Muslim clerics to impart sex education

By J. Pandey 

BANKE, March 9 : Muslim clerics in Nepalgunj of Banke district have turned very flexible in a bid to safeguard people from the fatal disease AIDS. The clerics have decided to launch educational programmes on safe sex in Madarsas and Masjids (mosques) soon.

In the district with over 80,000 Muslims, the total number of Masjids is 70. However, Nepalgunj alone has 14 Masjids and seven Madarsas and 35 clerics have shown solidarity to impart sex education.

Around 7,000 Muslims converge in the Masjids each Friday for prayers.

The texts on sex education are ready and written in Urdu. The wives of the clerics will impart the education to the girls and thus the Muslim family will highly benefit from the education, according to sources.

"Though talks on sex is a taboo and the religion does not permit family planning, we will suggest to the people to use condoms and other safety measures to save their lives," said Mansur Ahamad, a cleric.

"Sex education is the need of time and no religion can stop it now. We have to work according to time," said Samasuddin Siddhiki, an erstwhile vice-chairman of Nepalgunj municipality.

The religion dictates death sentence to those found having sexual relationship with a woman other than one’s wife. However, we should think of creating awareness against sexual diseases than to hold to the dogma, said another cleric.

Maoist youth should engage in developmental work

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BARA, March 9 : Since the Maoists are now on their way to peace, the youth involved in the party should be made to engage in some development activities, said Dr. Asarfi Shah, the Assistant Minister for Local Development, speaking at a programme here today.

Shah was directing the government employees to discharge their duties honestly. Speaking at the programme he also claimed that the government had gained substantial success in controlling corruption. Madhav Prasad Regmi, the Chief District Officer (CDO) chaired the programme.

Govt not serious about talks, lament Maoists

By Prakash Adhikari 

DAMAULI, Tanahun, March 9 : District level high ranking Maoists speaking at a round table meeting called by the party yesterday in Tanahun district appealed all the concerned to work from their side in making the peace talk a success. They complained that the government was not serious about the peace talks and was continuing arresting the party cadres, which may prove detrimental to the peace process.

Though the Maoist party came to the arena for peace talks, accepting the multiparty system, the Royal Nepal Army (RNA) arrested Prakash Acharya, the District leader of the party on Feb 4, alleged Hari Bahadur Chuman, the chief of the Maoist ‘Public Government’ in the district.

Held at Bhumarse of Bandipur VDC, the Maoists without arms discussed on the issues of interim government, the much-talked about round table conference and the constituent assembly.

"Since the public wants peace to prevail through peace talks, the Maoist party has declared cease-fire and is committed to it," said Chuman. "The party had taken the earlier peace talk for its publicity. But, this time the party’s decision is action orientated so we are confident that the peace talks will succeed."

He also opined that the country does not have a large democratic party and that his party would not proceed keeping others at bay.

Nepali Congress, Rastriya Prajatantra Party, People Front Party, teachers and civic bodies, participated in the meeting that lasted for five hours.

Reconstruction of offices start in Jumla

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JUMLA, March 9 : Reconstruction works of government office buildings in Khalanga, the headquarters of Jumla district have started. Over two dozen offices and private buildings were destroyed during the bloody Maoist attack on November 14 last year.

"The headquarters suffered a loss of over three hundred million rupees during the incident. Reconstruction works have started with the one million rupees provided by the government," said Krishna Shyam Budhathoki, the Chief District Officer (CDO) and the chairman of Jumla Reconstruction Committee.

Hundreds in Doti die of AIDS

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DIPAYAL, March 9 : The fatal disease HIV/AIDS that is making an alarming rise in the far-western district, Doti has claimed hundreds of lives. The disease is transmitted by youth who go to Indian cities in pursuit of jobs, states a survey report by the District Red Cross Society (DRCS).

"Of the survey conducted in 10 VDCs so far, the disease had claimed 10 to 13 persons in each VDC," according to Suvash Shrestha, the chairman of DRCS. "Those dead were mostly persons who worked in India for two or three years, aged between 20 to 40."

As to the practice here, at least a youth from a family goes to Indian cities for work after marriage. They visit brothels, indulge in unsafe sex and thus are infected by the disease. Of 32 youth interviewed, only two were found adopting safety measures during intercourse.

