Call to punish corrupt officials

Post Repor

KATHMANDU, April 12 : The members of the Upper House today called upon the government for strong action against the corrupt officials who have been proved to have asked for bribe to a private party.

"The Space Time Network has exposed the bribery deal and has facilitated the government to take action against the corrupt officials," said Bachaspati Devkota in the Upper House meeting.

Ganga Datt Joshi of the ruling Nepali Congress, appreciating the efforts of all parties in the Parliament for their initiative to approve four Anti- Graft Bills, called for proper implementation of the Bills.

Joshi also alleged the government of compelling the people living in the Royal Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve to join the "jungle forces" ( the Maoists) by destroying their residences.

Speaking on the similar line with Joshi, CPN (UML) lawmaker Urwa Datt Pant flayed the government for using bulldozers to displace the people living there for years without pre- information and adequate opportunity to shift to another place.

Bijul Kumar Bishwakarma of the ruling party called upon all the parties abiding by the Constitution to unite against the growing terror of the Maoists while Bahadur Singh of UML urged to institute an all- party committee for probing into Dang incident that took place last night.

"An all-party committee should probe into the incident and the quantity and categories of the weapons should be figured out," he said.

Meanwhile, Minister for Physical Planning and Works, Chiranjibi Wagle told the meeting that the government was preparing to broaden the Kalimati to Kalanki road in the near future in collaboration with the Kathmandu Metropolis.

Bar demands lawyers’ release 

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : A delegation led by Chairman of the Nepal Bar Association Sindhu Nath Pyakurel Friday has drawn the attention of the government about the arrest of some members of the Bar.

At a meeting with Home Minister Khum Bahadur Khadka, the delegation has demanded the government to provide an opportunity to the detained lawyers to meet with their family members and legal practitioners.

The delegation has also demanded an immediate release of lawyers Shaligram Sapkota (Banke), Padma Baidiak (Dang), Ram Nath Mainaly ( Kathmandu), Dharma Achrya (Chitwan), Baikuntha Dahal (Udaypur), Lain Bahadur Thapa ( Panchthar) and Uddhav Kafle (Panchthar).

Nepali rhinos in Japan zoo

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : The two baby rhinoceros presented recently to Japan by the people and the government of Nepal were left for public viewing for the first time amidst a function held in the Tama Zoo, Tokyo this morning said a press release issued from the Royal Nepalese Embassy here today.

Speaking on the occasion, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to Japan Kedar Bhakta Mathema stated that the rhino pair is a token of friendship to the people of Japan from the people of Nepal. On the occasion, he also appreciated the generous support that Japan has provided for Nepal’s economic development for the past several decades.

Japanese Ambassador to Nepal Zenji Kaminga noted that the relations between Nepal and Japan are in excellent footing. Vice Governor of Tokyo Metropolitian Government Y. Aoyama expressed his thanks to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in Tokyo for arranging the priceless gift for the Tama Zoo. Nepalse school children had also presented Japanese songs by waving Nepalese and Japanese flags. The programme was telecast in NHK’s news bulletin on Friday afternoon.

Conservation of wild rice discussed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : The International Conference on Wild Rice (ICWR), organised by the Green Energy Mission Nepal (GEM) kicked off here Thursday.

The three-day conference titled "Conservation and Utilisation of Wild Rice for the Food Security of the World" will focus on the exploration of the present global situation of wild rice and disseminate information for its conservation.

This international conference will help the world to create a favourable environment for the conservation of rice worldwide. The objectives of ICWR are to assess the present status of wild rice in nature, the status of conservation and utilisation of wild rice breeding and the level of genetic research on the wild rice.

Nepal is one of the homelands of the Asian cultivated rice O.Sativa L. At present, the status of wild rice nature conservation in Nepal is limited to only a few areas like Lumbini Garden, Ghodaghodi Taal, Royal Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu .

"Since these wild species are unique to Nepal, the responsibility goes to the local government to protect and conserve the habitats of this variety of wild rice, " said the executive director general of GEM, Dr Gyan L Shrestha.

