Conferences highlights cardiac diseases

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KATHAMNDU, March 2 : It is estimated that 12 million deaths are caused by Cardio vascular disease (CVD), which is the commonest cause for death globally. CVD is also the major reason for premature morbidity and mortality of around 85 millions people.

Highlighting the increasing cardiac problem 2nd Joint Conference of Cardiac Society of Nepal and SAARC Cardiac Society began here today.

Inaugurating the programme Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand said that the time was appropriate to make people aware about the preventive measures as the number of cardiac patients are on the rise. Urging the regional cardiologist and participants PM Chand said, "There is a need to come up with a new vision and dedication due to the increasing problem within the region."

Addressing the conference organised by Cardiac Society of Nepal (CSN), President of the society Mrigendra Raj Pandey said that a research conducted about six years ago shows that five percent of the civil servants above 30 years are suffering from coronary artery disease (CAD).

Various representatives from SAARC region have also come to participate in the conference. On the occasion Abdul Malik from Bangladesh said, "Our economic and social standard are very similar to each other so we can build up a common strategy to fight against the disease."

Similarly Dr. M. Khalilullah and Dr. Dur Gunawardena from India and Sri Lanka have also come here to participate in the conference.

Norwegian band charms listeners

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KATHAMNDU, March 2 : The Himalayan Blues, comprising the renowned Nepal classical band Vajra and The Funky Homosapins, the A listed musicians of Norway performed a free concert today at the premises of the historical place of Patan Durbar Square.

Expressing his views over the concert,Hans Fredrik Jakobson, one of the members of The Funky Homosapiens said,"We are very happy and lucky enough to play music in Nepal.It’s our privilage to be able to play music about different languages and cultures of Nepal."

The Funky Homosapins, which includes the musicians Knut Reiersrud in guiter and Hans Friedrik Jakobson in saxophone are here in the capital in the invitation of Jazzmandu that brings together sounds from all over the world in a unique fusion with Nepal Classical Music.

"This concert is organized by the Norwegian Embassy in order to promote Nepali music and for the cultural exchange between two countries,"said Chedup Bamzon, director of Jazzmandu Kathmandu Jazz Festival."

The fusion of classical and traditional Nepali music from Vajra with the music of The Funky Homosapians spellbound the silent crowed by playing touchy and melodious. music.Even the flocks of pigeon’s attention were drawn by the magic of the fusion.The music mainly composed from popular Newari songs like "Byanchuli" and "Aa Buya chuya daicha ji jaka man chona" swinged an old man of 80s which was the main attraction of the concert.

Santosh Bhakta Shrestha, one of the members of Vajra stated,"We are trying to spread the message of peace in the world through our music."The other members of Vajra includes Mohan Prasad Joshi, Suresh Raj Bajracharya, Raman Maharjan and Bidur Rajkarnikar who equally showed their talent with the traditional instruments like Jal Tarang,Flute, Tabala,Ishraj and Sarad.

Charity show of Muna Madan held

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KATHAMNDU, March 2 : A premiere show of the movie Muna Madan based on the epynomous book, written by late Poet Laxmi Prasad Devkota was held at Birendra International Convention Centre here today. This was the first presentation of NBA. The show was also held as charity in aid of the fire victims of Manglung.

Produced by Navraj Dhakal and directed by Gyanendra Deuja, the movie is based entirely on the book. Poems from the anthology were also presented in the movie.

Speaking at the premier show, senior artist, Nir Shah said that Nepali movies could be really good if they are based on historical stories and works in the right way. He also stated that the movies should be of a kind that even future generations would love to watch more than once.

Chief guest of the programme, Deputy Education Minister Rabindra Khanal said that although the government has not been doing much towards protection of Nepali movies, efforts made towards this has been good.

Quake preparedness programme held

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KATHAMNDU, March 2 : In association with NSET, an Earthquake Preparedness and Awareness programme was held in the office of SWATI here today.

During the programme held to assist all communities in Nepal to become aware of post-quake measures, NSET member Mahesh Nakarmi said that it is time for "us work together to raise awareness about dealing with the calamity".

Nepal sits astride the boundary between two plates. The Indian plate is subducting under the Tibetean plate with displacement of two cms every year. As a result of this the height of Northern Himalayas are increasing .

