Teachings of Buddha guide us to peace: PM

Kirtipur, Oct. 21 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala today inaugurated the annual general meeting of the Dharmodaya Sabha.

On the occasion, the Prime Minister said that all spheres of our national life should not only be inspired but also directed by the everlasting teachings of Lord Buddha who is a source of inspiration and a guide for the peaceful co-existence of human society.

It is Lord Buddha who propounded the philosophy of bringing friendship, goodwill, peace and amity among human beings into our day to day life so as to make this material life a meaningful one, he said adding that the teachings of Lord Buddha are more worthy of emulation in today’s world plagued by materialistic conflict.

Vice chairman of the Dharmodaya Sabha and member of the Lumbini Development Trust Omkar Prasad Gauchan stressed that all the three branches under the Buddhist faith in Nepal should unite and act in concordance with the principles propounded by Lord Buddha.

He also informed the meeting that work on constructing the Mayadevi Temple will start promptly.

General secretary Subarna Shakya expressed the hope that the government would collect and compile data during the coming census in an egalitarian spirit.

Bhikchhu Sudarshan Mahasthavir called for a positive mindset to surmount the challenges before the Dharmodaya Sabha.

At the inaugural function that began with sheela prayers led by All Nepal Bikchhu Federation chairman Bhikchhu Buddhaghos Mahasthabir, Bhikchhu Yganpurnik Mahasthavir recited the Paritran as per the Theravada tradition, Swasti Tara Bajracharya the Swastibachan as per the Bajrayan tradition, and Kalsyang Lama on behalf of Guru Chhechukusyo Lama a Buddhist prayer as per the Mahayan tradition.

Identify black marketers, smugglers: Tamrakar

Bhaktapur, Oct. 21 (RSS): Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Ramkrishna Tamrakar has urged the business community to help the government identify and take action against black marketers and smugglers, and the ministers and government employees assisting them in their illegal activities.

Minister Tamrakar, who was inaugurating the 13th annual general meeting of Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry here today, made it clear that the increase in the international market prices of petroleum productions compelled Nepal also to increase the prices of the same.

VAT has been implemented in the country not by giving in to pressure from donors but to promote healthy business by checking illegal transactions and smuggling, he said.

On the occasion, Minister Tamrakar on behalf of the chamber presented best exporter award to Logo Industries, Lovely Connection, Namkha Carpet and Gomang Carpet.

MP Narayan Man Bijukshe said since the people are highly troubled by the increase in the prices of petroleum products the government should lower the electricity tariff by 50 per cent to provide some relief to the people.

MP Lekhnath Neupane stressed the need to promote small and cottage industries based on locally available labour and raw materials.

FNCCI president Pradip Kumar Shrestha accused those at the helm of power and policy makers of giving more importance to politics and their powers than to the country’s economy.

Chamber president Krishna Prasad Tamrakar urged the Bhaktapur Municipality to withdraw the unilateral decision to impose business tax in the district.

Mr Tamrakar also presented medals, prizes and certificates to the winners of table tennis competition organised on the occasion of the 30th auspicious birthday of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince.

Chamber vice president Yuvak Rajbhandari, DDC vice chairman Ramesh Shrestha, Mayor of Bhaktapur Prem Suwal, deputy mayor of Madhyapur Thimi Murari Prasad Acharya and others also expressed their views.

On the occasion, MP Bijukshe inaugurated the free health camp organised by the chamber for the labourers of Bhaktapur Industrial Estate.

Maoists affected people for speedy solution

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 21: While the political parties and leaders are making a fuss over what to do with the Maoists problem, the common people, who have suffered from the Maoists violent campaign, are struggling hard to survive day in and day out. They seem completely helpless to do anything other than censure the Maoists for the sufferings their violent campaign has brought to them and also said that the government has yet to do anything concrete to end their sufferings. Those who have been at the receiving end of the Maoists’ activities think the Maoist problem is more a terrorist problem than a political one and the Maoists’ violence is directed mainly at the Nepali Congress party, its workers and supporters. But they agreed that talk is the best way to solve this problem. Only if this fails then the government should go for other means such as using force, they say.

