Govt to help Deuba committee, says PM

Biratnagar, June 2 (RSS): Prime Minister and NC president Girija Prasad Koirala has said that since the Maoist problem resolution committee headed by ex-prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba is making efforts towards the resolution of the problem, the committee's term has been extended and that the government is always ready to cooperate with the committee.

Talking to local journalists at his residence in Biratnagar today, Prime Minister Koirala said all problems including the Maoist problem should be resolved on the basis of a national consensus.

The politics of violence has not been successful in any part of the world, and for that matter, it will not be successful in Nepal also, he said, adding the Maoists should understand that politics of violence will never leads them to power. The door is always open for dialogue, he further said.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Koirala inaugurated the Gaighat-Diktel 33 kv elecetricity transmission line at Diktel of Khotang district today.

Diktel Bazaar, Bamrang, Buipa, Rajpani, Kamidanda, Purano Gaon, Bharare and other villages have received electricity under the project completed by His Majesty's Government at the cost of about Rs. 140 million.

The transmission line has been extended from Jaljale sub station of Khotang district to Sauna, Khanbu Koksingtar and Rasuwaghat of Udayapur, and Diktel.

Speaking at the inaugural function, Prime Minister Koirala expressed his commitment to construct Gaighat-Diktel and Beltar-Diktar roads, generate electricity from the Rawa river and develop Haleshi Mahadev into a tourist destination and place of religious importance.

Since politics of violence is a big obstacle to development and construction works, the government has kept the door open for dialogue with the Maoists in order to resolve the problem, he said.

At the function, Prime Minister Koirala felicitated Bal Bahadur Ramdali Rai, Mani Sundar Bajimaya and Ganesh Bahadur Bajimaya in recognition of their important contribution to restoration of democracy.

Minister for Water Resources, Physical Planning and Works Khum Bahadur Khadka said 1000 additional houses in Khotang will receive electricity in the next year.

Mr Khadka also assured the people of district that budget will be issued without any delay for controlling soil erosion.

MPs Sarbadhan Rai and Shiva Kumar Basnet, DDC chairman Parashuram Karki, executive director of Nepal Electricity Authority Bishnu Bam Malla also spoke at the function.

Also today, Prime Minister Koirala, addressing the district based office chiefs, asked them to work without any fear and any discrimination by making people the focal point of development.

On the occasion, the representatives of various sister organisations of NC apprised the Prime Minister of their problems.

Earlier, the Prime Minister and Minister Khadka had paid homage to Haleshi Mahadev and inspected the Buddhist monastery there.

Govt working to maintain political stability : Paudel

Kathmandu, June 2 (RSS): Deputy Prime Minister and Local Development Minister Ram Chandra Paudel said the present Nepali Congress government is working towards maintaining political stability, law and order and good governance in the country through the abolition of corruption and anomalies.

Speaking at a press conference organised here today to inform the public about the works and action taken by the Local Development Ministry following the 12-point policy issued by the Council of Ministers, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said the government has in the budget and policy and programmes reiterated its committment to development, good governance, law and order and wiping out corruption.

Stating that the Local Development Ministry is aware of the problems and irregularities obstructing execution of development, construction and administrative works in offices under the Ministry, Mr Paudel informed that an investigation is underway to probe the allegations that rice under the food for work programme is being sold.

According to a press release circulated on the occasion, a team representing a high level officer of the Ministry and the office of the Auditor General has been conducting an investigation on matters relating to irregularities held in appointment of employees, embezzlement and unnecessary formation of committees in Birgunj Municipality and the local development tarriff provided on behalf of the government has been stopped .

A similar investigation is being conducted by a team including a legal officer at Janakpur municipality in response to widespread public complaints received of financial irregularities and other anomalies, says the release.

The release also states that action would be taken following the conclusion of an investigation going on in matters relating to the construction of sewerage by Pokhara Sub-metropolitan City under the ADB-assisted second tourism infrastructure project and clarification has been demanded from Kathmandu Metropolis after it was found not to have followed the directive of the Ministry to stop the works being carried out by the metropolis to hand over Gangobu Bus Park to the private sector.

