A well-maintained lane in Bhaktapur.

CIS: Team arrives

Rasuwa, Mar. 5 (RSS): Rasuwa district has many scenic spots that can be exploited from touristic point of view, but due to lack of infrastructural development, many people there remain out of jobs.

The local villagers who are jobless and so facing sustenance problem pin their hope on help from outside in the development of its tourism potential.

A remote himalayan region located 118 km north of Kathmandu, Rasuwa can be reached after about 12 hours' bus ride from Kathmandu's gwongabu bus park.

In Rasuwa is located Gosaikunda, the famous Hindu pilgrimage site, where thousand of pilgrims visit every year to venerate Lord Shanker. Besides, it is also a tourist attraction centre.

That is not all, Ganesh Himal, lead mines, 20 megawatt Chilime Hydel Project and its mineral waters, deposits of various minerals, many site of exquisite ponds and cataracts and other natural beauties are associated with Rasuwa.

The tourists who once visit Rasuwa return with indelible of stamp of its natural and cultural heritage.

Its ethnic mosaic consists of Tamangs  in the northern part and Brahmins, Kshatris, Tamangs, Gurungs and Newars in the south.

Its waterfalls  echoes on the lush green forest and hills in the north-west and the expanse of surpentine Trisuli river. The reverberation reaches its climax as one experiences levitation by the amazing sight of the Langtang range.

The mist that vanish and reapear off and on plays a hide-and-seek game here.

Rasuwa, old-timers say, ranks among the four Dhams, religious pilgrimate sites.  Gosaikunda and Uttar Gaya Betrawati are of as much importance. Not only Nepalese, Indians, too, frequent these places. The pilgrims who cannot make it to Gosaikunda may divert their course from Dhunche to Gatlang in the north by motor and visit Parbati Kunda (pond) with much befit.

Dhunche, perched on 6,400 feet altitude, is a northern trading post, an important seat of Tamang culture. Here, one can survey some dipalidated remains of the Durbar of Ghale Raja on the way.

The mythical Gosaikunda (14,100 feet altitude) is about 14 miles' steep walk from Dhunche. The Hindu mytohology has it that when Lord Shanker swallowed the  lethal poison spewing out during the churning of oceans he could not bear the intense heat generated by it. He went to himal and struck in the ground with his trident and there spurted a jet of icy cold water which cooled down his heated body. The waters of Gosaikunda which did just that is regarded as much sacred to this day.

Devotees in large number throng Gosaikunda fair that takes palce during Jestha Shukla Ekadashi and Ganga Dashahara  in the month of Jestha (May-June).

The pilgrims may show symptoms of altitude sickness  after the they reach Lauri Binayak and so, medicines for altitude sickness are used when one is on the journey further afair from lauribinayak, says Dr. Vijaya Khanal.

The journey may be through foggy condition, which sometimes reduces the visitbility to a few feet.

Lamas and Jhakris (witch healers) add spice to the journey with their regular drum beat and dances along the way.

The waters from Gosaikunda feed Bhairav Kunda that lies on the way. Bhairav Kunda is an interesting pond that has a typical legend behind it.

Once a Jhakri, as the legend goes, resolved to wage a battle against Naga (divine serpent). He counselled his wife to remain on the bank of the pond  and keep beating the drum until he reappear. He also advised her not to forget to hurl a handful of grains over him whevener he re-emerge from the pond. But as the duel between the man and the Naga raged on the former appeared above the water with his body entwined with the serpent. This scared off the woman, who ran away in panic, leaving the drum and grains behind. Unfortunately, the man overpowerd by the serpent, met his watery grave. The pond is a forbidden place to this day.

The waters from the ponds and Rauchuli phed mingles into the confluence of Phalak which is known as Uttar Gaya.

During the thulo Ekadashi every year and Ausi (new moon day) people come here to offer annual memorial service to their deceased parents.

Talk organised to mark Mahashivaratri

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): Rajparishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Keshar Jang Rayamajhi, inaugurating the talk programme organised here today by Brahmakumari Rajyog Upasewa Kendra to mark the Mahashivaratri festival, said that the only way to resolve the conflict and animosity in the world is peace.

Mp shankar Prasad Pande said, "one need not go far away places for self-realisation and change in heart will lead to resolving all the problems."

On the occasion, Dr. Rayamajhi unfurled the Shiva flag.

Brahmakumar Suratbhai spoke on the importance of Shivaratri festival and Brahmakumari Kusum Bahini on Rajyog at the programme chaired by director of the Kendra Brahmakumari Rajdidi. 

House team leaves for Australia

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat left here today at the head of a 7-member parliamentary delegation to visit Australia at the friendly invitation of the parliament of Australia.

