TB poses increasing threat in South Asia

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Kathmandu, Aug. 3: Even after 40 years of fighting tuberculosis with the establishment of National TB Programmes, South Asia has failed to contain or control the disease, with 1.4 million new smear positive cases and nearly 2.5 million new cases of all forms of tuberculosis being reported every year. Annually 600,000 people die of TB in the SAARC region.

According to the SAARC Tuberculosis Centre, the Region accounts for 38 per cent of the world’s burden of tuberculosis and almost 50 per cent of the adult population already being infected.

The high rate of HIV infection has added an even menacing dimension to the pathology of the disease. Already, there are 2 million people (17 per cent of the world’s total) have already been dually infected with TB and HIV in the region.

The disease levies an ominous cost in the economic and social sector with up to 30 per cent of the household income and 4-7 per cent of the country’s GDPs lost to the morbidity and mortality due to TB.

"On the whole, TB costs the region around US$ 4 billion every year," the Centre says.

The migratory population within the Region could be a major mode for the transmission and infection of the disease.

The SAARC Tuberculosis Centre is organising a two-day meeting on August 6 and 7 in Kathmandu to formulate guidelines for migratory population for TB & HIV/AIDS Control.

The Centre said that the meeting aims to develop joint plan of action, including pilot project for dealing with migratory issues in TB and HIV/AIDs. The meeting will also exchange experiences, lessons learnt and the constraints facing in controlling TB and HIV/AIDS for migratory population.

The key to effective TB control is to find infectious cases and cure then, hence breaking the chain of transmission and preventing the development of further drug resistant disease.

For this, the Centre said, Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS), which was started in 1995, is the best way with more than 80 per cent cure rate. Presently, 40 per cent of the population in the SAARC region have access to DOTS.

Personal record registration very low in Chitwan

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Chitawan, Aug. 3: Most of families have not registered their personal records such as birth, death, divorce and migration in Chitwan district.

According to the Chitwan District Development Committee (DDC), there was a total of 7,162-birth registration in 2053 B. S. Likewise, the number of deaths recorded was 1,296, marriage 3,339 and migration 2,290. However, divorce case was not found to have recorded in the district in last year.

About fifty per cent of population is found to have shown indifferent in registration of their personal records, said Harichandra Pandit, a DDC official.

The government has made it compulsory to keep personal records of citizens for an update information on population in the country. The rule is that people have to register their record within 35 days of the event. Otherwise they have to pay Rs 50 as fine. General awareness among people has become key for the timely registration of their personal records.

However, Chitwan district has seen the registration high in compare to other districts of the country, said LDC Dinesh Kumar Thapalia.

The DDC with the assistance of UNICEF is planning to launch the public awareness campaign among the different communities in the district.

It is expected that personal record registration will be increased from 80 per cent to 90 per cent in this year.

One dead, 25 injured in Kashmir

Srinagar, India Aug. 3 (AP): Apparently provoked by anti-India slogans, the army on Friday opened fire on Kashmiris mourning the death of a key separatist guerrilla. A 12-year-old boy was killed and 25 others were injured, eyewitnesses said.

The mourners chanted "Down with India" as they saw a military convoy blocking their path in Goigam, a town 30 kilometres west of Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu-Kashmir state.

"A 12-year-old boy was killed in the army firing and another 25 people were injured," said Naeem Khan, chairman of the separatist People's Patriotic Front.

Three of the injured were hospitalised in Srinagar.

Thousands of mourners were marching to a playground to attend a rally to be addressed by key Kashmiri separatist leaders, including Syed Ali Shah Geelani and Naeem Khan.

"The army wanted to prevent people from attending the rally," Khan said.

The Indian army had no immediate comment.

The mourners had earlier attended a religious ceremony at the home of Mustafa Khan, a battalion commander of the Pakistan-based Hezb-ul Mujahedeen group, who was killed by Indian security forces in a battle inside the shrine of a Shia Muslim saint on Monday.

Nearly 20,000 people had attended his burial in Goigam on Tuesday.

Khan was active for five years in the Goigam area, a stronghold of guerrillas fighting to separate Kashmir from India and unite it to Pakistan.

Elsewhere in Kashmir, four militants were killed in fighting with government forces in Kupwara district. Another two militants were killed when a land mine they were trying to plant exploded in Tral, a village 40 kilometres southeast of Srinagar, the police control room said.

India accuses Pakistan of arming, training and funding several groups that have been fighting in Kashmir since 1989 from bases inside Pakistan.

India and Pakistan have fought two of their three wars over the predominantly Muslim region, which is divided between them by a cease-fire line.

