Koirala issues directives for disabled, child

Kathmandu, July 11 (RSS): Prime Minister and Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Girija Prasad Koirala chaired separate meetings of the Central Child Welfare Committee and the Disabled Services National Coordination Committee here today.

On the occasion, Mr Koirala issued directives for preparing a complete package for welfare of the disabled.

Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Mrs Kamala Devi Pant and secretary at the Ministry Urmila Shrestha highlighted the usefulness of the committees.

Prime Minister Koirala, addressing the meeting of the Central Child Welfare Committee, pledged full cooperation and goodwill for protecting the rights and interests of the children.

Mr Koirala also directed the committee to form a project preparatory committee under the convenorship of Dr. Tika Pokharel with the representation of Upendra Keshari Neupane, Keshav Regmi, Nirvikar Shrestha, Som Paneru, Mrs Manorama Rana, Gauri Pradhan and a joint secretary at the National Planning Commission to formulate a concrete policy and submit a report.

Similarly, the meeting also constituted a task force under the convenorship of joint secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare Keshav Prasad Sharma Bhandari.

Annan stresses women’s decision on family size

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 11: On the occasion of the World Population Day "Saving Women’s Lives," the UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, in a message, said "At the start of a new century it is more obvious than ever before that humanity needs to stabilise its numbers. With the world’s population at more than six billion, the challenge ahead of us is clear: to find ways to support all the world’s people in peace and dignity, and to ensure that people —especially women — are able to make informed decisions about the size of their families."

Every human being aspires to health, security and dignity, the UN chief stated. "This is the essence of universal human rights. And as the world has increasingly come to realise, sexual and reproductive hea1th is an essential part of these rights," he noted.

We can all recognise the anguish of the person who loses wife or mother in childbirth, because of a lack of proper care. Of the teenager whose options in life are suddenly foreclosed because she gets pregnant and drops out of school. Of the woman who has to go on having children even though she knows her health is at risk. Or the refugee who has been raped but is too frightened, or too ashamed, to ask for help, Kofi Annan said.

Better understanding of women’s issues has brought real change in the daily life of millions of people. Women now have wider choices, and can make key decisions about their own lives. yet there is still much left to do, he observed. Too many girls do not have the same chance of education as boys. Too many women still cannot choose when or whether to become pregnant. Too many women are victims of sexual violence, especially during conflict. Too many women resort to abortions that are not safe. Too many are subjected to genital mutilation and other harmful traditional practices, the UN chief said.

"We clearly have a long way to go. But population programmes have made a difference. Without them, the world’s population would be much larger. Many societies would be less developed economically and socially. And, most important, millions of families around the world be less healthy, prosperous and hopeful than they are," he noted.

Appropriately, this year’s World Population Day coincides with the World AIDS Conference being held in Durban. The lessons we have learned about the beneficial effects of better health-care and education on population growth also apply to controlling AIDS. If women and men are free to make their own decisions, they can protect themselves against the virus, Kofi Annan said.

"And so, on this first World Population Day of the 21st century, let us resolve to build upon the progress we have made. Let us bring all our skills and energies to bear on the struggle to save women’s lives, and to make this new century a better one for all," he said.

Similarly, Dr. Nafis Sadik, Executive Director of UNFPA, in a message on the occasion of the World Population Day, said "Wherever they live in the world, women’s lives are full of risk."

Every minute, a woman dies as a result of pregnancy: many more suffer illness or injury. Pregnancy in the youngest carries the greatest risks —girls aged 10 to 14 are five times more likely to die than women aged 20 to 24. Women are more at risk for HIV and from other sexually transmitted infections. HIV-infected women in Africa now outnumber men by 2 million, Dr. Sadik said.

"Violence takes as many lives as cancer during women’s reproductive years: one woman in three will experience violence at some time in their lives. In emergencies, women take the responsibility for the oldest and youngest family members. But they themselves have little protection: women in emergencies run a much higher risk of violence," she pointed out.

Many women do not have the freedom to make the choices that shape their lives. They are poor—sixty per cent of the world’s poor are women and girls. They have little education — two-thirds of illiterates are women. They lack health care—350 million still do not have access to reproductive health services. They play little part in political decisions — only one parliamentarian in eight is a woman, she stated.

