Ranabhat opens cultural programme

Kathmandu, June 16 (RSS): Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has urged both the government and the Maoists to avoid the path of violence and murder and solve the problem through the medium of peaceful dialogue.

Inaugurating today a cultural programme organised in cooperation of Tamang students felicitation trust by Nepal Tamang Students Group, speaker Ranabhat expressed confidence that all existing problems of the country can be solved through dialogue.

Stating that the government is committed to preserve and promote the art and culture of every language, cast and community, Mr Ranabhat said unity in diversity is a matter of pride for the nation.

On the occasion Speaker Ranabhat felicitated Shambhu Tamang, the youngest person to scale the world highest peak Mt. Sagarmatha or Everest and Dr Ganesh Yonzon who received a honorary doctorate from Lincoln University, U.S.A.

Nepal Tamang Students Group president Yubaraj Ghising presided.

Budget unbalanced, say economists

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, June 16:Economists and others today said that the budget estimate for the Fiscal Year 2000/2001 was not only ambitious and unrealistic but failed to make a frontal attack on widespread poverty.

"The budget for the new FY is unnecessarily ambitious, impractical and unbalanced," Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha told a belated discussion on the budget estimates for the fiscal year 2000/2001 here this afternoon.

The discussion was organised by Civic Awareness and Social Studies Centre (CASSC).

Shrestha said that projections of revenue, grants and loans were too high, adding there could be a shortfall of 12-15 billion rupees. "The revenue mobilisation target of over 52 billion rupees is too high. It is not likely to exceed 48 billion rupees."

Shrestha said that the government would not be able to bring in the projected amount of grants and loans it had expected to. "The shortfall in resources will affect the development works."

Shrestha said that the programmes included in the budget were not feasible. Neither is it balanced, Shrestha said.

"Finance Minister has set aside 500 million for motor and petrol expenses and 265 million for Parliament members while the amount allocated for the development of Karnali is meagre 50 million rupees."

Labelling the budget as scattered, Shrestha said that it was silent about land reform. "Poverty will persist unless we push ahead land reform programme."

"The budget is big and impressive in size but lacks foundation," Dr. Kishor Kumar Gurugharana said.

He agreed with Shrestha that the projections of grant and loans were unrealistic. The budget for the new FY projects 107 per cent and 45 per rise in grants and loans that would cover 66 per cent of the development budget.

Gurugharana said that reduction of the budget on agriculture, education and health and rise in police expenses reflected 'distorted priority' of the budget.

"The budget has no concrete programmes to attack widespread poverty," Gurugharana said.

President of Nepal Workers and Pheasant Party Narayan Man Bijuckchhe said that the salary rise was regressive (less for the juniors and more for the seniors), adding the government set aside a huge amount on the unproductive sector in the name of peace and security.

"Raising expenses to buy more arms will not solve the Maoist problem. It will instead give rise to corruption," he said.

Industrialist Shankar Lal Kedia said that the budget showed excessive dependence on tax and lacked concrete development programmes.

From the Chair, CASSC President Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya said that the discussion was organised with a view to identify the economic challenges of the country and seek solutions.

PABSON increases fees in Parvat district by 70%

Parvat, June l6 (RSS):The private and boarding schools organisation (PABSON) has increased the fee for boarding schools in Parvat district by 70 per cent.

According to the organisation, the tuition fee for these schools was increased to provide for an increase in the salaries of teachers in proportion to the increase in the remuneration of government employees.

Meanwhile, it is said that a number of schools run through local resources are on the verge of collapse.

Kailali farmers up in arms over pressures of NGOs

Dhangadhi, June l6 (RSS):Local farmers here are agitated against the unnecessary pressure exerted by NGOs including the Backward Society Education (BASE) and the Informal Sector Service Center in the course of emancipating Kamaiya bonded labour.

A mass gathering was held at the premises of Sharada High School in Sripur VDC, Kailali to protest against the activities of such NGOs and the creation of an atmosphere of terror through threats implying that they are Maoists.

The gathering concluded that base has disturbed communal and religious harmony in the name of Kamaiya emancipation, and asked the government to impose a ban on its functioning in Kailali District.