Sharon scales back peace goals

Jerusalem Aug. 3 (AP):

After 10 months of violence, Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon does not believe full peace with the Palestinians is possible and is aiming for less, while the official Palestinian news agency called for an end to armed attacks.

However, violence continued Friday. A 6-year-old boy was lightly wounded when Palestinians fired a mortar shell at a Jewish settlement in Gaza. Palestinians said Israeli tanks fired shells in retaliation.

A Palestinian women tried to carry a bomb into the Tel Aviv central bus station, police said, but security guards challenged her and she dropped the bag with the bomb. Police arrested the woman, cleared the area and were defusing the device.

In an editorial printed in a Palestinian paper on Friday, the official Palestinian news agency, Wafa, called said throwing rocks and shoes at Israelis is "more effective than mortar shells fired at Israeli settlements." The editorial said, "we have to admit that no matter how many casualties we may cause the Israelis, we will not be able to win the war against them."

The editorial said the Palestinians could achieve their goals "only by political means ... by the use of rocks to fight the Israelis (but) not inside Israel, and not using firearms."

Wafa, which usually reflects Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat's views, also criticized Palestinians who threatened the United States and Europe.

Meanwhile, Sharon said Israel must lower its sights and stop aiming for a peace treaty. "A clear-eyed outlook of the continued state of animosity," he said, "demands a different approach than the one we have tried so far with the Palestinians." He was speaking at a military graduation ceremony outside Tel Aviv Thursday.

Israel and the Palestinians signed their first interim accord in 1993, a framework with a timetable for negotiating a full peace treaty. However, talks broke down in January, because of deep disagreements over core issues like the future of Jerusalem and Palestinian refugees. Fighting erupted at the end of September.

Sharon said his aim now is "gradual progress based on interim agreements with the long-term goal of reaching a state of non-belligerence."

Palestinians have said that they are not prepared to negotiate another partial accord with Israel.

In any event, Sharon has said repeatedly that there can be no negotiations until all violence ends, blaming the Palestinians for failure to implement a cease-fire negotiated by CIA director George Tenet last month. of international observers immediately."

A suspected Palestinian collaborator, Abdullah Abu Alhawa, 56, was shot and killed by Palestinians in the West Bank Friday, the fourth to die this week. On Friday the Palestinian Authority issued a statement declaring that it has the sole authority to act against "anyone trying to violate the interest of the Palestinian people," an apparent attempt to stop the street executions.

In the West Bank town of Jenin, 60 Palestinians suspected of collaborating with Israel have been arrested, according to Palestinian security officials. This week four Palestinians were sentenced to death for collaboration. The sentences must be approved by Arafat.

In Jerusalem, Friday prayers ended peacefully after Israeli police banned Palestinian men under 40 years old from entering the Al Aqsa Mosque compound to prevent riots. Clashes erupted Sunday at the disputed site, holy to both Muslims and Jews.

In the West Bank city of Hebron, Palestinians clashed with Israeli soldiers guarding Jewish enclaves. At least five Palestinians were wounded.

RNAC with less aircraft, lesser markets

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Aug. 3: Infamous for already being in shambles, Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) will be poorer by one aircraft in its feeble fleet from tomorrow and by three of its markets beginning next month.

In what could be devastating torpedoes against the nation’s ailing tourism industry, the national flag carrier today made two major decisions. It decided to send back the leased Boeing 757 of the China South West Airlines tomorrow, almost two months before the earlier agreed lease period, leaving the national airline with only two of its Boeing 757s. And, more importantly, citing the inadequate fleet and its inability to meet the operation cost, the national flag carrier also declared that it was pulling out of its three markets – the European sector, Singapore and Dubai – from September 1 next month.

"Since we are not in financial position to operate leased aircraft, RNAC’s board of directors decided to send CSWA’s Boeing back," said a senior official at the national airline. "As per the cancelled sectors, these are the markets where we do not even earn to sustain our operations." RNAC’s board, that has five members including its Executive Chairman, made the two decisions today but did not come out with any official statement.

The official said that the markets RNAC will be pulling out of do not even have 65 per cent of occupancy and therefore they are incurring heavy losses to the national flag carrier. "At this point of time there is no other way out than to pull out."

Based on the same decreased number of passengers factor, RNAC decided to send back its leased aircraft of the CSWA whom it had been paying US$ 3,100 per flight hour for the Boeing 757. The lease agreement required RNAC to operate the aircraft for at least 275 hours in a month. "By sending it back two months ahead of the lease period, we are trying to save money that we would have to pay to CSWA said the official."

