Media urged to raise voice against domestic child labour

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KATHMANDU, March 20 : Minister for Communications and Information Ramesh Nath Pandey today remarked the country was getting plenty of money for social services from international and donor communities but the fund was not reaching targeted groups hindering desired results.

"We are getting much money in the name of social service and the government wishes proper use of the fund to meet the targeted groups," Pandey said.

He made the remarks while delivering an inaugurating speech at a workshop on ‘Child Domestic Workers and Media’s Role’, organised here today by the Children Women in Social Service and Human Rights (CWSHR), a non-government organisation.

Underlining the active role of media to eradicate domestic child labour in the country, the Communications Minister urged to address the root causes forcing children to become domestic child labours.

Children in the country constitutes one-fourth of the population and nearly 2.46 million children are forced to become child labours. According to the National Child Labour Academy, there are 77 thousand domestic child workers in the country. In the Kathmandu Valley alone, 21 thousand children work as domestic labour.

Speaking on the occasion, Helen Sherpa of the World Education urged journalists present at the programme to constantly follow child labour issues. "Media should play the role of a watchdog to end exploitation of children," she said.

Child rights activist Gauri Pradhan remarked that media should bring out both success and negative stories of child labours, stressing on awareness programmes. He even stressed making arrangements for education fit for domestic child labours.

Peter Dalglish, chief technical advisor of the International Labour Organisation Time Bound Programme, said that the media should be at the centre of campaign against domestic child labours.

"Respectable people in the society, people with good positions, people of respectable families and religious people are equally to be blamed for domestic child labours", said Valter Tenderholt, Regional Representative, Save the Children Norway.

Tirtha Koirala, editor of Nepal fortnightly, a sister publication of The Kathmandu Post said the grim situation of domestic child labour would not be addressed until the upliftment of the poor takes place and the level of awareness of employers increase.

Due place to disabled exhorted

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KATHMANDU, March 20 : "There should be the involvement of disabled in every political party who are as important as abled people," said Munishwor Pandey, the president of National Federation Of The Disabled- Nepal (NFOTD) at a press meet here today.

Highlighting the main agendas of NFOTD Kapilbastu declaration, like discount or free transportation, advocacy of poverty elimination and social protection, he said that NFODT would pay special attention to sensitive sections among the disabled, mainly females and children.

Pandey expressed his confidence of getting full cooperation and help from different governmental, non- governmental and private sectors for the implementation of plans and programme based on the declaration.

At the NFOTD Kapilbastu conference, Munishwor Pandey was elected as president including central working committee members for four years. The conference has also passed Kapilbastu declaration paper.

Record number of students to appear SLC exam this year

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SANOTHIMI (Bhaktapur), March 20 : This year’s School Leaving Certificate (SLC) exam will see a record number of students taking their exams and it is going to be the biggest exam in the 70-year-old history of the SLC exam.

With 284,240 students taking their SLC exam this year, which begins from March 30 and end on April 7, there are over 800 exam centres. The number of exam centres allocated last year stood at 645. Similarly, the number of students added in the tenth grade increased by over 10 percent annually.

"The declaration of cease-fire has enabled us to have examination centres in all the districts this year," said Dr Shah Dev Bhatta, controller of examinations.

He also said that from this year, no student would be allowed to change his or her exam centres and that students would be disqualified to sit for the exams with 700 as full marks.

"Those students without studying all the eight subjects, with full 800 marks, would be disqualified for appearing in the SLC exams," according to an official at the Controller’s Office.

This year also, the Controller’s Office would continue with the ‘coding’ and ‘conference marking system. But the ‘coding’, which was introduced two years ago, is costing the government Rs 200,000 every year.

Efforts for elimination of racial discrimination to be stepped up

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LALITPUR, March 20 : The National Dalit Commission working for the preservation of rights and freedom of Dalits for the past one year today announced its Proposed Bill to establish a sovereign and self-governing commission.

The Bill was handed over to Home Minister Dharma Bahadur Thapa amid a function organised to mark the first anniversary of the commission and the 38th International Day for the elimination of racial discrimination. The Bill was handed over to Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand yesterday at his office.

Speaking on the occasion, Home Minister Thapa remarked that the mass of people who are called Dalits are those people who are deprived of opportunities and once the opportunity is given, they will no longer be called Dalits.

"Concerned people should work for the upliftment of these mass shunning selfish interest. Only then these people can raise their status in the society", he said.

He remarked that all the organisations working toward uplifting the Dalits should work in the grassroots level and start a programme for income generation and promote their traditional skill.