"Better education and health services, including reproductive health, give women more power to decide A woman in control of her life is a woman less at risk. Changes call for commitment to ensure that men and women have equal rights. Among these rights are education and health care, including reproductive health. Another is action to change laws, practices, attitudes, behaviour. Yet another is leadrship to motivate change; set goals; remove obstacles; dispel fears; maintain momentum," Dr. Sadik said.

Men must be part of the process. As community and national leaders men can initiate and encourage change; as health workers and educators they can encourage access and improve services; as members of the family, members of the workforce and members of the community they can take personal responsibility for ensuring respect and safety for women, within the family and beyond it, she noted.

"On the World Population Day let each of us pledge action to save women’s lives: for ourselves, for our communities, for our world,’’ she appealed.

Relations with India, China cordial: Bastola

Kathmandu, July 11 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola said Nepal enjoys traditional, very cordial and cooperative relations with both its neghbouring friendly countries India and China.

His Majesty’s Government has the policy of further strengthening the relations with the two countries on the basis of the principles of non-alignment and Panchaseel, United Nations charter, international law and the recognition of world peace, he added.

Minister Bastola was responding to various queries raised by MPs during question hour at the meeting of the House of Representatives today.

Both the countries have agreed to reach a bilateral agreement on vehicular transportation between Nepal and India on the basis of mutual benefit and common interest and essential homework is being carried out to finalise the agreement, Minister Bastola said, adding that the agreement on approval will wipe out existing inequalities in vehicular transportation between the two countries.

The minister also informed the House that discussions were held between the government of Bihar, Koshi project and special land acquisition officer, Biratnagar in accordance with the decision of the 12th Koshi Coordination Committee regarding the compensation for land inundated by Koshi River in Saptari and Udayapur districts from 2018 to 2021 B.S., and agreement was reached on 789 bigahas of land inundated by the river but decision regarding compensation is yet to be made.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government has given serious attention to the problem of inundation caused in different parts of the country as a result of dams and embankments constructed by India in its territory bordering Nepal, Mr Bastola said a permanent committee has been constituted to resolve problems of inundation in Indo-Nepal bordering areas, the 10th meeting of the committee was held last year in Kathmandu, Nepal has been raising this issue at various levels of talks held with India and in this connection a joint team of experts from Nepal and India have already inspected Laxmanpur, Banbasa and adjoining affected areas.

Minister Bastola replied to queries from MPs Som Prasad Pandey, Suresh Kumar Karki, Devendra Raj Kandel and Rajendra Prasad Pandey.

SC issues show cause notice to govt

Kathmandu, July 11 (RSS): A single bench of the Supreme Court comprising judge Kedar Prasad Giri today issued a 15-day show cause notice to HMG, Cabinet Secretariat, Ministry of Information and Communications, private sector F.M. broadcaster, and television telecasting company.

Convenor of Community Radio Cooperation Centre journalist Raghu Mainali had yesterday filed a writ petition at the Supreme Court seeking stay order to nullify the rules which were illegal and in contravention to existing law and national transmission regulations 2052 issued by HMG.

Advocate Satish Krishna Kharel pleaded on behalf of the petitioner.

In the writ petition, Mainali has sought abrogation of provisions of royalty of four per cent of the income and renewal fee to be paid to HMG which were hurdles for the development and expansion of community radio.

HMG, Cabinet Secretariat and Ministry of Information and Communications have been made respondents in the writ petition.

Other respondents of the writ petition were Radio Sagarmatha, Kantipur F.M., K.A.T.H.F.M., H.B.C.F.M., Space Time Network and Shangrila which have accepted the illegal rules submitting the royalty and renewal fee.

Khimti I to begin operation

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 11: Khimti I Hydropower Project is to begin its commercial operation from tomorrow, Himal Power Limited (HPL) sources said.

"The Project achieves commercial operation and the start of a 20-year contract with Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) to supply 350 million kilowatt-hours per year," a HPL press release said.

NEA and HPL agreed on power purchase concerning the Project on March 30, 1994 for a 20-year period. After the connection of the 60-megawatt power supply to the national electricity grid from tomorrow, there would be no more ‘load shedding’ in the country, according to HPL.

A few days earlier, the NEA had issued a notice declaring the end of load shedding.

The government would have full ownership of the Project after 50 years’ time, HPL sources said.

First private power project in Nepal, the 140 million dollar Project began in 1993 after HPL was given the licence for the construction of the ‘run of the river’ hydroelectric power generation plant at the border between the two hilly districts of Dolakha and Ramechhap.

