‘It is time Nepal, India embarked on new vision’ Koirala calls for new era of partnership

New Delhi, Aug 1 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that as we enter into the new millennium, it is time that Nepal and India should also embark upon a new vision of mutually beneficial cooperation that goes beyond the traditional thinking.

Prime Minister Koirala made this remark at the dinner hosted in his honour by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at the Hyderabad House this evening.

We should begin a new era of partnership, cooperative prosperity and an enhanced level of mutual trust, respect and understanding, which takes care of the long term interests of both the countries, he said, adding that would also help further reinforce mutual understanding of each other’s concerns and aspirations and diversify our areas of cooperation in the day ahead.

"I take this opportunity to reiterate Nepal’s commitment to work together with India to foster and even more mature bilateral understanding and to further strengthen her friendship with India," he added.

Prime Minister Koirala said Nepal is unequivocally committed not to allow her territory to be used for activities prejudicial to the interests of India. Nepal and India have been examining mutually acceptable measures to manage the long and open border, he added.

"We are both committeed to ensure that the privilege of free movement across the open border is not misused by undesirable elements," he further added.

Mr Koirala said, "both Nepal and India are vibrant democracies, our two countries are pursuing policies of economic reforms and both face the challenges of taking advantages of rapid globalisation while minimising its adverse impacts on our economics."

He said that this calls for a collective endeavour and to promote collective prosperity through social and economic cooperation both Nepal and India are committeed to strengthen cooperation under SAARC and to make it more effective and cohesive with clearly defined programmes and strategies. We hope that the stalled SAARC process could be moved forward soon, he added.

The bilateral trade treaty between Nepal and India has helped in increasing the two way flow of goods and the FNCCI and CII joint economic council promises mutually beneficial cooperation in the private sector, he said, adding "We greatly appreciate the understanding shown by India towards Nepal’s need for a permanent alternative transit route to Bangladesh through Fulbari.

Prime Minister said, "we have in place a renewed and modified treaty of transit and yet, unlimited and untapped possibilites lie ahead of us. The Mahakali Treaty is but a pointer in that direction. Nature has endowed us with difficult task of alleviating widespread poverty in our societies."

"Let us rise to the occasion and let the bounties of nature be used for the prosperity of our peoples, in the spirit of good neighborliness, let us reinforce mutually beneficial cooperation and mature friendship, he added.

Mr Koirala said "we follow with keen interest the economic and social progress achieved by India over the years. As a good friend and neighbour, India’s achievements in the fields of agriculture and industries, science and technology, information technology in particular, medicine and finance and many other fields made us also happy."

"We also deeply appreciate the consistent and valuable cooperation extended by India in our national development efforts over the years," Mr Koirala added.

He said an inportant characteristic of the historic bonds between Nepal and India is the diversity of our interaction, which permeates various aspects of our life. Cordiality, fellow feeling and mutual understanding of each other’s aspirations have always contributed to deepen the traditional relations between our two countries."

We rejoice at the timelesseness of our relationship and at the same time, adaptability to the demands of the changing times has always been the hallmark of our relationship, he said, adding that globalisation and revolutions in science and technology have completely transformed the way of life and the mode of thinking and activities.

"Your statesmanship, scholarship, humane disposition together with our mature vision of mutually beneficial relations between Nepal and India has won sincere for you among the people of Nepal," he said, adding "I look forward to working closely with you in promoting our shared vision of mutually beneficial bilateral relations and cooperation."

Prime Minister Koirala said "relations between Nepal and India have been marked by cordiality, understanding and cooperation, extensive interaction, inter-linkage and cultural ties have given distinct character to the age-old bonds of friendship between Nepal and India."

House stalled amid uproar

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 1:The parliamentary proceedings were stalled today as the opposition deputies came down on a ruling party lawmaker, whose half-finished statement allegedly implicated the main opposition leader in setting ablaze his house.

Amid sudden uproar lawmakers of the Communist Party of Nepal (UML) rose from their benches en masse and proceeded towards the rostrum, from where Mohammad Aftab Aalam was explaining to the House the circumstances leading to his resignation as State Minister.

"My house was set on fire in early April and an attempt was made to kill my Mother, wife and children," Alam told Parliament a day after he quit on moral grounds after a judicial commission found him involved in the abduction of Jay Prakash Kaushal, UML’s representative to Rautahat District Development Committee.

Aalam, however survived the attempted assault as the marshals moved in to protect the former State Minister who was speaking after obtaining time from the Speaker.

The furore lasted for a while and the members of the ruling party took strong exception to what they termed as unparliamentary behaviour of the main Opposition party. "The attempt to curtail the prerogative rights of an elected Member of Parliament is the first of its kind since democracy was restored in 1990," Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Binay Dhwoj Chand said. "The behaviour of the opposition party undermines the dignity of the Parliament and sets a bad precedence in the history of parliamentary democracy," Chand said demanding action against the opposition MPs.