A 12-member agitation committee has been formed under the chairmanship of farmer Hem Prakash Upreti for the protection of the rights and interests of farmers.

The gathering also decided that complaints would be lodged with the concerned authority against base involvement in abduction of Kamaiyas living at their master's houses and letters would be written to the local administration, the Ministry for Home and the human rights commission alleging telephone threats and abduction by BASE.

Speaking at the gathering Beladevipur VDC vice chairman Prem Raj Joshi accused the NGOs of terrorising people in the name of Kamaiya emancipation.

Social worker Hem Prakash Upreti accused BASE of creating a conflict between the Tharu community and people from the hilly regions.

Kailali DDC member Dirgha Raj Batta said the farmers' movement has not been directed against Kamaiya emancipation but against elements seeking to bring about the disintegration of society.

A host of speakers including Dilliraj Pant and Bishnukant Pant emphasised the struggle against anti-social elements.

Meanwhile, ninety one Kamaiya bonded labourers recently filed applications at the District Administration Office at Dhangadhi with the support of the group for International Solidarity and the Liberation Foundation Kailali on the occasion of the launching of a Kamaiya emancipation movement in the mid and far-western development regions.

Similarly, 29l Kamiaya in Bardiya have filed at the District Administration Office through the initiative of the Kamaiya liberation movement mobilisation committee Pratapur.

Kamaiyas women file petition against NGO

Dhangadhi, June 16 (RSS): Five different women bonded labourers (or Kamaiyas) have filed petitions at the district administration office Kailali requesting it to make their husbands present at their own homes who have been allegedly kidnapped by the backward society education (base), a non-governmental organisation, in the name of liberating the Kamaiyas.

Those who lodged petitions at the office are Mrs Tingni Raji, Mrs Kamala Raji and Mrs Bhaggi Raji of Beladevipur VDC-8, and Mrs Tina Tisa Raji and Mrs Juli Raji of Sripur VDC-8.

They have stated in the petitions that their husbands were kidnapped from their own homes on June 8.

The women have also demanded legal actions against the "kidnappers" who, by doing so, made it difficult for them to make a living.

Similarly, a team of farmers in Kailali has presented a memorandum to the prime minister through the district administration office accusing the NGO of playing on the feelings of the bonded labourers and seeking to bring Tharus and pahadiya (or hilly people) into confrontation.

Meanwhile, a statement issued by an action forum formed recently for the welfare and interests of farmers has stated that attempts are being made to abet the kamaiyas for their liberation at a time when the government is doing necessary work for their welfare and betterment.

The statement signed by forum chairman Hemprakash Uprety also warned that since this is an internal issue of the country, taking out of processions and sloganeering by foreigners and INGO's may put the country's sovereignty in danger and is an attack on Hindu religion.

Meanwhile in Nepalgunj, a meeting of the kamaiya emancipation mobilisation committee, Banke held here recently has decided to file applications at the respective VDCs for the emancipation of kamaiya bonded labourers in various parts of Banke district.

Under the first phase of a drive that began from June 15, kamaiyas in Baijapur, Bankatuwa, Rajhena, Titihiriya, Binouna and Kanchanpur VDCs are to be motivated to seek legal remedy.

The meeting also consented to follow up on the applications filed by kamaiyas at the district administration office on June 12, designate a legal practitioner to deal with such cases and to make the emancipation movement more effective, it is learnt.

The meeting has formed various committees in order to launch the movement in an effective and systematic manner. The committee also called on NGOs and ingos and the political parties to take part in the movement.

Meanwhile, a total of 702 applications have been filed at the district administration offices in Banke, Bardiya, Dang, Kailali and Kanchanpur where the kamaiya tradition is prevalent. Out of the total, some 132 cases were filed in Banke.

'Give emphasis to vocational education'

Kathmandu, June 16 (RSS): Forty-two MPs took part in the debate on the appropriation heads concerning the Ministry of Education and Sports at the House of Representatives yesterday.

Romi Gauchan Thakali of the Nepali Congress said our education policies should be reviewed and made practical, we should give emphasis to vocational education and timely reforms should be made in educational policies.

