providing written and audio-visual materials on gender and media issues.

Dyola’s exhibition kicks off today

KATHMANDU, Sept 30 (PR) - Suresh Kumar Dyola’s first solo exhibition of Charcoal Paintings will open Sunday in the National Art Gallery.

"Mirror of Nepalese People" being the theme of the week-long exhibition will hold 35 of his unique paintings of faces of the Nepalese people, including the face of Lain Bangdel, former chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy.

A young, energetic and skilled artist, Dyola who was born in Lagankhel in 1974 is going to bring out his skills on handmade paper. It takes him from six hours to six days to finish a single piece.

"Being a commercial artist, Suresh has dynamic ability about different art skills. He represents single colour in his paintings and yet gets successful in showing different impressions," says IB Malla, chairman of Commercial Artists’ Association of Nepal.

"My father is my guru (teacher) and my biggest inspiration. Like my father I want to take this art as a profession and excel in this field, says Dyola.

Chairman of Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi is set to open the exhibition.

the editorial board of the CDB.

The book was launched by Prof. Dr. Dayananda Bajracharya, the vice chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST).

Also present in the function were S.D. Joshi, professor and head of the CDB, Kumar Prasad Mainali, former editor, Prof. Divya Dev Bhatt, Prof. Govind Prasad Sharma Ghimire, among others.

Politicians urge continuation of Constitutional Monarchy

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KATHMANDU, Sept 30 – Political leaders today stressed the need for continuation of the Constitutional Monarchy in the country and strongly condemned Maoists’ attempt to convert the nation into a republic state.

They also urged the Maoists to come forward for the third round of talks with the government that has been stalled since the second round of talks in Bardia district was deadlocked over the demand for abolition of monarchy in the country.

Speaking at an interaction programme on "Modern Nepal and Inevitability of Monarchy" organised by Nepal Muslim Ettehad Association, Mahendra Raya Yadav, Chairman of the parliamentary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, said that the present King should adopt the qualities of his brother, late King Birendra.

"The public faith will erode if present King doesn’t improve his way of presentation in the public," remarked Yadav. Pointing out to the Maoist, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taran Nath Ranabhat said that government intends to defeat Maoists with thoughtful debates.

"The Maoist should leave behind the thoughts of a republic state as Nepalese have deep affinity towards the monarch and history reveals it," said Ranabhat. Hridesh Tripathi of Nepal Sadbhavana Party pointed out that there was no need of such interaction as people already take the monarchy as a respected institution.

"Monarchy is a unifying force between all the races of Nepal," added Tripathi. Highlighting the importance of monarchy, Former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista remarked that Monarchy has played a vital role in the freedom and dignity of the country.

Religious leader of Nepali Masque Kathmandu, Tari Mohamad Ali requested the Maoist to stop terrorising the lives of people and become sincere in resolving the issue through the peace talks with the government.

Elderly people return home empty-handed

By Rajeeb Tamrakar

KATHMANDU, Sept 30 – Dozens of elderly people from the capital’s Sorhakhutte area today came to Lekhnath Sahitya Sadan hall here with hopes to receive their elderly allowance. But they ended up being felicitated and feasting on fruits provided free of charge by ASMI, social workers’ group working for the welfare of elderly people.

Contrary to expectations, they had to go home empty-handed from the programme, organised on the eve of International Elderly People Day 2001. The ASMI also felicitated 98-year-old Mangal Bahadur Shrestha of Kathmandu Metropolis –16.

"I came here with a hope of receiving my allowance of the past six-seven months, but no such luck," a frail and stooping Batuli Maharjan, 78, murmured. "I had been to Machhye Narayan Mela being held at Machhegaun on the outskirts of the city. And I came here all the way from there with the hope of receiving my allowance."

Added Ganesh Kumari Dangol, 66, a widow of Mhyapi: "I stay alone - although I have two sons. I have applied for the allowance since I am in need of money for little things like bus fare to Pashupatinath. But they are showing no signs of providing us with the amount."

The government has been providing a monthly allowance worth Rs 150 for elderly people who have crossed the age of 75 and Rs 100 for widows who have crossed the age of 60 through local bodies such as municipalities and village development committees. However, there have been widespread complaints of elderly people failing to get the amount on time.

Padma Manandhar, member of KMC ward number 16, says that they have not received the budget for elderly people allowance from the KMC Office for the last six-seven months. She says, "Now we are ashamed to face these elderly people who come to the ward office with an anticipation of receiving allowance."

Deputy Mayor Bidur Mainali passed the buck on the Ministry of Local Development, and said, "We can’t distribute them even if we want to, because, the ministry has not sent us any amount for quite sometime now."

Experts also raised their concern over the deteriorating family value in the society. They said that there is a growing tendency among today’s youngsters to ignore their old parents. Lawmaker Asta Laxmi Shakya said that there is need to educate the younger generation about the family values. She also vowed to raise the problems of elderly people in the parliament.

Hutta Ram Vaidya, a social worker, and senior journalist Bahirab Risal, pointed out the need to organise more such programmes said that these types of felicitation programs would boost the self-respect of the elderly people.

Dr Tika Pokharel, Secretary of the Social Welfare Council said that the government should consider ways to providing health insurance instead of old age allowance worth Rs 100, "which is too insignificant at a time when the inflation rate is going up".