Main Opposition Leader Madhav Kumar Nepal, however dismissed Chand’s arguments and demanded that Aalam apologise over the charges against him.

Alam had charged Nepal with being involved in the murder of Shambhu Patel after the UML General Secretary, who had been elected from two Constituencies in Rautahat, lost one in the by-election to NC’s Prakash Koirala. "An attempt was made on my life, as well," Aalam said, demanding that Nepal resign as MP.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat adjourned the House proceedings at 12.35 p.m. as the situation went totally out of control with benches in the front rows broken here and there. Later, the Speaker engaged himself in talks for hours with opposition and the ruling parties to end the impasse.

The House met briefly at 7.35 p.m. only to give the Speaker a chance to call off proceedings until tomorrow. "Since talks are underway with ruling and the opposition parties, the House will meet again tomorrow at 2 p.m."

Meanwhile, RSS adds: Speaking during special time at the House of Representatives today, Gorakha Bahadur Bogati of cpn-uml said transfers for low level employees has been intensified, some 25 postmen working at the district post office, Hulma have been transferred to Dolpa, Kalikot and Banke out of prejudices and some 8 employees who have been working at the district drinking water office, Humla since last 15 years have been sacked.

He demanded reinstatement of the sacked employees.

Dr. Gangadhar Lamsal of Nepali Congress demanded stern action against the guilty involved in a murderous attack on Sudarshan Aryal, a student at the agriculture and animal science campus, Chitwan last week.

He also suggested developing Chitwan as a medical city.

Pashupati Shamsher jbr of rpp said that the government has turned a deaf ear to the deteriorating law and order situation and Maoists have taken a number of villages in Sidhupalchowk including Bhote Namalang, Jyamire and Sindhukhola under their control.

He urged that either the government hold talks with the Maoists to grapple with the problem or guarantee the life of ordinary citizens.

Mrigendra Kumar Singh Yadav of Nepal Sadbhawana Party asked the government to provide relief to those who have been displaced by flooding in the Balang and Hakar rivers at Hardiya, Tikuliya and Pipra in Saptari district.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party objected to the laying offof temporary staff at Radio Nepal, Nepal Television and the Department of Transport.

He also drew the attention of the government to the growing pressure of vehicular movement in the capital and an increase in the interest rate at banks and finance companies ofl which the transport entrepreneurs are complaining.

The recent rise in pay scales has no meaning for about 40,000 administrative employees who have been working since the last 20 years at public primary, lower secondary and high schools, Nar Bahadur Hamal of cpn-uml complained and asked the government to increase pay for them also.

Govinda Bahadur Shaha of Nepali Congress suggested that the government devise a programme package to empower the Kamaiyas who were declared free by the government recently.

He also said that Maoists are taking control of 6 VDCs in Achham district, carrying out mass cultivation and snatching away the budgets of theVDCs.

Though it is stated that there are special relations between India and Nepal, Nepal has been cheated on issues such as tanakapur and Koshi barrage, false propoganda has been made in the name of Inidan airlines hijacking and a 4 percent countervailing duty has been imposed on goods exported from Nepal, Kunta Sharma of cpn-uml said and asked what benefits Nepal has derived from India through this special relationship.

Sushila Nepal of cpn-uml, on behalf of the cpn-uml parliamentary party, paid tributes to leftist leader Tulsi Lal Amatya on the third years of his demise and pledged to pursue the path shown by the late Amatya.

Citizenship Act amended as per constitutional provisions: Joshi

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug 1:Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi has said that the Citizenship Act was amended as per the constitutional provisions.

"We amended the Act to ensure that all the genuine Nepalis should not be deprived of the citizenship certificate and to end their difficulties in acquiring it," Joshi said at a press meet held at the Ministry this afternoon.

He said that the press meet was organized to remove people’s confusion regarding the sixth amendment to the Act that was recently passed by Parliament. "The new provision does not allow foreigners to get the document."

The Act was amended on the recommendations of Dhanapati Upadhyaya Commission constituted six years ago and Mahantha Thakur working group formed a year later, a press release distributed at the press meet said.

According to the new provision, a person born within Nepalese territory will have rights to the citizenship certificate and the children with one of their parents born in Nepal will also get the document.

"The persons can appeal to the court within 35 days if the authorised person denied them the document," the press release said.

The provision allows everyone to correct the mistakes relating to their names, dates of birth, address etc whenever they like or convenient to them. Previously, one could appeal for the correction only six months from the date of issue.