The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) as well as the Ministry has been investigating the works carried out by the monastery management and development committee, monitoring teams deputed in 13 different districts to review and monitor development projects and programmes run under the Ministry in the current fiscal year have completed their work and will now be extended to other districts also.

The Ministry has also been organising orientation programmes in all the DDCs and municipalities on matters relating to the Local Self-governance Act-2055 and regulations under it and is targeted to be completed by next month.

According to the press release, following His Majesty's Government policy to solve the problem of solid waste in Kathmandu valley in a scientific manner and in a Long-Term Basis a project is being worked out to manage solid waste produced in the valley through the development of sanitary landfill site at Syuchatar of Kathmandu and Okharpauwa of Nuwakot district.

Likewise, the 13 proposals received from the private sector in response to the announcement made by the government to include the private sector in the final management of solid wastes is being assessed by the seven-member proposal evaluation committee constituted under the convenorship of the director general of the department of local infrastructure development and agriculture roads. Efforts are also being made to increase the effectiveness of the B. P. with the Poor programme by appointing social mobilizers in all electoral constituencies who will work to identify the poor, constitute social groups and provide them training and subsidized loan, says the release.

Following the decision of the government to remove employees from more than the specified posts, twenty-six such employees working in corporation and institutions under the Ministry have already been removed.

On the occasion Minister of State for Local Development Suresh Malla said that the press conference was organised in pursuance to the decision of the cabinet to inform the public about the works being carried out under various ministries

In Banepa, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development Paudel has underlined the need of intellectual awareness to give a right direction to political awareness.

Mr Paudel, while inaugurating the fifth general convention of the Nepal Public Campus Association and a three-day seminar here today, urged the education experts to bring a new thinking and new perspective in the education system to check decline in the quality of education.

Stating that it is only through the participatory approach that social development can gain momentum, he spoke of the need for education-loving people to think of making political awareness effective.

MP Shiva Prasad Humagain observed that practical and technical education is need of the day.

MP Bir Bahadur Singh said the present education system is unlikely to solve unemployment problem.

Vice Chancellor of Kathmandu University Dr. Suresh.Raj Sharma remarked that if we are firm in our commitment, development activity can never be overshadowed.

The Deputy Prime Minister, on the occasion, felicitated the relative of late Chandra Bahadur Uprety and Damber Bahadur Adhikari by presenting letters of honour and shawls. Various other speakers also expressed their views at the function organised by president of the Nepal Public Campus Prem Narayan Aryal.

Meanwhile, Mr Paudel, addressing a gathering of NC district workers at Banepa today, spoke of the need for party workers to inform the people of works carried out by the government. It would significantly contribute to uplifting people's socio-economic condition if such programmes as B. P. with the Poor and women's awareness programme are implemented properly, the Deputy Prime Minister said, adding that the government is ready to construct the Banepa-Bardibas road as early as possible.

Lawmakers begin discussion on budget

Kathmandu, June 2 (RSS): Deliberations on the annual estimates for revenue and expenditures for Fiscal Year 2000/2001 started today at the House of Representatives.

At the outset, Chief Whip of the CPN-UML Bharat Mohan Adhikari criticised the budget saying that it fails to introduce concrete programmes for the agriculture, industry and trade sectors and encourage the poor, the jobless, women, farmers and people of downtrodden communities or to direct the national economy on the right path.

He said the government has also initiated a process of losing its decision making capacity through dependence on others.

An industrial revolution will not take place without a revolution in agriculture, he said and remarked upon the lack of any new programme in this sector or investment in irrigation, a total end to the subsidy for chemical fertilisers and the way the 20-year Agricultural Perspective Plan has been more or less forgotten.

