Prevent human trafficking, emphasises Chief Justice

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, July 29: Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya today said that the country’s laws must commensurate with the international and regional conventions that Nepal has ratified.

Inaugurating a one-day workshop on ‘Trafficking in Human Beings (Control) Bill’ here today, Upadhyaya opined that Nepalese women have not been able to compete with men due to social and economic situations.

"The laws must have provisions to punish the persons involved in the criminal activities like girl trafficking and provide compensation for the victims," he said.

Chief Justice Upadhyaya said that the main objective of the legislation concerning prevention of human beings trafficking should be mainly on the prevention and control of human trafficking.

Speaking on the occasion, Mahendra Yadav "Madhukar", Chairman of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, expressed the view that the workshop would be able to forward concrete suggestions for incorporating them in the proposed Trafficking in Human Beings (Control) Bill before it is registered at the Parliament.

The Bill was registered at the Parliament Secretariat during the 19th session by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare. But the Bill had failed to get into discussion as the session had failed to enter into its normal functioning.

He further said that the Nepalese girls have been sold into prostitution owing to ignorance, poverty and self-interest of some individuals.

"But framing up laws alone will not be sufficient. They must be implemented in an effective manner so as to control such crimes," he said.

Addressing the inaugural session, lawmaker and former Minister of State for Women, Children and Social Welfare Kamala Devi Panta said that all forms of discrimination against women must be uprooted in order to protect the human rights of women.

"Nepal has shown its commitment to do away with discriminations against women by ratifying several international conventions. But many laws that contradict with the provisions of the international conventions are still in force," Ms. Panta expressed concern.

Citing examples of discrimination against women in the country, she said that the dissemination of baseless information about women has been rampant in the society.

Another lawmaker Prem Bahadur Singh said that the country has been facing the problem of trafficking in girls and women for years, an effective and strong legal provision is essential to control it.

"Lawmakers have a positive attitude to pass the Bill regarding the Human Trafficking if the government introduces it into the Parliament," Singh, who is also a member of the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Committee, assured.

Highlighting the objectives of the workshop, Sapana Pradhan Malla, chairperson of the Forum for Women, Law and Development (FWLD), said that the victims of trafficking are forced to face both the physical and mental torture.

"As the Bill has failed to incorporate many provisions such as extra territorial jurisdiction and extradition of the criminals, it needs extensive discussion," Ms. Malla said.

She also emphasised the need to distinguish between trafficking, prostitution and migration.

"We need to encompass the provisions of Child Rights Convention, Convention on Slavery and other international conventions in our laws," she said.

She also said that the laws must protect the rights of victims and witnesses.

Every year, 5,000 to 7,000 Nepalese girls and women are believed to be trafficked to foreign land, especially India for prostitution. But only a fraction of them comes to the notice of the police and administration due to the lack of effective laws.

Organised by FWLD and supported by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), the workshop was participated in by the government officials, lawyers, journalists, representatives of NGOs and donor agencies.

12 missing in landslip in Myagdi district

Kathmandu July 29 (RSS): As many as 12 people are missing in a landslide triggered by heavy downpour at Arman VDC-6, Arman in Myagdi district yesterday.

Eight houses and a proposed secondary school building have been buried under the debris, while 10 other houses have been badly damaged. A suspension bridge and a house at Ward No. 5 of the same VDC have been swept away, and a person is missing, according to CDO Mathura Prasad Yadav.

Three houses at Ward No. 7 Gadapani of the same VDC and one house at Rote village of Banjara VDC have been swept away and six persons are feared buried under the rubbles.

Likewise, the swollen Deude river at Babiyachaur VDC swept away Bharat Bahadur Malla, who was later found dead, and some six villages are affected by the heavy downpour.

Teams of administration, police, Red Cross and local organisations have rushed to the landslide affected areas for rescue and relief work.

The affected area is about 30 km west of the district headquarters.

‘Make efforts for progressive changes’

Kathmandu, July 29 (RSS): The talks between CPN-UML General Secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal and NCP-United General Secretary Prakash focussed on the current political situation in the country.

