Joshi stresses quality films

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Shiva Raj Joshi released here today the cassettes of the songs in "Naudada Pari", the first feature film produced by M.K. Films Pvt. Ltd.

On the occasion, he said that artists can play a key role in eliminating distortion and inconsistencies and protecting original literature, music and culture.

Stating that Nepalese film sector has gradually developed into an industry for the last few years, he stressed the need to produce standard and serious films.

Chairman of Nepal Films Development Board and senior lyricist Yadav Kharel said that along with the competition, standard of Nepalese films is on the rise.

Senior music director Shambhujeet Baskota and director of the film Krishna Murari Dhungel also spoke on the occasion.

High Level Education Panel likely: Minister

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Most of the participants at an interaction programme on "Education (Seventh Amendment) Bill-2057" organised by the House of Representatives Population and Social Committee here today expressed the view that a new Education Act - 2058 should be introduced on the basis of a wider consensus.

They also stressed the need to keep the educational sector away from politics, formulate an effective act and set of rules, make the appointment, transfer, and promotion of teachers impartial, allow schools to handle their economic matters on their own, enhance the rights of the headmaster and management committee of schools, redefine the role of the district education offices, and provide adequate authority to the people’s representatives.

On the occasion, Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya said that amendments to the act alone will not suffice for improving the existing educational situation. He also expressed the determination to bring out a practical act and regulations through the seventh amendment.

Calling upon the private schools to function within the relevant law, handle financial matters in a transparent manner and maintain dignity, he disclosed that a High Level Education Commission would soon be formed to eliminate the anomalies in the educational sector.

MP Dilli Raj Sharma Poudel said that teachers should stay away from politics, while Kathmandu University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suresh Raj Sharma was of the view that attention should be paid to quality instead of quantity of the schools.

The interaction programme was chaired by chairman of Population and Social Committee Narendra Bahadur Bam.

Forge consensus to end stir at House: Ranabhat

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 (RSS): Speaker Taranath Ranabhat has said that with the country and the people focussing their attention on the ongoing parliamentary session, it is imperative on the part of both ruling and opposition parties to reach a consensus on ensuring regular parliamentary proceedings.

Speaker Ranabhat, who was inaugurating a day-long workshop on low representation of women in political sector organised on the occasion of the democracy day here today, said failure to build a consensus on running the session smoothly would give out wrong information to the people thereby posing a threat to democracy itself.

Stating that the issue of the opposition bench’s demand for the Prime Minister’s resignation over the Lauda Aircraft controversy has not found entry into parliament as per the established procedures, he said it would be easier to find a way out of the deadlock, if the issue was raised in parliament by fulfilling necessary procedures.

Noting that disruption of regular parliamentary proceedings has resulted in an atmosphere of confusion, the Speaker urged the Prime Minister and the opposition leaders to take initiative to end this confusion.

Better representation of women in policy making level and improvement of their living conditions at village level are crucial for their empowerment, he observed.

He also disclosed that the ongoing session will reach a conclusion on the women’s inheritance right bill, which has already been presented before parliament.

Minister of State for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Pant spoke of the need to increase women’s participation in policy making level.

MP Bharatmohan Adhikari suggested that women’s empowerment is not possible in the absence of proper health care, education and other basic services for women in rural areas.

NC central member Narahari Acharya was of the view that if a Nepalese family is ready to socially accept a daughter as an heir, the controversy over the women’s inheritance right will automatically be settled.

Ex-speaker Damannath Dhungana stressed the need to do away with evil social practices, superstitions and poverty so as to resolve the problems of women.

Member-secretary of the Social Welfare Council Dr Tika Pokhrel, president of Nepal University Teachers’ Association Bhimsen Das Pradhan and member of National Human Rights Commission Kapil Shrestha also expressed their views on how the slogan of women’s empowerment can be translated into practice.

Prof. Suprabha Ghimire presided.

Nepal insists on PM’s resignation

Butwal, Feb. 17 (RSS): General Secretary of CPN-UML and leader of the Opposition Party Madhav Kumar Nepal says that there is no alternative except the resignation of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to free the country from a crisis.

Speaking at a Meet-the-Press programme organised by Himalayan News Agency in Butwal today, general secretary Nepal said as the Prime Minister was also implicated in the Lauda Air deal scam, it is not appropriate for him to continue his duty as a Prime Minister.

He accused the Prime Minister of failing to fulfill his commitment of maintaining law and order, providing good governance and arresting corruption.

General secretary Nepal also expressed concern over the fear of despondency among the general people towards the multiparty democracy as the Prime Minister’s actions were aimed at destroying every infrastructure of the state.

He said that Prime Minister’s resignation was necessary to pave the way for a probe into the Lauda Jet lease deal.

Chairman of the Himalayan News Agency Madan Poudel was on the chair.

Trade ties with Bangladesh discussed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Feb. 17 A delegation led by the president of Nepal Freight Forwarders’ Association (NFFA) Rabindra Man Singh recently called on the Bangladeshi Ambassador Cyril Sikder and discussed the prospects of bilateral trade between the two countries and Nepal’s foreign trade through Bangladesh.

On the occasion, NFFA president Singh told Sikder that the provisions of the bilateral trade treaty signed in 1976 remained unimplemented, stated an NFFA press release.

Singh said that the problems that surfaced in transportation, visa, money exchange, customs and information limited Nepal’s prospects of benefiting from Phulbari-Banglabandha-Mangala route.

Sikder stressed on the role of the governments of both the countries to promote trade between the two countries, adding a solution would be found during Bangladeshi Prime Minister’s visit to Nepal in the near future. Sikder however didn’t specify the date of the visit.

Ambassador Sikder also said that Bangladesh was ready to assist Nepal to promote the bilateral trade as well as Nepal’s trade to third countries.