Temporary doctors to fill vacant posts

By Pragya Ghimire

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The government is planning to fulfil the vacant posts of doctors in the government hospitals by making third amendment in the existing Health Service Act.

"The government is going to fulfil the total 300 vacant posts of doctors in the regional, zonal and central hospitals by recruiting the fresh doctors on the temporary basis," said Health Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari. "It is only possible by making amendment in the existing Health Service Act during the upcoming Winter Session of the Parliament."

Previously, the Public Service Commission (PSC) did not allow the government to appoint temporary doctors. This provision has so far left almost 30 per cent posts of the doctors vacant in the government hospitals across the country.

Also the Health Service Act (Second Amendment) – 2053 has made provisions to recruit and appoint doctors only with consent from the PSC.

The doctors who have been refusing to join their duty in the zonal hospitals are actually violating the Health Service Act governing them, said Minister Bhandari.

According to the Second Amendment, the fresh government doctors should work, at least, for six months in regional or zonal hospitals. Then, they will be eligible to work in the far-flung district hospitals after working for six months in the centre.

For the doctors who have been in the service for a number of years and working as specialist have to go to regional or zonal hospitals as per the requirements in those hospitals.

Mahendra Nath Aryal Secretary at the Ministry said, "The doctors who have theoretical knowledge are deputed in the biggest government hospital in order to train them by giving enough practical experience."

Our correspondent from Pokhara quotes Dr. Krishna Poudel of the Parbat District Hospital as saying that the hospital has only one doctor and also lacks equipment. This has forced the patients to visit many other health clinics to have their health checked up."

"The hospital is in sorry state as there is no technician in the labs for the past six years," said Poudel, adding, "And even the X-Ray machine is out of order for the past two years."

On the other hand, Medical Superintendent at the Narayani Sub-Regional Hospital, Dr. Ram Avtar Khetan, said, "Although the hospital has vacancy for 50 doctors, hardly half of them are currently working there." Dr Khetan added that the hospital has become dysfunctional as two of its important departments – Cardiology and Mental Illness – lack medical expertise.

Dr Khetan said, seven doctors who were posted there returned to the capital immediately after producing their official letters of deputation. "The Health Ministry itself is not abiding by its own set rules and regulations," he added.

Dr. Neelam Khadga, one of the doctors posted in Narayani Hospital, said, "We had to return to the capital since there were limited number of neurosurgeons at the Bir Hospital. In addition, I am also studying Post-Gradaute degree in Neuro-Surgery."

Director of Bir Hospital, Manohar Lal Shrestha, said, "There was no vacancy in the hospital and we at any cost need their service."

Not only the seven doctors of the Bir Hospital, Shrestha further added, most of all doctors posted in various rural hospitals have not attended there. "But it is ridiculous to pinpoint us."

Deputy Medical Superinten-dent of the Western Regional Hospital, Shova Laxmi Shrestha, said, the hospital which has the daily inflow of 230 patients is also in sorry state, as the government couldn’t fulfil the quotas of six doctors. The patients of Neuro-Surgery are deprived of treatment due to the lack of experts.

She further added, the post of Physician, Anaesthesia, Dental Surgeon and Ear, Nose, Throat (ENT) should be immediately fulfilled.

"The Ministry has not given any response despite our repeated requests to send more doctors in the hospital," she added.

First children club registered

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: Jagriti Children Club Nepal, the first children club has been registered with the local administration following the ruling of the Supreme Court, states a Jagriti Children Club press release issued here today.

The first child club in the history of Nepal is registered under the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. The club has 3,500 members and 20 active branches in 16 districts. All the children in the club are below 16 years.

The club urged the government to harness the Convention on the Child Rights and bring them into practice for the welfare of children.

Koirala blames Maoists for impeding development works

Post Report

BHAKTAPUR, Jan 11: The Nepali Congress (NC) Party President Girija Prasad Koirala Friday said, "The Maoist movement has not only threatened the country’s sovereignty but has also attacked the very roots of Nepali culture and religion."

" Our culture, religion and national sovereignty are at stake," said Koirala addressing a large assemblage of Madhyapur Thimi municipality. "Most of the budget has gone towards security measures with little left for development," he said blaming the Maoist terrorists for causing a serious impact on the country’s economy and bringing to a standstill all development programmes.

He said ‘political instability’ has hit hard the already very frail economy and has further weakened the country. "I have my total support for Thimi Municipality and I commit before you all that I can do it for you," he pledged his support to the cheering people recalling his historical attachment to Thimi when he first visited the place as a student of Trichandra College in 1940.

