HM to visit Dhulikhel today

Banepa, Mar. 28 (RSS): His Majesty the King is scheduled to visit Dhulikhel, the headquarters of Kabhrepalanchok District tomorrow and inaugurate the newly constructed building of Sanjivani Higher Secondary School on the occasion of the golden jubilee of the school.

The school, which was established as the first middle school of the area in 2006 Bikram era with the cooperation of the residents of Dhulikhel, has been celebrating its golden jubilee since the month of Chaitra last year.

After it became a model high school in 2034, the school was transformed into a higher school in 2048.

The school compound spread over 50 ropanis of land has a hostel, an agriculture workshop, a library, a science laboratory and a school building including an office. In all, the old and new buildings of the school have 60 rooms.

The new building has been constructed at a cost of Rs 4,700,000 received from local persons, Dhulikhel Municipality and foreign donor agencies. Higher secondary classes in science can also be held at the school where higher secondary classes in commerce have been conducted since 2049.

  At present, 42 teachers are teaching at the school having 1,034 students including 436 girls and blind students also. Students of the school have passed the S.L.C. examinations with a 90 per cent success rate. As a science education development unit of the area, the school has also been imparting training to teachers of other districts.

House approves proposal tabled by Koirala

Kathmandu, Mar. 28 (RSS):The meeting of the House of Representatives today approved the proposal tabled by Prime Minister and Defence Minister Girija Prasad Koirala seeking consideration of the “Army (fourth amendment)  Bill 2056”.

Prime Minister Koirala, replying to questions raised during general discussions on the bill, informed that this step to amend the Army Bill to move towards transparency had been taken for the first time, and expressed  conviction that there will be iMProvements in this regard in line with the aspirtions of all concerned.

Parashu Ram Meghi  Gurung and Prem Bahadur Singh of  the CPN-UML took part in  the general discussions on the bill.

Likewise, the meeting agreed to proposals moved by Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi seeking consideration of the bill concerning political parties 2056 and the forwarding of the commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (second amendment) Bill 2056 to the concerned committee for clause-wise discussions. 

Earlier, furnishing replies to questions raised during general discussions on the bill concerning political parties, Home Minister Joshi said  the bill had been tabled with the objective of making the activities of the political parties transparent.

Pradip Gyawali of the CPN-UML and MP Hari Acharya participated in the discussions on the bill.

  The next meeting of the House of Representatives will be held tomorrow at 11 a.m.

Police transfer only on basis of work: Joshi

Kathmandu, Mar. 28 (RSS):Home Minister Govinda Raj Joshi said the transfer and promotion of police employees will be made in accordance with the Nepal Police Act and regulations and on the basis of their work efficiency and qualifications.

Responding to questions from MPs during question hour at the House of Representatives today, Home Minister Joshi said there is no programme to set up an Ilaka administration office at Dudhauli of Sindhuli district this year.

Mr Joshi said the current fiscal year programmes does not include renovation and expansion of the district administration office and jail in Simikot of Humla district and the district jail in Dailekh district.

He was responding to queries from CPN-UML MPs Ganga Prasad Nepal, Gorakh Bahadur Bogati and Nara Bahadur Hamal.

Likewise, replying to query from Ananda Prasad Pokhrel of CPN-UML, Minister of State for Water Resources Ram Bahadur Gurung said budget has not been allocated for renovation of the Naya Pul in Dolkha district this fiscal year.

He also replied to queries from CPN-UML’s Ganga Prasad Nepal, Fatik Bahadur Thapa and Shankernath Sharma, RPP’s Netral Lal Shrestha and Hari Lal Joshi of Nepali Congress.

‘NA needs to make bills too’

Kathmandu, Mar. 28 (RSS):Taking special time at the National Assembly today, Jeevan Prem Shrestha of Nepali Congress informed the meeting that the Nepalese delegation to the conference of members of the Upper House of 53 countries held in Paris recently presented its views on the importance, role and exercises of the National Assembly.

He also pointed out the need to make the Upper House the place for making bills and resolving national problems.   

