Adhikari to be honoured Ratna Shrestha award

Baglung, Jan. 26 (RSS): The Ratna Shrestha Award Trust, Baglung has decided to present this year’s regional "Ratna Shrestha Award" to author of the book "Progressive Nepali Literary Critics", Dr. Rabi Lal Adhikari.

The award, which is presented every two years, carries a purse of Rs. 7000 and a citation.

Similarly, senior litterateur Kamal Mani Dixit will be honoured with the "Ratna Shrestha honour" by the Award Trust.

The honour is bestowed to a literary figure every two years.

Both the "Ratna Shrestha Regional Award" and the honour will be presented on democracy day on February 18, it is learnt from the trust.

Chairman of the trust Prem Chhota presided over the meeting of the trust.

Okabe-visits Kali Gandaki ‘A’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan. 26: Takamichi Okabe, Charge d’ Affairs at the Japanese Embassy in Nepal, today visited the Kali Gandaki "A" Hydroelectric Project site in Syangja district and attended the head-race tunnel break-through function held there.

Also present at the function were Minister for State for Water Resources, Ram Bahadur Gurung and other high-ranking officials of His Majesty’s Government and the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA).

Calling the Kali Gandali ‘A’ project the most prominent run-off mega river project in Nepal, Okabe said power was key to industrial development of a nation and harnessing the resources and massive urbanisation of clean energy is the need of the hour for a better future for Nepal.

According to a press release issued her today by the Kathmandu-based Embassy of Japan, Okabe also observed the construction activities of the project closely and congratulated everyone involved with the project for achieving that successful moment.

He expressed the belief that the project will provide more reliable power supply in the country by reducing the load shedding, especially in the winter season, after its completion.

The project will generate 144 KW electricity and it will be added to the present installed capacity of 389.57 KW.

Out of the total cost of about US$ 750 million jointly funded by His Majesty’s Government, NEA, Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan, the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC) has funded approximately US$ 160 million.

Highlighting the Japan-Nepal cooperation, the Japanese diplomat said the Japanese government has played a role of a true and dedicated friend of Nepal in various development activities and it has given much importance to the project.

Panta stresses society’s role in education sector

Syangja, Jan. 26 (RSS): Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Devi Panta has said that the civil society should be equally conscious and astute for bringing about social reforms in the education sector.

Minister of State Panta said this while inaugurating the silver jubilee function of the Bhagyodaya Secondary School in Khilung Deurali of Syangja district on Thursday.

On the occasion, Minister of State Panta also inaugurated the resource centre building constructed at the total cost of approximately Rs 500,000 with the assistance of the district education office and the local voluntary labour.

At the programme, Minister of State Panta honoured Chhaya Ram Khanal, Gangaram Khanal, Khem Raj Regmi, Srikant Regmi, Hari Prasad Regmi, Chola Kant Regmi and Krishna Prasad Regmi for providing assistance in the physical and academic progress of the school by presenting them with letters of commendation and shawls.

She said the government was trying to develop a mechanism for bringing about social awareness towards vocational education by narrowing the educational divide between the public and private schools.

Some elements that want to misguide the youths towards the path of violence are active in the society in the absence of appropriate education policy and academic environment in the country, she said.

Minister of State Panta also said that the government was serious in the development of appropriate education policy that would lay emphasis on vocational and job-oriented education to mitigate such a situation in the country.

She said a change has to be brought about in the societal thinking in order to make the education system competent and of high standard.

MP Gopalman Shrestha stressed giving emphasis on vocational and employment-oriented education in order to resolve the problem of unemployment in the country.

He pointed out the need for social reforms in the present education system.

Nepali Congress district president Khagendra Raj Regmi, Mayor of Waling Municipality Bhoj Raj Aryal, former education secretary Khemraj Regmi, district education officer Baburam Poudel, Nepali Congress Mahasamiti members Kamal Prasad Pangeni and Surya Prasad Regmi, Nepal Women’s Association Kaski district president Mrs. Sarada Poudel and VDC chairman Govinda Kumar Karmacharya also expressed their views at the programme.

The programme was presided over by chairman of the school management committee Toyanath Aryal.

At the programme district education officer Baburam Poudel inaugurated an office building constructed at the total cost of Rs 300,000.