Pradip Kumar Gyawali of the CPN-UML said there are no posts have been created for teachers in the schools of Gulmi district in proportion to the number of students. He drew the attention of the Minister of Education towards implementing special education programme and equipping the temporary schools with resources and demanded that the school management committees be freed from politics.

Shiva Raj Joshi of the Nepali Congress said the government should focus on development and extension of the higher secondary schools which provide education to the poor students in their own home villages as they are being neglected, the posts of teachers in public schools should be increased as per the ratio of students, the people too should show readiness to move ahead in the campaign of increasing literacy, and sports grounds should be built in the hilly districts as permitted by resources.

Ghanendra Basnet of the CPN-UML said the budget appropriation in education in which the development of the country depends is inadequate, the schools and campuses are centres of creating unemployment as our education policy is erratic, it has not reached the poor children and stressed the need to operate vocational and employment oriented education.

Laxman Prasad Mehta of the Nepali Congress said the teachers who have worked for one year should be made permanent teachers by freeing education sector from politics, the teachers should be appointed as per the number of students for quality education. He expressed happiness that the government has brought programmes for including women teachers in primary schools, computer education, and strengthening of the Department of Education.

Bir Bahadur Lama of the CPN-UML said the education policy is not suitable for the country, no encouragement made for the dalits, no teacher quota provided in schools of the districts, and clear policy should be adopted to create manpower in every sector.

Hridayaram Thani of the Nepali Congress said better aspects of the budget are the women's participation, literacy campaign, free text books upto class five, and scholarship for the backward classes. Drawing the attention of the government towards narrowing the gap between the private and public schools, he suggested setting up a regional press of the Janak education materials centre and a university in Surkhet.

Dilliraj Sharma of Nepali Congress said indiscipline and lack of morality is widespread in education, emphasis should be given to vocational and technical education, separate arrangement made for those who are unable to continue their education, certificate and plus two education integrated and proposed schools given recognition only after thinking twice.

Sherdhan Rai of the cpn-uml accused the government of not allocating enough fund for sports and of turning the sports sector into a recruitment centre for party workers.

NC's Shankar Prasad Pandey observed that the budget is likely to ensure quality of education, programmes such as technical education are positive, complaining that the quality of education at government schools is deteriorating and present education is business-oriented.

CPN-UML's Sohan Prasad Chaudhary noted that the education sector is in a doldrums, distribution of teachers quota is tainted with political discriminations and this sector has turned into a recruitment centre for the party workers.

Devilal Thapa of the same party demanded that arrangement should be made for post-graduate education in Jumla district and spoke of the need to make the non-formal education system and the national education commissions made more effective.

Shiv Bahadur Deuja, also of the same party, spoke of the need to stop politicization in the education sector, distribute teachers equally, pay attention to giving permanent status to proposed secondary and lower secondary schools and appoint teachers on the basis of ability and qualification.

CPN-UML's Lalbabu Pandit demanded that the gap between public and private schools should be narrowed down, arrangement made for providing education up to secondary level to street children and attention given to improving the physical condition of campuses in morang.

Tara Samyang, also of CPN-UML, spoke of the need to make education job-oriented, lay emphasis on vocational and technical education.

CPN-UML's Krishnalal Maharjan accused the government of trying to avoid the responsibility of providing education to one and all, and spoke of the need to pay attention to the hassles created by the medical council to students passed out from different universities in the former Soviet Republics.

Somprasad Pandey of the same party complained that though the budget has been increased every year for education, its standard is deteriorating, attention has not been given to the management of higher education and trainings are not provided to the teachers.

Subas Karmacharya of the CPN-UML said that desired results had not been achieved in the education sector in accordance with the investments made by the state, no attention had been given to enhace the dignity of the education sector, the unqualified teaching were providing low standard education, permission had been given to open schools randomly and inadequate budget had been allocated for development of the sports sector.

Tanka Prasad Sharma Kandel of the Nepali Congress said that the present education policy had brought about a lot of changes in the education sector. The education policy should focus on eradicating poverty and developing the country.

A definite policy should be followed for higher secondary education and emphasis should be given to employment-oreinted and vocational education, he added.

