‘Youths are tremendous resource for HIV prevention’

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 15:In Salleri VDC, Solukhumbu district, high in the mountains, the Young Star Club, founded by a 13-year- old, fifteen years ago is now a full-fledged NGO.

Over 500 clubs have been initiated by young people themselves over the past eight months at the call of a popular radio programme "Chatting with My Best Friend."

The Saathi wa Bidyarthi Samuhik Sanstha club in Sindhuli is planning to start a series of public discussions on HIV/AIDS in its village.

The resources hidden among the youth of Nepal was highlighted in "A South Asia Regional Forum for Young People on HIV/ AIDS" organised by the UNICEF / ROSA and Save The Children during a four-day workshop.

The first regional meeting of its kind, the Forum had gathered young South Asians to devise a course of action for young people so as to accelerate the fight against HIV/ AIDS. More than 40 children and youth, between the ages of 13 and 19 have been selected through a series of national and local youth forums.

"Young people are a tremendous resource in all areas of HIV prevention and care. Their input is valuable in programme design," said Sadig Rasheed, Regional Director, UNICEF ROSA. Showing a copy of the State of the World’s Children 2003 report, released this week, Dr. Rasheed emphasised the reports call for "authentic, meaningful participation" by children and young people for their sake in the future.

The report states that the estimated number of children living with HIV/ AIDS in Nepal are 1,500 while children orphaned by AIDS is around 13,000 between the age group of 0-14 years till the end of 2001.

Sudan Pokharel, Child Awareness Group and a participant of Nepal highlighted on the Young People’s Forum. The Forum will be able to highlight the voices of the children and young people and will contribute towards the development of child and issue sensitive systems in countries that will allow for children’s participation in planning and implementation of programmes on HIV/AIDS related issues that affect the lives of children and young people.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Suomi Sakai, UNICEF Representative to Nepal said that HIV rates decline when serious and sustained efforts are made to ensure that young people live in a supportive environment and have the knowledge, skills and services to protect themselves.

In Jhapa and Morang district of Nepal, Save the Children has stimulated the initiation of a children’s and young people’s movement in response to HIV/ AIDS, informed Archana Tamang, Regional Programme Coordinator, Save the Children South and Central Asia. "There are already about 1,400 young volunteers who are mobilising their peers and communities in work on HIV/AIDS," she said.

More than a million young people between ages 15 and 24 in South Asia are infected with HIV/ AIDS. The number represents 9 percent of the nearly 12 million young people living with HIV/ AIDS globally. In the context of Nepal, as estimated 58,000 people are HIV positive. Over a third of them are less than 25 years of age.

Other speakers on the occasion were Robert Tyabji, Regional Communication Advisor, UNICEF, ROSA and Vijay Raj Kumar, Regional HIV/AIDS advisor, Save the Children.

Conservation of Himalayan medicinal plants stressed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 15:Conservationists, scientists and experts, representing governmental and non-governmental organisations from among the Himalayan countries of Asia have gathered here to identify present status of ‘wise use’ of Himalayan medicinal and aromatic plants and to work out future strategy to promote wise and sustainable use of medicinal plants in the region.

During the 5-day workshop beginning Sunday, they will deliberate on how to manage and promote medicinal and aromatic plants in Himalayas of Asia region.

Besides the meet organised by Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC), World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Programme in Asia (MAPPA) and WWF-UNESCO People and Plants Initiatives will also work to find out ways, environment and other factors to sustainable management of Himalayan medicinal plants.

The meet bears high significance to a country like Nepal where more than 1600 medicinal plants have been recorded. In Dolpa district alone more than 400 species of medicinal plants grow. According to official data, 200 medicinal plants have commercial value. Experts say that over one hundred thousand traditional healers, locally called Amjhis are engaged in practising herbal medicine.

Despite high commercial value of these plants and growing demand for Himalayan medicinal herbs, many plants are on the verge of extinction, experts say. Demographic pressure, deforestation, and destruction of habitat and over harvesting are the reasons.

