Nepal to protect indigenous native honeybees

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:Speakers at the "Himalayan Honeybees and Managing Their Conservation Through Extension Strategies", a workshop, jointly organised by the Department of Agriculture (DoA) and the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), on Tuesday, in order to save native honeybee species from being extinct, underlined the need to enforce existing laws that forbid the introduction of exotic European honeybee in the country.

They have also urged the government to formulate appropriate policies and strategies to increase the population of indigenous honeybees across the country and to tap potential benefits from the insects.

At present, indigenous honeybees, called Apis cerana, found at higher altitudes of Nepal, are being threatened mainly by Apis mellifera, a killer species of bees, which produces honey in great quantities and introduced in the country from Europe a decade ago by way of experiment. Experts are worried about the potential threat this particular species poses to the domestic bee species.

Existing agricultural regulations do not permit introduction of the exotic species, but it is not being enforced effectively, experts complain. "There are rules and regulations to restrict the introduction of Apis mellifera in Nepal, but nobody is following them," said Dr. Farooq Ahmad, Project Co-ordinator of Bee-keeping Project at the ICIMOD. "These regulations and laws should be enforced effectively," Ahmad added.

According to experts participating in the workshop that began today, the introduction of Apis mellifera has a very negative impact on the populations of indigenous honeybees and on pollination service of the flora in the mountainous regions, resulting in low yield in crop and fruit productions.

Dr. Ahmad says that Nepal should focus on preserving and propagating the Apis cerana species if the country is to prosper economically through fruits and vegetables production.

At present, Nepal has 100,000 colonies of five species of bees across the country whereas natural resources in the country can sustain 500,000 to one million colonies of bees, according to the DoA. In the Hindu-Kush Himalays, there are 1.2 million colonies of bees, according to Dr. Ahmad. Among the members of the ICIMOD, China is doing better in the conservation and propagation of the Apis cerana, said the experts.

"The government has given due emphasis to develop bee-keeping as a sustainable source of income for rural communities," said Kirti Bhadur Chand, Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Co-operatives (MoAC). Chand added that bee-keeping can be one of potentialities to ensure food security, poverty alleviation and future economic growth of the country. Government officials participating in the workshop said that the government is viewing the issue of Apis cerana seriously.

Ganesh K. KC, joint secretary at the MoAC, said that though Apis cerana keeping provides benefits to wildlife and farmers, its value remains unrecognised.

Speaking at the programme inaugurated by Deputy Prime Minister, Badri Prasad Mandal, Bhairav Raj Kaini, Director General of the DoA, underlined an immediate need for training and extension of conservation programmes for the sustainable development of Apis cerana.

Resam Thapa, a teacher at Rampur Agriculture Campus, giving reason why the species of Apis cerana should be preserved, said that the insects play important role in sustaining the fragile ecosystem of the Himalayas intact.

Focus on control of HIV/AIDS, TB

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:Experts at the twelfth meeting of governing board of the SAARC TB Centre and consultative meeting for TB and HIV/AIDS programme managers in SAARC countries,that began yesterday, stressed for an urgency considering that HIV -relatedTB cases may rise sharply in the region.

Citing TB as an opportunistic infection, director of the SAARC Secretariat, Ahmed Sareer said, "TB has posed yet another serious challenge for us as today TB has an unholy partnership with HIV/AIDS". On the occasion, he recalled the commitment and the added responsibilities given by Member States to work for the prevention and control of HIV/AIDS-related TB, during the Eleventh SAARC summit held in Kathmandu in January 2002.

The rapidly expanding HIV epidemic is a growing concern in the region with 56 to 80 percent of the people in the region living with the dual infection of HIV/AIDS and TB at the same time.

Representatives from Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri-Lanka attended the meeting that was inaugurated by the Secretary for Health, Mahendra Nath Aryal today.

During the three-day meet, the governing board will formulate policies and oversee the functioning of the Tuberculosis Centre while the consultative meeting will review the trends of TB and HIV/AIDS, the co-infection, to identify problems and challenges faced in TB and HIV/AIDS control and to formulate an update strategy for TB and HIV control in the region.