In less than one month, this is the second leased aircraft RNAC is sending back after it did so with the controversy-ridden Lauda Air Boeing 767.

With only two of its aircraft and five cut out destinations – London, Paris and Frankfurt in the European Sector, apart from Singapore and Dubai – RNAC’s decision is sure to further rock the ailing travel industry. Tourism entrepreneurs and their associations are already panicking. "This will leave the travel trade in more troubled waters," stated Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN) in its press statement.

Until mid-90’s RNAC brought in above 50 per cent of the inbound tourists – recorded little less than 500,000 last year. In 1999 RNAC’s share dropped to 31 per cent – 14 per cent less than the record of 1998. While other international airlines that came in fared much better in the same markets where the national flag carrier flopped and has now decided to pull out from.

Austrian Airlines, for instance, carried in around 12,000 passengers from Europe in 1999 – up by more than four times than the 1998 record. Qatar Airways, that flies to the Middle East and then to Europe from Kathmandu, saw an increase of 40 per cent in its 1999 record compared to the previous year.

In Singapore, one of the routes RNAC is pulling out citing poor occupancy, Singapore Airlines is doing brisk business with its increased number of flights. If all these success stories are any indicators, they, naturally, trigger one question: How come RNAC performed so badly in all these sectors where other airlines made a good show?

"It is all the matter of management," said Joy Dewan, Secretary General of Board of Airlines’ Representatives in Nepal (BARN), who is also the General Sales Agent of Qatar Airways here. "RNAC’s case shows that such an organisation should be allowed to run as a business house and there should not be any political interference."

The source of more than 30 per cent of inbound tourists, Europe had become one of RNAC’s around one dozen destinations in the mid-80’s.

A legal tangle?

Chaos rules the RNAC offices in London and Frankfurt where clients have not been able to get their ticket reservation and those with booked tickets are threatening to knock the court’s door should the national flag carrier not fly them, a highly reliable RNAC official in Europe told The Rising Nepal today.

More than 90 per cent of seats of RNAC’s flights from the European Sector till December this year are already reserved, according to the source.

"Since we have not been able make their reservations or confirm their tickets, we are telling them that the flights are suspended for now as our headquarters has not informed us about its formal decision of pulling out from these sectors," said the source speaking over the phone.

The official said the biggest fear comes from the European laws like Passenger Protection Right, Consumer Protections Law, among others, that can drag the corporation to the court if RNAC’s decision to pull out results into the violation of the passengers’ rights. "The decision of cancelling the routes is being made abruptly without considering these dire consequences."

In case of a legal tangle and, worse yet, if the disgruntled clients win the case, the penalty could be immense. "That way RNAC could end up spending more money than it is planning to save by pulling out of these sectors," the source said.

Commentary Backed by party, Deuba heads towards solution

BY NARAYAN UPADHYAY

Kathmandu, Aug.3: The unanimous decision of the Nepali Congress to approve Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba's peace initiative points at the fact that the ruling party, ridden with disharmony, is sporting the idea: to end the bloody Maoists insurgency in the country and also to bring harmony in the Congress.

Nepali Congress's welcome to Deuba's move to hold dialogue with the insurgents allows the newly installed Prime Minister to go for the peaceful settlement of the rebels' bloody campaign that has been plaguing the country for the past six years and has claimed about 1,700 lives.

Congress detractors and some supporters, too, may point out that the growth of the Maoists problem is partly because of the internal discord within the country's oldest democratic political party. The chasm in the party seemed running deep till the date when Deuba came to the helm of the state-affairs.

However, the Congressmen, whose conflicts seemed aggravating each passing day as the Maoists mounted their campaigns, have now been aware of the fact that what can be solved by joint efforts, internally as well as externally with other political parties, can not be achieved with divided mentality.

The party's joint efforts to support Deuba's peace initiatives with the Maoists may prove a turning point in bringing the discord-prone party into a unified entity that was responsible for heralding freedom to people and multiparty polity in the nation.

Deuba, since his ascent to the premiership, has been busy in shoring up the supports of Opposition political parties in his attempts solve the problem of insurgency once and for all.

The joint move may effectively end the major crisis that has crippled not only the economy of the nation, but also started the terror waves for the past six years since the insurgency began in 1996.

The present rally of the whole party behind Deuba also underlines the fact about the deep-rooted wish of former Prime Minister and Party President Girija Prasad Koirala who stepped down to pave the way for Deuba, whose first and foremost task is to bring in peace by ending the insurgency.