Minister for Water Resources, Deepak Gyawali, on behalf of Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation inaugurated the workshop. In his inaugural speech, the minister said that the government is carrying out a number of programmes to conserve and manage medicinal plants in the country in a sustainable way.

He also underlined the need to formulate a comprehensive plan for commercial harvesting and trade of medicinal plants.

Dr. Yildiz Aumeeruddy Thomas of WWF-UNESCO People and Plants Programme said that the meeting would be important to find ways, favourable environment, and other factors to the sustainable management of Himalayan medicinal plants.

Dr. Chandra P. Gurung, the Country Representative of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) shared WWF’s programmes in the country, especially in Upper Dolpa, to preserve and promote medicinal plants and Amjhi, local herbal medicinal healers, in the opening programme.

Secretary at the MoFSC, Chandi Prasad Shrestha, worried about Nepal not being able to tap the benefits of the medicinal and aromatic plants though they exist in abundance in the country.

Ashok Stupa to be reinstated

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 15:The fifth ‘Ashok Stupa’, discovered three years ago during the renovation efforts of the historic lake in Pimbahal, Patan, is soon to be reinstated in its original place.

The stupa, an ancient architectural form, was discovered after centuries of obscurity, while cleaning the lake for renovation purposes. Though a new stupa stands on its place, the original one is considered far more important historically.

"The original stupa will be reinstated soon," former mayor of Lalitpur sub-metropolis Bekha Ratna Shakya told The Kathmandu Post in a foundation laying ceremony organized today.

On the occasion, Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Maheshlal Pradhan laid the foundation stone.

Shikhar music contest in January

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 15:Vogue Advertisement and Event Management, at a press conference today, announced that it is to organise the ‘Shikhar Music Beat Contest’ on the fourth and fifth of January 2003 at the Dasharath Stadium.

Sponsored by Surya Nepal, the music contest will see twenty bands selected from across the country.

"The preliminary round, involving 90 bands was held on 8th and 9th December. Out of the 90 bands, 20 have been selected to compete in the finals in January," said Pravat Rimal, Chairman of Vogue Advertisement and Event Management.

The winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes. The best band or first prize is the award of Rs 70,000, second best will receive Rs 35,000 and third prize is Rs 20,000. Other awards in the competition are for best lead guitarist, best rhythm guitarist, best bass guitarist, best drummer, best vocal, best lyricist and best composition, with each winner getting Rs 6,000 each.

During the finals, special guest artistes performing will be Cobweb, Robin and Looza, Mukti and Revival, Dr. Pilot, Mystic Band and singers Deepak Bajracharya, Nima Rumba, Dhiraj Rai, Nalina Chitrakar and Girish Pranil.

Every year, Surya Nepal has been organising various musical programmes like, Shikhar Saanj, Shikhar Pop Express, Shikhar Road Show and Shikhar Beat Concert and many other programmes with an aim to promote the music and musicians of Nepal. The Shikhar Music Beat Contest 2000, held two year ago has been one of the biggest hits of popular music in Nepal.

Astrologers urged to focus on precision

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Dec 15:Astrologers stressed the need to frame certain principles to bring about uniformity while making predictions at a workshop entitled "National Astrological Scholars’ Workshop to Resolve the National Problems" organised here today by the National Astrological Science Service Committee.

The "Panchanga Nirnayak Committee has been publishing calendars but various other organisations too have been publishing calendars in their own way. This has created confusions on the authenticity of information," said Surya Prasad Dhungel.

"As the nation is in crisis, people obviously will have more curiosity about the future and we being astrologers should formulate certain principles. But, unfortunately, astrologers themselves are in confusion," Dhungel said.

"I came to know about the significance of astrology only after I became a minister," said Jaya Prakash, a former minister. "Astrologers are the spokespersons of Lord Brahma. However, uniformity is required in announcing prophecies. Otherwise there will remain hardly any difference between professional astrologers and those who make predictions sitting on footpaths," he said. Speaking on the occasion, he also demanded a separate ministry for the preservation and development of the religion. "Hinduism is in crisis so the King should take an initiative for the preservation of the religion," he observed.