At the conference Shrestha outlined that the Wetland Wild Rice Nature Conservation Programme would contribute immensely to the future of Wild Rice. The programme plans to allocate 17 hectares in Nepalgunj, 100 hectares in Ajigaraa and 14 hectares in Janakpur as wetland wild rice conservation areas.

Hollywood actress impressed with Nepalese children

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : A well-known Hollywood celebrity Vendela K. Thommerssen managed time out of her busy schedule and flew all the way from her home in New York to the Himalayan Kingdom only to inaugurate a school toilet in Kaski.

Vendela, an internationally known model and actress, was here in a four-day goodwill visit to Nepal as a UNICEF international spokesperson. Batman and Robin is one of the famous films in which Vendela made her debut as Mrs. Freeze, starring opposite super hunk Arnold Schwarzenegger.

In the course of acquiring information on the situation of Nepalese children, she visited different villages and inaugurated a toilet of a school at Dhikurpokhari village in Kaski.

Inaugurating a toilet, however, represents a symbolic gesture of this model-turned-actress’ endeavour to create awareness on sanitation in the rural parts of the country.

"Acting and modelling is my day-time job," says Vendela. "But my real passion is children."

Born in Sweden, she could not feel the difference between a boy and a girl. Neither could she measure poverty as such. But after completing her studies, she went to New York where she was exposed to the predicament of children from different countries. "The idea of her mother, working for Amnesty International, also encouraged her to work for minimising social injustice", she said.

Though she was "tremendously busy" with acting and modelling, she manages her time to work with UNICEF. Though she does not have to work with UNICEF fully, she attends almost all the programmes like publicity-and-fund raising campaign for children. She had been to India and Bolivia with messages from UNICEF.

"Life of an actress is of course full of fun but there is a meaning in working as a UNICEF spokesperson," she said.

After visiting several places, Vendela found out that the girls in some areas were well aware of their rights and were also determined to change the negative attitude of the society towards them.

"I met many girls who said that getting married and bearing children are not their only work," Vendela said. "They wanted some education and take part in the development of their country."

Recalling a heated discussion in one of the meetings in the village between a group of male and female participants, she said, "It was an amazing experience."

Focus on women’s awareness for freedom

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : Despite the current difficult situation in Nepal, the All Nepal Women National Campaign successfully celebrated its first anniversary here today.

At a press conference organised by the All Nepal Women Association (ANWA), President Durga Poudel said, "ANWA is determined to struggle for the equal rights of women in the country."

In the past years ANWA has organised several public awareness programmes to generate awareness about the problems of Nepali women and the steps to be taken for their freedom. Similar programmes have been held in Kanchanpur, Kailali, Baasgadi, Khajura, Dang-Dheukhuri, Pyuthan, Kapilvastu, Rupendehi, Arghakhanchi, Palpa and Baglung districts.

The two-year ANWA campaign in collaboration with the Women of Germany plans to create awareness among the Nepalese women. The ultimate goal of the association is to remove exploitation and suppression of Nepalese women.

ANWA has extended its complete support to the recently established Women’s Commission believing it to be a vital component for the freedom of Nepalese women.

Postage stamp show underway

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : On the occasion of the 54th anniversary of the establishment of the state of Israel, a four-day- philatelic exhibition was organised by the Nepal Philatelic Society at the Nepal Art Council Gallery amidst a function here the other day.

Different stamps relating to the history, people, culture, land, religion and tradition, education, economy and the capital city Jerusalem are on display.The exhibition was inaugurated by Minister for Information and Communications Jay Prakash Prasad Gupta.

Speaking at the inaugural programme Gupta said,"The relations between the two countries will be enhanced along with the expansion of economic ties between the two countries."

Addressing the function, the Ambassador of Israel to Nepal Avraham Nir said the exhibition will help to enhance the bilateral relations between the two countries. He said, "The exhibition will be helpful for the people of both the nations to know each other intimately."

On the same occasion, Minister Gupta released the Philatelic Paper published by the Nepal Philatelic Society.

Humla district facing acute food shortage once again

Post Report

SIMIKOT, Humla, April 12 : A reoccurring food shortage has started hitting people hard as a food supply quota allotted by the government has dwindled to its last in the remote district of Humla.

