Peace with security essential, says HM

Kathmandu, Apr. l4 (RSS): His Majesty the King has said that peace with security is essential for development and for society to progress, development becomes necessary.

In a message to the nation on the occasion of New Year’s Day 2058, His Majesty said the primary responsibility of the state is to function within the framework of a just and equitable polity, safeguarding the lives, property and freedom of its citizens.

It has now become imperative to overcome the prevailing economic anomalies and social aberrations through good governance and political stability and provide the people a credible basis for optimism towards a prosperous and secure future, His Majesty further said in the message.

His Majesty also hoped that the government, constitutional bodies, political parties, people’s representatives, public servants, intelligentsia and the people themselves will pay timely attention towards fulfilling their responsibilities with integrity and fiscal discipline to consolidate multi-party democracy.

Full text of the message:

On the auspicious occasion of the New Year 2058, we extend our best wishes to All Nepalese, wherever they may be, for peace prosperity and happiness.

Peace with security is essential for development and for society to progress, development becomes necessary. The primary responsibility of the state is to function within the framework of a just and equitable polity, safeguarding the lives, property and freedom of its citizens. It has now become imperative to overcome the prevailing economic anomalies and social aberrations through good governance and political stability and provide the people a credible basis for optimism towards a prosperous and secure future. It is, therefore, our hope that the government, consitutional bodies, political parties, people’s representatives, public servants, intelligentsia and the people themselves will pay timely attention towards fulfilling their responsibilities with integrity and fiscal discipline to consolidate multiparty democracy.

May the Nepalese, on this day, be able to generate an atmosphere of mutual trust, understanding and co-operation to uphold their national interest and enhance the welfare of the people.

May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all !

Jaya Nepal !

Dr Koirala returns to GS as chairman

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 13: The Ministry of Information and Communications today appointed Prof. Dr. Parashar Koirala as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gorkhapatra Corporation for a period of two years.

Dr. Koirala, who has been involved in the field of teaching for the last three decades, had also worked as the Executive Chairman of the Corporation in 1998. But he was given an opportunity to work only for two weeks.

Beginning his new tenure, Chairman Dr. Koirala said that he would do his best to improve the newspapers being published and the Corporation as a whole. "The change of a person at the helms of affair does not mean anything if real change in the Corporation does not follow in the real sense."

A doctorate in marketing from the Delhi School of Economics in 1987, Dr. Koirala has many books to his credit such as Sales Promotion in Nepal, Principles of Insurance and Banking System in Nepal.

He also worked as Campus Chief of Nepal Commerce Campus, Minbhawan, for a period of five years from 2037 B.S.

SLC exams to start tomorrow

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS): The School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations-2057 commences on April 15 Sunday (Baisakh 2, 2058).

A total of 213,807 candidates including 160,923 from the regular group and 52,884 from the exempted group are appearing in the SLC examinations this year.

Of them, 123,252 are boys and 90,555 are girls, it is learnt from the Office of the Controller of Examinations.

In the regular category the examination is being conducted on the basis of the new syllabus (full marks 800) and the old syllabus (full marks 700), while in the exempted group, the examination will be on the basis of the old syllabus alone.

The examination under the old syllabus will be conducted for seven days as in past years while the one under the new syllabus will run for eight days.

In the examination to be conducted as per the new course, separate question papers for compulsory subjects will be used for each region. Moreover, there will be two parrellel sets of question papers for English and Mathematics even within the same region.

Apart from the theory papers, oral tests for compulsory english and practical tests for optional computer science will be held on an external basis.

SLC examination coordination committees are active in all 75 districts of the Kingdom in order to conduct the examinations in a fair and sober manner.

Altogether 25,775 persons, including 816 superintendents, 1,636 deputy superintendents, 10,301 invigilators, 1,000 oral test monitors, 8,160 security personnel and 3,862 assistant staff will be directly involved in conducting the examinations simultaneously at all 816 examination centres throughout the country.

His Majesty’s Government, the Ministry of Education and Sports and the Office of the Controller of Examinations have earnestly requested all teachers, students, guardians and civic society for their cooperation in making the examinations sound, fair and dignified.