The victims of the Maoists have also formed a committee, ‘Nepal Maobadi Pidit Sangh (Organisation of the Victims of the Maoists) with branches in four districts of mid-west Nepal. The Central Committee of the organisation organised an interaction programme in Kathmandu today. Several members of the organisation complain about the different ways of looking at the problem by the political parties and also by different leaders of the Nepali Congress.

Laxman Timilsina, a member of the Organisation, said the Maoists could not be dealt at the people’s level and added that if they do not come for talks, then force may be the only solution. He said the Citizens’ Protection Committee, formed by the government, cannot fight with the Maoists. He even said the people in those areas have become desperate and have come to the point of demanding weapons to fight the Maoists.

The Committee’s district secretary of Kalikot district accused the government and the political parties of failing to realise the gravity of the sufferings of the people. "When the Home Minister visited the Maoist-affected areas recently, he spent several hundred thousand rupees to charter the helicopter but he did not deem it necessary to carry any relief material." He also said the government has failed to help the Organisation.

One speaker, Jhalak Nath Wagle, former assistant minister and NC’s district president of the Jajarkot district said the police is in no condition to solve the problem. He also said in his district the army has began patrolling the district headquarters and the surrounding areas.

Other speakers at the programme include MPs Tanka Prasad Sharma Kandel, Khem Raj Mayalu, Romi Gauchan, Birendra Kanaudiya, NC’s district president of Salyan, Dilli Raj Regmi and President of the Reporters’ Club Rishi Dhamala.

All of them were unanimous in that the Maoists resorted to violence after they were convinced that they could not rise through peaceful political means. They also complained that the confusion and differing of opinions within the Nepali Congress and among the political parties have delayed in finding a solution to the problem. Still, they said, talk is the best way to solve the problem and if it fails the government must fulfil its responsibilities of maintaining peace and order, protecting the lives and properties of the people and the constitution.

The programme was held under the chairmanship of the Organisation’s president Ganesh Chilwal.

Injustice, terror on rise: Nepal

Kathmandu, Oct. 21 (RSS):  Leader of the main opposition and General Secretary of the CPN-UML Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that the Nepalese have sought freedom from injustice, violence and terror that are on the increase in the country today.

Inaugurating the two-day third district conference of the Kathmandu district committee of the Democratic National Youth Federation (DNYF) Nepal, Mr. Nepal alerted all against the regressive elements which want to make the country directionless by finishing off the multiparty democracy attained after much struggle and sacrifice, depriving the people of their rights and bringing development process to a stand still.

He said the political parties, civil society and intellectuals should shoulder equal responsibility as the people in general.

General Secretary Nepal called for easy availability of consumer and said that the people are very mush affected by the present increase in the prices of petroleum products.

The Maoists are engaged in violence and terror in the name of people’s movement, he said, adding that as dialogue alone is the proper medium of resolving the problem both the Maoists and the government should take initiative to hold dialogue.

The Maoists are ready to hold talks but why the government is not ready to sit with them, he said, adding if there is any difficulty the CPN-UML is ready to create an atmosphere for talks.

CPN-UML standing committee member and MP Ishwor Pokhrel called on the youth to be active against the elements that are trying to prove the multiparty system unsuitable for the country.

Central member of the CPN-UML and secretary of the valley coordination committee of the party Krishna Gopal Shrestha called on all the Nepalese people to follow democratic culture and behaviour to promote national unity.

MP Pashupati Chaulagain pointed out the need for the youth to rise against injustice and oppression in the country.

Vice chairman of the Kathmandu DDC and CPN-UML Kathmandu district committee secretary Rameswor Fuyal called on the youth to raise voice against the price hikes in the country.

At the function presided over by coordinator of the conference Shyam Krishna Bhandari, various other speakers including Ramsharan Ale Magar of the All Nepal Farmers Association, Mira Dhoju of All Nepal Women’s Association and Keshar Man Maharjan also expressed their views.

Bio-fuels substitution helps conserve environment

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct 21: The substitution of traditional form of energy sources like fuel wood and cow-dung by bio-briquettes has been identified as an effective form of alternative energy for a country like Nepal, where 90 per cent of energy need is being met through bio fuels.

