450 shopkeepers fined in Jhapa, Morang, Saptari

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Biratnagar, Dec. 23: A total of Rs. 1,17,000 revenue has been collected through fines from 450 shop owners in Morang, Jhapa and Saptari districts who were found involved in deceiving the customers using faulty scales.

The guilty were fined by the Regional Office of Quality Control and Standards, Biratnagar for using Indian scales, using unchecked beam balances, running shops without license and selling underweight amount. The Regional Quality Control Office had conducted inspections late last month in different part of these districts. According to Quality Control officer Sashi Bhushan Yadhav the small business owners were fined ranging from Rs. 1 to Rs. 1,000 as per the provisions of Quality Control and Standards Act 2055.

Yadhav said that the Quality Control Office regularly conducts such surprise inspections. "This has helped a lot in controlling illegal business and served the interests of the consumers."

Such acts of deceit are going on more in rural areas than in the urban centres. However, inspections are not conducted in the rural areas till now. Consequently, some of the retailers are using locally made measurement appliances. They even use stones and bricks for weighing goods for business purposes.

Raju comes up with pastel works in his exhibition

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 23: In their long voyage of artistic creations, artists are often found playing with different mediums and colors. The manners they work appear enigmatic for laymen. But it is usual phenomena for them.

Whatever the mediums and colours, it is only through constant dedication and practice that lead to the creation of impressive artworks.

Now, an emerging young artist Raju Chitrakar has come up with pastel works in his solo exhibition at the Nepal Art Council, Babar Mahal. The show that opened Saturday will remain open for a week.

With 33 items of pastel portraits and still-life work on display, Chitrakar shows his versatile talents. He has also shown that excellent artworks can also be created in pastel that has been often ignored in the field of Nepalese art creation.

The titles of his works include ‘Placidity’, ‘Enjoying,’ ‘Brotherhood,’ ‘Landscape,’ ‘Still Life,’ and ‘Fun in Working’ among others.

His art works touch upon the different topics such nature, culture and human psychology. He has tried to capture various Nepalese faces and moods.

"I want to give realistic approach to the objects through pastel," said Chitrakar.

He said that people could easily read the psychology of the faces of the portrait put on show. For example, from a portrait of sage that reads ‘What Do You Expect?,’ anyone can read the motives of his facial expression, added Raju.

"Although pastel is not a much explored in the field, it offered me a vast spectrum of possibilities to express either a visual seen through a naked eye or thoughts simmering deep inside the mind," the artist said.

Bhattarai, businessmen discuss economic issues

Lalitpur, Dec. 23 (RSS): Ex-prime minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai held an interaction with the representatives from the private sector on "the problems arising in industry and commerce sectors and its solutions at his residence in Bhaisepati today.

During the discussions, industrialists and businessmen pointed out the need for the government to give special attention towards political stability and economic advancement of the country to do away with the uncertainties crippling the economic sectors due to the prevailing national and international circumstances.

Efforts are being made on the part of the government to ensure security in the industrial sector to address the problems that have surfaced in the present state of the emergency, they said and opined that the government could take decisions in order to create a conducive environment for the private sector in such a crisis-stricken situation.

"His Majesty's Government should introduce a development package programme in the Maoists affected areas so as to mobilise the people of these areas in the government's development endeavour", said they, adding "the government should lay emphasis on creating new employment opportunities."

They were of the opinion that instead of injecting new investment in the industrial sector or establishing new industrial entity, a new economic reform policy should be formulated to rehabilitate the sick industries, boost tourism industry and export trade.

Pointing out that the model for economic development and good governance should be brought forward in a tangible form, they said that stringent measures should be taken to curb corruption and impose social boycott on the corrupt persons.

If the government devises a system under which the private sector will be made responsible and accountable and confines its role only to monitoring and supervision, the industrial sector will flourish, they pointed out.

On that occasion, ex-prime minister Bhattarai conceded that the shortcomings pointed out by the private sector are understandable.

He assured the private sector that the suggestions would be put into action.

Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Purna Bahadur Khadka remarked that the time has now come for industrialists, businessmen, civil society and the government to make an evaluation of the economic structure and the prevailing situation in the country.

Everyone should approach the authorities concerned if the commitment made by the government has not been fulfilled, he said, adding that one should not put the blame on the people and the government only.

He said that the private sector had turned a deaf ear on the misuse of the facilities and privileges provided by the government.

Efforts have already been made to resolve some of the problems raised by the businessmen, he said, adding that he would take action against any government employee who failed to discharge his duty on time.

President of the Federation of the Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Rabi Bhakta Shrestha said problems have cropped up in the industrial and commercial sectors because of the lack of coordination between the ministries.

The formation of the investment board with representatives from various ministries has helped to sort out problems faced by the private sector, he added.

President of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kaji Shrestha asked the government to immediately scrap the self-assessment tax system which, in his word, is useless under the present situation.

The government and the private sector should move ahead unitedly under the State of Emergency, he added.

Ex-president of the FNCCI Pradeep Kumar Shrestha, C.P. Khetan of Khetan group, third vice-chairman of the FNCCI Chandi Raj Dhakal also expressed their views at the interaction programme.

Late Malla's role hailed

Bhaktapur, Dec. 23 (RSS): On the occasion of the 91st birthday anniversary of late education expert and litterateur Khadga Man Malla, Khadga-Pran Memorial Cultural Trust organised a one-day free health camp here with the cooperation of Nepal Jagaran Shakti Samuha, Kupondol and Champak Yuva Club, Changunarayan.

On the occasion member-secretary of the Khadga-Pran Memorial Cultural Trust Dr. Madan Man Malla said that the trust had been providing scholarships to the poor and intelligent students.

Dr. Malla said that trust had been carrying out various activities for the uplift of the education, health and social sectors in the country.

At the function chaired by president of the trust Dr. Upendra Man Malla, president of the Champak Yuva Club Chakradharananda Rajopadhya, Dr. Kiran Manandhar and other speakers threw light on the personality and contributions made by the late Malla.

At the health camp, 200 patients were examined and provided medicines free of cost.

Senior surgeon Dr. Madan Man Malla, physician Dr. Kiran Manandhar and gynecologist Dr. Heera Shrestha had provided medical services to the patients visiting the camp.