Party President Koirala's wish for lasting peace, not only in the nation but also within his party colleagues, has reflected in today's unanimous decision of the party's Central Working Committee to support Deuba's initiation for the peaceful settlement with the Maoists. The CWC's support to Deuba might have come as per the wish of the Party President.

The wholehearted support to Deuba, at who started the peace process by stopping all actions against the Maoists also spurred the insurgent to halt their campaign. This may also help the Congress to incarcerate the malaise of disharmony.

The convergence of Koirala's support and Deuba's endeavours can bring the good result. However, the crux of the whole process lies in the genuine commitment of the Maoists to find a permanent solution to the problem.

NC supports PM's moves to solve Maoists issue

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 3: The Nepali Congress Central Working Committee unanimously decided today to support Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba in his initiative for peaceful settlement to the Maoists problem.

Stating that it has always been in favour of holding dialogues for the peaceful solution of the Maoists problem, today's CWC meeting welcomed Prime Minister Deuba's initiation and assured the government to fully support its endeavours.

RSS adds: the NC central working committee which met at the party central office today whole-heartedly appreciated the initiative and efforts started by Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba towards the peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem and unanimously decided to give its approval for moving the process of dialogue ahead.

Today’s meeting of the Nepali Congress central working committee unanimously decided to empower Prime Minister Deuba on behalf of the party in keeping with the earlier decisions of the central working committee to move ahead the process of dialogue for the peaceful resolution of the Maoist problem.

Talking to journalists after the meeting, party general secretary Sushil Koirala pledged full cooperation of the party to Prime Minister Deuba in the talks with Maoists and said the meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere.

He said discussions were held during the meeting on the amendments to the party’s statute affected by the party’s tenth general convention held in Pokhara last year which would be approved in the next meeting of the party.

The meeting held under the chairmanship of party president Girija Prasad Koirala was attended by all the members of the central working committee including former party president Krishna Prasad Bhattarai and Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba.

The next meeting of the central working committee will take place at 8 a.m. on August 6.

Plan on one pharmacist in every district in offing

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Aug. 3: The Ministry of Health is planning to chalk out a scheme of compulsorily posting a pharmacist in every district health office of the country.

Health Minister Sarat Singh Bhandari, speaking at a one-day national conference on '‘Pharmaceutical Services and Exhibition’ held here today, said that the government is committed to provide standard medicines to people through an effective mechanism across the country.

The programme was jointly organised by Forum for Pharmacy (FoP), Kathmandu University, Nepal Pharmaceutical Association (NPA) and Graduate Pharmacists Association (GPAN).

Stating that public health is a sensitive issue, Bhandari said pharmacists have an important role in the delivery of appropriate and quality medicines to the patients. He also suggested keeping pharmacist in every medical stall.

Bhandari noted that there has been both qualitative and quantitative development in the health and education sector after the country adopted liberalization policy following the restoration of multi-party democracy.

He also assured that his ministry would positively take the recommendations of the meet.

KU Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma said as pharmaceutical was directly related to the health of the people, a set of standards and monitoring mechanism are necessary to check the anomalies in this sector. "For this, the government and private sector should move co-ordinatedly."

Nirmal Prasad Pandey, Member of National Planning Commission, said that lack of mid-level health manpower has hit the health system of the country.

Pandey was of the view that a separate medicine distribution policy is needed to regulate the pharmaceutical sector.

Secretary at the Health Ministry Mahendra Nath Aryal said the government is mulling to incorporate the distribution of antibiotics into the national medicine policy of the country.

Dr. Asfak Sheak, Director at Department of Drug Administration said that delivering the quality medicine depends on the practice of medicine manufacturers.

FoP President Sudhir Rajouria said that the conference was the first of its kind in Nepal and it aimed at integrating the pharmaceutical care and services in the health system of the country. Chairman of organising committee Madhav Parajuli delivered the vote of thanks to the participants at the meeting.

Singh calls for pollution-free Kathmandu

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): P.L. Singh and Radhe Shyam Adhikari, founder members of the Foundation for Parliamentary Studies and Development were congratulated for their appointment as Minister for Population and Environment and member of the National Assembly respectively, amid a function here today.

On the occasion, Minister Singh called on all to extend cooperation from their respective quarters in maintaining peace and harmony in the country and making Kathmandu, the capital of the Kingdom, free from pollution.

MP Radhe Shyam Adhikari said the present constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, an outcome of the multi-party democracy, does not remain as a barrier for seeking a solution to the problem besieging the country and suggested holding talks with the Maoists who have come to the negotiating table within the limit of the Constitution.