According to HPL, the project was funded by equity provided by Statkraft SF, Bergenshalvøens Kommunale Kraftselskap and Kværner and a number of Nepali counterparts except for Butwal Power Company (14.7 per cent) all the sponsors are from Norway.

Asian Development Bank, Intenational Finance Corporation, Eksportfinans and the Norwegian Agency for Devepopment and Cooperation had provided loans to HPL for the construction of the project.

Talk stressed to resolve Maoist issue

Kathmandu, July 11 (RSS): Representatives of various political parties, and human rights activists have stressed the need for the civic society, government and political parties to reach consensus to resolve the Maoists problem and move ahead the process of dialogue between the government and the Maoists.

Speaking at a talk programme organised by Kantipur News Club here today, spokesman of the Nepali Congress Narahari Acharya said that if the Maoists come for dialogue in the right earnest, it should be accepted.

Spokesman of Rastriya Prajatantra Party Kamal Thapa said that there was no alternative to dialogue to resolve the maoists issue. If a proper solution to the problem is found, the country could head towards a civil war, he added.

CPN-ML leader Radha Krishna Mainali said that an agenda had been demanded for dialogue with the maoists even when it had already been received, thereby aggravating the situation.

Journalist Shakti Lamsal said that the congress and the Maoists were politicking under the pretext of holding talks.

Human rights activist Krishna Pahadi said that talks could be held for the sake of talks.

Another human rights activist Gopal Shivakoti said the Maoists insurgency has taken the shape of a political problem and the government and the maoists should agree at least on not violating human rights.

TRN-Newsroom Chatter

Unpalatable Sight

THE unpalatable sight of uncollected garbage heaps either rotting in the hot summer sun or being drenched by the monsoon rains and emanating an obnoxious stench for yards around their ever increasing peripheries has bocome the fixture of the capital city for the past few days.

It’s not that Kathmanduites, for the very first time, are being greeted with such grabage dumps as they go about doing their daily chores. There had been many instances when the capital city dwellers, after looking at the small garbage heaps slowly yet inexorably turning into mountains, were left wondering as to whether the legions of garbage collectors, to a man (or woman), had emigrated to Timbuktu or the Arctic regions.

Whosoever is (or are) to be blamed for this latest round of uncollected garbage imbroglio, he (or they) should at least have the decency to explain to the Kathmanduites as to why the garbage generated by them had been left to decay in the hot simmer son. Could one ready reason be that the City Father(s) and the Boss(es) of the government agency charged with safe disposal of garbage piles, like in the past, have locked horns again over some garbage disposal issues?

If they continue to be at loggerheads, then what is sure and certain is that Kathmandu’s fame as a tourist destination will, once again, receive a severe battering abroad, thereby killing the tourism goose that, till date, is laying golden, if not silver eggs for the Kathmanduites. (GR)

Dead Sensitivity

IF KATHMANDU’S "my pride" is garbage heaps alongside roads at regular intervals then what would make it feel ashamed. Our sensitivity, in fact the metro authorities, is dead. We seem to take it for granted that the rains or the wind is going to keep the city clean. Efforts on our part has vanished. In the tug of war for asserting one’s authority the duties and responsibilities have been fed to the wolves. Talks and seminars focus on Kathmandu’s plight but the decisions or suggestions are left to rot in the rubbish heap. Not only the ordinary city dweller but even those in chauffeur driven municipal vehicles have noses to identify the stench. But only trading charges is heard but no action forthcoming. Well, god bless the Kathmanduites. (PNK)

Sheer Indifference

THE elected representatives who man KMC should feel ashamed for making the city nothing more than a scene of apathy. Garbage pilling around the streets in Valley putting the citizens’ health at risk is what has resulted just because of KMC’s indifference to the problem of garbage disposal. It all shows that KMC is not fulfilling its responsibility of keeping the city clean despite the people’s mandate in their favour.