The government alloted 6,600 quintals of food including 4,800 quintals for Simikot, 800 in Sri Nagar and 1,000 in Sakeghat, according to Shankar Sapkota, the chief of Humla district office of the Nepal Food Corporation. With that allotted, the quota of Simikot has already been supplied and consumed, whereas Sri Nagar consumed 394 quintals and Sakeghat has consumed 195 quintals of food supplies already, said Sapkota.

The two depots in Sri Nagar and Sakeghat will not receive the remaining supplies due to security concerns in transportation. "The District Food Management Committee decided that the amount will also be supplied to the depot at headquarters," said Sapkota. "The godown at Simikot has a stock of 550 quintals of food grains."

If the food is sold openly, the stock will finish in less than a week, said Krishna Chandra Poudel, the acting Chief District Officer. "There is still three months remaining in the fiscal year, so if the government does not add supplies to the remaining quota, a food shortage will hit the district," said Poudel. "The headquarters need another 2,500 quintals of food grains to survive the fiscal year."

The District Food Management Committee had demanded a quota of 16,000 quintals of food supplies because of the dry season last year, said Sapkota. "In past years, the government added 50 per cent more to the allotted quota," said Sapkota.

"If the government does not add and supply more food, many people here will die of hunger," said Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, the Chairperson of District Development Committee. In 1999, more than 400 people of Humla lost their lives due to hunger.

Personalilites felicitated to mark Teachers’ Day

RSS

RAJBIRAJ, April 12 : Various programmes were organised to mark the 23rd Teachers’ Day in Saptari, Dang and Morang districts of the country here today.

Nepal National Teachers’ Organisation (NNTO) of Dang district felicitated three long time serving teachers of the district. The teachers who were honoured on the programme organised in Ghorahi were Bamdev Subedi, the retired teacher of Primary School of Beljhundi, Govinda Pokharel, the retired teacher of Primary School of Gurje and Khuman Singh Gharti, the retired teacher of Primary School of Phanta.

In Rajbiraj, Vice-Chairperson of the National Assembly Ramprit Paswan has said the teachers have a paramount role to play to increase the educational standard and called on all the teachers to show professional honesty rather than work under political groupings in a programme.

The District Education Officer (DEO) Chitra Prasad Devkota called for quality education.

On the occasion, CPN-UML district secretary Diwakar Devkota, Federation of Nepalese Journalists district President Murali Yadav, senior journalist Shivahari Bhattarai and Nepal Teachers Association district President Bhawendra Prasad Yadav also expressed their views.

Similarly in Biratnagar, Morang District Development Committee (DDC) Chairperson Khadga Bahadur Basnet felicitated some 29 teachers who retired from their services by wrapping shawls around them amid a function organised by Nepal National Teachers’ Organisation (NNTO) on Thursday.

Basnet also gave away a letter of appreciation to Khagendra Subedi, coordinator of Ilaka no.10, for his remarkable services from among the 17 Ilakas of Morang district within three years of the inception of the NNTO in the district.

Likewise, Vice-chairman of NNTO Chandi Rai also presented 30 teachers with letters of appreciation for their valuable contribution in expansion and consolidation of the NNTO.

On that occasion, Morang DDC President Basnet suggested that the teachers could persuade others who have mistakenly followed wrong path for the interest of the country and its people.

Member of VDC Federation Ghanashyam Khatiwada
warned that several anomalies could be cropped up because of failure in getting the education act amended suitably to the changed context.

Botanical Day held in Banke

RSS

NEPALGUNJ, April 12 : One-day Botanical Day and Botanical Exhibition was organised here yesterday with the objective of generating awareness among the people about the rare species of herbs found in Banke district.

Inaugurating the botanical day, Banke District Development Committee (DDC) Chairperson Omprakash Jung Rana said that the rural people could generate income through proper development of valuable herbs found with the country.

At the function chaired by Chief of the District Botanical Office (DBO) Sunil Kumar Acharya, Chief District Officer Balkrishna Prasain, industrialist Diwakar Khanal, Dr. Ananda Bahadur Karmacharya and
the representatives of the
Nepali Congress and Nepal Sadabhavana Party also expressed their views.