The new provision has also toughened the punishment, in case of forgery. "If the authorised persons are proved to have falsely recommended for the citizenship certificate to non-Nepalese, they are subject to a maximum fine of 50 thousand rupees or six years’ of imprisonment or both," the press release said.

ILO plans more steps to end child labour

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Aug 1:International Labour Organisation (ILO) Kathmandu has concluded new agreements with partner organisations, renewing its commitments to fight out the worst forms of child labour in Nepal.

The agreement signed today between the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC), ILO’s action programme to protect working children and to eliminate child labour, and Medialine aims at mobilising media and their organisations for immediate abolition of the worst forms of child labour.

The agreement was signed by Senior ILO Adviser Leyla Tegmo-Reddy and Medialine’s Director P. Rimal.

Under the agreement, Medialine is to produce video films on child domestics, produce tele-serials on the plights of the working children, state street dramas in local dialects against the practice of employing children, the release says.

"These are some of the activities that aim at creating a critical mass that will spontaneously advocate against child labour," the release says. Medialine will also develop codes of conduct for Nepalese journalists for reporting on child labour issues in collaboration with media organisations, civil society and journalists’ associations, the release adds.

ILO Kathmandu intends to achieve an increased understanding in policy makers, government officials administrators, journalists, members of the National Steering Committee, the non-governmental organisations and general public on the issues of the child domestics, says the release.

"ILO/IPEC also intend to promote social mobilisation through tele-serials and street dramas in combating the worst forms of child labour and to increase understanding of policy makers and the general public on various interventions in combating child labour with particular reference to the ILO Conventions 182."

Nepal is in the process of ratifying ILO Convention No 182 that calls for efforts against the worst forms of child labour.

Likewise, Ms Reddy on Monday signed another action programme with the National Society for the Protection of Environment and Children (NASPEC), represented by its Chairman Dibya Mani Rajbhandari.

The agreement intends to implement the consolidation phase of the action programme entitled "Phasing out child labour from the carpet industries in Nepal." The ultimate aim of this programme is to make the carpet sector free of child labour, according to the press release.

In the first three phases of the Action Programme, NASPEC has already rehabilitated 1,063 children from the carpet factories through its Child Rehabilitation Centre (CRC).

The CRC provided non-formal education, skill training, counselling and health care to the rehabilitated children and hundreds of children were reunited with their families and enrolled into formal schools.

Under the consolidation phase, 400 children working in the carpet factories have been targeted for rehabilitation through the CRC. Out of the 400 rescued children, 300 will be enrolled into formal schools and 100 will be engaged in vocational training programmes.

The programme also aims to develop a "code of conduct" for the carpet manufacturers prohibiting child labour in their establishments. In collaboration with the Central Carpet Industries Association (CCIA), NASPEC will progressively phase out child labour from CCIA registered carpet factories as well. The carpets sector has also been taken as a hazardous sector and efforts are underway to make this sector free from child labour.

Koirala for exemplary Nepal-India relations

New Delhi, Aug1 (RSS):Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was accorded a warm welcome by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at a formal ceremony held at the forecourt of Rashtrapatibhavan this morning.

Premier Koirala was presented a guard of honour. On the occasion, the national anthems of both countries were chanted in honour of the Nepalese Prime Minister who arrived here yesterday on a week long official visit to India.

Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola, Indian Foreign Minister Jaswant Singh and other Ministers, the Prime Minister’s daughter Sujata Koirala, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Indian Ambassador to Nepal Deb Mukharjee and members of the Prime Minister’s entourage were also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Koirala has said that he wanted to set an example to the world that the good and friendly neighbours Nepal and India can go together hand in hand.

Mr. Koirala, in a brief interaction with media at the premises of Rashtrapatibhavan this morning, said there was no exchange of visits for a long time and I want to fill the vacuum and continue the missing links.

In reply to a question he said, "this is a goodwill visit with a confidence building mission."

In my political career I want to show that the two friendly countries can move forward for the betterment of the people, he said adding "after me, I want that the younger generation should continue the friendly relationship subsisting between the two countries."

He said he would discuss all aspects of Nepal India relations with Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee during his visit.

Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee said we are meeting after a long time. Four years is a long gap, but we hope that further exchanges will be expedited and our friendship will go from strength to strength.

Prime Minister Koirala went to Rajghat this morning and laid a wreath at the Samadhi of Mahatma Gandhi.

Meanwhile, Indian Minister for External Affairs Jaswant Singh paid a courtesy call on Prime Minister Koirala at Rashtrapatibhavan this morning.

Prime Minister Koirala is scheduled to hold talks with the Indian Prime Minister and attend a dinner hosted by the latter this evening.

