Quadruplets, mother on intensive treatment

POKHARA, Oct 5 (PR)- Intensive treatment of the quadruplets and their mother, Rupa Thapa Shrestha, is going on at two separate hospitals for the last five days, according to both the hospitals.

Rupa gave the rare births to the quadruplets on Monday after going through several hours long labour pain, the first baby at her own home in Damauli and the rest at Pokhara Regional Hospital.

Child specialist at Manipal Teaching Hospital, Dr. Ena Thapaliya, said that the eldest baby has been moved to the neo-natal ICU section after he fell sick since Wednesday night. The baby was blood-transfused today morning.

Thapaliya, however, said that they have to wait for at least two weeks to see the improvement on the baby’s health condition. "I cannot predict about the baby’s future right now," she said.

Thapaliya said that the quadruplets are being breast-fed in every two hours with the help of another nursing mother who is also recuperating at the same hospital.

But she declined to mention the name of the nursing mother breast-feeding the babies. The hospital source said that the newly born babies have been provided with glucose and oxygen.

On the other hand, Rupa is receiving intensive treatment at the
state- run Pokhara hospital. The Pokhara hospital has not allowed her to breast-feed her quadruplets citing her poor health condition. The hospital source said Rupa had been shifted to ICU section for further treatment. "But she is out of danger. She is improving her health," said Dr. Yemuna Suwal, who is attending her since she was brought to the hospital.

Rupa has already been transfused seven pints of blood since Monday. Dr Suwal said that they were thinking about to move her to the Manipal medical college so that she could breast-feed her babies.

Meanwhile, locals are extending their financial assistance, sympathy and moral support to Rupa Thapa Shrestha even after the fifth day of her delivery to the quadruplets. According to the hospital, locals have already donated more than Rs. 150,000 as of now.

The Chief of Army Staff, Prajwalla Shumsher Jung Bahadur Rana, today donated Rs. 5,505 in cash and manager of Kumudini Homes in Pokhara, Yogendra Sharma, provided her Rs. 9,100 in cash. Likewise, the employees of the Pokhara Regional Post Office extended their support with Rs 2,521 for Rupa and her babies.

Women set to have parental property rights

By Binaj Gurubacharya

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 – The parliamentary Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee today approved the Bill proposing to make 11th amendment to the Muluki Ain (Civil Code) establishing women’s rights on parental property.

However, the government today reversed its earlier agreement that would allow women to retain their share of parental property even after getting married.

The government’s decision was severely criticised by lawmakers of the main opposition CPN-UML who accused the Nepali Congress (NC) government of maintaining double standards and threatened take up protests against the decision.

The opposition lawmakers also signed a note of dissent disagreeing with the clause where it says women will have to let go of the property once they are married.

During earlier meetings, committee members including NC lawmakers had agreed in principle that they would all support an amendment proposing that women be allowed to retain their share of the parental property even after they are married.

"This move by the government has totally handicapped the Bill that was brought to empower women with rights to parental property and has killed spirit of the Bill," said Astha Laxmi Shakya of the CPN-UML.

Once the Bill, better known as the Property Rights Bill, is converted into an Act as the law of the land, women would be able to stake their claim on parental property and daughters will get equal share of property as the sons.

The existing laws say that women have to be 35 years old and remain unmarried until that point if they are to stake claim on parental property. Now women will be able to get their share once they become adult.

"We have expressed our strong protest over the government’s indifference on the property rights. But the Bill has some positive and progressive aspects like discouraging polygamy, underage marriage and increasing punishment for crime against women like rape," said Urmila Aryal, also of CPN-UML.

NC Chief Whip Tek Bahadur Chokyal, who is also a member of the Committee, said the Bill would be presented in the House of Representatives by Monday. Once the Bill is put for vote in the House, it is expected to be endorsed as NC holds a majority in the House. A Bill once amended and endorsed by the several committees, it is approved by the full House without any debates.

The Bill will be passed on to the National Assembly, the Upper House, and then to the King to get the royal assent.

The government had been under pressure from lawmakers and women rights groups to get the Bill, that has been lingering in Parliament for years, pushed through right this session before it prorogues next week.

The Bill has also fixed the legal age of marriage under the consent of legal guardian as 18 and for consent of the couple at 20 for both men and women. This increases the age for women but decreases the age for men. However, the new provision categorises both men and women under the same age limit.

Those found guilty of performing marriage under these age limits could be punished between six months to three years and made to pay Rs. 10,000 in fine.

