Modernize agriculture to fight poverty: Acharya

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): With the development of modern technology, enough foodgrain has been grown to meet the requirements of the existing population of the world, and it is seen that 1 kg of it can be provided to every person every day.

But because of the distribution system and financial capacity, most people are compelled to suffer from starvation and malnutrition.

At present, 800 million people in the world are deprived of food security while 500 million suffer from malnutrition. Of these 200 million are children below five years of age.

Starvation and malnutrition have been attributed to poverty and half the population suffering from these phenomenon are in Asia.

Rapid increase of population, lack of arable land compared to population density, declining fertility and the fruits of developemnt not reaching the targeted groups are the factors complicating the problem.

About 38 per cent of the population is below the absolute poverty line and 16 per cent is below the extreme poverty line. Ninety per cent of the population, most of them women and children, live in the rural areas. Women suffer more from hunger even if their contribution to agricultural output is 25 per cent more than that of men.

World Food Day

This information were given at a programme hosted by the Department of Agriculture here today on the occasion of the 21st World Food Day.

On the occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya pointed out the need for total change in the agriculture sector to banish poverty and impoverishment, provide social justice and create an equitable society.

Minister Acharya emphasised the need to pay attention to the means and resources to achieve the target set by the agriculture perspective plan pursued by the government.

Stating that the war against poverty could not be waged without abundant use of skill and ability, the Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister said that various elements such as fertiliser, seeds, implements, technology and irrigation should be easily accesible to the farmers. On the occasion, he also gave away prizes to 13 farmers.

Secretary at the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha also expressed his views at the function chaired by member of the National Planning Commission (NPC) Hari Shankar Tripathi.

Rhinoceros attack

Bardiya, Oct. 10 (RSS): Three persons of Manaon Village Development Committee (VDC) sustained serious injuries when they were attacked by a rhinoceros at the middle part of Royal Bardiya National Park.

Gobari Tharu, Chinku Tharu and child Sriram Tharu, 4, injured in the incident are undergoing treatment at Bheri Zonal Hospital. The park has provided Rs 7,000 for their treatment, it is learnt.

Tax reduced for student concession

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): His Majesty's Government is to exempt 40 per cent in tax imposed on road licenses and annual traffic tax for microbuses, minibuses and buses for providing 33 per cent concession in fare to students.

Three-wheeler gas tempos that have been providing 33 per cent concessions to the students have asked the government to provide this facility to them also.

According to general secretary of the gas tempo enterpreneurs association Kiran Hajoor Khadka, the association will take other necessary steps if the government does not provide them this facility.

Land reform bill discussed

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): The House of Representatives Natural Means and Resources Committee concluded clausewise discussions on the Land Reforms (fifth amendment) Bill, 2058 today.

The meeting was chaired by committee chairman Lekhnath Acharya.

Koirala meets with NC workers in Parsa

Birgunj, Oct. 10 (RSS): Nepali Congress president Girija Prasad Koirala met with the Nepali Congress workers and those of the party's sister organisations in Parsa district Today.

Mr Koirala arrived here today in course of addressing a mass meeting to be organised by the NC Parsa district tomorrow.

Bhutanese envoy calls on Speaker

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Ambassador of Bhutan Dago Tshering called on Speaker Taranath Ranabhat at the latter's office today.

Matters of mutual interest were discussed on the occasion.

Parliamentary General Secretary Ishwar Prasad Upadhyaya and Secretary at the House of Representatives Surya Kiran Gurung were also present on the occasion.

talks, Mohsin urges Maoists

Butwal, Oct. 10 (RSS): Chairman of the National Assembly Dr Mohammod Mohsin has underlined the need for the Maoist leaders to reign in their workers and facilitate the talks.

Dr Mohsin, who was inaugurating the sixth assembly meeting of Siddharthanagar municipality here today, said the Maoist demands for a republic and constituent assembly are against the constitution obtained through the people's movement.

Stating that the government must be ready to amend the constitution if such a need arises, he expressed concern over a lack of coordination among main political parties in parliament.

Former minister and RPP leader Sarbendranath Shukla spoke of the need to make plans for removing inequalities in the city by allocating budget in a scientific way.