Chairman of the Foundation Damannath Dhungana, from the chair, said that the peaceful atmosphere prevailing in the country since the last few days should be kept intact and talks with the Maoists held as early as possible to come to a meaningful conclusion.

Ex-minister Nilamber Acharya underlined the need for a national consensus to resolve the country's problem while ex-minister Shailendra Kumar Upadhyaya said the ruling party itself should extend cooperation to the Prime Minister to materialise his promise to ensure peace and stability in the country.

General Secretary of B.P. Chintan Sudista Lal Das noted that all political parties should rise above party politics in keeping with the spirit of the multi-party democracy.

Ex-MP Sharada Pokharel pointed out that women's involvement should be encouraged in each and every sector of the country to consolidate democracy.

CPN-ML central member Hiranya Lal Shrestha, Prof. Suprabha Ghimire, environment expert Bishnu Prasad Thapaliya and Dr. Mohan Prasad Lohani also expressed their views at the function.

NSP boycotts House third day

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): The meeting of the House of Representatives was boycotted also today by the lawmakers of the Nepal Sadbhavana Party (NSP).

All the NSP MPs walked out of the Parliament after parliamentary party leader Badri Prasad Mandal, taking time from the speaker before the start of the zero hour at the House of Representatives today, announced boycotting of the meeting, saying that his party would not take part in the meeting until the government informs the House about its views regarding the annulment of the citizenship certificates of 30,000 persons which he said has caused a great deal of difficulty in carrying out works pertaining to their property and other practical aspects.

He also accused the government of not informing the House anything about the annulment of the citizenship certificates of so many persons.

Meanwhile, speaking during the special hour at the meeting of the House of Representatives today, MP Bharat Mohan Adhikari of the CPN-UML said that His Majesty’s Government should take up the issues raised by the Indian side in the on-going inter-governmental committee talks between Nepal and India seriously as the issues raised by the Indian side would have a far-reaching impact on Nepal’s industry and commerce.

Rishikesh Gautam of the Nepali Congress sought an explanation as to why the regular proceeding of the house were delayed by 13 minutes.

CPN-UML’s Pradip Kumar Gyawali said that the institution of the crown should be democratised in order to enhance its glory and that property belonging to His late Majesty King Birendra should be nationalised. He also demanded that the parliament be given the right to discuss issues regarding succession to the throne.

Narayan Singh Pun of the Nepali Congress spoke on the adverse impact of this year’s monsoon on the agriculture production, demanding relief materials for the people affected by the floods and landslide in Myagdi district.

Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party, saying that a lot of practical difficulties pertaining to the Marchawar barrage, trade treaty and regulation of the Nepal-India border were seen in relations between Nepal and India at present, suggested the government to take the matter seriously and seek solutions to these issues through talks at the administrative and political level.

Nepali Congress’ Nagendra Kumar Raya informed the House that 30 houses have been marooned by floods at Constituency No. 4 of Sarlahi district and demanded immediate relief assistance for the affected people.

ALICO gets licence for business

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): American Life and Insurance Company (ALICO) has been permitted to run insurance business in Nepal in accordance with the Insurance (Beema) Act, 2049 and Insurance Regulations, 2049.

ALICO is the first foreign multi-national company to deal in life insurance in Nepal from among three insurance companies which have been involved in life and non-life insurance businesses in Nepal.

The number of insurance companies has now reached 16 in Nepal.

Proposal

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari presented a proposal seeking discussions on the "Health Institutions Operation Bill 2058" at the National Assembly today.

Earlier, the National Assembly secretary presented the Nepal Nursing Council (first amendment) Bill which has already been passed by the Lower House

The National Assembly next meets at 1:00 p.m.on Aug. 6.

Discussion

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): A meeting of the Foreign Relations and Human Rights Committee held here today under the chairmanship of committee member Narayan Man Bijukcche discussed the programme proposed by a team formed to visit the Marchwar area in Rupandehi district and issued necessary instructions to the team.

The meeting was attended by Jagannath Khatiwada, Navaraj Subedi, Bijaya Subba, Shiva Prasad Humagain and Suresh Kumar Karki.

Check misuse of FM broadcasts, says Gupta

Pokhara, Aug. 3 (RSS):

Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta inaugurated a function organised here today to mark the completion of 100 days of transmission by Annapurna 93.4 F.M. Radio station at ward No. 4 Gairapatan of Pokhara.

The 1,000 KW-capacity FM station has a target of covering an audience of about 4.26 million in Gandaki, Lumbini and Narayani zones.