It is not for the first time that Kathmanduites are suffering from the problem. In the past too garbage disposal caught the headlines but only short term measures were resorted to. It’s a repetition act. KMC must fulfill its responsibilities and not make the metropolis a big dumping ground. They should find the way out if not there is no sense in sticking to their ‘coveted’ posts. (ASR)

Tasteless Effort

THE just concluded Third Motion Picture Award and the Film Festival would certainly be an unforgettable event for many, especially for the journalists and the sponsors of the programme. Like the proverb ‘too many cooks spoil the broth’ involvement of many persons in the preparation nearly spoilt the much-awaited function. Not only the organisers forgot to light the lamp but also the jurnos were not given passes and those who got them were denied seats. They even protested the way the function was organised by hooting and whistling at the orgainisers, scattering pamphlets and even displaying a black banner in the balcony. Worse was the condition of the main sponsors, the representatives of Upahar Tea. They had neither seats to sit nor were they thanked for sponsoring the programme. The media persons were not provided seats but the hall was full. Probably, they were filled with the relatives of the members of organising committee because this scribe could see a dozen of unused passes under the pillow of his friend for his relatives. (BG)

Futile Exercise

IT IS often heard during seminars that the lack of coordination between government bodies is a factor, which has adversely affected the delivery of goods and services to the people. Despite repeated focus on the issue, it is obvious that nothing positive seems to be the outcome of the countless seminars. The media raised the alarm about the spread of some kind of contagious disease in a remote village of Sindhupalchok district. It was reported that the disease had already claimed the lives of nearly eight people but to the dismay of every concerned citizen, the district health office said that it did not know anything about it. Doesn’t this suggest that all the money poured into seminars to strike coordination among the government agencies has been wasted ? (AM)

Tall Talks

TALK of the Melamchi goes on while water crisis in the capital is lingering on. We keep talking about so and so dumping sites and recycling plants and incinerators while the garbage heaps keep on increasing. ‘Talk loud and work less’ is the principle at work. Public suffering shows no sign of abating. Nor are there fewer promises about making life of people easier. Again, words do not match actions. Bridge ought to be constructed on the unshakable foundation of action.

We talk tall, always. Development is the buzzword. Twenty-first century is another. But, in reality, the pace of development is crippled. Plans and projects falter and achieve less than expected. Money rules the roost. Happiness to all, which is often repeated, is a mirage. Just an illusion. (BT)

An Irony

RAINY season and the stinking capital! If you were new to this metropolitan city, you would not be able to walk along the posh streets without covering your nose. Problems range from throwing and collecting the daily garbages to properly dumping them in a permanent site and what not. The responsible ones role the problem-ball into others’ court and try to have a nap with their ears plugged. Yet they are alarmed, for they could not plug their noses. The situation is not unfamiliar, especially to the Kathmanduites.

But you would not help calling it a dramatic irony if you read the news reports that the concerned individuals are currently holding a South Asian conference on ‘Urbanisation and Good Urban Governance’ in a luxurious hotel of Kathmandu, and the downtown gives off a pervading stench. Don’t get surprised, if the organisers call the conference a grand success! (GB)

Caterpillar Guise

THE society is made people with different backgrounds and different mental status. Some of them are gentle while others are cunning and selfish. The gentle may be like a lamb while the other group can be compared to a fox or any other dangerous animal. If they find something that serves their personal interest they forget everything - even their own father, mother and what not!

They do not hesitate to stab their friends from behind. But sometimes they tend to metamorphose into another form - - like a caterpillar. Can you imagine the progress of a society as long as there exists such caterpillar? Of course not. (RKC)

Missing Confidence

WHAT happens to Nepali soccer team playing outside the country? When they play at home, more or less they come up with good results. But they lose a sense of sportsmanship and confidence while facing foreign booters in foreign lands. Their "shameful" defeat in the ongoing 32nd Asian Under 19 championship in Bangladesh has surely been a matter of serious concern for the Nepalese sports bosses. Nepali players looked like pigmies before the Iraqis who outplayed them 7-0. They also received another blow from Bangladesh, with a 2-0 defeat. Real championship is when one exhibits one’s skill in a grand manner even in another land. Only hue and cry in home turf is not bravery. As reported, Nepalese team lacked cohesion while playing with Iraqi and Bangladeshi teams. It seems confidence somehow goes a missing when playing soccer abroad. (RRS)

Missing Incentives

ALL play doesn’t go to make dullard. This is evident from the fact that sportsmen now earn much in the international arena. Whether it is football, basketball, cricket or any other sports, there’s a lot of money to be made by the dedicated and good ones. In our dear country, even climbing Sagarmatha a record eleven times elicits little attention of the government. The neglect is quite painful. When the best of the people show their love for their motherland and undertake even dangerous missions, they should be respected and we must make them feel that they are sons of proud Mother Nepal. If such sportsmen or mountaineers have difficulty even meeting their basic family needs then the zeal might be lost. Let’s wake up and do something to make them feel that they have done the country proud. (PNK)