The DBO has set up Botanical Information Centres at Dhakeri and Nepalgunj, collected 125 species of herbarium samples, 30 species of museum samples, managed a nursery of one species of herb, cultivated two species of herbs on participatory basis and developed four parks in the district.

Likewise, the DBO has set up one green house and one orchid house at the botanical garden in Dhakeri and is conducting research on Pipla, Sarpagandha and perfumed grass.

The main objective of the DBO is to conduct a detailed survey of botanical plants, to develop technology for cultivation of herbs and perfumed plants and to hand over the technology to the local farmers, and to set up a germ-plasma centre for protection of the different species of flowers and plants which are about to get extinct.

The office has also been conducting training programmes for the farmers of Banke and Bardiya districts for cultivation of Pipla, Sarpagandha and other scented plants and helping the farmers in extending the technology of tissue culture by organising training for them.

Six houses gutted by fire

Post Report

JANAKPUR, April 12 : As the summer season approaches, fire incidents also increase. But the lack of wider and properly maintained roads in Janakpur, fire brigades are unable to reach the scene in time.

According to Fire Brigade Department, more than half a dozen houses in Dhanusha, Hanspur and Thera were destroyed and property worth 70 thousand rupees were damaged by the fire on Thurday night alone.

A fire brigade which started off to extinguish the fire on the house of Sita Ram Yadav today morning could not reach the destination as it was trapped by muddy road. The brigade was only taken out after six hours whereas the fire was extinguished by the locals.

The fire destroyed three houses of Ram Prakash Shah of Hanspur, three of Ram Brichha Shah of Golchi and one house of Molahi Thakur.

Regional workshop on child labour concludes

RSS

BUTWAL, April 12 : A regional workshop on child labour eradication and supervision organised jointly by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Ministry of Labour and Transport has stressed on the need to co-ordinate the child labour eradication programme with the poverty alleviation programmes.

The participants of the programme suggested to move ahead to end child labour and stressed on the need for awareness campaigns.

They said the problems were the authority not met in the industries, the children hidden during inspections and their attendance not kept and the true age not mentioned.

They also pointed out other problems such as inadequate legal arrangements and limited resources and lack of co-ordination.

They also informed that the bill to eradicate child labour will be implemented soon, eradication of children at risk within five years and all types of child labour within ten years.

On the occasion, director of the labour and employment promotion department SN Baidya, Ministry Under Secretary Dev Tamrakar, programme officer Seema Luintel, Yadav Amatya of ILO, Chief of Labour office in Lumbini Sharat Adhikari, and Butwal Chamber Secretary Madhusudan Shrestha presented working papers and suggestions.

Lepers shift to new houses

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : Around 300 lepers in Khokana have shifted to new shelters built by a Japanese social organisation. They had been living there for a long time after being ostracised by society. A Japanese musical band had built the quarters for the lepers.

Masaki Uhera of the band handed over the key of the house to the family of Pemba Gyalzen Lama on Thursday. Present on the hand over programme were Stephano Sukatoma of Adra Japan and Bidur Basnet of the Nepal Leprosy Eradication Association.

Adra Japan has been providing supports to the rehabilitation of the Nepalese lepers since 1987. The Japanese social organisation has already built more than 350 houses for the lepers in various parts of the country. Then Rana Prime Minsiter Juddha Shumsher had established a lepers centre in Khokana. Each of the leper family has been provided a three-room house built in half a ropani of land and rest of the land is used for vegetable farming.

Four rebels killed in Palpa

PALPA, April 12 (PR) - Security forces on Thursday gunned down four armed Maoists, including two members of the so-called District People’s Government formed by Maoists, in the eastern part of the district. They were killed in clashes in a jungle of Mityal VDC. The killed rebels have been identified as Yamnath Pathak, Ghanashyam Khadka and two women rebels identified as Bhima Kumari Biswokarma, 22, from Sidheswor VDC and approximately 21 years old Uma whose address could not be verified. The army also recovered some firearms and explosives from the clash sites.

Telephone service halted

GAIGHAT, April 12 (PR) - The district of Solukhumbu has been isolated after the Maoist rebels destroyed the Repeater Station of Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) in Patale a month ago. The telephone service has not been halted since the destruction, said Chandreswor Shah, the Chief Technician of NTC Rajbiraj. About 500 telephone lines have been distributed in the district. The telephone service has been also halted in Namche Bazzar, also known as the gateway to Mount Everest, since four days, said Shah.

