Surgeons elect new committee

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS):  A conference of International College of Surgeons, Nepal Chapter that concluded here recently has formed a new executive committee under the chairmanship of Brigadier General Dr. Madan Man Malla.

Dr. Kanti Giri has been designated as in-coming chairman, Dr. Lok Bikram Thapa out-going chairman, Dr. Sanumaiya Dalli and Dr. Vanshikrishna Malla vice-chairmen, Dr. Manohar Lal Shrestha secretary, Dr. Shatis Bajaj joint-secretary, Dr. Hira Shrestha treasurer and Dr. Ishwar Lohani co-treasurer.

Other members of the committee are Dr. Bijaya Kumar Shaha, Dr. Damodar Pokharel, colonel Dr. Suraj Rana, Dr. Rakesh Verma, Dr. Sarala Malla and Dr. W. P. Singh.

Former chairman Dr. Lok Bikram Thapa handed over his duties to newly elected chairman brigadier general Dr. Madan Man Malla amid a function held here recently.

On the occasion, Dr. Thapa also dwelt on the future course of action of the chapter.

As per the provisions of the Chapter, the surgeons and anaesthetist, pathologists and radiologists who play a significant role in surgery can become members of the chapter.

The headquarters of the International College of Surgeons is based in USA.

Their Majesties extend condolence

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS):  Their Majesties the King and Queen have extended condolences to Mrs Chandra Laxmi Kansakar at the demise of her husband, social activist Daya Bir Singh Kansakar, it is learnt from the family of the late Kansakar.

Ministers sworn in

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS):  In the presence of His Majesty the King, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed ministers at the Royal Palace today.

On the occasion, Raj Parishad Standing Committee chairman Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi administered the oath of Raj Parishad Standing Committee ex-officio membership to the newly appointed ministers.

Those taking the oath today were Local Development Minister Govinda Raj Joshi, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Omkar Prasad Shrestha, Minister for Labour and Transport Palten Gurung, Minister for Water Resources Baldev Sharma Majgainya, Minister for Information and Communications Shiva Raj Joshi and Minister for Forests and Land Reforms Prakash Koirala.

Similarly, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala administered the oath of office and secrecy to newly appointed ministers of state and assistant ministers at his office at Singha Durbar today.

The ministers of state taking the oath today were Minister of State for Land Reforms and Management Mohammad Aftab Alam, Minister of State for Industry and Commerce Krishna Prasad Sitaula, Minister of State for Home Hari Prasad Sapkota, Minister of State for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Mahadev Gurung, Minister of State for Water Resources Benup Raj Prasai, Minister of State for Information and Communications Pushkar Ojha and Minister of State for Forests and Soil Conservation Shiva Kumar Basnet.

Assistant Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Ramhari Dhungel, Assistant Minister for Local Development Keshar Man Rokka, Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs Romi Gauchan, Assistant Minister for Industry and Commerce Mahendra Kumar Raya and Assistant Minister for Land Reforms and Management Janak Raj Giri were also sworn in on the occasion.

The deputy prime minister and ministers were also present on the occasion.

Trade fair in Bangladesh from Feb 10

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS):  A Bangladesh-Nepal joint trade fair is to be organised from February 10 at Panchgadh of Bangladesh under the joint initiative of the Mechi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Nepal and the Panchgadh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bangladesh.

The trade fair will showcase coffee, tea, honey, cheese, ghee, cardamom, fruits and vegetables, ginger, pulses, brooms, noodles, handicrafts, ready-made garments, biscuits and confectionery, herbs and medicines, beverages and marble.

A team from the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Agriculture Entrepreneurship Centre left here with agro products in connection with participation in and management of the exhibition.

The objective of the fair is to promote Nepal- Bangladesh trade.

Panchgadh is 100 kms from Kakarbhitta on the Nepalese border.