Promotion

Kathmandu, Apr. 14 (RSS): His Majesty the King has, in accordance with the Royal Palace Service Regulations, transferred and promoted chief of the Department of Crown Property Secretary Sudan Prasad Pokharel to the post of Principal Private Secretary with effect from today.

Principal Secretary at the office of chief of the Royal Household Dhanmani Acharya and Principal Private Secretary Dr Chet Bahadur Kunwar have retired due to age limit.

This is stated in a notice issued today by the Principal Press secretariat of His Majesty the King.

PM inquires about health of Rajbhandari

Itahari, Apr. 14 (RSS): Nepali Congress President and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala went to the B.P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Dharan today and inquired about the health of chairman of local Chandbela VDC Gopal Rajbhandari who has been seriously injured in a Maoist attack.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala wished for Mr. Rajbhandari’s speedy recovery.

Mr. Rajbhajdari was admited to the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences on April 11 after he was critically wounded in an armed assault at his house that night by CPN-Maoists.

Some 150 armed Maoists are learnt to have beaten Mr. Rajbhandari almost to death. He was elected VDC chairman on a NC ticket in the last local elections.

He is now out of danger, according to physicians attending on him.

EC to update voters’ list

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS): The Election Commission is to launch a programme from April 14 in accordance with the Voters’ List Regulations and Act-2052 with the objective of including the names of the voters completing the age of 18 by April 13 in the new voters’ list and updating the voters’ list.

According to the press communique issued by the Election Commission here today, the voter’s names are collected in the month of Baisakh (March/April), the voters list is published in the end of Jestha, application for correction of voter’s name, surname, date of birth, age, etc are to be made by Asar 15, the applications will be scrutinized and the amended voter’s list published by the end of Asar, complaints against the voters lists and notice for removal of the names of the voters from the voters list have to lodged by Srawan 15 and the final voters’ list will be published in the end of Srawan every year.

Likewise, the family inventory programme is to be launched in Morang, Kaski, Banke, Makawanpur and Kailali districts on a trail basis from this year.

The name and age of all the family members will be collected under the family inventory programme.

The family inventory programme is expected to help the Election Commission in preparing the voters list based on facts and ending the practice of inculiding the names of the minors in the voters’ list.

The Election Commission has designated the Chief District Officers as the chief name registration officer in all the districts concerned, the district election officers in 30 districts as the name registration officer, assistant chief district officers or the administrative officers as the name registration officers in the remaining 45 districts where the district election offices have not been set up.

Likewise, the secretary of the village development committee concerned and the secretary of the wards of the municipality have been designated as name registration officers.

The Election Commission will collect the names of the voters and update the voters’ list by visiting the doorsteps of the voters in 105 election constituencies where the voters’ identity card system have been introduced.

Koirala stresses education for girls

Itahari, Apr. 13 (RSS): President of the Nepali Congress and Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated the golden jubilee ceremony of the Sharada Balika Namuna Higher Secondary School set up in Dharan for the girls of eastern Nepal at a function today.

The school built with the donation provided by social workers late Mrs Mohan Kumari Shrestha in 2004 B.S. is being run by education lovers late Surendra Maskey and Pandit Chhabilal Pokherel since 2005 B.S.

It is the first school to be run in eastern Nepal by education lovers late Surendra Maskey and Pandit Chhabilal Pokherel by gathering seven local children and educating them with the help of two teachers Hauli and Dhauli.

The school which was completely destroyed by the earthquake in 2045 B.S. was renovated with the assistance of Rs 11 million provided by the Swiss Red Cross.

At present the Higher Secondary School runs 10+2 classes in education and management streams.

Social workers Fanindra and Puspa Acharya have built a well equiped hostel at a cost of two million rupees for the school taking into consideration the pressure of students in the school.

In his inaugural address, Prime Minister Koirala said the endurance shown by the school for eschewing conservative mind set and providing education to girls in a extremely difficult conditions is commendable.

The nation can not prosper in the absence of education, he said, adding academic advancement has greater significance in accomplishing the onerous task of nation building.

Students are the foundation of the nation and all should give attention to provide employment-oriented technical education to the students.

These days, the concept of "Education for All" has been receiving priority world-wide and the western countries have reached the peak in terms of development, he said, adding His Majesty’s Government is sensitive towards providing education to all Nepalese in an equitable manner.

