His Majesty graces photo exhibition
Fifty years of USAID in Nepal

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Jan.30: His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev graced a photo-exhibition and a reception organised by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) to mark its 50th anniversary in Nepal here today. Her Majesty the Queen was also present on the occasion.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala attended the programme held at the residence of the US Ambassador Ralph Frank here this evening.

Speaking during the function, Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya said that Nepal has been benefiting from the US assistance. "The US assistance has helped us from building infrastructure to consolidation of democracy."

Highlighting the government’s development policy, Acharya said that the focus was on people-friendly, pro-poor, and gender balanced programmes. "The future will not forgive us if we do not address poverty now."

Dwelling on foreign aid, the foreign minister said that the government expects quality aid from donors that could support the reform process adopted officially.

Speaking during the occasion, American Ambassador Frank said that the photo exhibition was retrospective of Nepal-US relationship and the achievements over the past five decades. "In the last five decades, Nepal has built roads, hospitals, schools, and drinking water systems. The Nepalese people can expect to live twice as long as they could in 1951. They can also expect a better education. In 1951, there were only 300 college graduates in Nepal. Today, there are over 100,000 who attend university in Nepal alone. Literacy, especially among women, continues to grow."

Commenting on the current environment, Frank said that while he had not seen a comprehensive study, he would guess that the economic costs of bandhs each year were larger than his government’s bilateral AID budget. "And the economic costs of the anti-government insurgency is far greater. It’s been found elsewhere in the developing world that countries succeed best in the development process when they have chosen elected, representational democracy as the form of government; when they have developed strong democratic institutions, including an independent judiciary and a free press; when they have a vibrant opposition that is free to engage in peaceful, constructive, non-violent process."

Joanne Hale, Director of USAID, said that Nepal and the US have walked hand in hand down the road of development since 1951. "We have done that seeking a better life for Nepal, respecting her rich inheritance and wonderful people, finding ways to get family planning services, immunisations, malaria control, vitamin A, antibiotics, fertilisers, seeds, electricity poles, literacy classes, and micro finance services into remote areas and to get its high value crops services, and products out."

She further added, "The road does not end here now. It continues and it is with great pride that we continue down it with you (Nepal). To find new areas, which will continue to enrich the lives of the average Nepali citizen, the person in the remote village that deserves to live with electricity and the benefits of education and health services."

The USA extended its first technical co-operation to Nepal for malaria control and education way back in 1951 under the Point IV Agreement.

Nepal ready for hosting SAARC summit: Koirala

Kathmandu, Jan. 30 (RSS): Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has hoped an understanding for peace and cordiality will be reached between India and Pakistan paving the way for the SAARC summit conference.

Prime Minister Koirala expressed these views in an interview given to Dr. A. Swami, special correspondent of Punjab Keshari daily published from New Delhi here today.

Nepal is ready for hosting the SAARC summit conference, Mr Koirala said, adding that the summit conference had been delayed because of the relations between India and Pakistan.

There is no disagreement in connection with hosting of the SAARC summit conference, Mr Koirala said, adding that the meeting of the SAARC technical committee has already been held and the SAARC foreign ministers meeting will be held soon.

Prime Minister Koirala hoped that an understanding will be reached between India and Pakistan paving the way for the SAARC summit conference.

Stating that the understanding and agreement reached between Nepal and India during his visit to India were being implemented, Mr Koirala said that an understanding had been reached to resolve the problems of inundation caused by dams and floods along the border.

Mr Koirala informed that foreign ministers level talks will be held to pave the way for the review of the 1950 treaty.

There is no issue between Nepal and India which cannot be resolved through mutual discussions, Mr Koirala said.

In reply to a question relating to the future of democracy in South Asian countries, Mr Koirala said democracy is a system which has no end to its future.

Stating that democracy has been unstable in a few South Asian countries, he said that political stability cannot be attained in the absence of democracy. The citizens of all the countries should be in a position to exercise democratic norms and values, he added.

Referring to the dissatisfaction caused by poverty and unemployment in some areas, Mr Koirala stressed the need for the countries of South Asia to launch joint programmes for alleviation of poverty and unemployment in the region.

The present government has given top priority to peace and security, good governance and control of corruption, Mr Koirala said, adding that the present government has the policy of moving ahead by maintaining an understanding with the opposition parties in matters relating to development programmes.

House panel to meet the press

Kathmandu, Jan 30 (RSS): A meeting of the House of Representatives Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Committee chaired by committee chairman Haribhakta Adhikari here today held discussions on the preparation being made for an interaction and opinions collection programme on women’s rights to parental property to be hosted in Kathmandu on Sunday, February 4.

