Freight forwarders reach accord

Kathmandu, July 30 (RSS):

Nepal Freight Forwarders Association (NEFA) and Federation of Freight Forwarders Association in India (FFAI) signed an agreement here today to cooperate in simplifying trade between Nepal and India and promoting relations between the two organisations.

President of NEFA Ravindra Man Singh and president of FFAI R. Srinivasan signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

The agreement will help resolve the difficulties encountered in the trade between Nepal and India and promote bilateral trade, according to the association.

The special meeting of NEFA held here yesterday has also adopted "standard trading condition".

The "standard trading condition" adopted at the meeting presided over by NEFA president Ravindra Man Singh will help enhance the freight forwarding business of Nepal, increase the responsibilities of the freight forwarders and increased additional security in their responsibilities.

Tributes paid to late litterateur

Kathmandu, July 30 (RSS):

On the occasion of the 81st Memorial Day of Nasu Krishnalal Adhikari, protagonist of the historical "Makai Parba" (Shravan 10-17, 1977 B.S.), senior politicians, litterateurs, professors and researchers paid heartfelt tributes to the first martyr of Nepali literature Nasu Krishnalal Adhikari.

Speaking at the programme organised jointly by NASU Krishnalal Adhikari Memorial Academy and International Forum Nepal, former prime minister Kirtinidhi Bista lauded the courage demonstrated by the late Adhikari by writing a book on development during the autocratic Rana regime.

MP Shankernath Adhikari said it was a matter of great courage and inspiration of Nasu Krishnalal Adhikari to protest the rulers supported by British imperialists.

Ex-minister and historian Bhuvanlal Pradhan said a factual research on Nasu Krishnalal Adhikari has not yet been done.

Ex-MP Hiranya Lal Shrestha, litterateur Shyam Prasad Sharma, Anandadev Bhatta and other speakers also shed light on the personality and contribution of late Adhikari.

SLC toppers from Luvu VDC given awards

Lalitpur, July 30 (RSS):

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat gave away the Nanda Kishor Pratibha Puraskar (prize) to students Ms. Rita Bharati and Shyam Kayastha of Luvu Secondary School who secured highest marks in the S.L.C. examinations of 2056 B.S. from government schools at Luvu VDC in Lalitpur, at a function today.

Speaker Ranabhat also gave away certificates to honorary members of the Nanda Kishor Pratibha Kosh (Fund).

Stressing the need for quality education for the overall development of the country, Speaker Ranabhat lauded the role played by the residents of Luvu for educational development.

MP Krishna Lal Maharjan expressed the view that education should be made accessible to all the people.

From the chair, fund chairman Nanda Kishor Shrestha said participation of locals is significant in the educational development and informed that the amount of the fund will be increased from the next year.

At the function, DDC chairman Madhav Poudel, director of the central regional educational directorate Kamal Prasad Lal Karna, district education officer Baliram Prasad Singh, youth leader Manmohan Bhattarai, secretary and engineer Ram Bahadur Shrestha, and treasurer Purna Bahadur Shrestha shed light on the importance of education.

Koirala’s India visit to further age-old ties

New Delhi, India, July 30 (RSS):

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala is arriving here tomorrow evening for a week long good will visit of India at the friendly invitation of Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee.

The visit of the Prime Minister Koirala is expected to be very fruitful for strengthening the age old cordial and friendly ties subsisting between the two countries of similar religious, cultural and social traditions.

This is the first visit by a Nepalese Prime Minister in more than four years time as no any Nepalese Prime Minister has visited India since the former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba’s visit in February 1996.

Mr. Koirala had paid an official visit to India in December 1991, when he was the first popularly elected Prime Minister of the Himalayan Kingdom after the restoration of multiparty democracy in 1990.

Popular leader B.P. Koirala was the first Nepalese Prime Minister to pay a good will visit to India in 1960s.

Former Nepalese prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai in 1990, Man Mohan Adhikari in 1995 and Sher Bahadur Deuba in 1996 has visited Indian during their premiership.

Similarly Indian Prime Minister Chandra Shekhar in 1991, P.V. Narasimha Rao in 1992, and I.K. Gujral in 1997 had paid an official visit of Nepal while H.D. Devegowda in 1997 was on a private visit to Nepal since the restoration of democracy in Nepal in 1990.

Their Majesties the King and Queen in a number of occasions and HRH the Crown Prince Dipendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev in 1994 have paid visits to India.

Presidents and Prime Ministers from Indian sides have also paid the visit of Nepal in a number of occasions in the past.

It is said that Prime Minister Koirala and his Indian counterpart Vajpayee will discuss on almost all the issues related to Nepal-India relations and economic cooperation.