Charged on fake certificate

JANAKPUR, April 12 (PR) - District Administrative Office has charged B.N. Chaudhari known as Dr. Deng for his suspicious certificate of MBBS. Chaudhari was practising with the suspicious certificate. Acording to Chief District Officer (CDO) Ratna Kaji Bajracharya, the authority was suspicious from Chaudhari’s explanation, which he gave on Wednesday and has sent his certificate to the concerned body for investigation. Before this, Dr. Deng resident of Pagauna of Mahothari district has been charged several times. Reports also states that the impostors obtaining fake certificates of MBBS and BDS from bordering Indian state are cheating innocent people of that place.

Man builds temple with pension

DOLAKHA, April 12 (PR) - A 89 years old man has constructed a temple in his personal investment here in Dolakha. Dev Narayan Shrestha of Bhimeshwor Municipality spent 60 thousand rupees to construct the temple of Lord Shiva. According to Shrestha, who is the former army personnel, he built the temple from his pension. He also returned the assitance provided by the Municipality.

Representatives mobilised

MORANG, April 12 (PR) - The District Development Committee (DDC) of Morang is mobilising the representatives of Village Development Committees (VDCs) to create awarenes about the HIV/AIDS and drug addiction. The DDC will train all the representatives of 65 VDCs for the purpose. The DDC is preparing to launch the new concept from the Nepalese New Year, according to Khadga Bahadur Basnet, the Chairperson of the DDC.

Thirty four injured in accident

ITAHARI, April 12 (RSS) - Thirty-four persons sustained injury in a bus (na. 2. kha. 4043) accident near Koshi barrage of Sunsari district at around 9 p.m. on Wednesday night. The passenger bus running at very high speed overturned while turning in another direction, it is learnt from the District Police Office in Sunsari. Seventeen of the injured are undergoing treatment at the BP Koirala Institute of Medical Sciences in Dharan. Two among them are stated to be in critical condition. Search for the driver of the ill-fated bus of registration number Na 2 Kha 4043 is going on.

Preparatory meet concludes

JANAKPUR, April 12 (RSS) - A meeting was held here to prepare for the forthcoming meeting of administrative officers of the bordering districts of Nepal and India yesterday, under the chairmanship of Dhanusha Chief District Officer (CDO) Ratnakaji Bajracharya. Present on the occasion were CDOs of Saptari, Siraha and Mahottari Dilip Bista, Tikaram Sharma and Mohan Prasad Acharya as well as Police Superintendents, National Investigation Chiefs, customs, survey, housing and physical planning, land tax and value added tax officers. The meeting decided to hold talks with Indian officials on extradition of terrorists and criminals and exchange of information, smuggling control, border pillars and encroachment of the no man land. The Jayanagar meeting will be held with Madhubani district officials of India by officials from Saptari, Siraha, Mahottari and Dhanusha districts from Nepal, Bajracharya said.

Talks on ethnic issues

Post Report

KATHMANDU, April 12 : The Kirat Yakthum Chumlung organised an interaction programme here Friday on "Constitution Amendment and the Issues of Ethnic and Backward Communities."

The Federation of the Nepal Ethnic Communities has proposed an 18-point proposal to be incorporated into the proposed Constituional amendment.

The Kirat Yakthum Chumlung, a member association of the Federation today discussed the problems of the Limbu community in the presence of various representatives of political parties, MPs, and other members of the association.

The speakers suggested that backward communities be involved in the proposed Constitution amendment.

Reading out a working paper, Durga Prasad Subba, an advocate suggested that the Upper House of the Parliament should be converted into an assembly of minorities and ethnic communities. He also suggested that there should be a constitutional provision to provide for the representations of minorities and backward communities judiciously.

Uttam Singh Thungden of the Kirat Yakthung Chumlung read out the agenda paper on the proposed Constituion amendments prepared by all political parties.

The interaction programme was attended by the representatives of political parties, advocates and the members of the Kirat Yakthung Chumlung.