‘Right to Information Bill to be passed this session’

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KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Minister for Information and Communication Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta today said that the Right to Information Bill is likely to be passed in the ongoing 21st session of the Parliament.

Gupta also said that his Ministry is set to introduce amendments in the existing Press and Publication Act, 1991 along with Media Policy, 1991.

"The Right to Information Bill has been sent to Ministry for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs for final approval," said Gupta, while addressing a function organised by the Press Council to review the existing media policy.

The much-awaited Bill prepared two years ago had been delayed to send to the Parliament due to the government’s reluctance. The Bill will guarantee the press to acquire information it seeks from the government once it turns into an act.

"The amendment in the Press and Publication Act will regulate newspapers and will address problems like media ownership and foreign investment," Gupta said.

"The amendment will also accord more facilities to frequency modulations," Gupta said. "Satellite transmissions and cable televisions will also be regulated."

Gupta also informed the gathering that the Ministry has prepared a draft of a 20-year media policy and is in the final stage.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Suresh Acharya underlined the need to review the existing media policy, as it has failed to address the problems cropped up in the press sector.

Narahari Acharya, who headed the team to prepare the draft of the existing media policy, said that it was already late to review the policy. "Now there should not be any restrictions on information flow, as it is the time of self-decision by media," Acharya said.

Prime Minister’s press advisor Achyut Wagle said that the government has arrested only those journalists affiliated to the Maoists.

Chairman of the Press Council Harihar Birahi said the Council has taken initiatives to review the existing policy as it could not cope the problems of swiftly emerging media industry in the country.

Workshop to review govt strategy on elderly people

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KATHMANDU, Feb 18: The Nepal Participatory Action Network (NEPAN) announced the National Consultation and Preparatory Workshop for the Second World Assembly on "Ageing" that will held on February 20 at a press meet here today.

"The workshop will focus on formulating or executing policy and programmes for the elderly people in Nepal by bringing government, academic and civil society working in this field in one place," says Mahesh Sharma, executive member of NEPAN.

According to Sharma, the main objective of the preparatory workshop is to identify priority issues of the national strategy on elderly people and to discuss the emerging roles and responsibilities of the civil society. The main focus will be to review the recent government strategy regarding the elderly people.

Addressing the programme Yubaraj Luitel, programme co-ordinator said, "Three papers will be presented at the preparatory workshop that will highlight the government, non-government organisation and academic perspectives issues."

Also the workshop will be helpful for the government in preparing country paper on elderly issues to be presented at the Madrid Second World Assembly on Ageing, for the Tenth Five-Year-Plan and in formulating a National Plan of Action.

NEPAN is a member-based organisation on development practitioners in Nepal and has always been promoting participatory and people-centred development.

Conjoined twins separated

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KATHMANDU, Feb 18: Conjoined twins Kanti and Shanti, who were joined at their abdomens and chests, were separated successfully by the surgeons at Kanti Children’s Hospital (KCH). This was informed at a press meet held here today.

The twins were born at Bharatpur Hospital on December 18, 2001 and were later brought at KCH.

Dr. Govind Prasad Ojha, Chairman of KCH, said that around 400,000 rupees were spend for hospital, doctor and medical charges which will be paid by the KCH Development Committee and the Hashimoto Trust.

The joined part was 3.5 inch at their chest, which was separated on January 16. The surgery took around 3 hours and 15 minutes and the operation was held under the leadership of Dr Ram Kumar Shrestha, consultant pediatric surgeon.

"Kanti is suffering from minor chest affection," said Shrestha at the press meet. "Though she is suffering from chest problem, she will recover after some time while Santi has been discharged today."

Various hospitals provided material support for the surgery.

State Minister for Health, Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Dr. Rajendra Bahadur Shrestha, medical team leader, Dr Ram Prasad Shrestha, hospital division chief at Ministry of Health and Shila Pant, member of KCH Development Committee also expressed their view at the function.

Buddhi Bikas Mandal marks anniversary

RSS

LALITPUR, Feb 18: Mayor of Lalitpur Submetropolis Buddhiraj Bajracharya gave away certificates and letters of appreciation to the participants of a blood donation programme and the athletes winning the friendly football match organised to mark the 48th anniversary of Buddhi Bikas Mandal (BBM), Lagankhel on Sunday.

Likewise, Mayor Bajracharya also presented letters of appreciation to the daughters of life members of BBM who secured highest marks in the SLC examination last year on behalf of BBM.

Chairman of BBM Krishna Khadka presented life memberships to 18 others including Sudhakar Dhungana, a journalist.

Thirty persons including three women donated blood at the blood donation programme.

Lalitpur Submetropolis ward No. 5 chairman Pawan Rana Magar, health committee coordinator Rameshwar Thapa, girl student Akriti Koirala and treasurer of BBM Kedar Karki spoke on the contributions made by BBM for advancement in education and social fronts.

Besides running a library, BBM has been actively working for the development of sports and carrying out various social activities.

Who’s gonna take care of these Amus?

The family members were busy preparing to observe the 13th day rituals of Parmeswor Sijapati, the Senior Superintendent of Police who was killed by the Maoists on July 10 last year, when I entered their house in Kathmandu. The gloom totally prevailed on air as I began talking to Amu Sijapati, the smart young daughter of Parmeswor who is the highest ranked police officer killed in Maoist action since the latter launched the bloody "People’s War" in February 1996.