Help urged to check encephalitis

Dhangadhi, June l6 (RSS): An interaction program held here recently with the objective of improving the services provided by Seti Zonal Hospital pointed out that patients have had to go outside for treatment of even minor ailments because of lack of prompt and quality service at the hospital.

The participants said doctors at the hospital do not spend their full duty hours there and have a tendency to divert patients to their private clinics.

They also pointed out the need for providing the hospital with the number of doctors and staff nurses as per its staffing levels.

Hospital medical superintendent Dr Krisna Kumar Rai said it would not be practical to bring unnecessary pressure to bear on the doctors to get them to perform.

DDC chairman Narayan Datta Mishra said doctors should be available at the emergency ward around the clock, and they should show up on time.

Officer at the public helath office Ganga Aryal said cooperation and alertness are needed from all quarters for dealing with the outbreak of encephalitis that takes place in the terai district with the on set of the rainy season.

The 50 bed hospital set up some 28 years ago has emergency, ecg, usg and surgical facilities and an infection prevention program.

Meanwhile, a 10-day SAARC trainers training course for TB control programme managers organised jointly by the Royal Government of Bhutan and the SAARC Tuberculosis Centre, Kathmandu began in Thimpu, Bhutan recently.

The objectives of the course are to impart trainers with managerial skills for managing TB control at national level, sensitise participants to the revised strategy of TB control in order to achieve a global target of high cure rate for all detected tb cases, and impart skills in planning, implementation and evaluation for effective tb control based on DOTS.

Inaugurating the training, secretary at Ministry of Health and Education of Bhutan Sangay thinley spoke of the regional burden of tuberculosis and implementation of DOTS in Bhutan.

He further said the course would help member countries control the disease in the region.

Director of the STC Dr Dirgh Singh Bam said that the stc has conducted seven training programmes for different levels of TB control workers. In addition, courses were organised in Banglore and New Delhi in India and in Male, Maldives.

Fourteen TB experts from SAARC member countries are attending the course.

Dam hit residents shifted to safer sites

Nepalgunj, June 16 (RSS): Residents of five VDCs in Banke district vulnerable to flooding due to the dam constructed by the Indian government in the Rapti River from Jamunha Bazaar to Abdullahjung in the Indian side have been shifted to safer places recently.

Evacuation works started recently following an on site visit in course of taking information about the areas vulnerable to flooding, the condition of the local people and evacuation works by Nepali Congress general secretary Sushil Koirala, Minister of State for Forest and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam, Minister of State for Water Resources Ram Bahadur Gurung, Banke district MPs Gyanu K.C. and Kailash Nath Gupta.

Banke DDC chairman Omprakash Jung Rana, CDO Shyam Prasad Mainali and DIGP Rajendra Bahadur Singh also visited the affected areas.

Gangapur, Holiya, Fattehpur, Bethani, Mataihiya and Gangapur VDCs of the district are said to be the most vulnerable areas.

According to a preliminary study conducted by Banke district irrigation office, 1723 families of the five VDCs are the mostly affected and 856 families partially affected by the dam.

Talking to journalists following the on site inspection, NC General Secretary Koirala said the government has given serious attention to the problem and that the team made the on site inspection following a directive of the prime minister.

The issue was also a matter of discussion during the foreign minister's recent visit to India and the visit of the Indian prime minister's principal secretary and security advisor to Nepal, he added.

Minister of State for Water Resources Ram Bahadur Gurung said high level talks is being held for a long-term solution to the problem and the evacuation programme is being conducted as an immediate solution.

CDO Shyam Prasad Mainali shed light on the financial assistance being gathered for the immediate rehabilitation of the victims.

Meanwhile, a high level team representives of the home, water resources, forest and soil conservation and works and physical planning ministries also arrived here recently to collect information on the issue.

Meanwhile, the Mahakali River which was swollen as a result of the incessant rain since the last week of May have claimed the life of three persons and damaged property worth about Rs two million.

According to chief district officer (CDO) of Darchula Bed Prakash Lekhak, the flood has completely damaged the standing crops on 132 ropanis of land and seriously affected 92 families in the district.