Chokhyal’s resignation denied

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS): The resignation tendered by Nepali Congress Parliamentary Party whip Tek Bahadur Chokhyal a few days ago has been rejected.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, Prime Minister and leader of the NC Parliamentary Party Girija Prasad Koirala has in a letter sent to Mr Chokhyal expressed the confidence that he (Mr Chokhyal) will continue to serve as whip of the party and extend cooperation.

‘Chakka Jam’ organised

Kathmandu, Feb. 7 (RSS):  Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs Federation Central Action Committee organised a "chakka jam" from 8 A.M. to 9 A.M. in the capital today demanding that the government fulfil the 13-point demand including that of the rolling back the decision for banning all 20 year old vehicles and three-wheelers that are run with diesel.

The vehicular movement had been halted in Patan, Lagankhel, Kirtipur, Thankot, Balaju and Narayanthan today, convenor of the action committee Sharad Prasad Upreti said.

According to him, the protest programme will be continued from 3 P.M. to 5 P.M. on February 11.

The demands put forth by the action committee includes providing gaurantee for supplying petroleum products as per international standard and an end to arbitrary decision taken in connection with pollution tests.

Appropriate technology for managing solid waste stressed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 7: With the objective of educating the local people to help manage solid waste, Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG) Nepal organised a three day long trainers’ training programme on Vermicomposting with the technical cooperation of Center for Prosperity Infrastructure and Center for Energy and Environment concluded here recently.

Altogether 20 women from Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city involved with Women Environment Preservation committee (WEPCO) had participated in the programme.

The programme contained bothl the theoretical and practical classes on the importance of farming and use of vermaculture.

The workshop was focussed in resolving the existing solid waste problem in the Kathmandu valley through disseminating small but appropriate technology involving different concerned organisations. Mrs. Hari Devi Ranjitkar, Dr. Ananda Shova Tamrakar, Dr. Shova Patrabansha and Dr. Krishan Raj Shrestha were the resource persons.

Dr. K.B. Rokaya, Country Director of ITDG, expressed hope that such programme would be helpful to generate awareness among the local people and help develop community.

Mrs. Sindhu Upadhyaya, a ward member of the Lalitpur sub-metropolitan city expressed her commitment to get Sub-Metropolitan City Office involvement in such kind of programmes.

On behalf of resource persons Mrs. Hari Devi Ranjitkar and Dr. Shova Patrabansha spoke about the role of ITDG Nepal for bringing together a number of Institutions working in the areas of solid waste management.

They also hoped that the tradition of working together in a coordinated manner would continue further. The session was facilitated by Dr. Govind Nepal, Programme Manager of Energy Programme of ITDG Nepal.

Concern over Mandamus to ban strike

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 7: Nepal Bank Employees Assocition has expressed deep concerned over the mandamus issued by the Appellate Court Patan which strongly prohibits the strike in public enterprises.

The Appellate Court Patan had issued mandamus referring to the Council of Ministry on Monday.

In a press release, the Association has stated that the mandamus has mangled the spirit of the Constitution and norms and values of democracy and marred the spirit of the Labour Act 2048 and Trade Union Act - 2049.

Essay writers granted Japanese fellowship

By a staff reporter

Kathmandu, Feb. 7: Three Nepalese have been awarded Sakai Lions Club and Imanishi Memorial Fellowship under the auspices of Japan University Students’ Association (JUSAN), alumni of Nepalese students in Japanese Universities, on the occasion of its 5th anniversary.

Those granted the fellowships are journalist Chiranjibi Paudyal for his analytical essay on "The Diplomatic Relations between Nepal and Japan" while Durga Nidhi Sharma and ethnologist Dr. Ganesh Man Gurung have been awarded for their works in respective fields. The fellowship carries a purse of Rs. 20,000 each and a certificate.

Five others, who have also received the prizes for their excellent articles, are Prof. Anant Raj Poudel, Dr. Tika Ram Panthi, Dr. Yogendra Prasad Singh, Surendra Pokharel and Ms. Gita Sapkota.

The award, which is given on the basis of written essay competition, is presented to the Nepalese making significant contributions in the promotion of Nepal-Japan relations, friendship, comparative studies and research on applied sciences.