Though she was totally shattered from the news of her beloved father’s death, Amu was an example of courage and confidence. I had just gone there to get some quotes from her, but when I started talking to her, she just grappled my mind, holding me back for nearly an hour. She told the whole story but I never managed to write her story. But, after more than six months after my interview with her, I have decided to mention her name in this column. Because, the way she handled the trauma that time, I think this is the right time to write about her, as almost 140 Amus (or even more) have born from yesterday. The Maoists’ attack in Achham has not only given birth to new Amus but has also sent shock waves throughout the Kingdom, leaving the general public in a real confusion of the future of the security forces’ action against the insurgents.

The biggest and the bloodiest ever Maoist attack has raised a serious question on the government’s (and in this case, the security forces’) ability to quell the Maoists. People have now become skeptical on the government’s move, even as the opposition parties have already asked the government to resign (Though it might just be the oppositions’ usual affair). The question here is about the timely solution to the problem, which never seems likely in the near future. And the biggest question here is when the country would stop giving births to new Amus?

Amu had told me then that his father died like a hero but the Nepal Police never treated him like one. She was dead angry on the way the state treated her father’s death. Nobody had given the proper attention to his family and not even a single senior official came forward to cajole them. Instead, Amu expressed her pride on the way her father died in action. The way she expressed her feeling was amazing. She showed her real grit and confidence when she told me that despite all that
she went through, she wants to join the police force to serve the nation if the state gives her the opportunity. A bit of anger and a bit of sense of revenge prevailed when she told me
she wants to follow her father’s footsteps. This show of strength and confidence from a girl, who is barely over from the teens, not only proves her point but also gives others like her to garner strength and courage to face the worst of the worse. And my point (or question?) is – who’s gonna take care of these Amus, the number of which is growing every day in the Nepali society.

Twin births growing in Bharatpur hospital

By Prabhakar Ghimere

CHITWAN, Feb 18: The cases of twin births have drastically increased at the Bharatpur Hospital over the last few months, the hospital sources here said. The hospital has recorded 21 of such twin births within the last three months.

The doctors said there is not a single factor responsible for such cases to emerge. However, most of the doctors attribute the cause to be the excessive use of antibiotic by married women for fear of infertility. Doctors say that the married women take such medicine after they fail to conceive even
after being married for a couple of years.

"There is a growing tendency among women of consuming antibiotic when they are not conceived for a considerable length of time. There is a high chance of twin births due to the effect of antibiotic drugs," said gynaecologist Dr. Kiran Regmi at the hospital.

Brij Narayan Chaudhary, Medical Superintendent, also asserts the same factor to be responsible for the twin births. "Such cases have come to light because couples have been conscious of the health condition of the mother and her foetus," said Chaudhary.

It is estimated that over 80 per cent of births in Nepal take place at homes and cases of twin births are regarded as a coincidence.

Another reason behind the increasing number of twin births taking place at the hospital might be that a large number of people also visit the hospital from the neighbouring districts, say the doctors.

Maoists force over 100 to languish in Libang

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ROLPA, Libang Feb 18: Hundreds of people from various parts of the district have been taking refuge here, the district headquarters, since the Maoist insurgency broke six years ago. These people are anxious to return to their homes but they cannot risk their lives out of fear from the insurgents.

Most of the people languishing here are the cadres of the ruling and the opposition parties in parliament. The victims say that they were forced to leave their families after they resisted the Maoist ideology.

Although they are hopeful of their return to their villages after the declaration of the state of emergency, the recent Maoist attacks in other districts have further increased their fears.

Most of the people taking refuge here are affiliated with the ruling Nepali Congress. "We have been living here as if we were imprisoned," said Dhan Bahadur Khatri, who has been staying here since his house at Gaimakasala was set ablaze by the rebels in 1996.

"The Maoists robbed my house and looted all my property," he said.

Mahadav Acharya, NC District Chairman, who is also the victim of Maoist atrocities, said that the District Administration has been failure to make arrangements for their return to their respective homes.

However, Kumar Dasuadi, District Secretary of the CPN-UML, said that the people taking refuge to the district headquarters should not expect much from the government which has been facing tough time to deal with the rebels. He said that the people should manage by themselves to go back their homes.

A place to live but no education

By Bijaya Prasad Mishra

SIRAHA, Feb 18 : Though 29 squatters families have been availed with comfortable residences at Sanhaitha of this district last month, around 40 children of the Musahar families have been deprived of basic school education down this side of the country.

The residences, named ‘Musahar Residential House,’ were constructed by the German Nepal Co-operation Organisation to which Krishnacharan Shrestha, a lawmaker, had also contributed money from the ‘Constituency Development Fund’.

The squatter families were residing at a roadside earlier.

"As the school from here is very far, the children refuse to make a tiring hike up to the school," says Mukta Sadaya, a local.

" I have requested the Chief District Officer in the district to make arrangements for education to the children by hiring a teacher," said Krishna Charan Shrestha, a parliamentarian representing the district.

On an inspection visit by Taranath Rana Bhat, Speaker at the Lower House of Parliament, underscored the need for educational and family planning programmes in the Musahar community.

Land for the residential site of the Musahar community was bought at Rs 230,000 and the buildings of two blocks were constructed at a cost of Rs 1,200,000, it is learnt.