New Year Message
Enhance glory, dignity of Nepalese people: HM

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS):His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev has extended best wishes to all Nepalese for their good health and well-being on the occasion of the year 2057 B.S.

In a message to the nation on the occasion of New Year’s Day 2057, His Majesty said enhancing the glory of Nepal and dignity of the Nepalese people, as the world continues towards modernisation, should be our new year resolution.

It is also essential that people’s enthusiasm and participation in the task of nation-building be enhanced through proper evaluation of the situation prevailing in the country, His Majesty the King said, adding that the hardships faced by the people must be mitigated and the problems obtaining in the country tackled so that the people feel they have ample opportunities for development.

His Majesty also wished that all Nepalese succeed in making the new year prosperous and happy by maintaining peace, stability and national unity.

The full text of the message:

Beloved countrymen,On the occasion of the advent of the New Year 2057, we extend our best wishes to all Nepalese for their good health and well-being.

Enhancing the glory of Nepal and dignity of the Nepalese people, as the world continues towards modernisation, should be our new year resolution. It is also essential that the people’s enthusiasm and participation in the task of nation-building be enhanced through proper evaluation of the situation prevailing in the country. The hardships faced by the people must be mitigated and the problems obtaining in the country tackled so that the people feel they have ample opportunities for development.

Remaining sensitive towards the people’s aspirations and answerable to our future generations, may all Nepalese succeed in making the new year prosperous and happy by maintaining peace, stability and national unity.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all !

Jaya Nepal !

Promote dignity of journalism: Acharya

Biratnagar, Apr. 12 (RSS): Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya honoured journalist Yogesh Upadhyaya, environmentalist Sebai Lal Chaudhari and Prof. Bikram Rai by presenting them shawls at a function organised by public felicitation committee here today.

On the occasion, Minister Acharya said that a lot more had to be done to banish poverty and employment, provide social justice, protect human rights and honour creative personalities.

Pointing out the need to review and evaluate the works carried out in the last 10 years following the restoration of democracy impartially and in a transparent manner, he said that though some distortions and inconsistencies have been seen during the period, abundant doors for the development have been opened up.

Finance Minister Acharya pointed out the need for all concerned to move ahead with commitment to protect environment, raise the standard of education and enhance the dignity of journalism.

At the function, Rajparishad member Meghraj Sharma, former minister of state Radha Prasad Ghimire and industrialist Jagadish Prasad Rathi said that the work performed with dedication and spirit of services will be evaluated by the society.

Journalist Shankar Kharel, organising committee member Rabin Dahal and felicitated personality and social activist Sebai Lal Chaudhari expressed their views on the occasion.

PM pledges to put an end to anomalies

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that the present government is committed in words and deeds to put and end to inconsistencies such as corruption, unrest, violence, red tapism, and maintain good governance through administrative reforms and law and order.

Prime Minister Koirala made these remarks in a message given on the occasion in the new year’s day-2057 B.S.

Stating that necessary steps have already been initiated with a view to effectively implementing these activities, Mr Koirala sought continuos cooperation from the people of various walks of life including the political parties, non-governmental organisations and the intellectuals and heartily called upon all concerned to unitedly work for the development of Nepal.

Mr Koirala said, "the responsible government elected by the people has been working to maintain good governance in the country and make the people realise the fruits of development a decade after the restoration of democracy.

Positive achievement have been made in the construction of necessary infrastructure for the development of the country during this period, but there cannot be two opinions on the fact that collective endeavour should be made to fulfil the aspirations of the people, Prime Minister Koirala said.

The policy and programmes adopted in this respect in the past should be reviewed and seriously evaluated, he said, adding that he was firm on the view that more practical policy and programmes should be adopted and moved ahead in the days to come.

Prime Minister Koirala has wished good health, long life and continuous progress to all the Nepali brothers and sisters at home and abroad on the occasion of the new year’s day 2057 B.S.

Likewise, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel, in his message on the occasion of the new year’s day today, has greeted all the Nepalese brothers and sisters.

In the message, he has expressed the conviction the new year 2057 would overcome all the hurdles to live a fearless and free life as provided by democracy to the Nepalese people and achieve significant victory against insecurity, shortages and backwardness.

President of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Surya Bahadur Thapa, in his message on the occasion of the new year’s day, has said that commitment should be made today to create a basis for consensus by rising above politics for the development of a modern and prosperous Nepal.

In the message, Mr Thapa extended new year’s greetings to all the Nepalese on behalf of his party and his own.

Cpn-ml general secretary Bamdev Gautam, in a new year’s day message, said progressive production system is the only way to come out of backwardness.

Mr Gautam has wished all the brothers and sisters of the country progress, prosperity as well as happiness.

Similarly, senior politician Dr Dilliraman Regmi extended best wishes to all the Nepalese people on the occasion of the new year’s day 2057 B.S.

Democracy has no alternative but anomalies that have crept into this system should be removed.

South Summit focus on knowledge and tech

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 12: The South Summit opened today at the Palacio de Convenciones, Havana under the Chairmanship of President Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria. The focus of the Summit is on the broad themes of Globalisation, Knowledge and Technology, South-South cooperation, and North-South relations, according to the UNDP statement. An interactive high-level dialogue would also take place on the role of the United Nations in the 21st century. UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan is scheduled to address the Summit this week.