"All issues that have raised in the media including 1950 treaty, Kalapani, Bhutanese refugee problem, border, Laxmanpur Barrage, promotion of trade and joint investment among other will be discussed during the visit of the Prime Minister Koirala," according to Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa.

The visit seems to be fruitful in "building confidence" between the two countries as most of the Indian media have given coverage with priority in the positive trends.

Famous Indian Journalist M.J. Akbar, in today’s edition of "The Asian Age", a prominent English daily newspaper writes "most of the problems between India and Nepal belong to the world of imagined fears."

"India and Nepal need a shared vision for the new fifty years and the moment to address the content of the vision has arrived. Mr. Koirala and Vajpayee must leave the past to history, the present to bureaucracy and seize the future", noted journalist Akbar concludes.

People of various walks of life including the business community of India are found to be very optimistic of the Prime Minister Koirala’s visit to India for strengthening friendship and promoting economic cooperation between the two countries.

Pant releases translation of UN booklet

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 30:State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Pant today released the Nepali translation of Human Rights and Older Persons published by the United Nations on the occasion of International Year for the Elderly 1999.

The booklet that outlines the rights of the elderly citizens was translated and published by Kathmandu based Amnesty International Group-18.

"Women, Children and Social Welfare Ministry will soon announce the policy regarding the security and welfare of the older citizens," State Minister Pant said addressing the booklet release ceremony here this afternoon. "The policy preparation work has reached at the final stage."

Pant said that the Ministry intended to initiate public debate to collect people’s opinion before giving the policy a final shape.

"We are also working on a Bill to nurture the rights of the older persons," said Pant, adding the able should support the disabled irrespective of age.

Nepali Congress activist Ramhari Joshi appealed to the National Human Rights Commission to pressure the government to be sensitive to the rights of the growing number of the elderly citizens.

Joshi hoped that the booklet would urge the younger generation to be attentive to the rights of the older citizens.

Appreciating AI Group-18’s initiative to sensitise elderly rights issue, 94-year-old ayurved expert Siddhi Gopal Vaidya said that the nation could avail a lot form the elderly citizens of the country. "Our knowledge and experience can be of much importance for the progress of the nation."

AI Group-18’s outgoing convenor N. D. Shrestha appealed to the government to be more responsive to safeguard the rights of the older citizens.

On the occasion, AI Group-18’s outgoing executive committee handed over the office to the new executive committee headed by Dr. Shankar Joshi. Bishnu Prasad Aryal, Birendra Thapaliya, Mangal Jha and Rajeta Shrestha have been elected as associate convenor, treasurer, secretary and associate secretary respectively. The members include Devi Prasad Adhikari, Ashok Rajbanshi, Badri Prasad Adhikari and Dinesh Tripathi.

Meanwhile, In Banepa, Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Devi Pant, speaking at the concluding function of a journalism training programme conducted by Kabhre district branch of Nepal Press Union, said that journalism based on truth and objectivity helps strengthen democracy.

She called upon the journalists to write to raise awareness of the people and empower the womenfolk.

Central president of Nepal Press Union Kul Chandra Wagle pointed out the need for the journalists to be fearless and write on every activity of society in a transparent manner.

Mukunda Pandey presided over the function.

Also today, Minister of State Pant inaugurated the Dhulikhel sub-branch office of the Reiyukai Nepal and said that the time has come to focus on action not speech.

She pointed out the need for various organisations in society to unite and guide those deviating from their religions and cultures along the right path.

Member of Nepali Congress publicity department Madhu Acharya and chairman of Kanti Children Hospital and central president of Reiyukai Nepal Roshan Krishna Nyachho also expressed their views on the occastion.

Draft foreign aid policy not clear: UML

Kathmandu, July 30 (RSS):

CPN-UML has said that the draft foreign aid policy recently brought out by the government lacks in clear approach, priority setting and proper strategy.

At a press conference organised by the party’s central planning and monitoring department here today, chief of the department Bharatmohan Adhikari said foreign aid is essential to alleviate poverty and speed up economic development but it is not understandable why the country’s economy has not gained a momentum despite adequate inflow of foreign aid which accounts for 65 per cent of the total national budget.

Faulty selection of projects, high project cost, misuse of foreign aid, lack of people’s participation in project selection and implementation and lack of proper monitoring are some of the reasons behind the country’s failed development, he observed.

He also stressed the need for an efficient monitoring committee to make the utilisation of foreign aid more effective.

‘They glorified Nepali   women’

Pokhara, July 30 (RSS):

Ms. Lakpa Sherpa and Ms. Pemba Doma Sherpa were honoured here yesterday for glorifying Nepal by climbing Mt. Everest.

They were honoured by Hotel Chautari by organising a ‘Jhari Parba’ (festival of the rain).

At the function, chairman of Chautari engineer Ram Bahadur K.C. said the two women have glorified the Nepalese women.

