RNAC White Paper refutes irregularities on Lauda deal

Kathmandu, Feb. 24 (RSS): The Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC) has made it clear that due to a lack of specific act, rule or regulations regarding the procurement of aircraft on lease, the Lauda Aircraft procurement deal was concluded by exercising the right given by Rule 4.6 (G) of the Corporation’s Financial Administration Regulation 2042 B.S. and clause 73 (2) (h) of His Majesty’s Government’s Financial Administration Regulation 2056 B.S.

In a white paper regarding the Lauda Aircraft procurement deal issued here today, RNAC has also said that the 18 aircraft procurement deals concluded in the past were also taken as precedence. The deals were concluded not through bidding, but through direct negotiations, it added.

Since several sincere attempts to procure an aircraft as suggested by the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) failed to bring any positive results despite repeated calls for tenders, and sealed offers made through major local newspapers and the internet, RNAC, which was in dire need of aircraft, concluded the deal through direct negotiations on the basis of legal advise in this regard, it is stated in the white paper.

As per the international practice of leasing out aircraft, the aircraft owner or operator puts the information on the internet months before the possible delivery date and contact several interested parties at the same time. On receipt of the interested parties’ responses, the aircraft owner concludes a deal with a party, which, its thinks, is the most reliable and is willing to conclude the deal at the earliest. Aircraft owners do not want to delay the deal by requiring premium for bidding nor do they lease out aircraft only through bidding, it is stated.

After the bidder, ICTC informed RNAC that it can provide the B767-300 IR Aircraft of Austrian Lauda Airlines an inspection team of the corporation reached Vienna on Sept. 21, 2000 and inspected various physical and technical aspects of the aircraft. After the detailed inspection, RNAC had detailed negotiations with Lauda and concluded the procurement deal for 18 months on 27 Sept. 2000. RNAC has, thereafter, been depositing the payments it has to give to Lauda Airlines in the airlines’ bank account no. 105-105-523 as stated in the lease agreement’s clause 8.4. no other bank account has been used for the payments, according to the white paper.

The Lauda Aircraft was procured as per the corporation’s 15-year plan, which requires RNAC to operate at least seven wide-body aircraft in international sector, the white paper said, adding the cost of leasing the Lauda Aircraft is quite low compared to the cost of other aircraft leased so far.

Stating that disturbances like the hotel employees’ strike, the strike in protest against Indian film star Rhitik Roshan’s remarks about the Nepalese and other violent activities have adversely affected the outcome of all international flights, it said should the situation remain normal operation of the Lauda Aircraft will of course bring good profit to the country.

After deciding to procure the Lauda Aircraft, which was needed most to attain the set goals, RNAC sought the government’s recommendation for issuance of foreign currency for a bank guarantee equivalent to one month’s payment plus one month’s payment to lauda airlines. The government then gave necessary permission.

RNAC received the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee’s first instruction that required a halt on the process of procuring the Lauda Aircraft on Nov. 20,2000, while the corporation had already made a payment in the form of bank guarantee on Oct. 31, 2000 and had opened the letter of credit on Nov. 16, 2000. This being the situation, RNAC was not in a position to execute the public accounts committee’s instruction as execution of the instruction in that situation meant a serious set back to the corporation’s credibility, it is stated.

The Public Accounts Committee’s second instruction reached the RNAC on Nov. 30, 2000. But on the same day the Lauda Aircraft left Europe and arrived in Kathmandu the next day as per the schedule. RNAC, thus, was not again practically in a position to execute the second instruction as well, it is stated.

Bhaktapur
Quake resistant hospital to be built

Bhaktapur, Feb. 24 (RSS): An earthquake resistant modern hospital building is to be constructed at the premises of Bhaktapur district hospital with the financial and material cooperation of the US Army Office aided by the Ministry of Defence and the Royal Nepal Army.

The hospital will be the first of its kind to be built in Bhaktapur for the first time in Nepal in view of the earthquake risks at any time as Bhaktapur is a city prone to earthquake risks.

The building to be constructed at an area of 2,800 square feet will have emergency treatment unit, laboratory and X- Ray facilities with some beds, hospital medical superintendent Dr. Hari Nath Acharya told.

The construction will be started from next week and is expected to be completed within four months.

The district hospital has 36 beds, at present.

IPPF focus on empowering women, says Gomez

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Panchkhal, Feb. 24: Ms. Angela Gomez, President of the International Planned Parenthood Federation (IPPF), said the mobilisation of volunteers could be helpful in implementing programmes in the field of reproductive health and to make the programmes self-sustainable.

Talking to the press at the Kavre office of FPAN after visiting the Panchkhal Health Clinic and Sunthan Youth Information Centre run by Family Planning Association of Nepal (FPAN) today, Ms. Gomez said that the number of volunteers being mobilised in Nepal in the family planning and reproductive health sectors is higher than many other IPPF member countries.

The biggest challenge at hand is to deal with the young people, she said and added that a more integrated approach was necessary to deal with them.

She also said newer concepts have been emerging in the fields of family planning and reproductive health.