‘Government should give recognition to naturopathy’

KATHMANDU, Sept 30 (PR) – Naturopathy treatment system should be well recognised as any other treatment methods in the country, said health experts here today.

The government has stopped to incorporate naturopathy in its development projects. It should now incorporate naturopathy in its agenda, said Dr Surya Bahadur Karki, General Secretary of Nepal Yog and Naturopathy Association (NYNA).

Addressing the third national seminar of NYNA, Karki said, "Like for all other treatment practices, a provision should be made to run naturopathy services in the government level by creating necessary government vacancies." Karki also said that since NYNA has been legally established so a request is to be made to the government to run programmes together.

Speaking on the same occasion, former Health Minister, Radha Krishna Mainali, said, "We must first give our attention to form a naturopathy department in the Health Ministry. Also efforts should be targeted at institutionalising the system in order to firmly establish naturopathy in the country."

Naturopathy is the system of treatment of diseases by using natural materials and resources like water, air, soil, sunlight, sky, among others, instead of medicines. In Nepal naturopathy had been jointly institutionalised in 1968 by the undaunted efforts of Late Tulsi Mehar Shrestha, Nepal’s pioneer social worker and social reformer, and former Indian ambassador Late Narayan.

Govt urged to pass Copy Right Bill

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KATHMANDU, Sept 30 - Participants at a discussion programme today suggested the government to pass the new Copy Right Bill, 2001, only after including amendments since it has many weaknesses. They also demanded that the Bill be passed in the ongoing session of the parliament.

They were speaking at the discussion on the Copy Right Bill, 2001, organised Sunday by Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NFEJ).

Santosh Sharma, general secretary of the Nepalese Society for the Protection of Copy Rights, put forward a 11-point suggestion to include in the Bill that is expected to be passed in the ongoing 20th session of the parliament.

Senior comedians - Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansa Acharya - said that they have not been able to do anything to the persons who are copying openly their cassettes as the present Bill is dead in practice.

Prakash Mani Sharma, senior lawyer at Pro-Public demanded a provision to be included that allows public to forward any case of copyright violation in court on their own. Under the existing provision, only the government lawyer cannot forward any case of copy rights violation.

Allan Tuladhar, CEO of Unlimited Numedia said even the new Bill does not make any provision to protect the copy rights of data base, visual data and content. Yadav Kharel, film producer, criticised the provision in the Bill that recognises moral right as transferable.

The government is preparing to introduce the Copy Right Bill 2001, with an objective of amending the Copy Right Act 1965 as the Act is absolute to the present changed situation.

Dairy Festival to promote milk sale

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BUTWAL, Sept 30 - Preparations are being made to hold the dairy festival in Butwal on October 17 and 18 with a view to increasing the sale and consumption of milk and dairy products.

The decision to hold the dairy festival was made because a large quantity of the milk produced by farmers remains unsold due to lack of market in recent months in Rupandehi, a pioneer district in milk production.

Coordinator of the festival organizing committee and proprietor of local Pabitra Dairy Industry Megh Raj Bhandari told The Kathmandu Post that the festival was being organised jointly by Nepal Dairy Association and Rupandehi Industry Association.

This is probably the first time that such a festival is being held in this area.

The main objective of the dairy festival is to encourage everyone to cultivate the habit of drinking a glass of milk every day. It also aims to develop a cordial relationship between the dairy industry and the consumers.

We have found that the local milk buyers have the wrong notion that the milk produced by dairy industries is of low quality. It is because vendors used to supply them low quality milk. They are not informed that the dairy industries maintain proper quality in their productions, Saroj Kumar Simkhada, member of the organizing committee and chief of Lumbini Dairy Supply Project said.

A survey conducted by the milk festival organising committee shows that 17 percent of the processed milk is consumed in Rupandehi district.

According to the committee, 150 thousand litres of milk is produced in the district daily of which farmers consume 70 thousand litres at home, vendors sell 35 thousand litres daily and 30 thousand litres is sold through the government dairy industry while 2 thousand litres of milk is exported to India. The government and private dairy industries process and sell 7 thousand litres of milk daily but 5 thousand litres of milk is wasted as they cannot sell it.

This festival will be organised as "Milk Food Festival" on the eve of Dashain festival. Consumers will receive 100 percent milk-food such as "khowa" milk, "lassi", ice-cream-flavour milk, yogurt, cheese and various sweets.

Similarly, semi-milk food products will also be available to the consumers during the festival, such as panir pulau, cheese pulau, masala pulau, panir butter masala, malai kofta, panir nan, Russian salad, dal makhani, karahi panir, khoya butter, cream salad, butter nan, panir korma, chhena butter etc.

Recipe for production of milk food and the milk lab will be displayed during the milk festival. Lactometre, which is used to examine the quality of milk, will also be sold at the festival and various entertainment programmes, such as folk songs and dances will also be organised on the occasion.

Milk farmers have hoped that the festival will be able to promote sale of the milk produced in the district.Similarly, former president of Rupandehi Industry Association Mahendra Narayan Shrestha said the festival will help boost the consumption of milk although the problem of the milk producing farmers will not be resolved permanently until a major milk factory is established in the district.