CPN-UML’s Surendra Prasad Pandey claimed that the “Nepal Bandh” held yesterday at the call of the party taking issues of corruption, price rise, law order and nationality, etc. was very effective and that during the Bandh CPN-UML leaders and workers were attacked and Nepali Congress constituted committees in two districts to counter the Nepal Bandh.

MP Laghudhan Rai spoke of the need to give special attention towards making the Upper House more effective and present the bill on bio-diversity preservation in the current session.

CPN-UML’s Shanta Manawi urged the government to take action against those involved in boycotting the “Chamar” community from the society in Siraha district.

  Mahendra Kumar Mishra of Nepali Congress said everyone should be entitled to rights guaranteed by the constitution. Human rights of an individual cannot be violated in the name of constitutional rights, he added.

Transport strike paralyses life in Jhapa

Bhadrapur, Mar. 28 (RSS):An indefinite Chakka Jam or transport strike organised at Maidhar on the Mahendra Highway near Surunga of Jhapa district has entered its sixth day paralysing daily life in the district.

The strike has been organised by the Kankai River Inundation Concern Struggle Committee in order to pressurise the government to control inundation caused by the Kankai River.

Speaking at a press conference organised by the committee here today, chairman of the committee Punya Prasad Dhakal said efforts have been made to call off the strike but it has been continued as no concrete steps have been taken to tame the river.

It is a sad thing that the national highway has been closed in order to pressurise the government, he said adding that the committee does not support such activities.

Transportation from Surunga in the east of the river to Jhilihile in the west has been blocked due to the strike the passengers have to walk about seven kilometers.

Hundreds of trucks carrying petroleum products and cereals to various parts of the district including the hilly areas in the east have also been stranded there causing rise in prices of essential commodities.

Meanwhile, the strike called by truck entrepreneurs running trucks in Jhapa-Taplegunj route has been called off.

Seven day strike was organised after transport trucks were obstructed in Phidim of Ilam district in protest of the provision of rotation system for trucks enforced jointly by Mechi Hilly Truck Entrepreneurs Association and Eastern Region Transport Entrepreneurs Association in order to bring uniformity in transportation cost in the hilly region.

TRN Newsroom Chatter

Horned Out
TRAVELING by bus nowadays is not that  much comfortable as it used  to be in the past, thanks to the  selfish crazy music lovers. They even   don't  care for the passengers' plight by playing the music in a loud and irritating manner. A group of passengers traveling by bus to Pokhara recently, including a marriage party along with the band, were disturbed by the  drum beats  coming from a bus stereo  switched on by the young driver. As the passengers including this scribe were trying to get a quick nap in cold night journey, one of the  young members of the band requested the bus driver to turn it down. But the driver played the music even  louder. On the principle " If you can't beat 'em, join ' em,"   one of the members of the band took out his flute from the bag and began to play one of the local numbers, in  his own words, very loudly, and extremely badly.   Within a minute  the flute began blowing, the odd driver pulled the cassette out of the recorder, and was rewarded by enthusiastic round of applause from the fellow passengers. (ASR)

'Sweet' Problems
THE market is teeming with items like lollipops and coloured candies that hardly meet the hygienic and health safety standards. It seems that anyone can produce such items anywhere and bring to the market without a headache to the authorities. These stuffs contain colouring and flavouring additives that are hazardous to health to which the innocent kids fall victims. This kind of phenomenon is rampant as there is no active body with monitoring and surveillance mechanism. In the absence of adequate regulation of food market, even the registered industries do not bother to maintain standards.

The items that usually lure the sweet toothed children carry so called gift items that have proved fatal, as reported in the media recently. The kids were choked to death with whistles attached to lollipops. These incidents have drawn the attention of the Food Research Lab but no one knows how long it will be before the authority with public health responsibility will go to hibernation again. (BT)

Empty Caravan!
UNLIKE in the past this year's Annual Academy Awards Drew the attention of  thousands of Nepalese on Sunday morning who sat tirelessly before the television watching the live boardcast of the programme by Star Movies. Behind this increasing interest of the Nepalese towards  the Awards has been the beautiful Nepali film the Caravan, a first-ever nominee for Oscar. However, their expectations were shattered when Caravan could not win the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. A short scene of the Caravan and the glimpse of a Nepali cap in the screen were enough to console them. Sadder were those two Nepalese representatives who at home, first overlooked the box-office potentials of Caravan and  screened it in the Jaya Nepal Theatre, the least comfortable movie hall in Kathmandu and went to Los Angels to receive the reward. How can a movie that was overlooked at home, that is too by one of its co-producers ever win an Oscar? (BG)

