Invest in leather industry, Chinese delegation requested

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): A joint meeting was held between the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI), Nepal Chamber of Industry and Trade, and a 10-member delegation led by Deputy Director General of the Foreign Trade Administration, Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation of China Chen Peng at the FNCCI secretariat today.

At the start of the meeting, FNCCI President Pradip Kumar Shrestha urged the Chinese delegation to not only import semi-processed leather but also invest in leather processing, leather good production and other potential sectors in Nepal, and import such goods from Nepal.

Leader of the Chinese delegation Chen Peng said thanks to both the governments' commitment to further promoting bilateral economic relations exchange of visits and mutual discussions between the industry and business communities of the two countries have gain momentum.

Chinese industrialists and businessmen are interested to invest not only in the leather industry but also in other possible areas, he said.

President of the FNCCI Export Promotion Committee Kishor Kumar Khanal said as least developed Nepal is enjoying customs discount on its exports to various countries, it would be beneficial for both countries if exportable items are produced through joint venture and exported from Nepal.

President of Nepal Leather Industry and Trade Association Sanjaya Giri said Chinese technology and experience could be very important for the leather industry and also urged the delegation to provide information on the marketing of leather and leather products in China.

In course of the discussion, members of the Chinese delegation said that Nepalese leather shoes and ready-made garments are in demand in China and also expressed interest in signing of an agreement for joint investment in this regard.

Also today, the ten member delegation led by Mr Peng held extensive discussions on expansion of business in leather between China and Nepal with members of Nepal Industry and Trade Association at its secretariat.

Welcoming the delegation, President Rajeshkaji Shrestha and second vice-president Surendrabir Malakar expressed confidence that exchange of experience and information between delegations of the two countries will benefit traders of both the countries.

Leader of the delegation Mr Chen Peng shed light on the possibilities of exporting leather and leather products from Nepal to China and establishment of joint investment leather industry in Nepal.

Councillor at the Chinese Embassy Zhu Wey also hoped that the direct meeting with Nepalese businessmen and traders would provide huge boost to promotion of trade between the two countries.

President of Leather Shoes and Goods Production Association Surendra Prasad Dahal shed light on the feasibility of opening a shoe factory under joint investment in Nepal.

National Task Group formed

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 4: Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MOWCSW) has formed a National Task Group to direct and monitor all the activities regarding the Global Movement for Children in Nepal.

The National Task Group has been chaired by Ms. Kamala Pant, State Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare.

Secretary of MOWCSW, Joint Secretary of Child Development Programme and Child Rights Protection Section of MOWCSW, representatives of Ministry of Education and Sports, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Labour and Transportation Management and National Planning Commission are members of the National Task Group.

Other members of the task group are UNICEF, Save the Children Alliance, Plan International, President of National NGO Federation, President of Child NGO Federation and Chairman of Federation of Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Global Movement for Children is devoted to creating a world where every child has the right to dignity, security and self-fulfillment. In the context of United Nations General Assembly Special Session on Children, convening in September 2001, the Global Movement for Children aims to increase public concern on the issues, which should be addressed and discussed in the session.

'Looking after cattle more important than education'

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Dang July 4: Children like Ramlauti Yadav and Deekpal Yadav are far from the light of education in Rajpur Village. Their desire for education cannot be met because they have to look after the household works as per the tradition.

In most of the villages of Dang and specially the children of Rajpur, Bela, and Gadhawa VDC are far from receiving education. The children of Yadav (Ahir) community are specially deprived of education.

Ramlauti and Deekpal want to go to school but their parents do not give permission for this. "In this condition how can we go the school?" they ask.

"We have to look after the cattle like taking them out for grazing," they say. They say that this is their tradition as their elders had done. "As there is nobody else to look after the cattle we cannot go to school."

These children have the urge to receive education but circumstances are such that looking after the cattle is more imprtant than going to school.

People of the Ahir community are reluctant to send their childern to school. They have the feeling that the children ought to help them in their work rather than study. The main reason for such a situation is that there is a lack of awareness among them about the value of education.