Nayeb Badagurujyu Dr. Madhab Prasad Bhattarai, chief guest, at the programme remarked that astrologers need more study and practice for the perfection of their profession. "Politicians never give importance to astrology in policy-making, but, ironically, they remember astrologers only when things go wrong," said Bhattarai.

Six rebels, one soldier killed in encounters

Post Report

SURKHET, Dec 15:Three Maoist rebels and a soldier were killed in separate incidents of encounter in different parts of the country on Saturday, according to reports.

According to the reports, a soldier of the Royal Nepal Army was killed and two others sustained injuries when a group of armed-rebels opened fire at a team of security personnel in the Iribang area of Rolpa district in the mid-western region on Saturday. A group of rebel snipers ambushed the security personnel while chasing away another group of rebels in the area.

Meanwhile, three rebels, including area commander Udaya Bahadur BK were shot dead in the Kunathari Village Development Committee in Surkhet on Saturday afternoon. The forces recovered firearm and explosives from the site.

Our reporter in Baglung said that a group of rebels severely beat up a policeman, identified as Prem Bahadur Nepali, deputed in Krishna Nagar area police station in Kapilvastu, on the way to his home at Sigana on Friday.

Nepali was attacked at Dobilla after the rebels found him to be a policeman while searching his body. However, Nepali’s friend, who were accompanying him, managed to escape from Maoist attack and arrived at the district headquarters to inform about the incident. The seriously bludgeoned policeman was rushed to the Birendra Police Hospital in Kathmandu. His condition is reported to be critical.

Our reporter in Sindhuli stated that a group of rebels abducted Keshav Baral, the headmaster of Kamala Higher Secondary School, and Guru Prasad Dahal, representative of a local postal office on Friday. The headmaster’s wife Manju said that her husband was innocent and demanded his unconditional and immediate release.

Meanwhile, at least three Maoist rebels were killed during a search and destroy operation, carried out by security forces, on the other side of the Kosi River on Friday. Security officials, after returning to the district headquarters here from the site of the operation, said a large number of armed forces were mobilised to Ganeshsthan of Nagre Gagarche Village Development Committee (VDC), based on a tip-off about a regional-level meeting. The meeting was reportedly addressed by Ram Bahadur Thapa a.k.a Badal, a politburo member and chief military commander of the Maoist outfit.

Although they refused to give details of the incident, security officials claimed that an area commander was among those killed in the exchange of fire. The forces also dismantled a welcome arch erected in honour of the elusive leader in the Bhumlutar VDC. An eyewitness said he saw the body of a rebel lying on the ground on late Saturday. The forces said they also recovered some firearms and explosives from the site of the encounter.

30 businessmen looted

Post Report

GAIGHAT, Dec 15:More than thirty businessmen, atop two tractors and bound for the Saturday fair at Rampur Bazar, business centre of Udaipur, were looted at Chiliya Tapu of Rampur VDC.

Bishwanath Shah, one of the looted businessmen said that their group was waylaid by 10 men armed with pistols, spears and rods. The robbers made off with cash, ready-made garments and whatever they could extract from the businessmen.

Umesh Katuwal, former VDC member, confirmed that goods amounting to Rs 100,000 and Rs. 100,000 cash had been taken away by the looters. The businessmen were mostly from Kanchanpur and Rampur.

A month earlier five businessmen were looted, in a similar fashion, near the Belaka-tari forest of Rampur.

Local people are of the view that the increase in cases of looting and other crimes is due to the shifting of the area police office from Rampur, two years ago, which has left the area without any law enforcement. Madhav Basnet, Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) says, that incident on Friday was not reported with the district police.

Fire victims in Myanglung receive relief aids

Post Report

MYAGLUNG, Dec 15:Two hundred eleven families displaced by the huge fire in Myaglung, the headquarters of Tehrathum district last Sunday are receiving various types of relief aid from different bodies.

"Myaglung has received around 10 trucks of relief goods by today with the total amount of cash raised being above five hundred thousand rupees," said Hari Lochan Sharma, the Chief District Officer (CDO). "Relief goods are still pouring in."