The Sufferers
IT'S not in the game of cricket where the saying "tu chal, main aaya (you leave, I come)" is said to describe the misery of a team that suffers rapid fall of wickets. It may appropriately be adopted for the practice of hiring and firing of the Nepalese bureaucrats and political appointees too. With the appointment of new government, many of such appointees are set to leave as the axes are said to be ready to fall on them while others are making a bee-line to their "godfathers" for appointments in high government places. In such circumstance, this scribe's heart really goes for those persons who reach top government post not by using  their honeyed tongues but by sheer force of their capabilities. However, in the murky game of flattery they seem to be suffering most because they do not know how to impress bosses using the art of bootlicking and sycophancy. (NU)

The U-Turn
TIME and tide wait for none. And when that happens, tables turn. Who must have known this better than the travel wallahs? These were the same species that blatantly dismissed even the existence of a national flag carrier. That they did with a reason. Increasing number of private operators were coming in and so were the international airlines. But when the business people had the severe blow from Lufthansa, Indian Airlines, among others, then only did they realise the importance of having a national airline. Poor them! After all business matters you know? And now, when the other doors are shut for them, the travel traders are turning toward the national flag carrier. Me say, better late than never! (NSK)

Contradiction
THE government officials say that they are determined to end child labour. It is truly a noble step indeed. But a paradox that is equally relevant goes along with the noble thought.

Recently a state-regulated body fixed minimum wages of labourers. It was stated in a very clear language which everyone (including yours truly) heard, read and watched distinctly in the media. The decision to fix the minor labourers' wages (which of course is much less than that of their adult counterparts) contradicts with the government's policy to do away with child labour. Instead, it could encourage the entrepreneurs to employ children who can easily be recruited at lower cost but are made to work as their grown up counterparts. (GB)

Dark Horse
RUSSIAN new president Vladimir Putin really proved himself a dark horse. An unknown politician when he was appointed as a prime minister by them ailing president Boris Yeltsin some eight month ago and a former KGB spy, he proved to be a harsh blow to the communist chief Gennady Zyuganov who also contested for the highest executive post of the former superpower. The West seems weary how the youngest president will tackle the politically and economically ailed Russia. Moreover, the Westerners who always make hue and cry on human rights issues, are eagerly watching how he will restore peace and human rights in war-torn Chechennya. Some Western media have already speculated that since he lacks clear political vision, he will be having a tough time. However, from his past actions, it is also clear that Putin would not be bowing down before any pressure from outside that easily. Let's wait and see how the Dark  Horse shows his mettle. (RRS)

Accepted Practice?
MISUSE of official vehicles is a common practice among top brass of political parties and bureaucrats. Who knows, riding such vehicles during the public holidays, perhaps elevates their sense of egoism which emanates through their manners and docorum. All the laws go haywire and the traffic police become helpless when official vehicles whiz off in the road. Neither the person riding such vehicles seem to be responsible nor any authority dare inquire about the misuse of such public property. For how long will they go on violating laws? It seems to have become a practice and matter of prestige for some officials to breach the laws. Surprisingly, the society seems to accept   violators of laws and greet them any hesitation! When officials blatantly breach the laws, what can the public expect? (RKC)

No entry
LOOKS like TIA authorities have learnt some lessons from the misinformation of India's Zee News Channel. Otherwise, why would they have stopped the "dutiful" journos at the only international airport from meeting the Indian delegation that arrived here to talk about the Indian Airlines' flight resumption? Mark the words of the cops who stopped the pen pushers: The Indian delegation will get the impression that security does lack at TIA if the journos were allowed in. Well, if the forbidden entry for journos secures TIA's security, yours truly is ready to make the sacrifice. Is Indian Airlines listening? (NSK)

Double Expense
PEOPLE in Kathmandu are compelled to pay more than double the usual price of drinking water. Whenever summer approaches, water scarcity hits almost all the areas of the city. To make the situation worse, whatever amount available remains far from clean. So it is not safe to drink water directly from the taps.