Various others includng Rupandehi DDC chairman Chatrapati Singh Masan, chairman of the Siddharthanagar town development committee Dipak Chhetri Neupane and central FNCCI member Dhruba Kumar Shrestha also spoke at the function.

Mayor Sagar Pratap Rana, from the chair, presented a budget of Rs 84.287 million for the current fiscal year.

'Education policy needs reforms'

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Deputy Speaker Chitralekha Yadav has said that the collective endeavour of every constituent of society is necessary for the education of children in the rural areas.

Addressing a talk programme concerning the role of teachers in promoting peace education organised by the Nepal National UNESCO Federation here today, she said that education was the main foundation for the development of any country.

Stating that the present educational policy of the country needed massive reform, Deputy Speaker Yadav said that the weaknesses and shortcomings of the past should be removed, and specific policy introduced and implemented sincerely for the development of the educational sector.

She further said, "This country is common to all. Our very existence is linked with the country. We should collectively resolve every problem of our country."

Envoy calls on Rayamajhi

Kathmandu, Oct. 10 (RSS): Ambassador of Myanmar U Ne Win called on Chairman of the Raj Parishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi today.

Matters of mutual interest were discussed on the occasion.

World sides with US in its drives against terrorism

By Harikala Adhikari

Kathmandu, Oct. 10; The United States led air strikes continued for the fourth night and second day on Wednesday with the main targets being terrorists hideouts in Afghanistan and suspected hideouts of alleged terrorist Osama bin Laden.

It is exactly one month since suicide attacks were made with hijacked jetliners on the World Trade Centre’s Twin Towers in New York City and the Pentagon in Washington DC. The terrorist attacks shocked not only the United States but the wholeworld.

This writer had reached New York just two days before Manhattan was turned into a graveyard of heat, dust of cement and the smell of burning on September 11. Naturally, the ghastly attacks made the people and the whole world ask, "What happened and what will happen now?".

But what the terrible attacks on America did was, it tied up in different ways the human race who now are entwined through modern communication technology.

The people of America, who had to bear such an unimaginable grief and tragedy, started to get engaged in providing relief, healing and sympathy on a local and national level. They also acted at once on finding out how such attacks could be stopped. At the same time taking a firm stand to fight terrorism at an international level, the US asked the civilised world to assist it in its challenging task ahead.

After the resolution to find the culprits and punish them was made, the nations which said they would not support the United States in its fight against terorism could be virtually counted on the fingers of one hand. Meanwhile, those nations that supported the US stance of eliminating terrorism from the face of the earth rose to almost150. Nepal, which has been taken as a land of natural beauty and peace, also sided with the side of the civilised world, perhaps feeling that it will get relief from the internal wounds of terrorism.

If a developing country like Nepal, not only supports the lone super power of the world, the United States, but also learns from the unity and the responsibility of the civic society shown in that country by the leaders of the ruling and opposition parties, then how can terrorism take roots in any place?

Anyone who has observed the way the US leadership has been able to win over the feelings of people at the local level and encouraged them to remain responsible at the national level and also aroused the international community to bring the culprit to book, will definitely praise such leadership and question their own leaders on such qualities. The lack of the capability to remain loyal to the nation and the people stems from not poverty but from the dearth of moral uprightness. Who will make the leaders of the Third World understand this, it is a question itself.

Meanwhile, the situation, after the demolition of the Twin Towers and the partial destruction of the Pentagon, has not yet come back to normal. The resumption of war between civilization and terrorism is a contentious symptom. While Bin Laden is trying to make it into a Jihad, US President George W. Bush is no mood to stop the fight against terrorism no matter how long it takes - days, weeks, month and even years. Tradition and Religion may be different, but terrorism has no religion and no one should try to convert it into a jihad. But what is worrying for everybody is that the situation might get out of hand.

On the one side is the question of the human rights of those innocent Afghanis, who could face the difficulties that will come in the retaliatory attacks after the diplomatic efforts to punish the culprit and on the other side is the human rights of those innocent people who could be victims of those who can create havoc at any time and any place in a viciously clandestine manner. Both these are sensitive matters. But just because of this the terrorists should not get encouragement and shelter.

The terrorists have also made as a weapon things like basis and evidence to hit at the civilised world and hide under such guises. In this regard, Al Quida, the mother organisation of the network of terrorist organisations, its leader Osama bin laden and the Taliban government of Afghanistan that has been giving shelter to him, have all come into the focus of the media.