In his inaugural speech, Minister Gupta lauded the role that FM stations and newspapers in the private sector play in promoting Nepali art, culture and literature, dissemination of information and promotion of public awareness.

As the electronic media is highly sensitive its misuse might adversely affect society, he said adding, private sector radio stations should make efforts to banish social aberrations and stabilise democracy.

The government has no intention of controlling the media, rather it is considering providing it protection and making it more effective, he said.

After its satellite link up, Nepal Television is about to install transmeters in different parts of the country so that people throughout the country will be able to watch its programming without a dish antenna, Minister Gupta said.

Efforts are under way to add one more channel to Radio Nepal so as to ensure country wide reception of its services, he added.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists Suresh Acharya, executive director of Radio Nepal Shailendra Raj Sharma, president of the FM station Bishwoshankar Palikhe and others also spoke about the importance of FM stations in a country like Nepal.

Also today, Minister Gupta met party workers at the NC district committee office.

On the occasion, NC district president Yagya Bahadur Thapa briefed him on the situation in the district.

Anti-democratic forces hatching plot: Koirala

Lalitpur, Aug. 3 (RSS):  Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala said here today that at a time when anti-democratic forces are hatching a plot to weaken the advocates of democracy the Nepali Congress should thwart such conspiracies by mobilising itself in the interest of the country, the people and democracy.

NC president Koirala, who was launching a book entitled "Today's Nepal" written by Hem Raj Adhikari "Shastri", said the political developments following the June 1 Royal Palace incident had placed the Nepali Congress in a difficult situation.

At the programme organised by Nepal Freedom Fighters Association, Mr. Koirala urged the NC rank and file to be serious about protectiong democracy and the history of the Nepali Congress.

The NC president vowed to not take any respite from politics until the Nepali Congress strength is restored, democracy is consolidated and the Nepalese people see improvement in their living conditions.

"I will continue to fight for the Nepali Congress, the people and democracy till my last breathe", he said.

He also said that he will now go to the people to strengthen and reinvigorate the party organisation and mobilise the pro-democratic youth in this task.

Freedom Fighters Association president Kamal Chitrakar presided.

HM grants audience

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS):

His Majesty the King granted an audience to Ambassador of Pakistan Fauzia Nasreen at the Royal Palace today.

His Majesty also granted a group audience to Kathmandu-based honorary consuls general and consuls at the Royal Palace.

Service charge on visitors to Hanumandhoka

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Kathmandu Municipal Corporation has decided to collect a service charge from foreigners for entry into Hanumandhoka Durbar Square from Aug. 17.

As per the decision, the Municipal Corporation has fixed Rs. 25 as service charge for tourists from SAARC countries and Rs. 200 for people from other countries.

Arrangements are being made to set up counters for collecting service charges at five entry points to the Durbar Square.

The decision to collect service charges has been taken with the objective of preserving the ancient Hanumandhoka world heritage monuments conservation area, keeping the Durbar Square clean and providing better services to tourists.

All the money collected as service charge will be spent on the protection of the ancient heritage in the area.

Likewise, the money will be utilised in organising awareness programmes in the area, building tourist lanes, making security arrangements and organising cultural programmes with the cooperation of local organisations.

Budget cut obstructs commercialisation of agriculture

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Deliberations on the appropriations head pertaining to the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives under the Appropriations Bill-2001-02 began at the Lower House today.

Initiating the discussions, CPN-UML's Ananda Prasad Pokharel presented a proposal to deduct Rs.100 from the expenditure allocated for the ministry.

Reduction of the budget for irrigation as well as for land reform and survey will obstruct the commercialisation of agriculture and alleviation of poverty, Mr. Pokharel said adding that livestock development has been given second-class status, chemical fertilisers available in the country are sub-standard and expensive and the Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) has been affected by political tussles and corruption.

Leader of the Rastriya Janamorcha parliamentary party Chitra Bahadur K.C. also presented a similar proposal for deduction of Rs. 100 and said that water resources have not been used for irrigation purposes and attention has not been given to livestock development and expansion.

He recommended distribution of land to the landless settlers, enforcement of revolutionary land reform measures and extension of concessions by the government to Nepalese agro-products in order to make them competitive vis a vis Indian products.

CPN-UML's Pradip Nepal said though our country is agro-based, the Ministry of Agriculture has not been able to prove its relevence. Work is not being carried out in pursuance of the long-term Agriculture Perspective Plan, emphasis has not been given to agriculture roads and irrigation, attention has not been given to agricultural market management and supply of chemical fertilisers and the Nepal Agriculture Research Council has not been able to fulfill its objective.