A joint communique issued by the two political parties here today states the talks centered on the serious problem faced by the country and its political solution.

We should be able to find a peaceful solution in favour of overall changes in the Nepalese society by moving ahead the proposed talks between the government and the NCP-Maoists which has become a matter of great concern for all peace and change loving people in a meaningful manner, the joint communique states.

Stating that the present problem can be resolved only through progressive changes in the Nepalese society and not through regression, mobilisation of the army and use of force, the joint communique appeals all the leftists, humble citizens and democratic forces and the civil society to make efforts for progressive changes.

It has become more clear that only the leftist forces are capable of providing a reliable leadership to the Nepalese society, the joint communique says, appealing all the leftist forces to be serious about their responsibilities, give up mutual bickerings and move ahead by maintaining unity for safeguarding nationalism and carrying out works for the overall welfare of the country and people.

Power tariff hike
Vicious circle of breaking and making NEA

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, July 29: Now that its long-maintained condition — hike on power tariff — has been met, though partially, will the Asian Development Bank (ADB) open its purse-string for a US$ 50 million loan it had approved for the Rural Electrification Project (REP) some two years ago?

The multilateral agency is still assessing the new tariff structure and it won’t be before a couple of weeks it would speak out its mind. "We are looking at the details of the adjustment of the power tariff," said Richard Vokes, Resident Representative of ADB here.

Apparently, the assessment demands a close look because the rise on the tariff has not been what the bank had demanded — a whopping 30 per cent increase. Officials at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), however, believe that the recent hike — 10 per cent, on the average Rupees 6.5 per unit — will meet ADB’s prescription for the authority’s "sound fiscal health."

To release its loan for the REP, the bank had conditioned, among others, the increase of NEA’s Rate of Return and self financing ratio to six and 23 per cent respectively from the present four and 14 per cent.

"The tariff has been revised so that these covenants are met for the loan (REP)," said Bishnu Bam Malla, Managing Director of NEA. "And these covenants are necessary because our expenditure is on the rise and we also have more investment plans coming up."

Whether ADB will be convinced with that is a wait and watch game. But, even before that, how convincing is the ADB-prescribed medicine for NEA has become debatable. Consider this: The prime objective of the hike on tariff, as suggested by the bank, has been to help NEA gear up its financial footing.

That, in turn, the bank stresses, would help the poor rural populace to have access to electricity. Hence, the Rural Electrification Project. In other words, those already consuming electricity, and therefore believed to be with good income in urban areas, should "fund" the electrification of the impoverished rural community. Social justice, all right.

But, if that is how things should go, do Nepalese consumers — who have had no choice but to pay one of the most expensive electricity bills in the world — deserve to be rescued as well or not? Should ADB, as the country’s one of the active development partners, also not take the responsibility of making electricity affordable to the general mass?

But, here is, for instance, what it did on the contrary. The bank itself got involved in a private power-producing project that has been selling electricity to the NEA in a record exorbitant price. This is the 60 MW Khimti Hydropower Project even NEA officials these days lament it was suicidal to have signed the Power Purchase Agreement with the Independent Power Producer that sells power to the authority at the rate of seven Cents per unit.

By the time the power reaches the ultimate consumer, the price of Khimti’s power shoots up to around 10 Cents per unit including NEA’s transmission cost and other technical losses. But the authority has been able to charge only around nine Cents to its consumers incurring a direct loss to itself.

It is the same NEA that has been producing power at the rate of four Cents per unit from its Puwakhola Power Plant — built with the initial investment cost of US$ 2300 per kilo watt, exactly the same as in Khimti.

What has added insult to the injury is the power of the same plant and of other similar run-of-river private sector projects that goes down the drain during wet season like this, while NEA still has to cough up the money for the unused electricity. Bad deal.

The bank had chipped in above US$ 30 million with an interest rate of more than 10 per cent in the project that has been widely criticised of reaping benefits at the cost of NEA. Which means the bank, directly or indirectly, did approve the expensive electricity deal between Khimti’s promoters and the over-burdened NEA thanks to projects like Khimti. Otherwise, the bank, as a condition for its REP loan — like it did in case of the latest power tariff-hike — should have very well cautioned the authority, or even asked it to stay away from making such a colossal mistake.