Vajpayee calls for agenda of cooperation

New Delhi, India Aug 1 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala attended a dinner hosted in his honour by Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee at Hyderabad House this evening.

Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola, Indian Ministers, members of the Nepalese delegation and other distinguished persons were also present on the occasion .

In his welcome speech, Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee said India and Nepal are good and close friends with age-old economic, social, religious and cultural links and ancient civilization.

Mr. Vajpayee said the relations between Nepal and India have a very unique feature and we have a very fruitful cooperation in many fields of economic development which is very important in further strengthening the ties of our countries.

Stressing the need of constructive agenda of cooperation in the 21st century he said India has been providing cooperation in Nepal’s development efforts focusing on priority areas of development like education, health, infrastructure development and many other areas.

B.P. Koirala Institute is an excellent example of cooperation between the two countries, the Indian Prime Minister said, adding construction of 22 bridges in the East- West Highway of Nepal has added a new dimension in the economic cooperation between the two countries.

Mr. Vajpayee also spoke of the cooperation in the field of information technology in Nepal.

Stressing the need to promote trade and investment between the two countries, he said about 170 Indian joint investment industries are in operation in Nepal and there is the possibility of promoting joint investment in other areas.

Nepal and india share similar religious, cultural traditions and we consider Pashupatinath as the spiritual motherland so there is cultural linkage which needs to be encouraged, he said.

Referring the open border between Nepal and India the Indian Prime Minister in his welcome speech said the free movement across the open border is not misused by undesirable elements.

New provisions to reform structure of ‘BP with Poor’

Kathmandu, Aug 1 (RSS): Following His Majesty’s Government (Council of Ministers) decision to run the B.P. with the Poor Programme with low administrative cost, speedy and efficient implementation and impartiality, provisions have been made to reform the structure of the central program implementation committee and district coordination and monitoring committee mentioned in the B.P. with the Poor Programme Implementation directory-2056 B.S. and setup a village level all party committee for the selection of very backward community.

According to the Local Development Ministry, the B. P. with the poor central level program implementation committee will be chaired by the Local Development Minister with a representative nominated by His Majesty’s Government as the vice-chairman.

A member of National Planning Commission, the governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, the secretaries of Finance, Local Development, Agriculture and Cooperatives and Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ministries, the executive chairman of Rastriya Banijya Bank, the General manager of Agricultural Development Bank, two experts nominated by the chairman, the representative of National Cooperatives Federation are members of the committee while program convenor is the member-secretary.

Likewise, the district level coordination and monitoring committee will be chaired by a social worker while representative of the DDC, the local development officer, the chiefs of District Agriculture Development Office, District Livestock Services Office, Cottage and Small Industries Office, District Forest Office and the manager of District Cooperatives Association are members of the committee and the chief of District Agricultural Development Bank the member-secretary.

Social mobilizers will provide full cooperation in the selection of very backward communities to be made under the convenorship of the concerned VDC and in the presence of VDC health worker, the representatives of Agricultural Development Bank and the local bodies, and the local representatives of political parties represented in the parliament. The selected will then be presented to the district level coordination and monitoring committee.

Any complaint regarding the selection can be filed at the district level coordination and monitoring committee.

A recruitment committee will also be constituted under the convenorship of the local development officer with the representative of the district administration office as its member and the manager of Agricultural Development Bank as member-secretary for the selection of social mobilizers in the district.

MPs’ complex to be built under BOT system

Kathmandu, Aug 1 (RSS): A memorandum of understanding (MOU) has been signed between the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and a joint venture of the Sradda Sri Trading International Pvt. Ltd. and the Sunita Shrestha and Company Pvt. Ltd. in connection with the development and construction of the MPs quarters and housing complex.

The MOU was signed on behalf of the Ministry by secretary at the Ministry of Law and Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Udaya Nepali Shrestha and Shesh Krishna Shrestha and Nirmal Joshi of the joint venture company.

According to the MOU, the quarters of the MPs will be constructed by developing a residential area on 123 ropanis of land at Bhaisepati, Lalitpur.

The proposed complex will have necessary facilities such as play ground, parking, security house, administrative office, school, swimming pool, recreation centre, meeting hall, library, green park, health club, super market, health centre as well as water, electricity, and drainage facilities.

According to the Ministry, the company will complete the construction work with its own investment within two years and will hand it over to His Majesty’s Government.

According to the present estimate, the company will invest Rs 900 million which the company will manage itself.

HMG will not have to make any investment but will have to pay the company the house rent being provided to the MPs in Nepali currency on annual basis.

The payment will begin only after the transfer of the housing complex and the loan will be clear in 29 years with a two year grace period, according to the Ministry.

The construction, operation and hand over of the housing complex will be carried out under the BOT system, according to the Ministry.