The programme was also attended by Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation, Ravi Bhakta Shrestha, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narendra Bikram Shah, Assistant Minister for Land Reforms and Management, Prakash Chitrakar ‘Pariyar’, Assistant Minister for Industries, Jagat Bahadur Gurung, and Assistant Minister for Local Development, Dr Asarfi Shah.

On the occasion, a documentary, prepared by the visiting group who travelled highly Maoist-affected districts namely Bardiya, Dang, Jumla, Kailali, Rukum, Arghakhanchi, Achham, Syangja and Banke, was also put on show.

Call to respect international humanitarian law

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KATHMANDU, March 20 : International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) is deeply concerned about the human consequences of the hostilities underway in Iraq, especially the impact of military operations on the civilian population , according to a press release issued by the ICRC here today.

The ICRC calls upon the warring parties to abide strictly by the rules and principles of international humanitarian law.

Wherever the need for its independent and impartial humanitarian action arises, the ICRC firmly intends to extend its activities in accordance with its mandate, it said. It relies on the warring parties to facilitate its access to all persons requiring help and protection.

The ICRC reminds all States party to the Geneva Conventions of their obligation not only to respect but also to ensure respect for international humanitarian law, whose main purpose is to minimise the effects of war on people not or no longer taking part in hostilities, and to protect their lives and physical integrity, the release added.

"The requirement that persons not taking part in hostilities be treated with humanity in all circumstances is a basic principle of humanitarian law."

Attacks directed at civilians are prohibited, as are attacks that do not distinguish between military objectives and civilians/civilian objects. In the course of military operations, all parties are obliged to take every feasible precaution to avoid and in any case to minimise civilian casualties and damage to civilian property, it said.

The warring parties have the duty to ensure that the basic needs of the civilian population are met as far as possible. They must authorise and facilitate impartial humanitarian relief operations and ensure the safety of medical and humanitarian personnel. They must see to it that the sick and wounded have access to adequate medical care. All parties must respect the Red Cross and Red Crescent emblems.

Outstanding SLC students to be honoured

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KATHMANDU March, 20 : The Tamu Cultural Academy, Nepal (TCAN) has announced the names of students securing the highest marks in the S.L.C examinations of this year from among the Tamu students to encourage them to attain higher education. This was revealed at a press conference organised by TCAN here today.

The deserving students who are being awarded on Chaitra 23 with a purse of Rs.10,000 and a letter of appreciation each are Sapana Gurung and Prasan Gurung from private schools and Nitu Gurung and Sudip Jang Bahadur Gurung from public schools in girls and boys categories respectively.

TCAN has also decided to felicitate prominent geologist Harka Gurung for his contribution to the Tamu language and literature and Mani Lal Gurung, a courageous hero for his hunting skill displayed in the famous documentary, the Honey Hunters of Nepal with a purse of Rs.15,000 and copper plate as a token of appreciation for attaining national and international fame.

Speaking at the programme, Jagadish Gurung, the founder member of TCAN said,"In order to encourage the students of the Gurung community in the education sector, we have planned to present such awards so that they could contribute in developing the country."

Similarly, assistant professor Narayan Gurung, the advisor of TCAN, expressing his view said,"The trend of joining the British Army is maximum in the Tamu community.Consequently, the quality of education among the Tamu community has deteriorated. Therefore, in order to uplift the education sector and generate consciousness in the Tamu community, TCAN has brought forward this type of programme," Gurung said.

The Tamu Cultural Academy, established on October 24, 1999 in Japan, has further planned to introduce scholarship programmes for intelligent Tamu students who are financially weak.

Dalit woman moves District Court seeking justice

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KAILALI, March 20 : A dalit woman, Nanda Devi Sarki, has given birth to a baby boy outside marriage. Sarki had a relationship with Chakra Rawal, a resident of Godavari-Olani and became pregnant. Now after the birth of the baby Rawal refuses to accept responsibility. Sarki has been desperately waiting for the last six months for justice to come her way.

Having been sweet talked in having a physical relationship with Rawal, she became pregnant, and gave birth to a boy five months ago. But Rawal has refused to having any relationship with this woman and her baby, and to take her as his rightful wife.

After her lover disagreed to accept her and the baby, Sarki had been staging protest for three months to get justice. It is learnt that she had even gone to Rawal’s family begging for acceptance, but to no avail. When she could not get justice from the society, she now seeks the District Court’s help.

"Even if this society does not give me justice, I’m very hopeful that the court will not disappoint me," she said.

It is learnt that due to staunch caste discrimination, which still prevails in the far-western region, it is not easy to get justice. Chakra Rawal is a Chettri, while Nanda Devi belongs to the dalit community. According to the information provided by her, Rawal had managed to coax her into a physical relationship after making her believe that he had fallen in love with her despite her caste and class for he himself did not believe in discrimination.