Thus, households have to spend extra on electricity or kerosene to boil water before it become fit for drinking. If that is not done, people are vulnerable to a host of abdominal ailments. Even more critical fact is that there are neighbourhoods that have to go without water at all during the dry days. People from these places have to strenuously walk long distances in search of the elusive liquid from a public spout which, in turn, is often crowded beyond capacity. (BT)

Pertient Query
AGAIN the season of Bandh has begun. And, this time the CPN (UML), the main Opposition Party in the Parliament has won the race and become the first party to usher in the season of bandh in the country. However, one hardly believes that any bandh whether it be Kathmandu or Nepal Bandh is a solution of the problems faced by the country and its people. Even the organisers know that bandh is not the solution, yet they frequently organise bandhs. Why is there love for bandh among the left parties? It is, indeed not understandable. (BG) 

Sharing Spotlight
WHEN we talk about the bandhas being called by the political parties, we are always forced to think about what good these bandhas are for the common people. Take for example, the yesterday's bandh called by the main opposition political party, the CPN-UML. The party called the bandh to protest against the rampant corruption and price rises etc. etc. But these issues, which spurred the UML for calling the bandh, are taken by others as just the pretexts under which it wanted to share the spotlight with ruling Nepali Congress. As the internal clashes in Nepali Congress oozed more interests for Nepalese, UML must have thought it had been pushed aside from the national political scene. The bandh it observed was meant to grab some of the interests of people. You would agree with  me that the closures, at least in Nepal, are called not for the benefit of common masses but for the advantage of the political parties that call it. Even if they to ignite the people's interest in favour of them, they might at least give their karyakartas (workers) and supporters an issue to talk about and to keep them busy. (NU)

Paradox
THE SOCIETY is full of paradox. You cannot say what your society wants you to do. You are always on the edge of a sword that you have to be always careful with. Whether you make progress or finish yourself you are not free. People with jaundiced eyes always keep on following your every move so mercilessly that you can never let your guard down. Even scholars, pundits or saints are not free from the grip of society. And nobody knows the limitation of a society. It is so complex and obscure. Despite these limitations men have been attached with this from the very beginning of civilization. (RKC)

New Moves
STRIKE, sit-in and slogan chanting are what the main Opposition party is doing now. These non-violent activities are fine. These are good weapons in any democracy to make demands. After a slumber of months, CPN-UML is trying to answer the accusation through  some pressurising activities in the country. It has launched   series of protest programme against corruption and red tapism that have plagued the State. No doubt, such moves are welcome if they prove effective in removing the evils. And if the drives are merely a stunt to attract public attention and earning cheap popularity, then it would benefit none. Let's hope the moves are not mere stunts. (RRS)

Chaitra & Bandhas
CHAITRA seems to be the month of bandhas  (closures) and is dreaded by common Nepalese citizens with the fear of experiencing closures and clashes in the streets. After the last Monday's closure, there is another waiting for us on April 6 or Chaitra 24th. It seems that political parties have made their point in calling for total or partial closures to show their protest on this very day of Chaitra 24th, the day when the democracy was restored in the nation ten years ago. But do you not feel like me that, instead of calling closures in the month of Chaitra, each and every of us should observe the Chaitra 24th as an important day in the nation's politics? Now it's time to say that enough is enough and hold a get-together to mark the auspicious day when the 30-year of tyrannical regime came to an end. (NU)

Child rights programme in 34 schools

Nepalgunj, Mar.   28 (RSS): The Informal Sector Services Centre (INSEC) has been running the "government school programme" in seven districts of the mid-western development region with the objective of raising child rights awareness.

The programme which was launched in fiscal year 1996/1997 covers a total of 34 schools in the region including five each in Jumla, Rolpa, Salyan, Dang, Banke and Surkhet districts and four in Bardiya district.

Under the programme, a teacher at the school is designated as the patron and a child rights awareness group comprising  7 to 13 students is formed for implementation of the programme, according to Tanka Bhattarai, regional coordinator of the programme for the mid-western region.