Plight of Dalit women discussed

Post Report

LALITPUR, Nov 19:The condition of Dalit women is very critical even in the nearest district of Kathmandu city, reveals the one-day interaction programme organised by Dalit Women Association (DWA), Working Committee Lalitpur on the topic, "The Present Situation of Dalit Women and the Role and Commitments of Local Development Body", today.

Punyawoti Ramtel, chairperson of DWA, working committee Lalitpur chaired the programme and chief guest Sushila Nepal, former member of parliament inaugurated the programme by lighting the oil-fed lamp.

On the occasion, representatives of various organisations spoke on the problems and the present situation of Dalit women. It is revealed that most of the women are engaged in the physical task that needs more time and energy and earns less money.

Other works that are done by them are pig farming and agriculture. Most of these women get hooked into the net of women trafficker because of poverty.

It is also disclosed that women Dalits are prone to more discrimination as all the rights barred to Dalits have to be done by women such as fetching water and going to the temple.

Anita Pariyar, member of DWA, central office said that the major working area of DWA are health and sanitation, advocacy and income generating programmes.She sounded optimistic that the government-established Dalit Commission would work in those areas.

The paper presented by Maiya Dulal, secretary of working committee, DMA states the expected role of local bodies, political parties and NGOs in uplifting Dalits, especially Dalit women, who have to bear more discrimination.

The first change that should be made is the general attitude of looking down upon the Dalits. Practice of untouchability should be disallowed. Political parties should come up with awareness programmes. NGOs should initiate income-generating programmes, agricultural education, awareness and educational programme.

Bharat Nepali who is working for the social guidance of Dalits said that when the Dalits of Lalitpur district have to undergo so much of discrimination, the problems of Dalits who are living in remote areas are unimaginable.

DWA has organised various programmes for women like leadership development, legal literacy programmes and change in habits which will definitely help the Dalit women.

CIAA interrogates junior Wagle

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) today interrogated Devendra Wagle, son of former minister Chiranjibi Wagle on the charges of amassing huge amount of property disproportionate to his income.

Wagle is being interrogated by the CIAA for over a month for allegedly amassing property taking undue advantage of his father’s political influence in the government specially after the restoration of democracy in the country in 1990. His father was interrogated for the tenth time on Monday in connection with Devendra’s property that the CIAA suspects earned through illegal means while former Minister Wagle was in power.

The CIAA has not informed about the issues of interrogation on Wagle duo though it has been over one month that it initiated the investigation. Both of them have been called to reattend the CIAA for further interrogation.

Certificates to trainees

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:Nepal Mountaineering Association (NMA) distributed certificates to the trainees of the Basic Mountaineering Course-2002 held at Manang Mountaineering School from October 10 to 14 November.

Altogether 19 students participated in the training, which was held in the mountains of the Manang district. The chief Nepali instructor was Lakpa Nurbu Sherpa and Bojan Pollak was the chief Slovenian instructor of the training.

Handing over certificates to the trainees Dr. Harka Gurung, advisor of the NMA said that after completion of the training, organisers should follow up whether the trainees are working in the particular field or not.

NMA is giving basic mountaineering training from 1979 in association with Alpine Association of Slovenia.

AIDS victims too can live productive lives

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:Gary Griffin, founder and chief executive officer of "Educators Abroad," is to conduct "Respect and Protect", an interactive programme for media focusing on HIV/AIDS on Thursday at the American Centre, Gyaneshwor, states a press release here today.

Griffin is a certified home health aide and HIV counsellor, who uses up-front, honest and reality-based tactics. While emphasising on the value of abstinence, his programme is also directed towards de-stigmatising HIV/ AIDS, making it clear that infected persons can lead positive and productive lives over many years.

In 2002, Griffin spent six weeks travelling in the most populated towns and therefore, most infected areas of Kenya, under the sponsorship of the US State Department. His recent tour in Nepal, sponsored by the American Centre took him to Bhairahawa, Pokhara and Kathmandu, where he provided assistance to support groups of people at risk of infection.

"Educators Abroad" is an education and outreach service formed to educate high-risk populations to prevent the transmission of sexually-transmitted infections, HIV and unplanned pregnancies.