Talking to the press at the vip lounge of the Tribhuvan International Airport on the eve of his departure, Speaker Ranabhat said that during the visit, the Nepalese delegation would have meeting and talks with chairmen and members of both the House of the Australian Parliament, leaders of opposition parties, Ministers, personalities of business organisations on various topics on expanding relations between Nepal and Australia.

Present at the airport to see off the delegation were chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammed Mohasin, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives Mrs Chitralekha Yadav, high officials of the Australian Embassy and the officials of the parliament secretariat.

The delegation includes wife of the Speaker Mrs Narmada Ranabhat, vice chairman of the National Assembly Chiranjibi Prasad Rijal and mps Mohan Bahadur Basnet, Raghuji Panta and Rajendra Mahato and under secretary at the parliament secretariat Manohar Prasad Bhattarai. 

'People should wake up against corruption'

Gulmi, Mar. 5 (RSS): CPN-UML standing committee member Bharat Mohan Adhikari, declaring open the sixth Gulmi district convention of the party, said his party would counteract any attempt from any quarters to undermine democracy and the constitution.

Mr Adhikari, who is chief whip of CPN-UML, alleged that the law and order situation in the country was grave and said the people should wake up against corruption, price hike and Maoists.

At the inauguration function chaired by CPN-UML Gulmi district secretary Bom Bahadur Khadka, the party's central member Pradip Kumar Gyawali, mp, gokarna Raj bista, mp, and Fatik Bahadur Thapa, mp, and ex-mp kamal Raj Shrestha spoke on the current situation of the country.  

Seminar on population, development

Nepalgunj, Mar. 5 (RSS): Minister of State for Population and Environment Bhakta Bahadur Balayar  has said the cooperation of all the sectors is necessary for minimising the growth rate of population and extending the fruits of development to the people of the rural areas.

Inaugurating the mid-western regional seminar on "Population and Development" organised by the Ministry of Population and Environment here today, Minister of State Balayar  said that the participants of the seminar should give attention towards the fact that confusion in programmes will prevail until the consciousness is developed among the people and the standard of education is improved in the country.

Expressing the view that development programmes initiated by the government would be affected by the population growth, Mr. Balayar  said the need of the day is to check the growth of population and protect the environment.

At the seminar chaired by Banke DDC chairman Omjung Rana, joint secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Ananta Raj Pandey, under secretary Upendra Adhikari, chief district officer Shyam Prasad Mainali, mayor of Nepalgunj Municipality Dhawal Shamsher Rana and rpp representative Krishna Kharel also expressed their views on population and environment.

The seminar is being participated in by about 60 persons including the regional directors of various offices in the mid-western development region, representatives of various political parties and non-governmental organisations, journalists, teachers and employees from various offices.

RPP to prepare report on violence

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): rpp central member and MP Buddhiman Tamang chaired the meeting today of the committee constituted by the party to maintain contact with His Majesty's Government  in order to solve the Maoist problem and make distribution of relief materials to the victims in an impartial and transparent manner.

The meeting decided to prepare an extensive report on the loss of life and property caused by Maoist voilence in the country since Falgun 1, 2052 B.S. to date.

It also decided to urge His Majesty's Government to make an impartial distribution of relief materials to the victims and displaced families, and make immediate arrangement to rehabilitate them.

The party will monitor the government action carried out in this connection and will  play an active role in providing guarantee of security to the general public.

The meeting also decided to hand over a memorandum to the Prime Minister and the Home Minister on behalf of the party urging them to take concrete steps towards normalising the daily life of the general people by resolving the Maoist problem which has terrorized the people in many districts of the country.

Work honestly, civil servants told

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): A two-day workshop of chiefs of district level and regional offices organised by the Ministry of General Administration with an objective of collecting reactions on the timely and practical amendments to be made in the acts and regulations relating to the services and condition of civil servants in order to make the services to be provided to the public on behalf of His Majesty's Goverment more effective and democratic began here today.

The workshop also aims at holding discussion on the steps to be taken for good governance and provide suggestions to His Majesty's Government to this end.

Speaking on the occasion, Judge of Appellate Court Rajbiraj Tahir Ali Ansari said as the civil servants are the backbone of the government they should be honest, responsible and committed towards their duty and the people.

District judge Narayan Prasad Shrestha spoke of the need for the civil servants to work honestly in the interest of the nation and people.

Earlier, inaugurating the workshop, secretary at the Ministry of General Administration Ramananda Mishra said able and efficient civil servants is essential for the socio-economic and cultural development of the country.

Cdo bal Krishna Prasain, mayor of Rajbiraj  municipality jagarnath das and other speakers also expressed their views at the function charied by Saptari DDC chairman Dinesh Kumar Yadav.