Or, for that matter, it could have played a crucial role to make NEA sign a balanced PPA with Khimti, or not at all. Or, the most important of all, it could itself have stayed out of such a project that has already jeopardized the authority’s financial viability.

The Khimti episode did, of course, reveal a double talk on the part of the bank. On one hand it funded unreasonably expensive project like Khimti — over-burdening the already sick NEA, and on the other it kept on harping that the power tariff needed to be hiked to strengthen the authority’s financial position. As if prevention were never better than cure.

And now that the prescription of the cure has landed, the general mass has begun to bear the brunt. The prime culprit, needless to say, has been NEA, that is now planning to approach Khimti-funding agencies like the ADB for a favour — convert the bank’s US Dollars loan for the 60 MW hydroelectric project into Nepalese Rupees, so that NEA and ultimately the Nepalese people would not suffer the heavy dent from the devaluation of the Nepalese currency.

Will ADB listen? Yet another litmus test for the multilateral agency if it is there to make NEA — diseased with piling-up arrears and many other irregularities.

Minister praises work of BPKIHS

Kathmandu, July 29 (RSS): Health Minister and Pro-Chancellor of the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) Sharat Singh Bhandari chaired the 20th meeting of the governing council of the institute at Kirtipur today.

The meeting passed a budget of Rs. 673.15 million for Fiscal Year 2058/59 and other annual programmes.

On the occasion, Minister Singh said the achievements made by the institute in such a short period of time are praiseworthy

Underlining the need for the institute to expand its services to the central region also to end the trend of going to Kathmandu for treatment, the Health Minister noted that the state of regional and zonal hospitals should be re-evaluated in order to turn them more effective.

Chairman of the council and Health Minister Bhandari also presented a proposal condoling the death of Their Majesties the King and Queen and other members of the Royal Family on June 1 and His Majesty King Dipendra on June 4 and paid heartfelt tributes.

The meeting observed two minutes' silence praying for eternal peace to the departed souls.

The Health Minister had also presented a proposal wishing long life and long reign to His Majesty King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev.

The proposal also expresses the belief that the reign of His Majesty the King will go a long way in consolidating the Constitutional Monarchy and the multiparty democratic system while at the same time keeping intact sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Vice chancellor of the institute Dr Shekhar Koirala had presented a brief progress report of the institute on the occasion.

‘Steady growth in woodcraft export’

BY ARHAN STHAPIT

Kathmandu, July 29: The export of woodcraft items has increased as against the general trend of slump in the overall handicraft exports in the fiscal year 2000/01 that has recently ended.

Woodcraft export in the whole year has posted a remarkable rise as the export value rose to Rs. 48.753 million from Rs. 44.522 million of the fiscal year 1999/2000, up 9.5 per cent. But, the total exports of different handicraft items have nose-dived in the past fiscal year to Rs. 6.823 billion from 7.163 billion of the fiscal year 1999/00, according to Handicraft Association of Nepal (HAN).

"There is a steady growth in woodcraft export and it has shown tremendous potential of growth," said HAN President Kalyan Krishna Tamrakar.

He said most of the handicraft items have a steady growth of 11-15 per cent over last five years except for the past fiscal year as handicraft is one of the most viable export items for the country like Nepal.

Woodcraft items, which now constitute hardly one per cent of the total handicraft export of the country, have the potential to be developed as one of the leading export goods "if appropriate marketing and product development activities were to support the bid," Tamrakar said.

Acting Executive Director of Trade Promotion Centre (TPC) Naresh Chandra Lamichhane agreed with Tamrakar.

Nepalese woodcraft products have gained special stature in the international market as being the reflection of magnificence catered from intricately designed handwork of craftsmanship and cultural knack of Nepali artisans, according to the sources at Trade Promotion Centre, a government body responsible for trade promotion activities of the country.

"The image gained so far is the result of magnificent craftsmanship of artisans rather than any institutional efforts," said Tamrakar.