The Chairman of the Group of 77, Chief Arthur Mbanefo of Nigeria, described the event - the first ever Summit of the Group of 77 - as "a unique opportunity to renew the South’s commitment to international cooperation and development and an occasion for developing countries to galvanize their strength and solidarity into a truly energetic force capable of conditioning the international economic order in which the Group of 77 must operate."

The Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Mark Malloch Brown said that UNDP is strongly committed to further strengthening its support to programme countries and to building on its strong partnership with the Group of 77. Brown noted that UNDP had a strong history of cooperation with the G-77 that dated from its establishment in 1964, and regarded itself as the development agency of the developing countries. He said UNDP was in the process of reforms aimed at further strengthening its services to programme countries.

More than 120 countries and 60 Heads of State and Government, are expected to attend the four-day meeting. The Summit of Heads of State and Government will take place from 12-14 April.

The Group of 77 is the largest coalition of developing countries within the United Nations, providing its members with an important platform for the discussion of economic and social issues. It currently comprises 133 developing countries from Africa, Asia, and Latin America and the Caribbean. Nigeria is the presiding country for the Group for 2000.

Sick JCF gains new vigour

Kathmandu, Apr. 12 (RSS): Janakpur Cigarette Factory (jcf) was on the verge of closure about three years back. But it now contributes revenue of Rs 442,707,000 to hmg.

Jcf, which paid the maximum revenue of Rs 471,000,000 in 1991-92, suffered a loss of Rs 110,000,000 in 1996-97.

General manager Hari Gautam attributes the dismal performance by the factory at the time to inefficient management.

Besides, the management and employees were under the false impression that there was no competitors, and jcf would survive whatever the quality of its product. The management could not pin-point effective ways of running the factory.

After the restoration of democracy, people started to talk of rights, but not of duties and responsibilities. This was the main reason the factory nearly closed, according to Gautam.

The factory, set up by the first elected government of the Nepali Congress in 1960, was once the most successful and the biggest in the mid-Terai region. It made significant contributions in terms of revenues.

The losses that the factory incurred continuously since 1993-94 reached Rs 110,000,000 in l996-97. With improvement in management and efforts to regain the lost market, it is not incurring any loss at present.

The factory first started production 37 years ago and now produces five cigarette brands.

With no profits, the factory could afford replacement, repair and maintenance of machinery to produce only 10,000,000 cigarettes daily in two shifts.

Jcf’s annual requirement of tobacco is 2,500 tons, and the domestic supply meets only 25 percent of the demand.

Tobacco has been grown in Sarlahi, Siraha, Dhanusha and Mahottari districts with the cooperation of the tobacco development and research centre, Belachapi. Fifteen to 20 thousand farmers are engaged in the tobacco cultivation, it is learnt.

The factory imports a large quantity of tobacco from India. One kilogram of tobacco is sufficient to produce almost 1,000 sticks of cigarette. The average cost of production of all brands is Rs 0.51 per cigarette.

Owned solely by hmg, jcf occupies a sprawling area of 36 Bighas at Janakpurdham, Dhanusha district in the central development region. Its assets throughout the kingdom total over two billion rupees.

Production increased by 6.18 percent, sale by volume by 7.34 percent, sale by value by 12.37 percent, and revenue by 9.43 percent in 1999-2000 as compared to 1998-99.

Under the erstwhile Panchayat regime the main function of jcf was felt to be to provide employment, general manager Gautam says adding that the number of employees has now been reduced from 2,800 to 1,853. The factory could be run efficiently with just 1,000 employees.

He adds "the management should not be changed frequently if the factory is to run efficiently. The wrong notion here seems to be that the management is the sole factor. There have been l0 general managers during the last ten years."

From the production data, it can be seen that 251,640,000 sticks were produced in the month of Falgun, an increase of 52.70 percent over the preceding month.

Likewise, 206,716,000 sticks were sold and Rs 105,868,214 received from the sale. Sale increased 13.37 percent over the previous month.

The other cigarette factories in Nepal are Surya Tobacco Company, Nepal Tobacco, Seti Cigarette Factory and perfect blend. These produce six different brands.

Awareness to preserve Hindu culture stressed

Kathmandu, Apr. 12 (RSS): Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi has underlined the need to raise awareness among the people for preservation of Hindu religion and culture.

Dr. Rayamajhi made this remark while inaugurating the first great religious meeting and the fourth general assembly of the world Hindu religion unity federation here today.

On the occasion, Dr. Rayamajhi gave away certificates to life members of the federation.

A host of other speakers including MP Shanker Pandey and Bada Gurujyu Keshari Raj Pandey had expressed their views at the function chaired by federation president Rhita Bahadur Budhathoki.

Addressing another function organized by the World Hindu Federation Nepal National Committee here today, Dr. Rayamajhi remarked that efforts made by the federation for the preservation of Hindu religion and culture are praiseworthy.

He also gave away this year’s Panini Award to Pandit Bhimkant Panthi for his remarkable contribution to Hindu culture and Sanskrit language and literature.

The award carries a purse of Rs 25,000.

Similarly, Dr. Rayamajhi presented letters of honour to chairman of the Sanatan Dharma Sewa Samiti Prof. Mukunda Sharan from the vedic sect, chief Lama of Namobuddha Kavre Sonam Gelbung from the Buddhist sect, Swami Manibhadraji from the Jain sect, Man Mohan Singh Sethi from the Sheikh sect and Bijayashree Gautam from among women.

A host of speakers from different sects had expressed their views at the function chaired by committee secretary Krishna Prasad Paudel.

A message from His Majesty the King wishing for the success of the programme was also read out on the occasion.