He said "the proposed budget totally neglects the rural regions and lacks any thinking concerning the alarming problem of unemployment. Moreover, the grants meant for the DDC, municipality and VDC have also been dropped."

Ex-finance Minister Adhikari said that poverty alleviation could not be achieved merely through the economic growth rate, and the experience of other countries also show this. Development of agriculture and industry and resolution of the unemployment problem are indispensable for poverty alleviation, he noted.

He also accused the government of failing to introduce measures for controlling price rises and failing to respect the censor motion for controlling market prices adopted by parliament.

He expressed sadness over the lack of policy for revitalising sick industries and failure on the part of the government to bring in the 20-year industrial policy which it has already announced. "The government is only concerned about privation, not about the plight of sick industries."

No national consensus was sought prior to the Nepal Development Forum meeting held in Paris, he said adding that it is a matter of sorrow that discussions were not held at national level in advance of Nepal's accession to the World Trade Organisation.

"An increase in pay scales for government employee is praiseworthy but the ratio of the increases is not justifiable", he opined.

Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat of the Nepali Congress said that there are many positive aspects in the budget as its has made overall analysis of the government activities, and has attempted to make a leap by giving new programmes.

He said there are new programmes in the agriculture sector though it has not talked about the long term Agricultural Perspective Plan, and the Karnali zonal special programme, the rural electrification programme, the rural road repair fund and the programme to provide all the the local bodies the collected land revenue.

Dr. Mahat said dozens of programmes have been brought for poverty alleviation, the export tax, tax on bonus, the proposal to charge agriculture reform fee are some positive aspects and the proposal to confiscate property lacking income source is a good medium for good governance.

Dr. Mahat said the target to raise Rs 53 billion revenue is ambitious and suggested that development expenditure should be increased by curtailing unproductive programmes to lower general expenditure.

Dr. Mahat said the Finance Minister also needs cooperation from all including the opposition, employees and citizens for implementation of the budget even though the theoretical aspects are good.

Pashupati Shumsher J. B. Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party said the budget is ambitious, the business community opposes the value added tax considered in the budget as the main component to increase revenue, adding that the provision to charge 0.5 per cent of income tax in the income from the stock of goods declared by the taxpayer himself, the provision to pay only 25 per cent by curtailing 75 per cent supposing that the 10 per cent tax has already been paid in the declaration of stock is expected to benefit the industrialists and businessmen thereby making adverse impact on the revenue.

He said the 44.5 per cent increase made in development expenditure is a random increase at a time when it has not been able to spend 80 per cent of it in the current fiscal year.

Mr Rana said that as not more than 70 percent of the targetted estimate of development budget had been spent in the past 4-5 years, a development budget of Rs 15 billion has been presented for the next fiscal year.

The budget cannot be sustained with available resources and our administrative capacity and development manpower cannot implement it, Mr Rana said, adding that the Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, the Nepal Oil Corporation and the National Trading Limited have not been privatised so far and the salaries of the government employees have not been increased on fair basis.

Expressing happiness over the appropriation of Rs 1 billion and 160 million for the Melamchi project, he said the local people should be given employment and a overall socio-economic development plan should be implemented to alleviate poverty as a compensation to the environmental and social impact there.

Mr Rana said the carpet export has decreased though the export trade has increased by 50 per cent this year, adding that a permanent plan for revitalising the industry should be formulated.

Nepali youths should be trained as security personnel and their service be exported and capable ornganisations should be established for this, he said, drawing the attention of the government towards the possibility of catering to the demand of Indian tourists for a hill station in Dadeldhura, Palpa, Rasuwa, Sindhupalchowk, Dolkha, Dhankuta, Ilam and Panchthar districts.

He commended the positive aspects of the budget such as formulating a law considering the income more than the declared source as corruption, and conducting trade with China and India through banking which is expected to check customs leakage.

Hridayesh Tripathi of the Nepal Sadbhawana Party commented that the budget is not centred on favour of the agricultural and marginal workers for poverty alleviation, on irrigation, plotting of land, and revolutionary land reform.