However, he warned that the surge in most of the export items over the last decade have resulted largely from the appreciation of the US dollars against other currencies including Nepalese rupees, which means that there is not much real increment in the export quantity.

There has been little done towards solving the problems besetting the traditional craftsmanship based industry and its export, say entrepreneurs and exporters.

"The first problem lies in the lack of innovation in products," Tamrakar said. "Nepal is still going with its traditional product varieties, confined largely to customers’ order specifications."

Apart from innovation, there is the high need for effective product diversification and development activities, he added.

Another big problem is the lack of wood seasoning technology, entrepreneurs said.

"Most of the woodcraft industries here have no access to this sophisticated technology that only a very few firms can afford, this may adversely affect the quality of the final produce, and taint its image in the international market," said Tamrakar.

To resolve this problem, a wood seasoning plant is being set up at Bungamati, a typical Newari village that boasts of about 400 families currently involved in the woodcraft works. In the HAN’s initiative, the project of building the plant is being commissioned with the financial support of Rs. 1 million from the matching fund of the Export Promotion Board, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies. The soft loan has the moratorium period of two years and incurs very nominal costs to the local community (at Bungamati) that would operate the plant.

Handicraft Association chief Tamrakar also identified the lack of formal, organised firms in the industry that leads to a big information gap for planners and decision-makers.

"Apart from the infrastructure, the government should take initiative to establish a training centre to produce skilled manpower, as the industry is based more on craftsmanship," he added.

He also stressed on the need for research and development (R&D) office or, at least, a product designing centre to strengthen the competitiveness of Nepali woodcraft items in the international market.

Human resource development and R&D supports are indispensable at a time when "Nepal’s product competitiveness is gradually eroding", according to Dilip Khanal of Handicraft Association of Nepal.

By nature of the product, Sri Lanka, Indonesia, India, Iran and the Philippines have emerged as main rivals to Nepal.

"Yet, Nepal’s products have unique, unparalleled workmanship, which can best be used for their market promotion," Tamrakar said.

"To improve competitiveness, Nepal should brace for a mechanised manufacturing process, including finishing and other intermediate processes, and for mass production," Khanal pointed out.

Adding that government incentives and subsidies in this sector are desirable, Tamrakar said, "Many handicraft items in India enjoy a 17 per cent cash incentive."

"In Nepal too, handicraft exporters are benefited by the GSP (General System Preference) facility, among others," said Dinesh Chandra Gupta, Deputy Director of TPC, a government body that issues the GSP forms to the exporters under HAN’s certification.

According to HAN sources, USA, Germany, Japan, Italy, and France are major buyers of Nepali woodcraft.

‘Rasiawal dam may inundate Lumbini’

Kathmandu, July 29 (RSS): Speakers at a seminar on "Lautan Rasiawal Dam and Inundation of Lumbini" organised by the Democratic National Youths Federation Nepal here today have underlined the need to stop construction works on the Lautan Rasiawal Khurd Dam by the Indian government since it is likely to result in the inundation of 18 VDCs of and more than 4,000 bighas arable land across the country including Lumbini.

Different MPs, intellectuals and representatives of various institutions said if the 18-km long, 9 m wide and 6 m high dam is completed, it will displace some 150,000 people of the affected areas and inundate Lumbini.

Federation president Gokarna Bista said frequent infringement by India on the Nepalese border does not comply with the concept of good neighbourliness and spoke of the need for all parties to raise the issue unitedly.

Noting that obstruction of the natural flow of water in such a way as it would affect others is against the international laws, the speakers warned that the nation would have to face serious consequences if the government does not take concrete steps to stop construction works.

Various other speakers including UML’s Jhalanath Khanal, Lila Mani Pokhrel of the Samyukta Janamorcha, UML’s Bhim Rawal and Dr Mangal Siddhi Manandhar also expressed their views on the dam and its impact.

Geographer Netra Dhital put across his views by demonstrating a video cassette.

Different MPs, intellectuals and representatives of various institutions had recently returned after inspecting the dam construction.