Kathmandu Valley is not a pre-planned city, even the houses are randomly built. If a earthquake strikes the valley 60 per cent of buildings will collapse .

‘Simple precautions can save life and property ‘stressed NSET member Ram Chandra Kandel .In the eleventh hour we curse ourselves for not following the things. Hence prevention is better than cure, he added.

Before an earthquake we should be aware and prepared for the family disaster preparedness plan. Contingency planning calls for self-sufficiency and emergency communication plans etc, he added.

In the coming days we will conduct such programmes to make society more aware, said a SWATI member.

SAHAS out with new PG diploma in PSI

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KATHAMNDU, March 2 : School of Applied Human Science (SAHAS) threw open their post graduate diploma (PGD) programme in Psychosocial Intervention (PSI) amid a function today.

A press release issued by the school stated that the PG Diploma programme will run under the affiliation of Purvanchal University (PU) and is being conducted in collaboration with the Netherlands-based, Transculture Pshychosocial Organisation (TPO).

Senior Superintendent of Police, Chuda Bahadur Shrestha speaking at the inaugural function stressed the need for counselling training of personnel who dealt with victims of human rights abuses. "The psychological intervention and community meditation programmes are highly beneficial and effective in dealing with the victims," he said.

Dr Murari Prasad Regimi, head of department of psychology at Tribhuvan University said that the training of minds was tough but essential. Ms Tine, technical advisor emphasised on the need for long term healing, treatment and capacity building.

Micro Hydro Projects lighten up remote villages

By Lal Prasad Sharma

PARBAT, March 2 : Electrification in six remote VDCs of Parbat district has brought about a drastic change in the lives of rural people here. Powered by Mirco Hydro Projects (MHEPs), the VDC locals have formed groups and are engaged in income generating works and have installed bio-gas plants, ovens and modern toilets.

Over six thousand people of the VDCs have benefited from MHEPs that came into being in the past five years and which produce a total of 100 kilo-watt electricity,.

MHEPs are a joint venture of the Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP), DDC and the concerned VDCs. Electricity from the MHEPs light the remote VDCs Bhoksing, Bhuktangle, Kyang, Pangrang, Bachha and Saraukhola.

Another programme is underway to produce extra 21 kilo-watt energy at Bachha VDC in the near future, according to REDP sources.

Of the MHEP projects, the largest are 27-kilo-watt Thadokhola project at Bhuktangle VDC and 9-kilo-watt Chhaharekhola project.

The seven MHEP in the VDCs incurred a cost of over Rs 10 million, said a DDC source.

Besides MHEPs, REDP has also been running various income generating programmes in the privileged VDCs to raise the living standards of the locals. Around a total of 97 female group and 96 male groups have been formed in the VDCs to carry out saving programmes and various development works, according to Ashish Kumar Aryal, an advisor to REDP.

Organised extortion gang active in Syangja

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SYANGJA, March 2 : An organised gang is reported to be actively engaged in extorting money in rural areas of this hilly district in the name of army and Maoist outfit. Maoists captured a civilian today who carried with him a party letter pad. An investigation is on against the accused, they informed.

A Maoist Santosh, talking over telephone, said that an organised gang was active in collecting donation from locals in the disguise of army and Maoists. He said that they have arrested a non-Maoist along with a party letter pad of western region bureau. "An investigation is going on against the fake Maoist in our camp," said Santosh. But he declined to reveal the name of the person involved in extortion.

Last week, Maoists sentenced Dhan Bahadur Bishwokarma of Sworek VDC-3 to death on charges of extorting more than Rs 100,000 going against the party instruction until next notice.

Security officials at the district headquarters suspect that the gang might be active to smear image of the security forces.

A letter confiscated from the man captured by Maoists demanded Rs 50,000 in cash from Bholanath Aryal of Sworek VDC-4. Aryal has fled his home and is now taking refuge in the capital for fear of his life. An initial report conducted by the rebels found that other locals of the VDC also left their home after the gang pressed them for cash. It has also come to light that the gang warned the locals against reporting the incident to the police.

The local administration has issued an appeal to cadres of all political parties to extend their co-operation to control such social evils. Security forces have been pressed into regular patrols in some parts of the district putting them on maximum alert in the district headquarters and Waling Municipality. Dusk-to-dawn curfew is still in place in the district headquarters and the municipality in spite of the cease-fire announcement.