He said the budget has increased inflation, no clear basis has been made for collection of targeted revenue, increase in general expenditure by curtailing development budget, general expenditure also found in the appropriation heads allocated for development expenditure and added that there can be difficulty in conducting transactions through banks.

He expressed happiness over making transparent the foreign loan and grant, control of the non-government organisations, attempt to control smuggling of gold from the airport, the commitment made to implement the report of the joint committee of the parliament constituted to investigate leakage of revenue and the increase of the salaries of the civil servants.

Pari Thapa of the National People's Front said though there are some positive things in the budget, there seems to be no difference in the basic interest of the country and the people, adding that the budget is feared to increase budgetary irregularities, more amount has been appropriated in law and order by overshadowing the development budget, no commitment made to protect the national economy, and to set up fertiliser factory, oil refinery and security press, and send qualified doctors to the remote areas.

He also said that there should be no privatisation of industries.

Ram Bahadur Bista of the Nepali Congress said as the situation in the country is deteriorating, the budget has focussed on poverty alleviation. Some of the laudable provisions made in the budget are that it has given attention to the problems of the remote areas, programmes brought for the safety and increasing the living standard of the people victimised by maoists, and increasing the confidence of the employees.

Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the CPN-UML said though the Nepali Congress has presented nine of the 12 budgets in the past ten years, no remarkable development has been seen for which the same party is responsible, adding that the budget has not given attention to irrigation for development of agriculture. The budget has been misutilised in the name of creating new police forces, he said, expressing concern that the budget given to the academies built in memory of the national leaders have been curtailed.

Ram Janam Chaudhari of the Nepali Congress said it is a laudable move to increase the amount in the MP's development fund as it is more effective. The first priority given to law and order is good as there will be no meaning of development if life is not secure.

Netra Lal Shrestha of the RPP said no concrete programmes have been brought to address the problems of the nation that has been mentioned in the budget speech, the Salyan -Dang road has been neglected by the minister in the context that ginger and sutho has been wasted due to lack of market. He said if we are to uplift the villages we should depute one sub-overseer, one assistant health worker and a JTA in each VDC, he added.

Mangal Siddhi Manandhar of the CPN-UML said the amount allocated for social service, education, health and local development in the general and development heads has been decreased even when the amount of budget has been increased as compared to the last fiscal year, and added that the increase of standard of the government schools where more than 4.6 million students study is a must and agriculture development is necessary for achieving a high economic growth rate for poverty alleviation, he added.

He said the budget has made no economic commitment to the higher secondary education, no amount has been allocated for the district election commission offices. He expressed the view that access to the schools of the dalits and backward classes should be increased. Bharat Kumar Shaha of the Nepali Congress said the commitment should be fulfilled as regards the value added tax, reconsideration should be made in the threshold level as dishonesty is continuing. Levying of vat on cigarette, beer, alcohol, and excise in bricks, and corruption control and commitment to resolve foodgrains crisis are some of the positive aspects of the budget.

Denmark to provide aid amounting to Rs. 7.298 B

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 2: The eagerness of the Danish government to increase its development assistance to Nepal has been witnessing a set back as Nepal has not been able to utilise fully the assistance already disbursed.

"Nepal has been able to utilise only 80 per cent of the US $ 25 million being provided annually," Lars Faaborg-Andersen from the Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs told a press conference at the Danish Embassy today.

He said that the number of staff vacancies yet to be filled at the Ministry of Population and Environment and the Finance Ministry along with the frequent politically motivated transfer of staff were factors that had been slowing down project delivery in the targeted areas of co-operation.

Andersen, who is the Deputy head of Asia Department held annual consultations on bilateral development co-operation between Nepal and Denmark on June 1, 2000.

The bilateral consultations confirmed that Denmark is willing to contribute approximately 795 million Danish kroner (equivalent to 7.298 billion rupees) for the next five years.