Sai Ram Society (SRS), the Army Officer’s Wive’s Association, Rotary Nepal and Nepal Natural Calamity Rescue Civil Society, today visited the fire victims and handed over various types of relief materials personally here.

Similarly, Tehrathum Chambers of Commerce and Industry doled out relief aids to the victims, last Saturday.

Temporary arrangement of drinking water, telephone service and electricity have been made in the fire devastated Myaglung. "By now, 120 telephone lines are connected," said Prajjal Shrestha, the Chief at Nepal Telecommunication Corporation (NTC) office in the district.

The district hospital has set up a health camp in the site considering the high potentiality of the outbreak of diseases.

Meanwhile, Myanglung Bazaar Reconstruction and Reestablishment Committee (MBRRC) today issued an appeal requesting the concerned ones for financial support for the reconstruction of the bazaar at the earliest. It has also called the victims not to leave the area.

Belgian samaritans aid primary schools

Post Report

CHAUTARA, Dec 15:Two Belgium nationals and their colleagues have been contributing to two primary schools in the remote villages of west Sindhupalchok district.

Though managed by locals, the Belgians have been providing all different facilities to the schools ranging from basic infrastructure to drinking water, school dress, stationery and sports equipment for the students.

"The Belgians have donated educational and sports materials worth Rs 50,000 to the school," said Ramesh Chapagain, a teacher of the B.P. Memorial Primary School (BPMPS) at Shikharpur VDC. "They have also provided uniform and school bags to 70 students and drinking water facility for the school children."

Two Belgians have been serving as volunteer teachers at Takure Primary School in Nawalpur Kallagi VDC for the past two months. They have also assured the locals to help in the construction of school building, revealed a local.

Joan, Pillen and Stijn Dellener including their 22 colleagues in Belgium have been funding the schools attended by children from poor families.

Hope of deliverance

By Shankar Acharya

BARA, Dec 15:How does it feel to lie lonely in bed with severe pain for more than one and a half-decade with no one to attend to your needs and to comfort you? Can one imagine living in such a worse and helpless situation?

Unfortunately Nandalal Mahato, 30, of Uttar Jhipkaya VDC-4 adjacent to the Kalaiya municipality of Bara district has been living under such conditions, bravely facing the challenges in life all alone for the past sixteen years.

Nandalal, an orphan of Brahmasthan Pipalbot locality has been a loner all through his life. He can neither walk nor stand as his body parts below the waste are paralysed. He has to answer nature’s call in bed.

Nandalal’s elder brother Ram Shraya Mahato is of little help for he himself suffers mental disbalance.At the moment Nandalal is being looked after by his step brother Bhagirath Mahato.

Nandalal’s life is an open book and once a while sympathisers throng his little hut and thank God for the good things that they have got in life. There are others who bring him food but such gestures a only once a while. "Sometimes, I do not see human face for days and I have to live on water," lamented Nandalal.

But things were not always this way for Nandalal. Sixteen years back Nandalal was a different person. He was physically balanced till he was 14.But then an incident occurred in Nandalal’s life which changed his entire life forever.He had gone out to graze his goats as usual and somehow the goats entered a sugarcane farm of a wealthy family in the neighbourhood.

The owner of the farm gave a severe beating to the boy on his buttock with a cane for his carelessness. Nandalal went down with fever after the beating.

"First, my backbone started to ache. Later the pain intensified and paralysed the body parts below the waist," recollects Nandalal. His parents took him to Indian doctors and invested most of the family wealth for his treatment, but to no avail.

"If only I would be cured of this disgusting ailment, I could earn for myself," says an unhappy Nandalal. "It seems that there is no one who really bothers, think and care for me."

His frustrations made him attempt commit suicide twice. Once while attempting to drown himself in a pool of water collected in his hut during monsoon last year and another time by electrocution informs Nandalal.

"I could not end this miserable life despite two attempts. Maybe my sufferings as dictated by the Almighty," says poor Nandalal.

However, Nandalal is still hopeful that someday someone will come into his life as an angel and his life will change for the better. He lives by his dreams and it is his dreams that give him company and relief from his pain and suffering.