200 settlers denied voting rights

Post Report

BUTWAL, Nov 19:Around two hundred Nepali families, displaced from Meghalaya, India, 15 years ago and settled in huts along Mahilawari road of Madhuwani VDC-8 in Rupendehi district, do not have voting privileges as their names are not enlisted in the voter’s list.

"We lived in Mardan Basti of India by rearing cattle since childhood and we were evicted by force," said Surya Lal Bhushal, a displaced Nepali who claims his ancestral house to be in Gulmi district.

Government and non-government agencies are indifferent to their plight and even local Nepalese rude to them. Sometimes, the locals threaten to set fire to their houses, say the displaced Nepalis.

"Officials at the VDC tore up my documents when I went to get my name enrolled in the voter’s list," said Netra Bahadur Chundali, another displaced Nepali.

However, locals say that the displaced people have been occupying private land. "Who will sympathise with the displaced Nepalis who occupy private land?" said Bhola Kahar, a local.

The displaced Nepali lamented that their plights have not been addressed though they approached the District Administration Office several times.

Sthaneshwor Devkota, the Chief at DAO clarified that none of the displaced Nepalis have visited him. "None of the Nepalis can be deprived of voting rights. If they are Nepali, they shall definitely enjoy voting rights," said Devkota.

The country’s law empowers every Nepali citizen, above 18, of voting rights.

8 rebels killed, rebels kill own cadres

Post Report

KATHMANDU, Nov 19:At least eight Maoist rebels were killed in separate incidents of encounter with security forces in the past 24 hours, according to the Defence Ministry. They were killed in Arghakhanchi, Myagdi, Gorkha, Baglung, Kailali, Mugu and Nuwakot districts.

The Ministry said that the toll on the Maoist side in Thursday night’s fierce battle in Jumla’s Khalanga has reached 105, with nine more rebel bodies recovered yesterday from around the area.

In Bardiya, a group of rebels shot dead two active cadres of their own organisation due to dispute in Rajapur on Saturday. One of the deceased has been identified as Hira Chaudhary and the other one could not be immediately identified. However, the rebels misinformed family members of the slain rebels saying that they were killed during army action.

Meanwhile, our reporter in Humla said that the rebels looted medicines from a clinic run by Nepal Trust, a non-governmental organisation, from the northern village of Yalwang, about three day’s walking distance from Simikot, the district headquarters of Humla.

The delayed report said that the rebels also forced two health workers of the Trust to leave the village. The Trust had been providing health service and medicines to the locals free of charges.

RPP district convention concluded

RSS

DHULIKHEL, Nov 19:The third district convention of the Rastriya Prajantantra Party(RPP) Kavre concluded here, yesterday.

Speaking on the occasion, central member of the party Krishna Charan Shrestha said RPP will move ahead with all other parties to resolve the problems of the country.

Party central member Dhruba Bahadur Pradhan said the workers should move ahead with patience in the changed contexts.

At the programme presided over by RPP district president Gopal Singh Musyaju, various other speakers including Jagatman Lama of constituency no. 1, Laxmi Narsingh Bade Shrestha of no. 2 and Gopal Sedhain of no.3 and district leader Palsang Lama also expressed their views.

The convention elected unanimously a 11-member district working committee under the chairmanship of Gopalsingh Musyaju.

The members are Maniklal Shrestha, Palsang Lama, Reshamlal Baidya, Pitambar Nepal, Satyadevi Thapa, Balaram Khadka, Bishnu Pandey, Purna Bahadur K.C. and Tirtha Lama.

Shortage of kerosene in Humla

Post Report

SIMIKOT, Nov 19:There is an acute shortage of kerosene in Humla district, as there are no reserve stocks of kerosene at the district headquarters. Locals of Humla district, which is devoid of any roads are forced to pay three times the actual price for basic essentials.

"Because of the kerosene shortage, the sale of candles has increased", said Arjun Giri, the Chairman, Humla Chamber of Commerce to The Kathmandu Post correspondent. He added that the locals have been paying as much as Rs 120, as against usual price of Rs 90, for the inflammable liquid.

"This fuel cannot be transported by air, and used to be brought in by porters on their backs, but this has also come to a standstill since the Maoist rebels put restrictions on the movement to and from the district headquarters", said Giri.

