Change in climate creating difficulties’

Kathmandu, Nov. 23 (RSS): Secretary at the Ministry of Population and Environment Dr. Govinda Raj Bhatta, addressing the sixth meeting of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change held in the Hague of the Netherlands yesterday, said due to the difficult geographical condition and hilly terrain, the problem of climate change has further created difficulties for sustainable development in Nepal

Secretary Dr. Bhatta stressed the need of external cooperation to resolve the problems of climate change and to implement the environmental programmes.

He also said that Nepal has been actively participating in the conventions of climate change and environment and is fully committed to fulfil the provisions of these conventions.

More than 80,000 MW of electricity can be generated from the abundant water resources of Nepal , he said, adding Nepal is also committed to mobilise regional and international cooperation for the promotion of renewable energy sources.

The ministers of about 60 countries are attending the conference which is being participated in by about 180 member countries.

More than 60 international non governmental organisations and U.N. agencies have also been taking part in the conference.

Discussion is being held on the provisions of the convention of climate change, issues directed by Kyoto Protocol and the inter-relations between the developed and developing countries.

Blind have ‘sight’ to learn computer

Kirtipur, Nov. 23 (RSS): Sita, who was born blind, leaves the Tribhuvan University hostel every day with her white ‘blind’ stick in hand. She makes her way to the bus stand, gets on a bus and arrives at the Association for the Blind at Maharajgunj to learn computer skills.

Birendra Raj Pokharel, who lost his eyesight five years ago, also makes his way to Maharajgunj with the help of a white stick, for computer training.

Sita and Birendra are among nine blind persons now undergoing a nine month computer training course run by the Nepal Association for the Blind.

Asked how the blind can be taught computer use, chief instructor at the Association Bacchu Narayan Shrestha says the computer becomes vocal when the George for Window program is set.

The computer’s vocal responses enable the blind to keep track of what they type in and the commmands they use.

The George for Window program costs 8l0 dollars each and each program can be used on five computes, instructor Shrestha said. Three of the five computers used for training at the Nepal Association for the Blind are on George for Window.

The Association provides the training free of cost to the blind. The cost of the computers and remunernation for the instructor are being borne by USACANDA for three years.

The training is to be given continuity after the three year period ends, it is learnt.

The Association is teaching computers to the non-disabled also to collect some money through fees.

Trainees are selected on the basis of higher education attainment, technical background and employed status.

Instructor Shrestha expressed confidence that his trainees can at the very least carry out functions related to the running of an office.

The blind use a tape recorder while doing such work, he said.

Birendra Pokharel had used computers at his office before he lost his eyesight. He is a university graduate with distinction and is now learning to use computers without eyesight in order to work towards a Ph D.

Sugat Bhattarai, who lost his eyesight in an accident four years ago, is learning computers in the hope of using the internet.

Director of the Blind and Diasabled Technical Skill Development Center Shashikala Singh recalls the ridicule that first greeted the idea of teaching computers to the blind. But she also remembered seeing the blind work with computers in America and that inspired her to teach computers to the blind here. She feels that she has been vindicated by the fact that the Association for the Blind has also started teaching computers to the blind.

The first blind person in Nepal to learnt computer use was Sweta Singh. She learnt computer use l2 years ago at the Philadelphia Overbrook School for the Blind.

Deputy director of the special training unit under the Social Welfare Council Min Raj Panthi was the first blind person to learn computer skills at the Blind and Disabled Technical Skill Development Center. He is now capable of working an ordinary computer used by people at home or in an office.

According to Panthi, computer skills are a greater need for the blind than for those who can see.