Regarding the current activities of IPPF, she said that it has focussed its programmes on preventing HIV/AIDS, empowering women and helping young people understand their sexuality and providing quality services to meet their demands.

"We also advocate in favour of safe abortion," she added.

Ms. Gomez is here to forward the process of establishing the Regional Office of IPPF in Kathmandu and observe the programmes launched in the reproductive health sector. The IPPF is waiting for the government’s approval for the establishment of the regional office.

Responding to a question, she said that the Regional Office is being set up in Nepal due to misunderstandings between India and Pakistan.

Setting up of the Regional Office here could be beneficial for Nepal as it could get more information and technical assistance, which would help launch activities to promote reproductive health and family planning.

The IPPF President also expressed commitment that IPPF would continue to extend support to Nepal.

Meanwhile, the new administration of USA, one of the two major donors of IPPF (the other is Japan), has said that it would cut down its support to IPPF as the former is against abortion.

"Despite such a policy of the Bush Administration, IPPF will continue to advocate in favour of safe abortion," she told The Rising Nepal.

Established in 1959, FPAN took the membership of IPPF in 1969. Among the 180 member countries of IPPF, Canada IPPF is the world’s largest voluntary organisation in the field of sexual and reproductive health.

Hotel unionists up in arms

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Feb. 24: With the service charge issue still in limbo, hotel unions have said enough is enough and are sketching plans to launch their protest programs later this week demanding compulsory tips from hotel-clients.

The unionists said their patience is running out due to what they view the uncompromising attitude of hoteliers. "We are left with no choice but to begin our protest programs since the hotel-owners have stuck with their stand not to levy service charge on their clients," said Bishnu Lamsal, General Secretary of the Joint Central Action Committee of the two hotel unions.

The unionists are tight-lipped about the protest program schedules but hinted that their first torpedo may be shut down strikes at hotels.

Officials at the joint body of the unionists said that the hoteliers took rigid positions on the service charge issue when Foreign Minister Chakra Prasad Banstola tried to mediate between the two warring sides — hoteliers and their employees’ unions. "We are told that the hoteliers carried on with their inflexible stands and so we have decided to begin our protest programs."

Minister Banstola was not available for immediate comments.

Hoteliers, however, dismiss the unions’ charges. Said Narendra Bajracharya, President of Hotel Association of Nepal (HAN), "We are ready to consider the introduction of service charge but after three to five years."

Till then, hoteliers have a three-point checklist that they demand should be addressed. First, they say, is the annual tourist arrival figure that should cross 500,000, indicating a positive trend in the travel trade.

Then they stress on the amendment in the Labor Act to make it what they call investor friendly. "The Act must have the provisions like no work no pay, contractual labor, hire and fire, ban on strike in hotels terming it sensitive industry, among others," said Bajracharya.

The third point hoteliers have highlighted is their already signed business deals with international tour-operators. "Since almost all the hotels have already signed business deals with tour operators for three to four years, levying the service charge now would mean paying the money from our pockets," explained Bajrcharya. "Moreover, 80 per cent of our clients are business groups who purchase our package in advance."

The unionists are willing to give few months, at most, as gestation period. Which means, the two rivals are not meeting half way.

More importantly, hoteliers and their employees’ unions are not even sitting across the table indicating a crisis of confidence.

Things between the two notwithstanding parties went worse even as a high level committee handed out the government a report on the service charge earlier this month. The high level body was entrusted to look into service charge issue after the opposing hoteliers and their employees’ unions had threatened to close down hotels sticking to their guns on the row.

After the committee accomplished its mission, hotel-owners lauded its prescription — introduction of voluntary service charge initially to ultimately implement fixed wage system — while unionists denied subscribing to the idea.

It is for this union’s rejection, officials at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation have not been able to push ahead the negotiations with hotel employees’ unions. The officialdom last week had asked the joint action committee what their (union’s) position was. The unionists had replied that they wanted service charge and that they would not consider the high level committee’s report.

As the stalemate between the officialdom and the unions continued, rays of hopes had emerged when the Foreign Minister had appeared on the scene as a mediator. But, going by the claims and counter claims between hoteliers and their employees’ unions on the service charge row now, tourism industry faces an imminent threat, once again.

If the threat materializes, a thunderbolt may pound the susceptible travel industry — leaving it with the wounds that may perhaps never heal.

Poetry symposium in Nepalgunj

Nepalgunj, Feb. 24 (RSS): A poet symposium was held here Friday under the aegis of Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh Research Centre Nepalgunj on the occasion of National Education Day.

Speaking at the function, social worker Narvada Sharma stressed that a tradition of bestowing honour to the litterateur during the life time should start in stead of respect being extended only after the death.

Litterateur Pramod Pradhan said the contributions made by late litterateur Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh in the development of Nepali language, litterateur and journalism as well as for the well-being of mankind was unforgettable.

Jaya Prithvi Bahadur Singh Research Centre Literary sub-committee convenor Ganesh Bahadur G.C. said that the Centre would chart out a calender of operation in order to hold literary programme regularly.