A majority of the youth said that they did not bother to adopt safety measures when they visited prostitutes.

The report also revealed that most of the people fear medical tests it is confirmed that they have AIDS. It is so because the society is very harsh on an AIDS victim and the concerned family.

The AIDS victims in the district are found isolated from society and so are the members of the victim’s family. Even the body of those who die of AIDS is not cremated as per rituals but is simply buried, according to the report.

Mayadevi temple to be inaugurated

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BHAIRAHAWA, March 9: Preparations are on to inaugurate the newly constructed Mayadevi temple during the forthcoming Buddha Purnima festival. A meeting of the Lumbini Development Fund (LDF) chaired by Kuber Sharma, the Minster for Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation and also the chairman of the fund that concluded here today reached the decision.

Talking to the journalists after the meeting, Omkar Gauchan, the Vice-chairman of LDF said that the King might inaugurate the new temple. "The meeting decided to request the King for the inauguration," said Gauchan. The meeting also decided to hold the second International Buddha Summit from November 30 to December 2, 2003, informed Gauchan.

Tansen-Tamghas road to be black-topped

By Madhav Aryal 

TANSEN, March 9 : The 75-kilometre long Tansen-Tamghas Highway will be finally black-topped within two years to come, 51 years after the road construction was started. Sources said that the World Bank would provide about 80 per cent loan assistance of the total cost while the government would bear the rest for black-topping the highway. An estimated Rs 350 million will be required to blacktop the highway, which will be completed by the end of the fiscal year 2060/61 B.S. The road was gravelled last year.

The track line of the Tamghas-Tansen road was initiated during the tenure of late King Tribhuvan in 2007 B.S. Public vehicles started plying on the country road about 19 years ago. Black-topping the highway used to be a major political agenda in Gulmi district in every election held before and after the restoration of multiparty system.

An elderly man, Hiramani Sapkota of Tamghas, the district headquarters of Gulmi, said that construction of the Tansen-Tamghas road used to be the only political agenda in the district even during the party-less Panchayet era. He said that people of western part of Palpa, Gulmi, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Pyuthan and Rolpa districts would be immensely benefitted once the road was blacked-topped.

Officials at the Western Nepal Bus Entrepreneurs’ Association said a public bus could easily reach Tamghas from Tansen within three hours once the road was black-topped. Currently, it takes at least six hours to cover the 75-km distance. More than 200 light and heavy vehicles ply on the narrow country road from Tansen and Butwal everyday.

Role of civic education in sylabii stressed

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KATHAMNDU, March 9: Nayab Bada Gurujyu, Dr. Madhav Prasad Bhattarai today highlighted the importance of civic and moral education for a brighter future of the human beings and stressed the need to include such type of education in school curriculum.

Speaking at a programme organised by Creative British English School(CBES) to mark its 9th Parents Day, Dr Bhattarai said, "An education should be able to meet all the requirements of the country."

He also expressed his dissatisfaction over present education system saying that the huge expenditure of the government had failed to give a positive result. "Though the government has already spent 14% of total budget in the education sector, the out put is comparatevely unsatisfactory."

He also gave away a purse of Rs. 5,000 and certificates to teacher Gayetri Thapa for her regular teaching at the school for more than five years. Choodamani Gautam, a wellknown grammerian gave away certificates to the teachers who participated teaching training course conducted by the school.

Famous comedians like Gopal Raj Mainali,Basundhara Bhushal, Khem Sharma, Daman Rupakheti and Jeetu Nepal were given the token of love by Pratibha Subedi, the founder member of Women’s Awareness Centre (WAC).

Speaking on the programme Subedi said, "Education plays the vital role to wipe out the social anamalies, hence, there should be a good discipline in education." Besides that, Narayan Koirala also expressed his views by representing the parents.

Various cultural programmes were performed by the school children where the comedian duo Daman Rupakheti and Jeetu Nepal also gave the ludicrous entertainment held at National Conference Centre.

Scrap Dalit tag, demand four caste groups

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KATHAMNDU, March 9:Kapali, Rajak, Khadgi, and Deula of the Newar community registered in the list of Dalits want their identity to be seceded from Dalit, revealed a programme organised by the National Dalit Commission.

