Dhangadhi potential discussed

Dhangadhi, Feb. 3 (RSS): A workshop seminar on "The participation of the private sector in the urban development management of Dhangadhi Municipality: Possibilities and challenges" was organised here on Friday with the objective of increasing the private sector participation in the urban development of the municipality as per the spirit of the Local Self-Governance Act.

Some 45 persons including municipality office-bearers, representatives of political parties, industrialists, businessmen, social workers and journalists took part in the workshop seminar jointly organised by Kailali district Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Dhangadhi Municipality in cooperation with the Urban Development Through Local Efforts (UDLE) project.

At the seminar discussions were held on topics such as the identification of the possible areas which could be undertaken in partnership with the private sector and other possible legal, political economic and technological problems and challenges.

Representatives of the private sector at the seminar expressed the possibility of the private sector’s participation in the extension of the existing services and facilities, enhancement of good-governance and capability building, management of the health, education, drinking water and sanitation sectors, market and industrial development, construction of an abattoir, improvement of the local cremation grounds and development of tourist areas.

Programmes like interactions, discussions and seminars are being held regularly in cooperation with the U.D.L.E. to promote partnership between the local bodies, the private sector and the civil society for sustainable urban development.

In this connection, a slogan "The prospects of Dhangadhi Municipality: education, health and professional self-reliance" has been developed in line with the concept of the long-term development of Dhangadhi town into a environmentally clean business hub and a centre of health and education facilities.

Earlier, mayor Khem Raj Pandeya, economist Dr. Hemraj Panta, president of Kailali district Chamber of Commerce and Industry Uttam Bahadur Kathayat FNCCI member Damodar Bhatta, and the consultant of the U.D.L.E. Maniram Singh expressed their views on partnership in development.

More aid to quake affected people in Gujrat

Kathmandu, Feb. 3 (RSS): A consignment of medicines provided by the Gopio-Nepal in aid of the earthquake-affected people of the Indian state of Gujarat was handed over to the deputy chief of mission of the Indian Embassy Mr. Ashok Kumar today.

Likewise, the Manakamana Darshan Pvt. Ltd. has provided Rs 50,000 in Indian currency in the form of humanitarian aid for the earthquake victims of Gujarat.

Chairman of the Chitwan Co-E Nepal Laxman Babu Shrestha went to the Indian Embassy today and handed over the cash to the first secretary at the Indian Embassy Mr. Muktesh Pardesi on behalf of the Manakamana Darshan Pvt. Ltd to be deposited in the Indian Prime Minister’s fund established for emergency humanitarian aid.

Similarly, the employees of the council for technical education and vocational training, Sanothimi, have decided to contribute their one day’s salary totaling Rs 36,098 to the people affected by the devastating earthquake that hit Gujarat state of India to the Indian Prime Minister’s disaster relief fund through the Indian Embassy.

Likewise, the Nepal Chemists and Druggists Association Bagmati zone branch has provided medicines, surgical equipment and injections worth Rs 50,000 to the Ministry of Health procurement division relief team as assistance to the earthquake victims in Gujarat state of India. The relief team left for India on Friday.

Gender friendly census stressed

Kathmandu, Feb. 3 (RSS): National Planning Commission (NPS) vice-chairman Prithivi Raj Ligal has said that for the first time in the history of national census, emphasis would be laid on making the forthcoming national census more gender-sensitive and all kinds of related information would be collected for this purpose in the forthcoming national census.

Mr. Ligal made this remark while addressing the joint meeting of the executive boards of the UNDP/UNFPA, UNICEF and WFP in New York recently.

He said that the United Nations Organisation was working together with His Majesty’s Government in enhancing the data collection and processing capabilities of the government bodies in Nepal.

Poverty alleviation and human resources development is a challenging task for a land-locked country like Nepal, Mr. Ligal said, pointing out that technology could be a valuable asset in meeting this goal.

Appropriate policies on technology development can work wonders for US, he observed.

On the occasion permanent representative of Nepal to the UN Murari Raj Sharma said that there was no ideological differences on human rights in Nepal but what was needed was assistance for its implementation.