The flood has completely washed away eight bridges at Byas, Dapla, Sunsera, Hikila and Khandeswar VDCs disrupting movement of the people in these areas.

The Swollen River has washed away seven houses and a school at Sabauli and Deshala VDCs along the river bank, caused massive erosion on the eastern part of the Gokuleswar airport and damaged the airport while the runway has been completely covered with sand.

There has been widespread erosion behind the Ilaka police office at Gokuleshwar and as the road from Khalanga, the district headquarters, to Baitadi via Dantu, Jolfibi and Lali VDCs have been damaged at various places and landslides have occurred and the postal road has been affected.

The postal road at Byas, Dapla, and Sunsera has been disrupted for the last eight days, while the track to Mansarovar has also been affected. As the origin of water at Byas VDC had been damaged, the problem of potable water has arisen there.

The crops of the rainy season at Sunsera, Dhaulakot, Khandeswari, Ghusa, Mallikarjun and Gwali VDCs have been completed and shortage of foodgrains has been faced.

As the Nepal Food Corporation is unable to supply foodgrains at Ghusa and Khandeswari VDCs, the possibility of its shortages there has increased.

The district natural calamity relief fund has provided relief to the victims while the district forest office has provided timber for the construction of the damaged houses.

The indian side is undertaking construction of the damaged road and suspension bridge at Darchula while the DDc has already issues directives for the reconstruction of the road to Mansarovar.

The swollen Mahakali has damaged the paddy saplings grown on about 50 bighas of land at Ward Nos. 12 and 13 of Mahendranagar Municipality.

Anniversary

Kathmandu (RSS): Former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that the present education system of the country is irrelevant and urged the government to reform it.

Addressing the 39th anniversary function of Biswa Bhasa Campus (college of international languages) here recently. Deuba pointed out the need for a technical university rather than eastern or western regional universities.

Minister of State for Education and Sports Dilendra Prasad Badu said the government is working to improve the present examinations system.

On the occasion Deuba also felicitated ex-campus chief Prof. (Dr) Rameswor Prasad Adhikari by wrapping a shawl and presenting a letter of appreciation.

Fund set up

Bhaktapur (RSS): President of Indian Women's Club Mrs Geeta Rajan disclosed that the Club has established a fund of Rs 500,000 for providing assistance to Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital.

Inaugurating a 50-metre long corridor built with cooperation of the club on the premises of the hospital recently, Mrs Rajan said the interest received from the fund will be spent in the medical expenses of poor women and children visiting the hospital for treatment.

The corridor was built at a cost of Rs. 193,000 of which Rs 160,000 was provided by the club.

Medical director of the hospital and senior cancer specialist Dr. Madan Kumar Piya shed light on the activities of the hospital. Club member Padmini Vaidhya and the hospital board of directors Vice-Chairman Prof. (Dr) Anjani Kumar Sharma also spoke on the occasion.

Decision

Kathmandu (RSS): Nepal Sadbhawana Party has decided to disassociate itself from the all party meeting stating that the meeting remained focused on issues of party interest only and has been accused of being unable to solve the problems of the nation. A press statement issued by the party the other day states that the meeting does have any significance as the ruling and the main opposition parties have a negative and malicious attitude towards implementing an agreement reached between NSP and the then government on Nov. 12, 1999.

Meanwhile, president of Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP) Gajendra Narayan Singh has reconstituted the central ad hoc committee of the Kisan Manch affiliated to nsp.

Parasnath Yadav (Ruapndehi) is the president, Surya Narayan Mandal and Srikanta Misra the Vice-Presidents, Sonafi Yadav (Siraha) the general secretary, Ajaya Kumar Singh (Morang) the joint general secretary and Harihar Mandal (Saptari) the treasurer of the newly constituted ad hoc committee.

Likewise, Lalbabu Yadav (Rauthat), Bhuvaneswar Yadav (Sunsari), Bindeswar Raya (Sarlahi), Rambaran Yadav (Kapilvastu), Ram Bahadur Mahato (Parsa), Kirit Ram Kumhar (Bara) and Mohammad Habibullah (Bara) are its members.