Jhapa election hearing to continue

Jhapa, July 30 (RSS): The Special Election Tribunal, Ilam today started hearing on the writ petition concerning general elections of Jhapa district constituency No. 2.

Lawyers Nrisingh Kumar Khatri, Umaram Prasai and Madan Khadka pleaded on behalf of Giriraj Kumari Prasai, the complainant.

Likewise, Agni Kharel pleaded on behalf of Khadka Oli of the CPN-UML while Shambhu Thapa will present his arguments tomorrow.

The lawyers pleading on behalf of the complainants recounting of the votes cast at the polling centres at Maharajgunj Primary School (Ka), Mahendra Ratna Secondary School (Ka) and (Kha) and Arunodaya Primary School.

Advocates of the defendant sought dismissal of the writ petition on the grounds that the complainant should have appealed through the chief polling officer and she has stated the CPN-UML candidate as defendant.

The hearing will continue.

Bill billed as seeking equal right to women

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 30: The government recently introduced in the parliament a Bill to amend the Civil Code. The major focus of the Bill, the 11th amendment to the Civil Code, is to make women equal to men regarding the inheritance of parental property. Women’s right to parental property is, probably, the most widely discussed social issue in the country.

Speaking at a face-to-face programme organised by the Reporters’ Club in Kathmandu today, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Mahanta Thakur said that the proposed amendment to the Civil Code is meant to give women equal right to parental property.

"The passing of the Bill will not have any negative impact on the society as the cultural aspect of our society is so compact and strong," he said.

He said any comment on the Bill should be focused on society’s structure and the present necessity rather than the past, and added if that is done many of the doubts and misinformation regarding the Bill will subside. He also said if the Bill is passed by the Parliament the society would get a new impetus in giving equal right to women.

Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare, Mrs. Kamala Pant said the Bill has come according to the UN Charter, International Convention on Human Rights and the promise made by Nepal at the UN Convention on Women.

She said the Bill contains several provisions aimed at improving the situation of women in the society. She, however, said that all the discussions are focused only on whether women should be entitled to equal right to property as their male counterparts.

Saying other provisions in the Bill are also equally important if women are to be empowered and are given a higher status in the society, she stressed that the other aspects of the Bill also need to be discussed and deliberated.

Similarly, Renu Yadav, RPP’s member in the Parliament, said although she strongly favours women having equal right to parental property, they should also be educated otherwise only giving them right to inheritance would not help much in improving their situations.

President of the CPN-ML, Mrs. Sahana Pradhan said the societal structure will not be disturbed if women are entitled to equal right to property. Giving examples of Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharastra states of India, she said those places also have similar traditions like ours, but women there enjoy equal right to the property of their parents.

Social worker and President of ABC Nepal, Durga Ghimire, called the proposed Bill as a Bill for equal right for women rather than equal right to property only. She said the sky will not fall if women are given equal right as men. She, however, said she would rather prefer ‘will system’ for inheritance.

Social worker Sujata Koirala also said the question of inheritance should be left to the parents. "Division of property equally among the children is rather an obsolete idea," she said. She, however, said the provision in the Bill, which calls for the return of property by women after they are married, would create more feuds in the family and should be opposed.

Another speaker Dr. Shanta Thapaliya said the ‘will’ system will only be appropriate in a developed society where the state is responsible for the education and welfare of its citizens. She cited the example of England where parents can not make ‘will’ when there is a dependent member in the family, but the property are divided equally among the children after the death of the parents.

Pratima Subedi, social worker, said if women are given equal right to parental property, it would establish women’s ownership right on land especially among the farmers and it could even help in population control.

Do detached journalism, says Bijukchhe

Bhaktapur, July 30 (RSS): MP and president of the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Narayan Man Bijukchhe, while talking at an interaction programme between MPs and journalists here yesterday organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Bhaktapur district branch, said that as journalism and politics are the two sides of the same coin, journalists have to use their pen for the uplift of the whole country and the people in an disinterested fashion.

He said that demand has been made for the construction of the Manohara bridge which links Kathmandu and Bhaktapur and for alternate road to link Sindhuli-Banepa-Bardibas Highway via Kathmandu-Nala-Bhaktapur.

MP Lekhnath Neupane said he will be ever ready to develop journalism in the district.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Suresh Acharya noted that journalists are yet to be guaranteed right to information even after ten years of democracy in the country and informed that the federation has drafted a bill on it and presented to Parliament.

At the programme local reporter of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti Balaram Pyasi requested MPs to take necessary measures to develop journalism in the district.

At the function presided over by FNJ Bhaktapur district branch president Ramesh Khadka, FNJ secretary Amrit Bhadgaunle also expressed his views.