"I have just read the academic statistics of the country in which I found girl students drop the school at 6-7 grades. It is a matter of grave concern," he said, adding " I have given instruction to the Ministry of Education to find the reasons for dropping out and to make arrangement to create a congenial atmosphere under which all the girl students can receive higher education."

Despite the requests that B. P. Koirala Institute of Medical Science be established at some other places, I have chosen Dharan, a meeting point between Terai and hilly region to reflect my intimacy with this town, Premier Koirala said.

With the advancement in the field of science and technology, the world has become a small village, he said, adding it is indispensable to make every possible effort to bring about technological advancement so that nation’s pride and its image can be enhanced.

Referring to the commitment made by the UNESCO for upgrading the quality of education in Nepal, he said that all should strive for materialising the academic agenda put forth by the SAARC.

He pledged co-operation on his behalf for the academic and physical development of the secondary school.

Necessary measures would be taken in waiving the loans of the earthquake victims of 2045 B.S., he added

On the occasion he also felicitated the founders, the donors, the teachers and employees of the school in recognition of their long service by wrapping shawls around them.

At the function chaired by the convenor of the school’s golden jubilee organising committee Sarala Kayastha, MP Janardan Acharya, representative of Swiss Solidarity Chain Yakob Nidar, head master Pratima Pokharel, chairman of the school management committee Arun Prasad Dhakal and Fanindra Prasad Acharya also expressed their views.

On the occasion Premier Koirala also released the Sharada Vani, a souvenir published by the school, and Akhabar, a weekly to be published from Dharan.

Cheema asked to leave country

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 13: The government has asked Muhammad Arshad Cheema, the First Secretary of the Embassy of Pakistan, to leave the country within 24 hours following the RDX seizure from the house he was alleged to have been residing.

Acknowledging Cheema to have been residing in the premises where the large amount of RDX explosive was found yesterday, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) has made it clear "Since it is incompatible with his diplomatic duties and inconsistent with Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations HMG has decided that Cheema should leave the country within 24 hours."

A press release issued today by the MoFA has also made it clear that the Government of Pakistan has assured to take action against him if he is found guilty in this connection.

The police had yesterday seized explosive RDX weighing 16.2 kgs from a house occupied by Sachal Engineering Works Pvt. Ltd. at New Baneshwor where Cheema was said to have been residing for the past few days. He was scheduled to leave today for his home country after completing his three-year tenure as the first secretary at the Embassy of Pakistan.

Govt firm to develop video film: Joshi

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Shivaraj Joshi inaugurated the national seminar on the problems and solutions of video films in Nepal organised by the film development board here today.

Speaking on the occasion Minister Joshi said that His Majesty’s Government is committed to development of video films suitable to the geographical conditions of Nepal.

Joshi urged the motion picture experts to move ahead by taking concrete decisions for production and development of video films in the country.

Chairman of the motion pictures development board Yadav Kharel said that video films plays an important role in a country like Nepal with remote areas.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government has also formulated a policy taking into consideration this factor, Mr Kharel said that the film producers should remain active to solve the problems being faced by this sector.

Joint secretary at the Ministry Hemraj Poudel said it is very unfortunate that production of video films which can be screened in every corner of the country has stopped. The film producers, distributors and artistes should seriously discuss this matter, he added.

President of the Nepal Motion Pictures Association Bishnu Gopal Shrestha, president of the Nepal Video Film Association Rubayanath Koirala and members of the motion pictures development board Basundhara Bhusal and Mukunda Dhungana threw light on the requirements and importance of video films in Nepal.

Report submitted

Kathmandu, Apr. 13 (RSS): The Commission formed to probe into vandalism, arson and looting in Kathmandu Valley, Rajbiraj, Bara and Dhanusa in the month of Poush, 2057 B.S. has submitted its report to Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Ramchandra Poudel along with its findings and recommendations today.

His Majesty’s Government had formed the Commission on February 9 to probe into the incidents taking place in the country in protest against the alleged derogatory remarks about Nepal made by Indian cine star Hritik Roshan.

The commission was assigned to examine the background and causes and effects of vandalism, arson and looting which took place in Kathmandu Valley on December 26, 27 and 28, in Rajbiraj on December 31 in Bara and Dhanusa where unanticipated incidents took place few days later and to submit its findings and recommendations in these connections.