"Share of bio-mass in meeting Nepal’s energy demand is ninety per cent, which if replaced by bio-briquettes could contribute substantially to conserve the environment," National Planning Commission member Rameshananda Vaidya said.

He said unlike in Nepal the share of bio mass in meeting the total energy needs in India is only 40 per cent as coal is being widely used.

The bio-briquette, as it requires wastage biomass like saw dust and rice husk as the primary material, can bring a fundamental change in the raw materials for energy production and could be pivotal in the preservation of natural forests.

"Our over dependence on biomass for our energy needs has been consuming a lot of time of the rural women, hence biomass must be replaced by other forms of energy," Dr. Vaidya told the seminar on ‘Bio-briquette as an Alternative Household Fuel in Nepal’ here recently.

The seminar was organised by the King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation (KMTNC).

Dr. Vaidya said if rural women could be given an alternative source of energy then the time they spend in collecting firewood could be instead utilised for other income generating activities.

The main challenge faced while attempting to introduce bio-briquette as an alternative source of energy is that there is very low cost incurred for fuel wood whereas in the case of bio-briquette the costs are considerably higher, he said.

Dr. Vaidya said that the government must create the competitive environment to promote alternative sources of energy.

Dr. T Maruyama, member of the Institute of Himalayan Conservation (IHC) stressed the need to enhance the partnership between RONAST and IHC in promoting the bio-briquette technology in Nepal.

He said that the IHC had been promoting the technology in 18 countries. "We were able to lower the pollution level and step up forest conservation in Japan through the use of bio-briquette as an alternate source of energy," Dr. Maruyama said.

He said in the Anjiang city of China, six hundred thousand tons of bio-briquette was being produced annually.

Dr. Maruyama said as Nepal had a diverse bio-mass, there was a bright prospect for the development of bio-briquette technology.

Mohan Bahadur Karki, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Science and Technology said the sky-rocketing price of fossil fuels has given rise to the need to explore alternate source of energy.

He said the government was looking forward to enhance the technology to develop locally available, non- polluting and non-hazardous household fuel.

Dr. Deepak Gewali of KMTNC said if Nepal follows the path of subsidised petrol then it will not be inviting sustainability.

He said the bio-briquette technology had proven to be technically feasible and could contribute towards conserving the environment in Nepal.

Ganga Jung Thapa of KMTNC said Nepal should explore the local alternatives available to reduce dependence on forest.

‘Safe transport need of hour’

Butwal, Oct. 21 (RSS): Minister of State for Labour and Transport Management Surendra Hamal inaugurated the sixth convention of the West Nepal Bus Operators’ Federation, here today.

The two-day convention is participated in by 156 bus operator representatives.

Speaking on the occasion, Minister of State Hamal said reliable, safe and easily available transport service is the need of the day.

Expressing concern over the increasing road accidents due to negligence, Mr Hamal stressed the need for promotion of the professionalism in transport sector.

NC central member and president of the Nepal Tarun Dal Bal Krishna Khand said the political parties should not make the professional organisations means to fulfill their political motive.

Central president of the Nepal Transport Operators’ Federation Sharad Upreti called for amendment to the impractical clauses of the Transport Vehicle Act.

Central member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chop Narayan Shrestha pointed out the need for protecting the investment of transport operators.

General secretary of the Nepal Transport Operators’ Federation Bishnu Shiwakoti called for controlling of the monopoly of fake Sajha buses.

From the chair, president of the Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation Krishna Prasad Neupane presented a budget of Rs. 30 million for fiscal year 057/058 B.S.

Also speaking on the occasion were Baburam Rana of NC, Bijaya Poudel of CPN-UML, industrialists Arjun Man Sainju and Mahendra Narayan Shrestha.

Rural energy programmes effective for development

Kathmandu, Oct. 21 (RSS): The Rural Energy Development Programme (REDP) is very effective for the establishment of small scale hydropower, mobilisation of local resources, capital formation, environment management, women’s empowerment, capacity building and overall development of the country.

Started with the joint initiative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and His Majesty’s Government in 1996, the programme is also very useful to mobilise and strengthen local level institutions which is very significant for the sustainance of rural energy systems and for generating awareness among the local people of rural areas.