Commuters suffer as RNAC halts flights to mid-west

By Nawaraj Shahi

JUMLA, March 3 : Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the national flag carrier, has been unable to conduct flights to the mid-western districts for almost two weeks, much to the inconvenience of the commuters.

Of its seven fleet operating regularly to remote districts like Jumla, Dolpa, Humla, Achham and Bajhang districts, five have been grounded for technical reasons. Even the remaining two are not in operation as they are yet to land in Nepalgunj airport from Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) in the capital, according to Ganesh Man Barun, the RNAC Regional Director in Nepalgunj.

RNAC cancelled more than 12 flights to the remote districts from Nepalgunj airport for the past 12 days due to inimical weather situation, according to Barun.

Flight cancellation by RNAC has come as a severe blow to commuters who are forced to travel by private airlines that charge three times more than RNAC, according to sources.

Mostly affected are those who had flown to cities for treatment and teachers, government employees and locals who came to the plain belt to escape the cold.

While RNAC charges Rs. 1,665 per head for a one way ticket to the remote districts from Nepalgunj, other private airlines charge over Rs.4,000. However, in absence of service by RNAC, they are forced to travel on private airlines, according to passengers.

Urchins hooked to drugs

By Kamal Panthi

BUTWAL, March 2 : Drug addiction is rising alarmingly among street children in Butwal bazaar area. There are around 300 street children addicted to drugs which come here through the porous Nepal-India border. Even children from well-off families are addicted to drugs, according to sources.

Survey reports by various NGOs reveal that Butwal has around 300 street children aged below 20 years who are addicted to drugs. "The retailers buy the drugs from Sunauli and Nautanawa in India and sell them here to us," said Rabi Sunar, a street child.

The grave issue is that a majority of street children are unaware of the affects of drugs.

"I do not know what impacts the drugs have on our body. I take smack because it makes sleeping on the street easy," said Shankar Gurung, 14, who does not know his address and even the name of his parents.

Traffic square, ex-Aadarshanagar, Old Bus Park side, Butwal municipality-6, 8 and the nearby jungles are the common venues for consuming drugs, according to Ratan Sapkota, another street child.

"Street children using syringe alone or in groups are a common scene these days in Butwal," said Deviram Pun, a local of Sukkhanagar.

They buy drugs like hashish, smack, marijuana, cocaine and others with the money they get by selling used plastic items and scrap goods, according to street children.

Police are active round the clock to check drug selling and smuggling, according to Sanjaya Singh Basnet, Deputy Superintendent of Police at Area Police Office.

"Police recently sent two drug smugglers to jail, who were arrested with huge quantities of drugs," said Basnet.

Sorry plight of blind student

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SIRAHA, March 2 : Kuseshwor Mahoto, 21, of Singyahi Maran VDC-4, a blind student of a campus in Siraha district, stayed in a queue for three hours just to get three litres of kerosene from a local dealer shop.

A B.Ed. second year student of Surya Narayana Satyanarayana Morabaita Yadab Mulitple Campus, Mahoto is not entitled to special privileges provided to blinds. This has complicated his student life.

Though Mahoto studied in Brail script upto class 10, he has been deprived of the facility afterwards.

"Since I have to study as other students in the class-room, I have to face many difficulties," said Mahoto. "I do not understand things written on the board unless the teacher reads them out. English study is more difficult because I often have no idea about spellings though the teacher pronounces those words."

Mahoto stays in the campus hostel and cooks for himself. Sometimes his friends come to his room and read out lessons for him to transcribe in the Brail script. However, the facility is very short and insufficient, according to Mahoto.

"The tape recorder that I bought two years ago got damaged. So, I need to write everything in Brail script in thick copies that are costly," said Mahoto. "I have to spend around Rs. 2,000 per month for copies alone. Due to budget constraint, I have to limit my writing."

Mahoto, who hails from a middle class family of nine members due to which he can hardly meet his study expenditures.

"Reading entire things from board consumes much more time and there is every fear that the course may not be completed in time," said Anirudra Thakur, a campus teacher. Though Nepal Association of the Blind has prepared some texts in Brail, they are not available in Siraha, said Mahoto.