Padma Ratna Tuladhar, human right activist opined that the word Dalit relates to backwardness, suffering and people deprived of rights, and any individual has the right to decide whether he or she wants to be listed under the Dalit community or not.

"How can one be Dalit or untouchables when they are working as a priest (pujari) in the temple"? he questioned.

There are no untouchables and there is no practice of untouchability in the Newar community, he further mentioned. Every citizen is equal in a democratic set up though few were discriminated earlier, he added.

However, Man Bahadur Bishwokarma, former member of Parliament pointed out the fact that few people of this community have utilized the privileges provided to the Dalit community and the Dalit movement was also guided by predecessor of these communities.

Malla K Sunder, Chairman of Newar Rastriya Sangathan also emphasised on the self-deciding factor and opined that the label of Dalit should not be imposed on these communities.

He further apprised that the whole Newar community belongs to the indigenous group and this has been informed to the National Dalit Commission many times before.

Bishnu Das Kapali, representative of Kapali Samaj Sudhar Sangh opined having now realised the real identity of Kapali and other Newar communities and that the Commission should not be a hurdle for them to take the right steps and the commission should come up with new programmes for the upliftment of the Dalits as well.

Manoj Newa Khadgi of Khadgi Sewa Samaj, Kiran Maharaiya of Rajak Samaj, Maila Bahadur Deula of Deula Samaj and Shankar Prasad of Kapali Samaj also opined that the so-called Dalits of the Newar community should immediately be withdrawn from the Dalit community.

Docs must work in rural areas for two years: Devkota

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KATHAMNDU, March 9: Dr Upendra Devkota, Minister for Health, Science and Technology today reiterated that the government was committed to regularise the service of the doctors. "Every doctor has to work at least for two years in the rural areas," Dr Devkota said.

Speaking at the 7th annual function of Nepal Medical College in the capital, Dr Devkota said that medical colleges should not be taken as industry.

He stressed that the doctors would not be allowed to charge at their wish.

Ram Prasad Khatiwada, a parent said that it always puzzles the parents as the rumours like the Nepal Medical College and the Education Ministry are not meeting their target which might cause the minimisation of quota to the medical students.

Similarly, Prof Dr Jisnu Prasad Rijal, Director of Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital asked the government not to impose tax on the medical equipments.

He also said that the private sectors like TU Teaching Hospitals have been deprived of the facilities provided by the government. On the occasion,Dr Devkota gave away shields and certificates to the winners of various inter-medical colleges’ competition like football, quiz contests and poetry writing.

The students of the medical college had also organised a cultural programme with 10 dances, 9 songs and a skit by the staff of the college.

Tributes paid to Yogi Narahari Nath

KATHMANDU, March 9 (PR) - Different organisations from across the country today organised various programmes to pay tribute to Yogi Narahari Nath, marking the 13th day of the demise of the renowned spiritual figure.

The 88 year-old Yogi, revered as the national spiritual guru breathed his last at 12:45 midnight on February 26, at his Mrigasthali ashram, where he spent more than five decades of his life.

On the tributary programme organised here today by Hamro Nepal, Yogi Narahari Trust Hamro Nepal, Royal Nepal Academy, Bishnu Hindu Federation, Nepal Rastriya Samiti, Nepal Rastriya Ekata Parishad and Pashupati Sena Durga Dal paid heart-felt tributes to the late yogi.

In the memory of the late yogi the mass gathered at Royal Nepal Academy observed a minute’s silence for the eternal peace of his departed soul. The participant speakers at the programme stressed on the need to declare Yogi Narahari Nath as a national hero and publish his manuscripts.

Boy killed in truck hit

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BHAKTAPUR, March 9:A five-year-old Lalit Thakur, son of Bechan Thakur residing in the Siraha district died today when a truck numbered 1 Kha 773 hit him, stated a release issued by police room, daily news bulletin.

The driver of the truck has been arrested by the police.

Meanwhile, Seti Magar, 24, of Dolakha district who was working in a carpet factory in Kathmandu at Mulpani, ward no 8 was found dead in the compound of the factory early in the morning today.