NC's Sabitri Bogati Pathak said despite Nepal being an agro-based country allocation of the budget in this regard has been very minimal. She lauded the special agriculture programme for Karnali Zone, the sheep-goat exchange programme, sericulture, the emphasis given to agricultural market management and rural irrigation and the establishment of a dairy development centre.

RPP's Brijesh Kumar Gupta and Netralal Shrestha complained that agriculture production has decreased, chemical fertilisers have not been supplied on time and no grants have been given for agriculture seeds and chemical fertilisers and spoke of the need to cultivate cash crops, ensure agriculture market management and ensure agriculture roads and provide the services of agriculture technicians to the villages.

Tirtha Gautam and Prem Bahadur Singh of the CPN (UML) accused the government of not bringing any new pro-farmer programmes, not paying attention to agriculture market management, allocating scanty amount for agriculture development in Karnali region and not paying attention to the development of mushroom, apple and organise farming.

Ram Kumar Chaudhary and Binayadhoj Chand of the Nepali Congress spoke of the need to ensure industrialisation of agriculture, mobilise agriculture technicians in the villages, ensure coordination between the concerned ministries, establish a dairy factory, recommend suitable crops for cultivation in proper places and put stress on market management.

Yognarayan Yadav and Gorakh Bahadur Bogati of the CPN (UML) demanded that interests on agriculture loans taken by the farmers should be waived, agriculture seeds, fertilisers and insecticides supplied on time, a dairy center opened, an agreement reached with China on grazing land and farmers encouraged to involve in fruit cultivation in Karnali region.

NC's Umakanta Chaudhary and Hridayaram Thani laid stress on the need to make availabele seeds, fertilisers and insecticides in an easy manner, encourage farmers for fisheries and livestock farming, there should be additional programmes in the tenth plan with a focus on irrigation and roads and programmes should be designed for the development of Karnali region.

CPN (UML)'s Jagadish Prasad Shah and Lalbabu Pandit complained that the budget allocated for agriculture is inadequate, irrigation facility has not been provided in the Terai region, the Agriculture Development Bank has exploited farmers and the people have lost hopes from the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives.

NC's Tanka Prasad Sharma Kandel and Khemraj Bhatta Mayalu emphasised that farmers should be encouraged to involve in improved farming, interests on agriculture loans should be waived, a milk-chilling centre established in Baglung, uncontrolled import controlled, and a separate commission formed to determined prices of agriculture produce.

CPN (UML)'s Dilliraj Khanal and Suresh Kumar Karki argued that agriculture sector has been turned into a begging bowl instead of developing it, subsidies on fertilisers should not be removed, radical reforms should be effected on agriculture and NARC should be handled in a proper way.

Hari Bhakta Adhikari and Kailashnath Kasaudhan of NC pointed out the need to first develop the agriculture sector since it is the backbone of the country, properly enforce the Agriculture Perspective Plan, commercialise agriculture in order to raise food reserves, expand irrigation facility and help alleviate poverty by increasing employment opportunities.

Tara Samyanghe and Chandra Bahadur Shahi of the CPN-UML said that agriculture should be commercialised, plans worked out in keeping with new concepts, people of Karnali region have been deceived with budget allocated only for Mugu and Jumla and seeds of apple and paddy crops should be provided on time.

Dan Bahadur Chaudhary and Nara Bahadur Hamal of the same party observed that agriculture sector has been ignored, a cold store and modern agricultural tools should be provided in Kapilvastu, the Ministry of Agriculture should take initiatives in controlling crops diseases.

CPN-UML's Mrs Asta Laxmi Shakya Bohora complained that the agriculture sector has been ignored than ever before and the government has not paid any attention to removing poverty by developing agriculture as an industry.

Nation in need of 18,000 teachers, says Upadhyay

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyay has said His Majesty's Government to control commercialisation in education and a bill on education management has already been tabled in Parliament.

Stating that His Majesty's Government will seriously study the report of the high level education task force formed by the government, Mr Upadhyay noted that the school management committee will take care of the school's property as per the provisions stated in the existing act and regulations.

There is a program for making permanent provisional secondary schools by fiscal year 2059/60 BS, stadiums and covered halls will be constructed in various parts of the country, he said adding, the country is now in need of 18,000 teachers.

Those asking questions to the minister included CPN (UML)'s Phatik Bahadur Subba, Ganga Prasad Nepal, Sherdhan Rai and Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi, NC's Hridayaram Thani and RPP's Netralal Shrestha.