Technical assistance through long-term Danish advisers, training, fellowships as well as support through mixed credits, the private sector development programme and Danish NGOs in Nepal are over and above this bilateral agreement.

The Nepalese delegation participating in the consultations was headed by Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala, Special Secretary, Ministry of Finance while the Danish delegation was represented by Mr. Andersen and permanent Danish envoy to Nepal Mr. Lars Hormann and senior officials from both sides.

The consultations centered around co-operation to reduce poverty, achieve economic growth, administrative reform and a sound macro-economic policy.

The Danish assistance to Nepal is focussed in four main areas: Basic and Primary Education, Energy, Natural Resource Management and Environment.

The cross cutting issue of gender, environment, and democracy and human rights are integral in all development activities. In accordance with the agreed strategy for Danish-Nepalese development co-operation, support to good governance and decentralisation is also a major theme in the co-operation programme.

Dwelling on the positive steps taken by the government of Nepal, Andersen said that Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya informed the House of Representatives about expediting civil service reforms as agreed during his participation in the city meeting of the donor countries in Paris.

"The recent pay hike announced by the government of Nepal will hopefully help in combating corruption and initiating steps for civil service reforms," Andersen said.

He said that the salary hike was only one step forward towards civil service reforms, which needs to be followed by better management practices and implementation of the Decentralisation Act.

Andersen said that the government had also taken a bold step to expand revenue mobilisation to 30 per cent from the existing 10 per cent, which is a bold step to increase domestic resource mobilisation.

Mr. Lars Hormann, permanent Danish envoy to Nepal said that impact of the Danish Assistance in areas of community forest and improvement of environment had been very glaring.

Nearly two million people have benefited through the community forestry programmes and the Basic and Primary Education Project has benefitted a large cross section of the society, Hormann said.

He said that the Maoist insurgency had been disrupting development projects in 13 VDCs.

"The root cause of the Maoist problem lies in the social situation and deprivation, the government would find it easier to resolve the problem by directing its efforts in eliminating frustration and engaging in peaceful negotiations," Hormann suggested.

He said that the Danish Embassy was disturbed to learn that the government had decided to ban new registration of the electrically operated SAFA tempos.

The Danish government has earmarked 300 M rupees for the improvement of the environment of the valley and this assistance has prioritised the manufacture and introduction of SAFA tempos.

"If the government does not withdraw its decision to ban the registration of SAFA tempos then we will be forced to think over the assistance set aside for the improvement of the valley environment," Hormann said.

Nepal is one of the 20 priority countries for Danish Development Assistance. By a decision of Parliament, the size of Danish Development assistance is kept at the level of one per cent of the Gross National Product (GNP) which makes Denmark with only five million citizens the ninth biggest donor in the world. And compared to GNP Denmark is by far the world's largest donor country.

EU hails govt decision to extend Deuba panel's mandate

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 2: The European Union has welcome the decision by Prime Minister Koirala’s government in Nepal to extend the mandate of the Deuba Commission which has been set up to create a cross party consensus among the country’s democratic groups and pave the way for negotiations with the Maoist insurgents. In the European Union’s view a negotiating process offers the best chance of resolving Nepal’s problems for the longer term, a French Embassy press release said.

The European Union has observed with growing concern the escalation of the internal conflict following the declaration of the people’s war more than four years ago. Maoist attacks against representatives of the democratic state are always unacceptable, and frequently, barbarious. The avowed aim of the insurgents is to overturn the democratic order, the statement stated.

The European Union upholds the Government of Nepal’s right to defend the country’s newly established democracy in countering this terrorist insurgency. The European Union notes that the democratic state has the sole right to use legitimate force to preserve the rights and security of its citizens, the statement further noted. The European Union believes that the authorities in Nepal must seek to establish basic security and an environment in which development efforts to overcome poverty can be pursued, and that the insurgency hinders the development process.

The Union notes that a number of international authorities including the UN Special Rapporteus on extra judicial killings, Amnesty international and the US State Department have reported on extensive human rights abuses by both the insurgents and the Nepal Police following the Maoists declaration of the people’s war.