They claim that they are the descendents of Lord Krishna and livestock raising is their religious tradition and the same principle guides their day to day life. The people of this particular community feel humiliated if they do not have cattle in large numbers.

Pointing to the herd of buffaloes near his house, Hari Narayan Yadav said, "Our forefathers had spent their life rearing buffaloes. And I too do not have any idea about education so my four sons and three daughters are busy looking after the cattle. He asked, "Who will look after the cattle if our children go to school?"

"In the Ahir community there is a strong attachment with the cattle than of making their children educated," the VDC chairman Megh Narayan Chaudari said.

HM thanks both Houses

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): His Majesty the King has thanked the House of Representatives and the National Assembly for the proposals passed by the separate meetings of the two houses of Parliament on June 25 extending congratulations to His Majesty the King on the auspicious occasion of His Majesty’s accession to the throne.

A Royal Palace communication to this effect was read out by Speaker Taranath Ranabhat at the meeting of the House of Representatives and by National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohasin at the National Assembly today.

Function in honour of Chinese envoy

Bhaktapur, July 4 (RSS): The Bhaktapur Municipality held a function here Tuesday in honour of Zeng Xuyong, Ambassador of the People's Republic of China to Nepal, who is returning home on completion of his tenure in Nepal.

President of Nepal Workers and Peasants' Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe said the age-old ties between Nepal and the People's Republic of China have been growing from strength to strength.

The bilateral relations and co-operation between the two countries have been enhanced during the tenure of Ambassador Xuyong, he said and hoped that it will further strengthen in the days ahead.

Describing Nepal as his second home, Ambassador Xuyong expressed his commitment in extending co-operation for the all-round development of Nepal.

Nepal-China Friendship Association Chairman Purna Bahadur M.A., senior journalist Govinda Biyogi, intellectual Ballavmani Dahal, Bhaktapur Deputy Mayor Chaitya Raj Shakya also expressed the confidence the bilateral relations with China will be strengthened in the future.

The function was presided over by Bhaktapur mayor Prem Suwal.

Janak Education office bus set ablaze

Bhaktapur, July 4 (RSS): Unidentified masked men set fire to a big bus of the Janak Education Office (Ba. 1 Gha.355) at Degochasthan, ward No. 5 of Bhaktapur municipality at 5:40 this morning.

It is learnt that all of a sudden, some 10-12 masked men boarded on the bus which was parked there to pick up office employees, ordered the driver out of the bus by brandishing arms and set the vehicle on fire by sprinkling petrol and kerosene.

The fire was extinguished with the help of the two fire engines in Bhaktapur. The interior of the bus has been completely damaged by the fire.

It is not yet clear as to who the culprits are.

Meanwhile, the CPN-Maoist have taken responsibility for the vandalising and setting on fire of a bus owned by Janak Education Materials Ltd.

Issuing a statement here this evening, the CPN-Maoist Bhaktapur Organisation Committee Secretary has taken responsibility for the incident and said that the action was taken as a protest against the running of buses owned by the Ltd. during Nepal Bandh programmes.

His Majesty felicitates

Kathmandu, July 5 (RSS): His Majesty the King has extended cordial felicitations to Mr. Hugo Chavez Frias, President of the Boliviarian Republic of Venezuela, on the occasion of the National Day of Venezuela.

In a message, His Majesty has expressed best wishes for the President’s personal health and happiness and for the progress and prosperity of the people of Venezuela.

Landslide kills four in Dailekh

Dailekh, June 4 (RSS): Four members of the same family died in a landslide triggered by incessant rains last night at Phagu Village Rajijan VDC-9, some nine kms north of Dailekh Bazaar in Dailekh district.

The deceased have been identified as 49 year Dil Bahadur Singh, his wife Laxmi Singh, 38, their eldest son Hukum Bahadur Singh, 16, and the yongest son whose name is yet to be known.

Two buffalos, two oxen, two cows and four goats were also buried alive in the landslide.

The thirteen year old daughter of the late Singh was not at home at that time of the accident.