Similarly, Minister for Population and Environment Prem Lal Singh, responding to questions raised on his ministry, noted that removing diesel temps and vehicles more than 20 year old vehicles, and putting green stickers on vehicles are in operation in order to control air, water, and noise pollution.

CPN-UML's Til Kumar Meyangbo Limbu had asked questions to the Minister.

RPP meeting on August 6

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): The RPP Central Working Committee is to meet at 1 pm on August 6 at its central party office, the party said today.

House approves insurance, VAT bills

Parliament Building, Singha Durbar, Aug. 3 (RSS): The House of Representatives at its meeting today unanimously approved a proposal presented by Finance Minister Dr Ram Sharan Mahat seeking discussions on the Insurance (second amendment) Bill-2057 and Value Added Tax (first amendment) Bill- 2057.

Responding to questions on the occasion, Dr Mahat said it is in view of the interests of the insured that the amount they are entitled to get in life insurance has been increased and the Value Added Tax Act-2052 has been amended keeping in mind the past experiences seen in the implementation of VAT.

CPN (UML)'s Dilliraj Khanal and Pradip Kumar Gyawali had posed questions to the Finance Minister.

MPs call govt's attention on burning issues in NA

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Taking special time at the National Assembly today, MPs drew the attention of the government towards different current issues of the nation.

MP Mohanraj Sharma Chapagain said both the ruling and opposition sides have not given serious attention to landslides, floods and inundation which has become annual feature of the country and demanded that the government investigate the breaking down of two bridges along Narayangath-Butwal road immediately after completion at a cost of Rs. 30 million each.

CPN-UML's Goma Devkota said electricity tariff has been hiked in the name of providing facilities to the backward and poor people, and that the government should also make sure that reports in different newspapers of 50 per cent hike in the price of sugar is not true.

CPN-ML's Dr Ramman Shrestha queried what Maoist problem and cease fire meant and said though the initiative of the government towards holding talks with the Maoists is appreciable the opportunity should be properly utilised.

CPN-UML's Ranganath Joshi said the Health Ministry has not given any attention towards the death of hundreds of people every year due to mosquito bite in the mid-western region, of which majority are from the Tharu community.

RPP's Balaram Ghartimagar demanded that the government provide relief and shelter for the people affected by floods and landslides in Myagdi, Nawalparasi, Rupandehi, Mahottari and Sarlahi districts and urged the government to become alert towards the continuation of incidents of looting by the Maoists despite the call for stop to all activities from both the sides.

NC's Bijul Kumar Biswokarma said the development of the Dalit community has not been carried out in pursuance to the concept of multi-party democracy and they are still deprived of their rights. The interest and well-being of the poor and Dalits should also be considered while holding talks with the Maoists.

CPN-UML's Devraj Ghimire said more than 25,000 local people in Chulachuli VDC of Ilam district do not have land ownership. The government has not given attention towards the reason behind the uprising of the Maoist.

MBBS result

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Kathmandu University has published the result of the MBBS final examinations held in July 2001.

PM meets Chand

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had a meeting with former prime minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand at the latter's office in Lokanthali this evening.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Deuba apprised Mr Chand of the initiatives taken so far in connection with the Maoist problem.

Mr Chand assured the Prime Minister of his utmost cooperation in this connection.

World leaders greet Deuba

Kathmandu, Aug. 3 (RSS): Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius Sir Anerood Jagananth has conveyed warmest congratulations to Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on his assumption of office as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal.

In a message of congratulations, the Prime Minister of Mauritius has expressed confidence that under Mr. Deuba's able leadership Nepal will continue to achieve growing peace and progress and the people of Nepal will attain their highest aspirations.

"We look forward to consolidating the ties of friendship which exist between Mauritius and Nepal for the mutual benefit of our peoples", he has said in the message.

Likewise, Prime Minister of Thailand Pol. Lt. Col. Thaksin Shinawatra has extended warm congratulations and best wishes on Mr Deuba's appointment as Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Nepal.

Noting that Thailand attaches great importance to the existing friendship and close cooperation between Thailand and Nepal, the Thai Prime Minister has said in the message that he looks forward to further enhancing bilateral ties in the years ahead for the mutual benefit of the two countries and peoples.

In a similar message, Foreign Minister of Egypt Ahmed Maher El-Sayed has congratulated Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba on his assumption of the office of Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Nepal in addition to the Prime Ministership.

He has also expressed his desire to cooperate with Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mr Deuba to strengthen relations between Egypt and the Kingdom of Nepal for the mutual benefit of both countries and peoples.