Although students from the primary level had been incorporated in the child awareness groups in the beginning, only students from grade six to ten were incorporated in the group later.

The child rights awareness groups are responsible for propagating child rights among their peers, encourage children to organise and make them conscious about their problems.

Campus refutes irregularity

Kathmandu, Mar.   28 (RSS):Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhavan has described as baseless and misleading news report carried in section of the press alleging irregularity in the construction of a new building of the campus.

At a press conference here recently, the construction committee co-ordinator Madhav Prasad Nyaupane said, "The building was being constructed by mobilising its internal resources and 40 percent of the fund (of Rs 2.5 million) received from Tribhuvan University Higher Secondary Education Project.

All procudures regarding it had been completed and its construction was being built through a transparent procedure,  he added.

The contract for the 5-room building was awarded to the lowest bidder, Samanantar construction service, at Rs 5,618,702, he disclosed.

A communiqué distribution on the occasion says that the campus management has increased the monthly tuition fees for certificate, diploma and post graduate level (first year) students seeking admission from this year in order to meet its growing expenses and to enhance the quality of education.  

Meanwhile in Mahendranagar, the daily activities of the Baitadi-Darchula roads project have been badly hampered by the absence of the project chief, according to the district administration office. The chief of the project situated at Gokuleshwor some 17 KM east of district headquarters Khalanga is carrying out project activities from his house at Kathmandu.

Project chief Ram Chandra Amatya was present at the project office only for 34 days in two years-- 18 days in 2055 and 16 days in 2056.

The project employees have not even received their salaries for the past four months due to the absence of the project chief.

According to Darchula CDO Dev Prakash Lekhak, he has already written to the Home Ministry that the project chief has been spending more time at his home town Kathmandu rather than in project site.

Baitadi-Darchula Roads Project is a major project in the far western region.

'Say 'No' to plastic bags'

Biratnagar, Mar.   28 (RSS):"Say 'No' to plastic bags" is the catchword the environmentalists are using here as part of their environmental protection campaign.

The campaigners spearheaded by the Explore Nepal Group and Sipred Biratnagar, have selected Ward no. 12 of Biratnagar town as the first site of their drive against environmental degradation.

They are making door-to-door visit to local households telling them how to keep the environment clean and why they should prefer the use of biodegradable materials like jute bags, cotton cloth and papers to plastic bags.

In the course of the campaign they are also distributing needles on which paper and plastic bags can be collected.

Once the two-day campaign ends, the group looks forwards to fanning out to all other wards of the town. In this connection, a Public Interest Promotion Centre has been set up at ward nos. 15 and 16.

Literary Programme held in Rautahat

Rautahat, Mar.  28 (RSS):Sahitik Parivar, Chandranigahpur held a special literary programme here recently in memory of the noted literary figure late Basu Shashi.

On the occasion, chief guest and literary journalist Rochak Ghimire gave away letters of appreciation to young poets of Narayani zone, namely Shital Giri, Amar Tyagi, Shama Dhakal, Gopal Ashka.

Writer Narayan Dhakal described late Basu Shashi as a dynamic and mainstream poet of the post-sharada period.

Writer Khagendra Sangraula deplored that the democratic governments ignored basu shashi who lead a struggle against the autocratic regime during the time of the popular movement of 1990.

Poet and Sajha Publication chairman Vishnubibhu Ghimire said the Nepalese people would cherish the memory of late Basu Shashi as a humanitarian poet.

A host of other speakers also expressed their views at the programme chaired by writer Madhav Kafle.

Meanwhile, the Nai Prakashan is to present the  Rs. 10,000- Nai Kalanidhi Youth Award  to folk singer  and musician Ram Thapa for his significant contribution to the Nepali language through the medium of songs and music.

The decision was made by the meeting of the Prakashan presided over  by its chair person Indira Prasain.

Meanwhile in Lamjung, a day-long health education motivation seminar was held here recently by the district health office.

The seminar aimed to review to the progress review of the projects launched this fiscal year and past years, identify the problems experienced during their implementation and find out solutions to them.

Forty-five health workers from the district health office, ngos and schools participated in the programme.