Besides the issue of property rights and age limit, the Bill also addresses other important issues like abortion, polygamy, underage marriage and punishment for crime against women.

For men found marrying a second wife, they could face sentence of three-to-five years in jail. While the second wife could too face the same punishment if she marries even with the knowledge that the man already has a first wife. Present laws allow punishment of only one-to-two months in prison and Rs. 2,000 in fine.

"This would discourage people from brining in a second wife while still married that would end some of the ills in the society," said Mahendra Yadav, Chairman of the Committee.

Other discriminatory words in the Muluki Ain like "women eloping" would now be replaced by "women remarrying" much to the relief of rights activists.

Committee members had held several conferences interacting with women rights activists and legal experts. They had also travelled to all the 14 zones and had solicited suggestions from people representing all aspects of life.

Trade talks in third week of October

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 - A secretarial level delegation of Nepal is leaving for New Delhi in the third week of October for crucial negotiations with India that will decide the ‘contour’ of the Nepal-India Trade Treaty of 1996.

The five-year-old Treaty is expiring this December.

"A secretarial level delegation will visit the Indian capital during the third week of October to carry out consultations regarding the review of the Trade Treaty," said Purushottam Ojha, joint secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies.

The secretarial meet is a follow up to the joint secretarial level meeting, which was held in the Indian capital last Friday and Saturday. But the meeting, however, failed to yield any concrete breakthrough.

Despite the recent setback, officials here have expressed optimism that the spirit of the Treaty would remain unchanged. Both Nepali businessmen and government officials had initially been taken aback by the Indian demand for the Treaty renewal.

India had sent a formal notification seeking review and revision in certain provisions contained in the Trade Treaty, which was first signed in 1991 and later modified in 1996.

India wants the provisions of the Treaty revised to contain increasing export from the Himalayan country while the Nepal government wants to continue the Treaty in its present form. India’s concerns are mainly on the growth in exports of acrylic yarn, zinc oxide, copper wires, vanaspati ghee and steel pipes.

"The Indian side have shown concerns which they want Nepal to address. This may call for changing some provisions. However, they have firmly assured that the basic premises of the Trade Treaty would remain unchanged," said Ojha, who headed the Nepali delegation to New Delhi last week.

"What is important is the extent of changes sought in the Treaty. The thrust should be on maintaining the basic fundamentals," he added.

Ojha informed that India, in the latest talks, promised to give its proposals for changes to the Nepali side in writing very soon. "Among others, the main Indian agenda is defining export surge and the rules of manufacturing origin objectively," he said.

Other officials at the ministry informed that the Indian side also raised the possibility of including provisions such as the "Most Favoured Nation" treatment, and others relating to levying of anti dumping duties and quantitative restrictions on Nepali exports in the revised Treaty.

They also said that value addition and material content in goods exported from Nepal to India also featured during the talks. No conclusions were, however, reached, they said.

With hardly two months remaining before the Treaty expires, businessmen are hopeful that the contentious issues that has cropped up in the Nepal-India trade relations will be settled amicably soon.

However, they have lamented over the indifference shown by the Indian government to the recommendations made by the Joint Economic Council (JEC) of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).

"The current issue is that of a trade one. The issue will be most amicably settled if it is left to be settled amongst the business community," said a high level official of the FNCCI. It would be much easier if both the governments’ agree to the JEC’s recommendations.

However, Ojha said, "The JEC’s recommendations are being taken as a resource document only."

Maoist rebel beaten to death

Post Report

BANKE, Oct 5 - Western region of the Banke district remained tense today following the killing of one of the underground Maoist rebels allegedly involved in extortion by the villagers on Wednesday in Titihiriya VDC.

Hundreds of locals captured four Maoist rebels involved in extortion on Wednesday. One of the captured rebels was killed while remaining were handed over to the police after being brutally beaten, said the source.

Ram Chaudari (Yug) was beaten to death by the villagers while Jhak Bahadur Chaudari, Dil Raj Chaudari (Bikas), Bikram Chaudari were handed over to the police.

According to the source, all of the injured were taken to the Bheri Zonal Hospital.

Witnesses said that, villagers captured the rebels after laying siege at the school in Gurudalyalpur where the latter were holed up.

The Maoists had demanded rupees 21 thousand from the teachers and had warned against teaching the course books. Instead they had recommended the books which praise the Maoist movement.