Austerity Measure

GORKHA Brewery must be pleased with the S.L.C. Board this year for reducing its expenditure. As there is no Top Ten, it does not have to spend more to reward the young students every year. Now, two prizes—for the boy and girl topper—will be sufficient. But in the past it had to reward from 10 to 15 students because there was no any guarantee how many students would be placed in Top Ten position. And this year too there are three students to be awarded, if Gorkha Brewery wants to continue its tradition. Probably, this year’s toppers will get heavier award. Indeed, by omitting the Top Ten system the S.L.C. Board has helped the Gorkha Brewery as well as the few rich private boarding schools save money. Maybe an austerity move! (BG)

Rare Courage

IF anybody was to ask this scribe as to who was the most valorous person on earth, this scribe would not have even a bit of hesitation to give the credit to the mendicants frequenting the doors of private residences for alms. The courage with which the mendicants enter the house is a rare show of valour. Every now and then there is a mendicant who opens the door without any apprehension and walks straight to the main entrance chanting religious hymns. Though you feel like scolding the person for not observing the social norms, later the chanting of religious hymns buries all your fury and you quietly give the alms in the name of the almighty. (AM)

Lost Veterans

ONE of the last three surviving Indian holders of the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military award for galantry, recently died. Ganju Lama, 78, who fought during World War II, was given a VIP status by India along with other facilities, including residence and vehicle.

When this news came in the media, yours truly immediately thought of the Nepalese war heroes who were also honoured with the VC for their chivalry during WW II when they fought as British Gurkhas (Gorkhalis?).

Nepal has virtually done nothing in their favour. If anythying was done at all, the war veterans (whose number is of course dwindling) have been wrapped with "warm" woolen shawls as a token of appreciation... signifying nothing. Most of them are back to the burden of life in their villages. Is the government still ignorant about this? (GB)

Risky Job

THE nature of the journalists’ job makes them targets to threats to life. People resort to evil doings and do not like to see themselves exposed in the media. So, physical assaults on journalists is frequent. They have to work in situations unusually volatile, if they do it honestly, and insecure. And they are the ones who rarely get a body guard or a bullet-proof vest. Their only arm is what they write. Many a times, what they write puts their life in peril.

To go by an incindent that occurred in Nuwakot recently will make the point clear. An engineer at the district drinking water project was so furious with journos for writing reports against his corrupt activities that he tried to crush several of the media men under wheels. After a heated debate, the ‘Sankaha’ official ran his jeep several rounds in a bid to kill the journos. The gathered media people had a hard time escaping the wheels. The crazy man was later taken in police custody. (BT)

Cheap Tussle

EVERY passerby these days has his nose covered to avoid the inhalation of foul air. Kathmandu, the once vibrant city beyond comparison, has now turned into a mountain of garbage. The reason is that people are playing politics even with garbage, obstructing its disposal. The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is clearly divided into two camps. One belonging to the main opposition CPN(UML) and the other to its arch rival CPN(ML). This political line drawn at K.M.C. has proved to be a curse to the valley dwellers. The lack of concrete programme for the disposal of the valley’s refuse is a telling tale of the high degree of politicisation that has taken place inside KMC. (AM)

Grinning Potholes

THE potholes grinning at the uncomfortable vehicle riders is something taken for granted in Kathmandu. No action comes forth immediately to fill up the potholes, possibly because of bureaucratic wrangling in the department concerned. When a busy section sees slowing down of traffic movement just because of the big gaping mouths in roads, it is after all the right time for the Road Department to swing into action. But nothing of this sort happens. It will be months before action is forthcoming. And action is mostly limited to the patch works. In totality, the patch work is better than leaving the potholes as they are.

But when will we learn to carry out timely repair and maintenance works? Maybe a few decades late! (PNK)

Safety Plan

THE traffic cops are always talking about maintaining safety on the road. They catch dozens of drivers and take actions against them. Such news items hit the media and catch the attention of the readers. But we all are withness to the ever increasing number of road accidents for the fact that minor safety rules are violated. One of the public delinquencies overlooked by the traffic cops is the littering of roads.

In the roads running through the farming settlements, hay, straw and other crops are spread out for drying on the road. This kind of acts act as a snare to make vehicles go out of balance. If the traffic cops are really out to check mishaps, why don’t they act to keep the roads clean. (BT)