The incident had claimed lives of five persons in Kathmandu and one in Rajbiraj while vandalism, arson and looting took place in various parts of the country.

Receiving the report at the Ministry of Home, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Home Poudel thanked the chairman and the members of the commission for preparing the report on the sensitive issue which hurt the feelings of all the Nepalese.

He also gave assurance that HMG will take necessary action after studying the report.

Chairman of the commission Govinda Kumar Shrestha said that it had carried out thorough and factual inquiry and investigation into the incidents in close liaison with people’s representatives, victims and political parties in the course of preparing the report.

Joint secretary at the Ministry of Home Keshav Raj Ghimire and legal practitioner Umesh Kant Jha of Sarlahi were the members of the commission.

Special tourism campaign aims Indian market

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Apr. 13: Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) is very shortly beginning what it calls a special promotional campaign in the Indian market in a bid to bring up the number of Indian tourists between May and July — the peak season for Indian tourists to visit the country — this year.

NTB officials said here today that they would in the near future launch the special campaign titled "Festival of Life" that would offer special packages and programs for Indian visitors who would be arriving here between May and July.

Highlighting the promotional extravaganza, Tek Bahadur Dangi, Marketing Director at NTB, said that the Indian tourists who would be arriving here during the three months would be provided with a Privilege Card.

"NTB will distribute the card to those Indians coming into Nepal through airlines, travel agents in India and also through our diplomatic missions in India," he said.

According to NTB’s plan, the holders of the Privilege Card will be entitled to benefits and attractive discounts in hotels, restaurants, cable car, handicraft items, department stores, free casino coupons, trekking, rafting, jungle safari, among others.

In yet another benefit, the card holders will enjoy the priority to visit and offer worships at the Temple of Pashupatinath. "This is being done in coordination with the Pashupati Area Development Trust that will deploy its volunteers to facilitate the cardholders to visit the Pashupatinath Temple," Dangi said.

NTB officials said that the board has joined hands with different components of the travel trade to make the campaign a success. "We have developed several ideas with tour operators. Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation, for instance, will actively help us to promote the campaign and will offer special discounts for the event."

The board also plans to offer special festival packages for the tourists visiting during the upcoming monsoon season. "Apart from the regular festivals, we are also developing other special programmes for the visitors."

According to Dangi, the program will be launched amidst much fanfare when Indian electronic media will cover the event. "We will also take help of popular Indian electronic media like ZEE TV, Star, among others, for the publicity of the campaign. The print media will equally be utilised."

NTB is launching the aggressive promotional campaign in India in the wake of the decreased number of Indian visitors in the country of late. Last year the number of Indian tourist arrivals went down by more than 30 per cent. The worst decline — more than 50 per cent — was recorded in January, 2000, immediately after the hijack of the Indian Airlines Airbus on December 24, 1999. The aircraft had taken off for New Delhi from Kathmandu. The total number of Indian visitors last year stood at only 95,879 while it was well above 140,000 in 1999.

The arrival figure did not show any improvement even during last year’s monsoon season — when Indians visit the country most. In May last year, when the arrivals of Indian visitors tops the list, the figure was only a little less than 10,000 while above 20,000 Indians had visited the country during the corresponding period in 1999.

After the Indian Airlines hijack episode came the protest against the unconfirmed and alleged remarks of an Indian cine star against Nepal and Nepalese. To add fuel to the worsening situation, increasing number of shut down strikes kept tourists, including Indians, from the country.

And then there was the row over the service charge between Hotel owners and employees.

While all these factors ganged up to adversely affect the tourism industry, especially the Indian market, the number of Indian outbound tourists continued to grow. There is roughly a 37 per cent increase every year in the number of Indian holidayers going abroad, according to NTB. The outbound travel in India in 1999 was 4.6 million out of which 60 per cent of all trips abroad were made for business purpose and 40 per cent were for leisure.

But, the sad news is Nepal’s ranking in the Indian visitors’ priority list is going down, according to NTB officials. The first three destinations Indian tourists prefer these days to visit are Singapore, the USA and Thailand.

Nepal ranks in the fourth. Yet, Indian tourists in the country occupy more than 30 per cent of the total arrivals — recorded at around 500,000 last year.