Speaking to The Kathmandu Post, Chief District Officer, Balkrishna Prasain said that security has been beefed up in those affected VDCs.

Meanwhile, Maoist rebels have shot dead Prem Bahadur Pariyar, a local of Paanch kanya VDC, said the Area Police Office, Dharan.

Maoists release 26 more policemen in Rukum

By Rudra Khadka

NEPALGUNJ, Oct 5 - Maoist rebels on Thursday released 26 policemen from their captivity in Rukum, one of the Maoist insurgency hit districts in the mid-west Nepal.

The release is the second such step taken by the Maoists after the ceasefire. Chairman of the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoists) "Comrade" Prachanda had earlier promised to set free all the hostages in their captivity.

Among those released on Thursday, 24 security personnel were abducted from Holeri police post in Rolpa on July 12 while two others were taken hostage from Rukumkot of Rukum about six months ago.

The rebels freed 13 policemen in Rukumkot and the rest in Athbiskot VDC in two separate functions. Representatives of district Red Cross Society and local media persons were on hand to witness the release. The rebel Maoists also held a brief public meeting before handing them over to the Red Cross representatives.

Those released by the rebels are police sub-inspectors Tarkeshwor Yadav and Parsuram Malla and assistant sub-inspector Shiva Bahadur Kathayet.

Other head constables released by the rebels have been identified as Keshav Raj Marasini, Ratna Bahadur Budha, Gopal Lamsal, Ram Bahadur Bohara, Netra Bahadur Rokka and Hikmat Bahadur Chand.

Other released policemen are Kush Bahadur DC, Purna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Jahag Chaudhary, Anup Shah, Bachhu Mahato, Hajit Pal, Chakra Bahadur Khadka, Om Prakash Pun, Rudra Bahadur Gurung, Hom Narayan Gupta, Krishna Bahadur Gharti Magar, Dut Bahadur Gharti, Ram Krishna Kumal, Sanjaya Acharya, Dhakbir Basnet and Bhim Bahadur Basnet.

Meanwhile, the 17 policemen who were set free on October 2 said that they were still ready to serve in the Nepal Police if the government provided them adequate training and modern arms.

The released police personnel said that the Maoists had warned them against joining the police force. The policemen told The Kathmandu Post that they were tortured in the Maoist camp for the last three months.

"They (Maoists) physically assaulted us in their camp and looted 1.1 million rupees from us," said assistant sub-inspector Punaram Chaudhary, one of the 17 policemen to be released by the rebels on Tuesday.

All the 17 policemen released on Tuesday are currently staying at the Western Regional Police Office in Nepalgunj. A police official said the released security personnel would soon be allowed to go home.

Dependency on agriculture likely to go down in Mini Census

By Subas Risal

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 - As the 5th National Sample Census of Agriculture (NSCA) or the ‘Mini Census’ draws near, the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS) is busy chalking out the modus operandi to make it effective.

Officials at the CBS say that preparations are under way for the 5th NSCA, which is scheduled to begin in February. It says that the compilation of data will help in studying the situation of agriculture in the country, subsequently helping formulate plans and policies to develop the sector.

"As the Nepalese people rely heavily on agriculture, this Mini Census would obviously help devise plans and policies to enhance the productivity," says Tunga Siromani Bastola, deputy director of CBS and co-ordinator of the Mini Census.

Population Census alike, Mini Census is exercised at the regular interval of ten years. But data is collected not on a door-to-door basis but rather through sampling procedures. The sample data is collected from selected Village Development Committees (VDC).

Several new issues like operational agri-holding, irrigation with the source, tenure status, land use, agricultural materials- fertilisers, livestock inventory, fisheries and agro-credit have also been included in this Census.

CBS says that to make it more scientific than the previous one, the questionnaire has incorporated the additional issues like utilisation of agro-products, the quantity of land damaged by the natural and man-made disaster and caste/ethnicity of the farmers.

"I believe these additional issues would make this Census a scientific one," said Bastola. "This would definitely help in portraying the real picture. There were some issues included in the 10th National Census related with the agriculture but this Census would solely focus on agriculture."

The idea has also been emphasised by the 20-year Agriculture Perspective Plan (APP)- long term plan adopted by the country since early 1997- which basically focuses on commercialisation of agriculture.

The questions for the Census have been included on the basis of recommendations of World Food Organisations. It is scheduled to begin from the month of February to the month of May in which over 2,500 enumerators will be deputed to collect the data.