The committee decided to hold a meet the press programme on January 31 in connection with the programmes held in one district each in all the fourteen zones and the one to be held in Kathmandu.

Meeting of the House of Representatives Development Committee here today took decision to invite the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development and secretary at the Ministry of Local Development in the next meeting of the committee to furnish information on why the report of the decentralisation implementation and monitoring committee was not presented to the committee in contravention to the provisions made in the Local Self-governance Act 2055.

Committee chairman Tanka Prasad Rai chaired the meeting.

‘Push public, private partnership ahead’

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Lalitpur, Jan. 30: Planners and development workers today stressed on the region-specific strategies for the sustainable development of the country. They also said that a national level consolidated thinking was essential to harmonise the region-specific strategies.

"Local and regional specificity has been a matter of great concern for the sustainable development of the nation," National Planning Commission member Dr. Jagadish Chandra Pokharel told a workshop on Principles of Sustainable Development here this afternoon. "The development strategies should address people’s needs at the local level."

Pokharel stressed on understanding and partnership between the government and private sector to push ahead development activities effectively. He said that the issue of open border had to be addressed for sustainable trade.

Assistant Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme Dr. Bhesh Dhamala stressed on the need to unify poverty reduction policy and sustainable development policy.

"The challenge with us is to reorient our thinking process towards the domestic governance system to accommodate current development paradigm," said Dhamala. He said transparent governance, a reliable banking system, social stability, acceptable labour standards and acceptable environmental standards were essential to attract foreign investment and capitalise the existing opportunities.

The Country Representative of The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Dr. Mahseh Banskota said that Nepal held good development potential as she was extraordinarily rich in natural resources. "The only challenge facing us is to develop strategies that help us exploit these resources."

He said that dialogue was necessary at all times and at all levels to harmonise the region-specific strategies.

During the technical session, Krishna Prasad Oli and Dr. Badri D. Pande briefed on highlights of sectoral review and highlights of regional dialogue respectively.

Organised jointly by the NPC and IUCN, today’s workshop aimed at disseminating and discussing the findings from the regional reviews.

The highlights said that there was an improvement in infrastructure and local level governance, increased involvement in non-governmental organisations and the private sector and a better access to education and health facilities.

On the other hand, the highlights identified misuse of natural resources, lack of financial resources, failure to implement the pieces and lack of monitering and evaluation as the constraints to sustainable development.

It called for a comprehensive revision of policies and practices plus an increase in efficiency in using energy and other materials. The highlights said there should be a limit on the on extraction and use of the non-renewable energy and a sustained increase in agriculture productivity,

This is possible only if the present growth trends in population, industrialisation, pollution, food production and resource depletion pattern is changed, said the highlights of the findings.

INT’L BUDDHIST MEET
Lumbini waits to be known abroad

Butwal, Jan. 30 (RSS): The International Buddhist Conference to be held at Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha from February 1, is expected to play an important role in development of Lumbini.

The International Buddhist Conference with the theme "Lumbini in the New Millenium: The Role of the Youth and the Community" will be participated in by about 300 Buddhist intellectuals, Bhikshus, scholars, archaeologists, historians and representatives of various Buddhist organisations.

The main objective of the conference is to apprise the youths of their responsibilities in the development of Lumbini as well as to develop the local communities of the neighboring areas along with the development of Lumbini.

The conference to be organised by the Lumbini Development Trust (Ltd) with the cooperation of His Majesty’s Government is expected to develop Lumbini as a pilgrimage center of Buddhists and peace loving people throughout the world by mobilising the Buddhist youths and community and enhancing the faith and confidence of the local people in Lumbini.

The conference is being organised in accordance with the commitment made by Nepal during the first International Buddhist Conference held in 1998 to organise International Buddhist Conference every two years, according to vice-chairman of the Lumbini Development Trust Omkar Prasad Gauchan.

Mr Gauchan said the conference is being organised with the objective of mobilising the local and neighboring people in development works of Lumbini as well as safeguarding sanctity, peace and civilisation of Lumbini.

Even though efforts have been made to introduce Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha, throughout the world, it has not been productive as development works have not been carried out in accordance with the Lumbini Development Master Plan.

Two working papers on the role of the youth and the community will be presented at the conference for mobilising the cooperation of peace loving people of the world for the development of Lumbini.