Paudel calls on NC workers to give fresh energy to party

Kathmandu, July 30 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and NC central member Ram Chandra Paudel has called on the party workers to give a fresh energy to the party through debates on the party’s policies, programmes and ideologies rather than being engaged in gossips and leg-pulling.

Mr Paudel, while inaugurating a dialogue on the party’s policies, programme and statute amendment organized by the NC Kathmandu district ad-hoc committee here today, noted that the party’s leadership should be selected on the basis of the party’s constitution.

Stating that discussions and debates have been started across the country with a view to framing party’s new policies on the social, economic and political spheres including other issues, he observed that different conspiracies are being hatched to split the Congress Party which successfully spearheaded the political revolution of 2007 BS and spoke of the need of unity.

Proper mobilisation of national means and resources will only lead the country towards sustainable development, he further said.

Meanwhile, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Ramchandra Poudel disclosed that Okharpouwa will be developed into a dumping and sanitary landfill site as a long-term resolution of the problem of garbage disposal in Kathmandu valley and that a concrete motor road leading to the site will be constructed within the next ten months.

Speaking at a public awareness and cleanliness programme organised by Tyoda Tol Sudhar Samiti here today, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel said efforts are also under way to finalize the proposals received to establish a recycling factory at Okharpouwa.

Mr Poudel also pointed out the need for joint effort of the government, metropolis and the civic society in order to make Kathmandu clean, green and healthy.

MP P.L. Singh said action rather than speech is necessary to keep Kathmandu healthy and beautiful and that the residents of Kathmandu valley should cooperate in this task.

On the occasion, Deputy Prime Minister Poudel also presented letters of appreciation to individuals making special contribution in the field of social service.

Elderly Padmananda Bajracharya presided.

Earlier, a public awareness rally was also organised at ason.

Record on Kamaiyas to be updated

Dhangadhi, July 30 (RSS): A meeting on Friday of the district coordination and monitoring committee, Kailali formed to identify and rehabilitate the freed Kamaiyas has decided to update the record on Kamaiyas prepared by the land reforms office, Kailali in 2052 B.S. and deploy employees in VDC and Municipality areas to collect the data on the Kamaiyas who have not been covered
by the land reforms office
record.

The meeting also decided to deploy the employees and technicians of the land reforms, forest, land survey and land revenue offices and the district landless settlers problems resolution commission in 33 VDCs and, Dhangadhi and Tikapur Municipalities to collect factual data on the recently freed Kamaiyas and to prepare a record on government and uncultivated land within 15 days.

The meeting chaired by committee chairman and DDC chairman Narayan Datta Mishra was attended by other members of the committee and CDO Narandra Raj Poudel.

The committee chairman disclosed that once the factual data concerning the released Kamaiyas is collected they will be provided land within two months.

Likewise, coordinator of the Landless Settlers Problems Resolution Commission, Kailali Dirgha Raj Bhatta informed that 60 bigahas of uncultivated public land have already been identified and some more land is yet to be identified for the rehabilitation of the freed Kamaiyas.

Out of the 5,557 Kamaiya families freed in Kailali district, 2,300 families have no land.

With the landlords throwing out the Kamaiyas immediately after the government announcement regarding the liberation of the bonded workers, the Kamaiyas are in a big problem. Immediate relief programme has been the urgent need of the hour.

Meanwhile, "Kamaiya Liberation Day" was observed here today in celebration of the liberation of the bonded labourers.

As part of the celebrations, a huge procession of the freed Kamaiyas taken out from local Hasanpur Chowk passed through the man thoroughfares of the town before converging for a public rally at local open air theatre.

Participants of the procession who exceeded 2000 in number chanted slogans like "this is the victory of Kamaiyas and defeat of exploiters," "thanks to all who supported us," and "ensure our livelihood".

Addressing the rally, chairman of Kamaiya Liberation Campaign Mobilisation Committee Dilli Bahadur Chaudhari, Yagya Raj Chaudhari, Jogi Lal Chaudhari, ex-Kamaiya Bisri Chaudhari, Raj Dev Chaudhari and various other speakers stressed the need for immediate measures for the rehabilitation of the freed Kamaiyas.

Meanwhile, Kamaiyas of Banke district who have been recently freed from bondage took out a procession and later converged for a district level gathering demanding that His Majesty’s Government take immediate initiative to ensure their livelihood.

The procession organised with the help of various organisations went round the Kohalpur town chanting slogans. Participants of the rally welcomed the government’s decision to free the Kamaiyas and demanded that the government implement the provision of minimum wage and provide land to the landless Kamaiyas.

Addressing the Rally, Banke DDC chairman Omjung Rana assured the Kamaiyas that the district Level Landless Settlers Problems resolution commission will be activated to resolve the problem of the landless Kamaiyas.

Former Kamaiya Aganiya Tharu presided.