The first National Sample Census of agriculture was conducted in 1961 with a sole purpose of bringing out the actual picture of the agriculture sector of the country.

CBS says that the budget of this Census is 65 million rupees. To make it more effective, small portion of the budget will be utilised in the training as well.

"This week long training will train the officials of the CBS who will be responsible in training the enumerators and supervisors," says Bastola.

According to the previous census, 81 per cent of the people depends on agriculture sector. Experts contend that due to the growing industrialisation, this census is likely to record a fall in people’s dependency on agriculture.

Govt suggested to deploy Armed Police along border

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 – In the wake of the deployment of Indian para-military force along the Nepal-India border, Nepal too would do well to station its Armed Police Force along the border, said speakers at an interaction programme on Friday.

They were responding to a paper presented today by Prof Dhruva Kumar who suggested that Nepal seize the opportunity provided by India to regulate the long open border between the two countries. "Nepal should train its APF and deploy along the border in order to manage the open international border. India has already started the regulation with its deployment of para-military force," said the professor.

Although the programme was on Nepal’s security and India’s policy, a major part of the discussion centred on India’s deployment of force and what Nepal’s response ought to be.

Terming the Indian move as a historic turning point, Prof Kumar, well-known South Asian security expert, said it was also an opportunity for the Nepal’s foreign policy makers to abrogate the 1950 Treaty of Friendship. "Now India might not refuse Nepal’s proposals as India itself had been maintaining that abrogating the treaty would lead to deployment of army along the international border. India has just done that."

Prof Vidya Bir Singh Kansakar accused the political parties of all hues of neglecting the important issue of solving the citizenship problem, which he said, would help in the regulation of the border.

However, Professor Krishna Khanal questioned if there was any need to match the Indian deployment of forces along the border, which he hinted was a result of understanding between the Palace and the government. He drew attention of India’s External Affairs Minister’s remarks equating Nepal’s Maoists as terrorists.

Khanal drew the attention of the assembled people towards Singh’s expression of Indian support for King Gyanendra and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba during his recent visit to Nepal. "Does it behove Singh, a seasoned politician, to talk like that of a neighbouring country. Shouldn’t he have expressed support for democracy and the Constitution instead of individuals?"

The professor pointed out a link between Singh’s expression of support, India’s deployment of border force, the Secret Service Bureau, and Singh terming the Maoists as terrorists.

Narhari Acharya of Nepali Congress said it was imperative upon Nepal to develop economic, political, social and cultural securities instead of only focussing on military option.

He made a special mention of Prof Kumar’s observation that Nepal’s national security was more affected by the external unexpected interference and pressure rather than external aggression.

Hiranya Lal Shrestha, former lawmaker from Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist Leninist) suggested introducing the passport system for the travellers across the border as a means to control the "silent migration" from across the border. Shrestha also suggested one-year compulsory military training for all.

Sarita Giri, central committee member of Nepal Sadbhawana Party suggested that Nepal should first try to find out the intention behind India’s mover along the international border instead of jumping to conclusions.

House endorses Education Bill

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Oct 5 – The House of Representatives today approved the Bill proposing seventh amendment to the Education Act that would require the nearly 150,000 government schools teachers to apply and test for license to teach.

The government has also initiated process towards establishing a permanent National Education Commission in a bid to reverse the deteriorating state of the education sector bringing in coordination between various agencies related to the area.

A Bill has also been filed by the government to establish this Commission that will be headed by the Education Minister.

The Education Bill that was approved by the House today would now be tossed on to the National Assembly. The new law would require all the public school teachers throughout the nation will face tough licensing exams that is designed to flush out those with fake education degrees from institutions across the border.

Once the Bill is turned into an Act, public education, which is mostly free today, would cease to remain free for middle and higher secondary levels.

The estimated 150,000 government school teachers, and even those who are currently employed even in permanent positions, would now be issued a temporary license within six months of the Bill becoming an Act. They will be required to apply and take the test within the next five years from the date the new law is enforced.

Failing to do so, they will be automatically retired but will be given the benefits received through normal retirement procedure.

All new teachers will be required to be issued with the license before taking up teaching jobs in government-run schools which will now be called ‘community schools’ instead of public schools.

There have been numerous cases where teachers have been caught working without proper education training and degree. Officials estimate the number could be as high as 30 percent.

The new mechanism would not only flush out the teachers with fake certificates but also the incompetent and unqualified people now currently teaching in schools across the nation.