Best exporters felicitated

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Minister of State for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Krishna Prasad Sitaula gave away the “best exporter” awards with letters of appreciation to various industries recognised as the best exporters in the last year at a function organised by the Export Promotion Centre here today.

The recipients of the best exporter award are Chandi Raj Dhakal of the Momento Apparels Pvt. Ltd for the export of ready-made garments, Deepak Bhattarai of Paramount Carpet Industries for highest export of woolen carpets and Anita Dhital of Everest Pashmina Art Pvt. Ltd for export of Pashmina goods.

Similarly, Babu Lal Agrawal of Narayani Leather Manufacturing Industries Limited, Mina Karki of Himalayan Akash Exports, Raju Shrestha of Asiatic Traders and Exports and T.K. Gupta of Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd. were given the best exporter award respectively for the export of processed leather, silver ornaments, handicraft goods and exports of the high valued items to India.

On the occasion, Minister of State Sitaula also gave away medals and letters of appreciation to Subarna Ratna Shrestha of Home Makers Pvt. Ltd. for designing the Nepal Himalaya Pavilion at the “Expo-2000” trade fair in Hanover, Germany, and the office-bearers of various other organisations for assisting in setting up the Nepal pavilion.

Addressing the function, Minister of State Sitaula said that His Majesty’s Government is keen to discuss and move ahead hand-in-hand with the private sector for resolving the problems of the country’s trade, industry and export sectors and for their promotion.

Except for Nepal and Bhutan, all other member countries of the SAARC have taken the membership of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), he said, adding that Nepal too was working towards becoming a member of the WTO while at the same time protecting rights and interests of indigenous industrialists.

He said the dry port at Birgunj will be made operational soon in order to better manage and regularise imports and exports.

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Bhanu Prasad Acharya said that the government was striving to bring about improvements in the downward trend seen in exports, trade and commerce.

Member of the National Planning Commission (NSP) Dr. Shankar Sharma, member-secretary of the Export Promotion Committee Niranjan Baral and president of Nepal Chamber of Commerce Rajesh Kaji Shrestha spoke on the paramount role of the export industries in national economic growth.

From the chair, president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) Pradip Kumar Shrestha underlined the need for preparing the national industries to make them able to weather down the impact of sluggish growth in the economy.

At the programme, Chandi Raj Dhakal of the Momento Apparels Pvt. Ltd. said his garment industry provides employment to 150,000 persons. He also disclosed that there has been a sharp decline in the export of ready-made garments over the last few years.

Heat hits Jhapa

Bhadrapur, July 4 (RSS): Drought conditions and the subsequent rise in temperature has paralysed normal life in Jhapa district.

Precipitation has failed this rainy season and the situation has turned worst because of environment imbalances characterised by the depletion of forests and pouring of a large number of people in the urban areas.

The day-time temperatures here often touches the 40 degree celcius mark due to the rise in temperatures and lack of downpour for the last couple of days.

People are not venturing out of their homes because of the seering heat. The hot weather has also hampered office-work with less people visiting for work.

The inflow of the people from far-flung rural areas at the district headquarters seems to be on the decline.

Medicines despatched to 12 districts

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Necessary drugs have been sent for the treatment of kala-azar, the main health problem in 12 districts of Nepal, it is learnt from the Department of Health Services, epidemiology and diseases control division.

As per information given by the director of the division Dr. Mahendra Bahadur Bista, 17,119 vials of drugs of various kinds have been sent to different districts for the treatment of the disease.

The division has enough stock of the drugs which is being provided free of cost by HMG to kala-azar patients at various hospitals and health centres. It is supplied immediately on demand by the affected district, it is learnt.

Task Force recommends to categorise schools

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): The task force formed by His Majesty's Government under the convenorship of Director of the Primary School Nutritious Food Project Haribol Khanal to study matters concerning tuition fee, curriculum and salary and allowances for teachers at private schools, the permission or approval for running schools and the like submitted its report along with recommendations to Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyaya today.