"Madhyapur Thimi might not be well-fortified against terrorists and our people might be unknowingly sheltering them in their houses," said Prem Nath Sharma, Chief District Officer asking for the locals’ support to free the area from any unforeseeable Maoists’ attack.

Rishikesh Gautam, Minister without portfolio, shed light on the changing role of the central government from virtual control over the state to its control over the municipal government, while Govinda Duwal, DDC President of Bhaktapur said the Local Self-Governance Act remained in the paper only though it was passed five years ago.

Speaking on the occasion, Madan Krishna Shrestha, Mayor said that water was the main priority of the people of Bhaktapur. "For this, the Government and JICA has entered into an agreement," he said. Reading a report on budget, he further informed that Thimi had readied a number of new programmes including construction of houses, marketing complex and VIP Parking.

Former Minister Jagannath Acharya, MP Lekhnath Neupane and Prem Suwal, Mayor of Bhaktapur also expressed their views at the function.

Prithvi Jayanti observed

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Jan 11: The 280th birth anniversary of Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great and National Unification Day was marked here today amidst various programmes.

Speaking at the function Ashok Mitra, Vice President of Academy of National Heroes said that the birth anniversary of the Great King is also commemorated as the National Unification Day. Present monarch is the 13th successor of the late king. The Shah dynasty has been ruling over the kingdom of Nepal since its unification.

Professor Dr. Shree Ram Upadhyay highlighted the importance of the Nepalese history and the great contribution made by late King Prithvi Narayan Shah.

A talk programme on "Historical Reality and Indispensability of Strong Monarchy" was also held to mark the late King’s contribution to the national unification of the Himalayan Kingdom.

Various persons such as government officials, political leaders, teachers, students, police and military personnel and civil employees participated in the programme. Political leaders and government officials paid tribute by offering garlands to the late King’s photograph.

Former Prime Minister Kirti Nidhi Bista, ML leader Radha Krishna Mainali and Keshar Bahadur Bista, a Nepali Congress representative, also threw light on the Great King’s leadership and personality.

Maghe Sankranti not complete without chaku

By Ranjan Rijal

kathmandu, Jan 11: With Maghey Sankranti- one of the major festivals of the Hindus- coming near, the shops in the capital are busy selling Chaaku.

Chaaku (retreated molasses) is one of the main food ingredients during Maghey Sankranti, which falls this year on January 14.

And whenever one mentions about Chaaku, this historic town of Tokha is remembered since many decades. This small town of Tokha, about four kilometres north from Ring Road in Samakhusi, is famous for Chaaku, as the residents here have been producing this sweet ingredient since ages.

Though the majority of people in Tokha from the Newar community mainly depend on agriculture, they are also known as the producers of best Chaaku in the Valley.

But with the changing times, these people who have been producing Chaaku on their own are now depending elsewhere for the raw material, according to Rastra Man Shrestha, chairman of Chandeshwori VDC in Tokha.

"There used to be our own farm of sugarcane in our field and we used to produce Chaaku with our own raw materials," says Chandra Maharjan, one of the Chaaku producers. "Nowadays, there is no sugarcane in our field, so we have to bring raw molasses from the local market elsewhere to make Chaaku."

One of the local residents in Tokha said that people generally use Chaaku for the festival only but in Tokha, people use this for some other purposes as well. Pregnant women are fed Chaaku to increase milk and it is also used during other festivals.

Though the demand generally increases during this festival, the increasing price of molasses is affecting this traditional business. "We make more than 500 kilograms of molasses into Chaaku every day, which cost Rs. 35 per kg in the Kathmandu market," says Maharjan. "But due to rise in the price of molasses, there is very little profit.

Maghey Sankranti without Chaaku is not complete, says Dr. Beena Poudyal of the Tribhuvan University’s Culture Department. Chaaku is basically popular in the Kathmandu Valley and other urban cities where molasses are easily available, she said. "People in the rural areas celebrate this festival with different varieties of bread made from flour of the recently harvested crops, rather than chaaku."

The first day of every month is regarded important as per the Hindu mythology, according to Dr. Poudyal. This first day of the month Magh is generally celebrated with food and grains harvested during that season by offering foods to god.

National Unification Day observed nationwide

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan 11:Reports of the 280th birth anniversary of His Late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great and National Unification Day being observed throughout the country are being received here.

lalitpur: On the occasion of National Unification Day, Attorney General Badri Bahadur Karki inaugurated the newly constructed building of the Appellate Court’s public prosecutors office here today.

The building was completed at a cost of Rs. 3.935 million.