The chiefs of 38 district level and regional offices in the district are taking part in the workshop.

Magar society hails govt decision

Lalitpur, Mar. 5 (RSS): magar Society Centre has welcomed the decision of His Majesty's Government to declare lakhan Thapa magar (second) a martyr and extend financial contributions for the construction of his statue.

The ministry of local development and the ministry of youth, sports and culture will provide Rs. 700,000 to instal a statue of lakhan Thapa magar (second) at  bungkot of Gorkha district.

A meeting of the magar society centre presided over by its president bal Bahadur Rana magar has requested hmg to implement the decisions of the centre to name the Thapathali chowk of Kathmandu as the martyr lakhan Thapa chowk, install his statue there, issue postal stamp to commemorate him and change the name of manakamana cable car to lakhan Thapa magar cable car.

Chief advisor of the martyr lakhan Thapa memorial committee Dr. Harkha Bahadur budha magar, Dhalman Thapa, Lal Bahadur Thapa Magar, Sportsperson Prakash Thapa Magar, Ram Chandra Thapa Magar, Pravin Thapa Magar, Pramila Thapa Magar, Asmita Thapa Magar, Indra Bahadur Thapa Magar, Dal Prasad Pun Magar were felicitated on the occasion.

Good governance, poverty alleviation discussed

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): The Speakers participating in an interaction programme on poverty and good governance organised by the sap Nepal  expressed the view that unless the people of the local level are made capable of participating in the development works,  the progamme of poverty alleviation and good governance  will be far from successful.

Speaking on the occasion MP mangal Siddi Manandahar said  illiteracy should be removed for poverty alleviation and good governance, the society should be freed from the mentality of revering those who live without working and  undermine those who work for their living, and the civil societies working in the  people's level should come forward with vigour.

Member of the National Planning Commission Dr. Shankar Sharma said the government is moving ahead vigorously for  good governance and alleviation of poverty. 

Dr. Arjoo Deuba said unless there is transparency in the economic activities, we cannot think of poverty alleviation.

She said if we are to make Nepal economically strong we should give emphasis on agricultural revolution.

Mr. Bihari Krishna Shrestha said poverty alleviation will have no relevance unless the people at the local level have the right to select and take decisions on development activities. This can be achieved through good governance at the village level, he added.

Expert Deepak Gyawali said as politics is the root cause of all the problems we need transparency in all activities.

Advocate Yuva Raj Sangraula, commenting on the inconsistencies and anarchism in the judicial sector, said the main obstacle to good governance is the  individualistic attitude in the judicial sector.

Altogether 200 representatives from 60 districts of the Kingdom participated in the programme.

Govt response to oppn voices positive: Paudel

Kathmandu, Mar. 5 (RSS): The committee constituted by His Majesty's Government under the convenorship of Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Paudel to take necessary steps on behalf of the government on the national issues raised by the opposition in the ongoing session of the parliament and the present political context of the country began talks with the political parties represented in the parliament here today.

Speaking at the all party talks held at the parliament secretariat, Deputy Prime Minister Paudel said the government has given a positive response to the voices raised by the opposition parties and constituted the committee in order take necessary steps in this regard.

Stating that the committee has initiated preliminary talks with all political parties in order to boost national consensus on various issues of national concerns, the Deputy Prime Minister said such talks will also be held at the government and party level.

Rpp president Surya Bahadur Thapa questioned the significance of the committee as well as the basis for consensus to be reached by it in the present context when the country's situation is getting worse day by day.

He also accused the government of putting a deaf ear to the Maoist problem which is becoming more complex day by day and not making any efforts to seek assistance for resolving the problems of the country.

Deputy leader of CPN-UML parliamentary party K. P. Sharma Oli expressed the view that the authority of the committee should be clear in the present context when the country is undergoing a serious situation due to uncontrolled corruption, deteriorating state of law and order, violation of human rights, halt in development works, deteriorating foreign relations, etc.

Stating that resolution of these problems is what the party seeks, Mr. Oli said that the talks should not be lengthened but should reach a speedy conclusion.

Present during the talks were committee members local Development Minister Chiranjibi Wagle and Minister for Agriculture Chakra Prasad Bastola, K. P. Sharma Oli and Subash Nemwang on behalf of CPN-UML, rpp president Surya Bahadur Thapa, Gajendra Narayan Singh and Mrigendra Singh Yadav on behalf of Nepal Sadbhavana Party, Chitra Bahadur K.C. and Nawaraj Subedi of Rastriya Janamorcha, Narayan Man Bijukchhe of nwpp and lilamani pokherel of samyukta Janamorcha.