When Sarki had refused to get an abortion, Rawal had left the village for some time.

Various organisations tried to raise this issue many times, but they could not provide her justice, she contended. She also laments about how her child is suffering from malnutrition, and that she has not been feeling too well either.

The advocate, Balaram Bhattarai affirmed that Nanda Devi would get her due.

Post cease-fire business activity rises in mid-western region

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BIRENDRANAGAR, March 20 : The activity in the markets of mid-western development region including Birendranagar is increasing day by day after the declaration of the cease-fire between the government and the Maoists.

Birendranagar of Surkhet, Nepalgunj of Banke and Gulariya of Bardia were badly affected by the Maoist violence.

There is a ray of hope for peace after the declaration of cease-fire in the mid-western development region which was badly affected by the insurgency for the last seven years.

There is improvement in the market after the cease-fire but we were totally disappointed before this, said Tek Bahadur Khadka, chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, Surkhet.

Every day around 200 to 300 people used to go to India after the imposition of the state of emergency but now the number has decreased and many people are returning home from India, according to an estimate of Regional Administration Office Surkhet.

More than 65 percent of the population of mid-western development region are living under the poverty line.

Poverty and the Maoist violence compelled the local youths to leave the country and work in India, Bharat Kumar Shahi of Kalikot said.

The situation is positive now and many youths are returning to their homes, he added.

The number of tourists visiting the area is also increasing after the cease-fire. Most of the tourists who visit the area are from India, Britain and France and they come here for rafting in the Karnali river.

Though the exact number of tourists visiting the area is not known it is estimated that the number of tourists has increased by at least 13 percent, according to the travel agencies.

Maoist cadre released from detention

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DAMAULI, Tanahun, March 20 : As agreed between the government and Maoist negotiators, the Royal Nepal Army today released a senior Maoist cadre from detention.

The army freed Prakash Archarya who is the Maoist in-charge of area no.-3 of the district. He was arrested by the army one week after the government and the Maoist announced a mutual cease-fire on January 29. After being released from detention, Acharya told reporters that the cadres would revolt against the party leadership if it backed out of the peace talks this time around.

He joined the Maoist insurgency citing ideological differences with the CPN-UML over Mahakali Treaty signed between Nepal and India in 1996.

The Deputy Superintendent of Police Ram Chandra Dhakal said that he was released after the government and Maoist leadership issued a code of conduct to pave ways for peace talks. He was released in the presence of his bother Surya Chandra Acharya. One of the agreements of the code of conduct between the government and the Maoists is to gradually release people in their respective detentions.

Police inspector beats up, seriously injures NID chief

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GAIGHAT, March 20 : The police inspector of the District Police Office in Udaypur, Shivaji Shrestha, brawled and beat up the member-secretary of the District Security Committee as well as the district chief of the National Investigation Department (NID), Jeet Bahadur Thapa, injuring him seriously. Thapa was brutally wounded in his left eye, head, and face it is learnt.

The NID chief Thapa was present in the party organised by the Local Development Officer (LDO), when the incident occurred, where police inspector Shrestha was also present. Shrestha who was drunk since the afternoon suddenly brawled with Thapa, and dealt many blows to the NID chief saying that he would kill him, informed witnesses. Inspector Shrestha was seen hurtling abuses at Thapa and he was angry as Thapa had reported Shrestha taking bribes. The people present at the incident site finally managed to calm down the police and stopped the fight.

The victim’s wife, Radha Thapa said that the doctor had asked her husband not even talk as he was very weak due to the injuries inflicted upon him. According to Radha, her husband had to undergo operation of his left eye.

After getting information about this incident, the chief of the National Investigation Department for the eastern region, Sukh Chandra Jha, had come down to Gaighat to inquire about the incident. The Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) of the Regional Unit Police Office at Rajbiraj, Jay Singh Thapa said that departmental action will be taken against the guilty policeman.

Similarly, a meeting of the security heads took place in the District Administration Office. According to the Chief District Office (CDO), Sitaram Pokhrel, recommendation for the action to be taken against the guilty according to the existing departmental rules was agreed in the meeting. However, Inspector Shrestha has considered this to be nothing more than a mere outburst.

According to sources from the Security Committee, the meeting of this committee could not take place due to the injury of the chief. The chief Jha of the National Regional Investigation Department talking to The Kathmandu Post correspondent also stressed on the need for stringent action to be taken against the guilty. It is learnt that Shrestha had even beaten up the contractor supplying food for the police two months ago.