The European Union calls on the Maoist insurgents to call an immediate halt to their violence and on the Nepalese government to ensure that its representatives act uniquely within the bounds of the law, the press release said.

The European Union also recalls that it is the responsibility of the government in Kathmandu, through effective leadership and proper governance, to investigate allegations of extremely serious human rights abuses by the police, including extra judicial killings, torture and disappearances and systematically to prosecute those responsible.

The government must in the view of the European Union, issue strong and clear guidelines to the police to avoid the recurrence of such abuses in the future. The culture of impunity must be ended, the statement noted.

The European Union therefore strongly urges both parties to redouble their efforts to create the necessary conditions to enter into early and serious negotiations leading to a full and permanent peace, the press release said.

Budget in line with Ninth Plan : Acharya

Kathmandu, June 2 (RSS): Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya, at the meetings of the House of Representatives and National Assembly today, made it clear that the proposed budget for fiscal year 220/2001 has laid emphasis on reform in the economy and accorded high priority to the agricultural and social sectors in line with the goal of poverty alleviation, the main thrust of the Ninth Plan.

Finance Minister Acharya said that he was encouraged by the different comments on the proposed budget and responses from the public as well as from the opposition benches and called on all to forge ahead to attain the common goal of poverty alleviation.

Referring to the government policy of pushing income generating and skill development schemes forward, he said that facilities like education, health care, irrigation, electricity, transportation, family planning and cooperatives would be taken down to the people's level.

The government has set a target of 7 per cent growth rate as against 6 per cent in the current fiscal year, and for this purpose, it has simplified and improved the existing tax structure in order to encourage industrial and commercial activity, he said.

He further said that arrangements have been made to sanction small irrigation projects though the agricultural development bank.

Minister Acharya also informed the Houses that the budgets for food security and allowances for the disabled, widows, elderly persons, and the helpless have been increased.

An arrangement has been made for border trade transactions through the banking system in order to regulate that trade, he said adding, though the proposed budget is ambitious to some extent it would be implemented successfully through mobilisation of all state mechanisms.

He further said that the proposed budget has accorded top priority to strengthening the value added tax system as the main instrument for revenue collection as well as to control illegal trade.

Earlier, Minister for Finance Acharya also corrected minor mistakes in the budget.

Israel's progress inspiring: Bastola

Kathmandu, June 2 (RSS): Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola has said Nepal-Israel relations should be consolidated further through exchange of art, culture and other development activities between the two countries.

Speaking at a programme organised on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Nepal and Israel here today, Minister Bastola said the radical change achieved by Israel in the agriculture sector with maximum utilization of irrigation using modern technology should be a source of inspiration for an agriculture-based country like Nepal.

Israeli ambassador to Singapore David Danieli said the existing relations can be made more cordial through exchange of friendly visits and experiences between the two countries.

President of Children's Forum Nepal Ramhari Joshi shed light on the activities carried out by the organisation.

At the function Minister Bastola and the Israeli ambassador also jointly gave away prizes and certificates to the winners of the inter school level programmes organised on the occasion.

President of Nepal-Israel Friendship Association Pashupati Giri chaired the programme organised jointly by the Association and Children's Forum Nepal.

Nepal pavilion attracting visitor's at FRG's Expo 2000

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 2: In the EXPO 2000 World Exposition at Hannover, Germany, that was officially inaugurated by German President Jonnes Rau on Thursday, the Nepal Pavilion was one of the main attractions for the 200,000 visitors.

The EXPO 2000 is touted to be the biggest event ever of its kind and the very first World Exposition to be held in Germany. 192 countries and international organisations are participating in the mega-event which will run for five months until 31st of October, 2000.

The EXPO expects between 40-50 million visitors during its 153 duration. The Nepal Pavilion, already extensively publicised by the German media, is expected to draw at least 25 per cent of the total visitors.