As Humla district is dependent on air transportation, the government has not been able to supply most subsidised commodities other than a few foodstuff and limited quantities of salt. Though the government had assured that there would be no shortage of any essential commodity of everyday use, including petroleum products, it has not fulfilled its promise.

Masters’ degree on Food Technology ineffective

Post Report

DHARAN, Nov 19:In the absence of support from Tribhuvan University (T.U) and the government, the master’s degree course on Food Technology, started by the Central Technology Campus, Hattisar is becoming ineffective, concerned sources said.

Educational quality of the campus is declining as the campus is running only on the money raised from student’s fees. Government failed to provide it with a budget and TU did not depute professors, according to Dr. Dilip Subba, Department Chief and Assistant Dean of the campus.

According to Dr. Subba, the campus lacks a library, well-equipped laboratory and teaching manpower all of which have adverse impact on studies.

The campus was responsible for producing skilled manpower in food technology, a pressing need for an agricultural country like Nepal, however, the students are forced to carry on their studies in absence of modern equipment like computers, slide and audio-visual system, said Dr. Subba.

Presently, 11 students are enrolled in the campus.

National park proposed in Dolakha

By Rajendra Manandhar

DOLAKHA, Nov 19:Dolakha District Development Committee (DDC) has proposed to develop around six hundred hectares forest area in its northern belt as Rolwaling National Park (RNP), so as to protect endangered flora and fauna in the region feared being smuggled out to Tibet.

"The 110th DDC meeting has decided to ask the government to declare the northern part of the district a national park," said Lal Kumar K.C., the former VDC Chairman.

The forest region in the north of the district is rich in animal life like musk deer as well as various medicinal herbs. Smuggling of wild animals to Tibet is rampant, as there are no security personnel along the border area, following the Maoist raids on customs office, border administration and police post at Lamabagar.

Apart from smuggling, endangered species of animals are also found migrating to Tibet through the porous border as the Chinese government has already developed its border area as a national park, according to sources.

RNP also envisages the development of tourism in the district as it also includes mountains like Gaurishankar, Chho Rolpa Glacial lake and Rolwaling valley, according to Gopi Krishna Khanal, the Local Development Officer (LDO).

According to LDO Khanal, DDC meeting has directed Arun Sharma, an Official of the District Forest Office (DFO) and Ram Bahadur Thapa, the Co-ordinator of the Swiss Community Forest Project towards this end. The two are to conduct a study on the prospects of animal and herb conservation and tourism development in the sector. Poudel told The Kathmandu Post, that a study in converting the northern belt of the district to a national park has begun.

Dolakha DDC to promote tourism

RSS

CHARIKOT, Nov 19:Dolakha District Development Committee is to initiate Integrated Development Programme for the development of tourism in the district.

If historical and religious town , Dolakha, religious and tourist attraction centre , Kalinchok and Shailung are developed properly, there is high prospects of tourism development in the district, said Gopi Krishna Khanal, Local Development Officer.

Efforts will be made to initiate programmes for tourism development in Rolwaling area, hydro-power development in upper Tamakoshi and construction of Dolakha -Tibet road to promote tourism in the district, he said.

The District Development Committee will initiate programme and request the donor communities and the local development ministry to conduct tourism development programme in the district, he added.

Medics on cancer in women

RSS

KAVRE, Palanchowk, Nov 19:Experts say that a black spot on the female genital and small hardened parts on the breast can be the symptoms of cancer in women. According to Dr. Richard of the Scheer Memorial Hospital Banepa, unmarried women over 29 and all married women should undergo check up of their genitals.

The possible organs for women’s cancer are uterus and breast and if undergone check up, they will not need another test within ten years.

Programme co-ordinator of the Nepal Network for Cancer Treatment and Research Centre Banepa Dr. Surendra Bahadur Bade Shrestha said free tests have been conducted at a cost of Rs. 1,400, 000 to 7,000 women around Banepa.

Such tests are done in B.P. Memorial Cancer Hospital Chitwan, Bhaktapur Cancer Care Centre and Scheer Memorial.

The programme in Scheer in assisted by INCTR Belgium, said Dr. Shrestha.