In his inaugural address, Attorney General Karki said that the government employees should inculcate the habit of good gesture and avoid the tendency of dilly-dallying.

Lalitpur CDO Dhruba Prasad Adhikari, DDC chairman Madhav Prasad Poudel and Deputy Attorney General Narendra Kumar Shrestha also pointed out need of pondering over the grievances of the general people regarding the delivery of justice.

Chief Judge at Appellate Court, Lalitpur Khil Raj Regmi was on the chair.

nuwakot: Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat today offered garlands to the statue of late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great at Devighat where late His Majesty passed away.

Lawmakers Mahendra Bahadur Pandey, Rajendra Prakash Lohani and Nuwakot DDC chairman Narayan Prasad Khatiwada, CDO Modraj Dotel along with political leaders and people from different walks of life attended the function initiated by Speaker Ranabhat by hoisting the national flag.

pokhara: A special function was held at the local Prithvi Chowk to mark the national Unification Day.

At the function, Assistant Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Bahadur Gurung hoisted the national flag and offered garland to the statue of late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great.

Contingents of the Royal Nepalese Army and Nepal police presented Royal Salute at the function.

MP Shukra Raj Sharma, Rajparisad member Ganesh Bahadur Gurung, the representatives of various political parties, the judges and government office chiefs also paid tributes to late His Majesty by offering bouquets to late His Majesty’ statue.

Officiating chairman of Kaski DDC Srinath Baral was on the chair.

hetauda: Makwanpur DDC chairman Rameshwar Rana elucidated on the contribution of late His Majesty on the unification of the country as well as its prosperity at a function organised by Makwanpur DDC today.

Mayor of Hetauda Municipality Dormani Poudel noted that the tributes to late His Majesty will be meaningful if the country is liberated from poverty, exploitation and corruption.

CDO Sitaram Khanal and DDC member Srichandra Sharma also shed light on the devotion and sacrifices made by late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great for unifying the country.

kalaiya: Bara DDC observed National Unification Day with a variety of programmes here today.

DDC chairman Chhatu Prasad Yadav presided over the function at which RPP Bara district president Prayag Raya Yadav, government office chiefs and journalists offered garlands to the portrait of late His Majesty Prithvi Narayan Shah the great.

They also remembered late His Majesty as a symbol of national unity.

janakpurdham: On the occasion of National Unification Day, rich tributes were paid to late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great here today.

Nepali Congress Dhanusa District President Ram Krishna Yadav said that the terrorists should give up the path of violence to build a peaceful and beautiful nation dreamed by late His Majesty.

Senior Superintendent of Police Hem Bahadur Gurung called for avoiding friction to save the country of diverse caste and community from plunging into a grave crisis.

CDO Narendra Raj Poudel described late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great as a ruler who provided the Nepalese people an identity across the world.

dailekh: On the occasion of the National Unification Day, Dailekh DDC organised a talk programme here.

DDC chairman Tek Bahadur Khan called on all the conscious citizens to pursue the divine exhortations of the late His Majesty while attending to their duties.

CDO Shankar Koirala said late His Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the great was a king of far vision who foresaw a balance in foreign policy with the two large neighouring countries.

Mayor of Narayan Municipality Rabindra Raj Sharma called for stamping out terrorism for the sake of nationalism and social harmony.

khandbari: Sankhuwasabha DDC observed National Unification Day by organising a function here today.

At the function chaired by DDC chairman Tulasi Prasad Neupane, chairman of the House of Representatives Development Committee Tanka Prasad Rai said that all the people should work unitedly to develop the country.

Youths called to fight against corruption

RSS

ITAHARI, Jan11: Nepali Congress General Secretary Sushil Koirala said that the youths should work towards wiping out corruption and maintaining good governance in the country.

Inaugurating the Nepal Students’ Union, eastern regional coordination office in Dharan of Sunsari district on Thursday, Koirala said whenever democracy has been established in the country the anti-democrats become active in weakening democracy and the destructive terrorists are a example of this.

He also urged the youths to become active towards protecting and promoting democracy and guiding the nation towards the right path, and materialising the democratic socialist thought of late B.P. Koirala.

Stating that there is no alternative to democracy, Koirala said the emergency should not cause trouble to the general public and could be focused only on the targeted group.

NC central member and chief of the organisation department Krishna Prasad Sitoula expressed the view that the council of ministers should be made smaller in order to provide some relief to the country marred by poverty, unemployment and financial scarcity.

NC ex-central member Gopal Rai and NSU central member Biswaprakash Sharma said action should be taken against the corrupt in order to move the country ahead through democratic discipline.

NSU eastern region vice-president Basu Koirala presided.