The Nepal Pavilion comprises of a 23-meter high stupa together with a 11-meter high temple in the centre of 2,500 sq.m. Mandala shaped garden. The main pavilion is encircled by 62-meter walkway and a 150 sq.m. pond.

At the opening ceremony, the Guest of Honour was the German Minister for Economic Cooperation, Mrs. Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, who visited the Nepal Pavilion with high-ranking delegation of BMZ and GTZ officials. Also present on the occasion were the Nepalese Ambassador to Germany Mr. B.S. Malla and Mrs. Bauknecht, Nepalese Honorary Consul in Stuttgart, Germany and FNCCI president Pradeep Kumar Shrestha.

Minister Heidemarie Wieczorek-Zeul, upon arrival at the Nepal Pavilion, was accorded a traditional welcome by a group of Nepalese musicians and dancers. Describing the Nepal Pavilion as the "bridge of friendship between Nepal and Germany", she also congratulated all the members of the Nepalese construction team for building one of the most beautiful pavilions for Germany’s first World Exposition. A reception was hosted in her honour by the Nepal Pavilion where typical Nepalese delicacies and Nepalese tea were served to the guests.

Nepal’s own artistic pavilion is a blend of a Buddhist stupa and a Hindu pagoda. This symbolises the peaceful co-existence of different religions and ethnic groups in Nepal.

It may be recalled that the Nepal Pavilion was built and designed by the private Implementing Experts Group, a private agency entrusted by the Nepalese government to erect and operate the Nepal Pavilion. Similarly, the German Ministry of Cooperation and Development (BMZ) had financially supported this outstanding piece of traditional Nepali architecture and handicraft through the GTZ with an amount of about Rs. 53 million and through technical aid.

The Implementing Experts Group that built the Nepal Pavilion and will also be operating it, expects significant benefit to Nepal, mainly in terms of increase in the international prestige and goodwill as well as in the promotion of Nepal-Germany relations in the trade, tourism and investment sectors.

Child rights should not be violated'

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 2: Child NGO Federation Nepal today organised a symposium to collect inputs from child rights activists on the proposed bill drafted to amend the Children Act 2048. The proposed amendment bill is presented by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare.

President of the Federation Upendra Keshari Neupane said that state should shoulder all the responsibilities to ensure that a child’s rights are not violated in any circumstances. He also emphasised that a child’s right to citizenship should be established by the virtue of his birth in the country. He asked for legal clauses that would allow to issue citizenship certificates to orphans in recommendation of children homes the child is brought up into.

Neupane also demanded that the amendment to the Children Act should clearly outline the procedure under which the crimes committed against children and crimes committed by children are tried in the courts. He demanded that provisions should be created for establishment of special benches in the appellate courts and the Supreme Court to look after cases related to children. Presently only district courts have such provision.

Neupane further demanded that a major portion of fines collected from children for their crimes should be invested for betterment of the young ones. While, the compensations paid to a child for a crime committed against him should be high enough to ensure the victim’s development. Neupane also demanded strict legal provisions and serious punishment against sexual abuse and sexual harassment inflicted to minors.

Child rights activist Sharad Sharma said that the Children Act should be able to stop child soldiering and admission of children into other harmful works. He also demanded strict laws to monitor adoption procedure and whereabouts of children given to foreigners for adoption. He also said that the amendment bill should incorporate clauses that would be effective in making Central Child Welfare Committee and Child Reform Centres established by government.

Another child rights activist Gauri Pradhan opined that the biggest challenge today is the weaknesses in implementation of the existing laws to protect children from exploitation and abuse. In order to ensure children’s right to participate, he said, the government should be open to register organisations initiated by children for their own development and betterment. According to him there are about 1000 clubs and organisations operative in Nepal that are initiated by children themselves. He also demanded strict monitoring mechanisms to check on situation of children given away to foreigners for adoption. He also said that stricter laws should be introduced to check exploitation against children that is going on in numerous children homes scattered across the nation.