By the end of 2000, 60 micro-hydro plants generating about 1000 KW of electrical power will be installed in l0 districts with REDP support. This will add about 40 per cent to electrical power generated from micro hydro plants in Nepal. About 8,500 households will have access to electricity after completion of these plants.

As of 31 December 1999, 25 plants with a total capacity of 400 KW had already been commissioned. A number of peltric sets have also been installed in programme districts.

The programme is now being implemented in the 15 districts of Achham, Baitadi, Dadeldhura, Bajura, Dailekh, Pyuthan, Baglung, Myagdi, Parvat, Tanahu, Dolakha, Kavre, Sindhupalchok, Okhaldhunga and Tehrathum.

Community Organisations (CO) created as self-governing broad based institutions at the grassroots have supported the decentralization process by providing the rural people a platform to launch activities directly concerning them.

As of September, 2000, 2,013 female COs and 1,003 male COs with 39,396 members covering a total of 21,192 households had been formed in 10 districts. Likewise, a total of 56,669 people including 28,246 women of Functional Groups (FG) with representation from all concerned COs have helped gender and caste/ethnic group mainstreaming and achieved genuine participation of villagers for undertaking specific activities like the installation and operation of micro hydro schemes and community forestry.

These organisations have realised a total of Rs 6.97 million in savings and made investments of Rs. 12,901,810/- in various income generating activities in the programme districts.

The programme is also very fruitful in the field of human resource development and so far a total of 15,233 persons have received training in various fields including technical, institutional development and income generation.

Natural resource management is also a very important part of the programme. The community organisations of the programme areas have established 82 nurseries which have planted 1,181,644 trees including 41,810 fruit trees and prepared 19 environment assessment reports.

Around 227 environment campaign classes have been run, a total of 6,459 toilets including 1,721 permanent ones constructed and about 3,002 waste bins distributed under the programme.

A total of 329 KM of trail roads have been constructed and 23 KM repaired and over 121 km cleaned as of the end of last August.

One of the focus areas of REDP is capacity building of different institutions at all three levels-central, district and grassroots. For this, human resources development activities are implemented at all levels focusing on training and building up the capacity of DDCs to plan and manage rural energy development programs. DDCs are further supported to integrate decentralized energy planning with overall development programmes.

So far, about 770 persons have received various kinds of technical training related to rural energy and other areas. Training manuals on micro hydro survey, operations, management, repair and maintenance are prepared as an integral component of training and provided to participants for future reference.

Competition for Aishwarya Cultural Shield

Kathmandu, Oct. 21 (RSS): The Aishwarya cultural shield competition held on the occasion of the 52nd auspicious birthday of Her Majesty Queen Aishwarya Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah by the curriculum development center concluded yesterday.

In the competition Galaxy Public School secured first place in dance, Purnatara Boarding Secondary School took second place, and V S Niketan third with Proxima English School taking the consolation prize.

Similarly, Jyoti Academy took first place in folk dance, Nightingale Secodary School Second, Galaxy Public School third and Maryland Secondary School won the consolation prize.

Nightingale Secondary was first in folk song with Galaxy Public taking second place.

Sahana opens Kailali meet of CPN-ML

Dhangadi, Oct. 21 (RSS): President of the CPN-ML Mrs Sahana Pradhan, inaugurating the two-day Kailali district convention of the CPN-ML here yesterday, said that the party workers should embrace the policies and principles of the party and go to the people.

Referring to the drawbacks in the existing election system, Mrs Pradhan said that the CPN-ML had stressed the need for proportional representation election system in order to enable the small parties to carry out works for the people.

Member of the CPN-ML central committee Trilochan Dhakal said that the path of violence chosen by the CPN-Maoists was wrong.

Another CPN-ML central member Bhim Bahadur Kathayat said that the country needed a virtuous person and party today.

At the convention chaired by secretary of Kailali district CPN-ML committee Yagya Raj Bastola, former MP Maheswore Pathak, ANNFSU central member Dirgha Sodari, president of the District Federation of Nepalese Journalists Manmohan Swanr, president of the CPN-ML judicial committee Bhojraj Joshi, Khem Subedi and others also expressed their views.