In its report, the task force has recommended separate rules for providing permission or approval to schools running with government investment, and schools running with the investment of individuals, the community or a trust.

It has stressed the need to categorise all schools as public and community schools, streamline the schools running without fulfilling necessary requirements by making them fulfil certain conditions or invalidate the permission given to schools which do not fulfill such conditions, and allow schools which are running all classes with the permission or approval of the government and have 400 or more students to keep property in the school’s name so as to ensure their continuity.

As recommended by the task force, all schools will be categorised as grade "A", "B" and "C", a system will be established for all schools to get their annual programme and budget approved, and separate budget heads will be specified for fees collected by schools.

Likewise, the annual programme and budget will be considered the basis for determining school fees and a provision will be made to spend 60 percent of the total expenditure on teachers' salary and 40 per cent on other expenditures.

As per the recommendations schools will be required to do their planning on the basis of their annual programmes and collect entrance/admission fees equivalent to one month's fee only once after a new rate of fee is fixed.

"A" and "B" grade schools will be required to get their income of the past three months examined and deposit five percent of the net savings in a District Educational Development Fund.

Physical facilities, the number of students and teachers, academic performance and duration of school operation will be considered the basis for grading the schools, and the accounting system of the schools will be based on the double entry book keeping system.

The District Educational Development Fund to be established in every district will be utilised in promoting the standard of education, providing scholarships to diligent students from poor economic backgrounds, developing educational materials and running extra-curricular activities.

The fund will be operated by a five-member board comprising representatives of the local boarding schools' association, the District Education Office concerned, the District Education Committee concerned and a woman representative.

As recommended by the task force, uniformity will be maintained in teachers' salary and allowances, which should not be less than those in schools running on government grant.

Likewise the schools which have not yet refunded the deposits collected from students will be required to refund them, and all schools will be required to declare the salary and allowances of headmasters, principals and teachers and make these things transparent.

Arrangements will also be made to establish a system of teachers' appointment and promotion, and bring the teacher-student ratio at privately run schools from the existing 1:12 to 1:25.

All schools will be required to get approved from the district education offices concerned, with their school charters clearly showing their programmes, income and expenditure, educational administration rules and teachers' promotion criteria. They will provide training to existing untrained teachers, appoint only trained teachers and provide appropriate amounts for teachers' gratuity and the teachers' welfare fund.

Likewise, use of school textbooks developed by the government will be made mandatory at all schools and no school will be allowed to use textbooks that are against national sentiment and respect.

As against the existing practice the private and boarding school's association will not be allowed to recommend textbooks for schools. Rather arrangements will be made for the formation of a textbook recommendation committee comprising representatives of private and boarding schools among others and textbooks recommended by this committee will be used in the schools.

NC-ML talks held

Kathmandu, July 4 (RSS): Representatives of the Prime Minister and the CPN(ML), in talks held at the CPN(ML) office at Bagbazaar today, agreed that political parties should take initiative to forge a national consensus for finding solutions to the burning issues in the country and work on the basis of that consensus.

On the occasion, both sides elaborated on the propriety of their respective positions.

CPN(ML) Party General Secretary Bam Dev Gautam and politburo members CP Mainali and RK Mainali from the CPN(ML) and Local Development Minister Govind Raj Joshi and Nepali Congress Spokesperson Narahari Acharya who represented the Prime Minister had taken part in the discussion.

Explosion near CJ's residence

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 4: A loud bang at 6:30 in the morning woke up the people living near the Prime Minister’s and the Chief Justice’s residence at Baluwatar today.

The explosion outside the compound wall of the Chief Justice’s residence did only a minor damage of ripping off a few pieces bark of a tree and shattered a few window panes of the house opposite to the site of blast.

According to an eyewitness, who was walking back home after buying some sugar, suddenly heard a loud noise when he was about 30 to 40 feet from the site of explosion. He had seen a black polythene bag on the ground below a tree, where the explosion took place, when he was walking to the shop to buy sugar. He, however, said he did not see anyone putting the bag at that place.