The International Buddhist Conference is expected to play a crucial role in introducing Lumbini to the world as this has not been done to the desired extent even though the national and international archaeologists have played a significant role in excavating and preserving the stupas, vihars and other archaelogical goods found in Lumbini development area.

His late Majesty King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah had initiated the process of developing Lumbini after the fourth International Buddhist Conference held in 1956 suggested that Lumbini be protected and developed taking into consideration the historical and religious importance of the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha.

The then United Nations Secretary General U Thant visited Lumbini in 1957 and constituted an International Lumbini Development Committee comprising of 13 countries under the chairmanship of the Royal Nepalese Permanent Representative to the United Nations in 1970 for the development of Lumbini. Later famous Japanese architect Prof. Kenjo had prepared the master plan for development of Lumbini.

His Majesty’s Government is making necessary preparation to convert the Siddharthanagar airport into an international airport taking into consideration the suggestion made by the first International Buddhist Conference held in Lumbini to develop an international airport near Lumbini.

Even though Lumbini is geographically located in Nepal, it belongs to the world community as it is included in the world heritage list, member-secretary of the Lumbini Development Trust Janaklal Shrestha said, adding that the conference will play an important role in motivating all the peace loving people of the world to develop Lumbini, the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha.

As the teachings of Lord Gautam Buddha is relevant in the world plagued by dissappointment, arms race, terrorism, bloodshed, hunger and disease, the International Buddhist Conference is expected to contribute significantly towards freeing Lumbini from its backwardness and introducing it in the international tourism market.

During the conference discussions will be held on matters relating to promotion and development of Lumbini. The Lumbini declaration will be ratified and religious, cultural and archaeological programmes organised during the conference.

His Majesty’s Government has already build the Siddarthanagar-Lumbini road and guest house and developed necessary infrastructures for providing electricity and water services for development of Lumbini.

The International Buddhist Conference will also draw the attention of the international community towards publicising the spiritual and other development activities taking place at Lumbini, developing Lumbini Development Trust into an autonomous body and reviving the United Nations Lumbini Development Committee for the development of Lumbini.

POWER TARIFF ISSUE
Task force suggests tasks NEA better take up

Kathmandu, Jan 30 (RSS): The task force formed on July 20 to submit a report along with a plan of action suggesting as to what kinds of measures the government should take to regulate electricity tariff without causing burden to the general public presented its report to Prime Minister and Minister for Water Resources Girija Prasad Koirala today.

In the report, the task force has recommended strict and speedy measures to plug electricity leakage so as to reduce the leakage by two per cent during the current fiscal year. If this happened, the country will earn an additional Rs. 180 million or so every year, the report said.

The task force has recommended that the branches of Nepal Electricity Authority which are suffering a leakage of more than 30 per cent take necessary measures to bring down the volume of leakage to 25 per cent during the current fiscal year. It has also stressed the need for the electricity authority to develop and implement an effective programme from reducing the existing volume of electricity leakage in Bhaktapur and Patan to 25 per cent.

As it is quite certain that the country will have surplus energy during the summer of 2059 B.S. it is essential to increase the utilisation of electricity so as to facilitate the consumption of surplus power in Nepal and India. In the case of electricity which might not be consumed despite all these measures, the electricity tariff structure of the electricity authority needs to be changed in such a manner as to promote the consumption of such surplus energy, it is stated.

The new electricity tariff structure should have a provision for giving electricity at special concession rate to the existing and new industries which are in a position to consume surplus power, the report said.

It has also stressed the need to give priority to the development of necessary infrastructures including transmission lines and sub stations so as to increase power exports to India, and request India to improve the transmission lines on its side for that purpose.

The task force has also recommended a reduction in the electricity authority’s internal power consumption from the existing 1.5 per cent to 1 per cent through the implementation of necessary policy and programmes. If this happened annual income of the authority will increase by about Rs. 50 million a year.

In view of the occasional shortage of electricity meters, which prevents the authority from increasing the number of its clients, the task force has recommended that necessary arrangements be made to make meters easily available and install meters within two weeks after the date of demand for the same.

It has also stressed the need for the government to cooperate with the electricity authority in realising the accumulated over due electricity tariff from the government sector, the municipalities and VDCs.

The electricity should introduce golden hand shake scheme to reduce the number of its employees and set a target to increase the employee-client ration from the existing 1:78 to 1:200 within five years.

Since the existing rural electrification activity has not been financially attractive the task force has recommended that the government set up a separate "rural electrification fund" and operate it through a separate body.

The seven-member task force was headed by executive secretary at the Water and Energy Commission Secretariat Vidyanath Nepal.