At the symposium, Narvada Sharma, Pramod Pradhan, Narendra Jung Peter, Resham Birahi, Narayan Gaire, Balkrishna Sharma, Lut Bikram Shahi, Dr. Janardan Acharya, Kiran Acharya, Hiralal Prasain, Sukrarishi Chaulagai, Omprakash Sharma, Krishna Bahadur Chanda, Meghanath Basyal and Dan Bahadur Giri recited their poems.

A minute’s silence was also observed in the memory of poet Radhikasharan Poudel who died in a road accident recently wishing eternal peace for the departed soul.

Education Day marked throughout the Kingdom

Kathmandu, Feb. 24 (RSS): The 26th National Education Day was observed throughout the Kingdom Friday by organising various programmes.

Pokhara: The District Education Office, Kaski organised a district-level function on the occasion of the Education Day on Friday.

Private and public schools had taken part in the district level Education day programme.

At the programme, 31 teachers from public schools completing 25 years of service were conferred the "Dirgha Sewa Padak" and the subject teachers who succeeded in getting the highest percentage of students through the SLC examinations in their respective subjects were awarded.

Likewise, awards were also given to the office-bearers of the school management committees and the teachers of the resource centre.

Binod Pokharel and Laxmi Gurung, who secured the highest marks in the district in last year’s School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examinations among the boys and girls respectively were also given prizes on the occasion.

School children presented a cultural programme and a mass P.T. display at the programme.

A host of speakers including the chief district officer, the district education officer, teachers representatives, guardians and local academics expressed their views at the function presided over by DDC chairman Punya Prasad Poudel who is also the chairman of the district education committee.

Meanwhile, at another function organised to mark the same occasion, member of the Raj Parishad and university reader Ganesh Bahadur Gurung honoured educationist George John by wrapping a shawl around him.

At the function, Mr. Gurung also gave away prizes to the senior employees and the sons and daughters of the employees passing in the SLC and other higher degree examinations.

The function was organised under the joint auspices of the Tribhuvan University Employees’ Association, the Institute of Forestry Dean’s office unit and the Pokhara Campus unit.

On the occasion, Mr. Gurung also declared open the annual general meeting of the association.

Addressing the function, reader Gurung said that Tribhuvan University at present lacked in physical infrastructure and suggested increasing the fees on a rational basis to overcome this problem.

Educational expert George John who was felicitated on the occasion said that education should not be tied only to employment.

Various persons including campus chief Maqbul Hussein, acting Dean Hari Prasad Tripathi and professors expressed their views at the programme jointly presided over by TU employees’ union dean’s office unit president Bhola Bahadur K.C. and Pokhara Campus unit committee president Basanta Udhas.

Lamjung: Twelve school teachers and two school management committee members were felicitated at a function organised by the district education office, Lamjung on the occasion of the 26th Education Day on Friday.

The teachers of local Lokraj Adarsh Secondary School, Janata Secondary School, the Janakalyan Secondary School, the Bhakti Namuna Secondary School, the Sarbodaya Secondary School and the Gyanodaya High School were felicitated on the occasion.

Similarly, the school management committee chairmen of local Ganesh-Malika Secondary School the Janakalyan Secondary School, Udipur were also awarded.

The Himali Secondary School, Bhorletar, received a letter of commendation for securing highest marks among boys and girls in the district in last year’s SLC examination.

Kapilvastu: The district education office, Kapilvastu observed the 26th Education Day amid a variety of programmes at Taulihawa Friday.

On the occasion, Kapilvastu DDC president Ramesh Sharma gave away medals to the teachers for their commendable services in this sector for about 20 year.

Similarly, he also gave away cash prizes and certificates to a boy and a girl who obtained the highest marks in the SLC examination in 2056 B.S. throughout the district and a boy and a girl who topped in the district level examinations for grade 5 and 8.

Syangja: Western Region Regional Education director Krishna Khanal speaking at a function held to mark the 26th National Education Day at Syangja bazaar Friday said that the teachers should assume their duty with honesty.

The proposed education act envisages the vocational and quality education, he said, adding that the government thought of activating the local communities for the academic and physical development of the public schools.

On the occasion, he also released "Syangja Academic Mirror-2057" published by the district education office, Syangja on the occasion of Education Day.

Director Khanal also honoured 111 teachers in recognition of their valuable service more than 30 years and other employees associated with the education sector.

Syangja DDC president was on the chair.

Damauli: The 26 th National Education Day was observed in Tanahu yesterday with the slogan ‘Education for all and active people’s participation for quality education a need of the day’.

At the function organised by the District Education Office, various educationists and party representatives expressed the view that no quality education has been there even in the 21st century and the educational sector is plagued by evils and aberrations created by confusion and uncertainty.

The District Education Office also announced that it will honour with letter of appreciation for long service to 40 teachers completing 25 years of service.

The office also gave away prizes and certificates to 14 students with excellent performance in the district including three boys and four girl students in the 2056 B.S. SLC examination and the government and private sector schools with better pass percentage.

Similarly, 14 students of class 5 and 8 excelling in the district level examination were also given away prizes and certificates.

DDC chairman Bishwo Bahadur Adhikari had given away the prizes and certificates to the teachers and students.