The accused bin Laden, who had warned of terrorist attacks against the United States since several years back, has not wasted even two words of shock or sympathy after the September 11 attacks, he has only tried to disclaim responsibility. If the terrorists don’t have to be restricted to any of the boundaries set by civilisation, then should the civilised people take the destruction of life and property as natural calamity? After the accusing finger started to be pointed at Al Quida and its leader from all sides, the question of evidence has been raised, isn’t this trying to take shelter under the norms and values of a civilisation? But what is the Al Quaeda organisation and who are the people behind it?

The Americans have even gone to the extent of air dropping humanitarian aid and relief material keeping in mind the innocent people of Afghanistan, who may have to suffer from famine and the harsh winter. War does not have any eyes, but it is a symbol of humanitarian concern to not allow the innocents to be victimised even while fighting with terrorist organisations like Al Quida.

The United States has declared this war against terrorism as the first war of this Century. Before starting the retaliatory attacks, an attempt had been made through Pakistan, which had allowed for the use of its land to train the Talibans, to extradite bin Laden. Other efforts were also continuosly being made. Meanwhile, neighbouring India tried to convince the US and Great Britain about the instigators of terrorism in Kashmir. More diplomatic efforts are still underway.

Everyone is wondering what turn this war, which has been using both "bombs and bread" will take. At the same time, the role of Afghanistan’s neighbour and South Asian country Pakistan is also being closely watched. The behaviour of Pakistan and India could affect the whole of South Asia region. Now the only question that remains is for how long will innocents people only have to pay the price of this war that has been perpetrated by the terrorists.

Govt urged to resume talks with Maoists
Parties reiterate stance on Maoist demands

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Oct. 10: All the political parties with representation in the parliament today urged the government to quickly prepare the necessary groundwork needed for ending the six-year-long insurgency through peaceful negotiations. Their latest concern came amidst speculations that the Maoists may be building up and consolidating their strength by taking advantage of the atmosphere of talks.

Reiterating their full support to the government for the immediate solution to the Maoist problem, representatives said in today's all party meeting that they stood by the government when it came to bargaining with the Maoists regarding their political demands like abrogation of the present constitution, establishment of a republican system of government and the formation of an all-party government.

It should be noted that the government and the political parties are clearly against those demands of the Maoists.

The third all party meeting held at the government secretariat in Singhadurbar also urged the Maoists to clarify their agenda for talks. They also demanded that the Maoists should specify where the present constitution has failed to address the people's problem and also where and how the rights of people have been violated or minimized.

The meeting also discussed on the three-point political agenda of the Maoists and clearly stated that there was no need for the abolition of the present Constitution, as it was popular among the people, and a republican system of government was not necessary.

All party meeting

"If a common approach is developed there can be amendments in the prevailing Constitution, but the abrogation of the present democratic constitution is against the interest of all the political parties," Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives and one of the members of the committee for the talks with maoists, Mahesh Acharya said. However, today's meeting did not discuss in detail about the formation of an interim government, the third political demand of the Maoists.

"The formation of such a government is unnecessary and irrelevant and is in no way related to solving the problems faced by the country," Acharya emphasised.

In the meeting Communist Party of Nepal-Marxist and Leninist (CPN-ML), and National Peoples' Front (NPF) forwarded their written proposals putting forth their views regarding the Maoist insurgency and its solution.

General Secretary of the CPN-ML Bamdev Gautam talking about his written proposal said that the Maoist problem must be solved through peaceful dialogue. "Both the sides should be as flexible as possible to solve this issue. If the talks fail there are every chances of the country falling into a civil war or interference coming from foreign powers," he cautioned

In its proposal NPF has stated that the party has analysed that the Maoists are not firm in their demands of abrogation of the constitution and establishment of a republican system of government. "Similarly, we are against the third demand of the Maoists asking the formation of an all party government by dissolving the present parliament and the government."

However, the other political parties, including the main opposition in the parliament and Rastriya Prajatantra Party are yet to present their views in written form. "Although we have presented our 22-point proposal to the government regarding this case, we are going to put forth our next proposal within this week," said Rajendra Prasad Pandey of the CPN-UML.

Meanwhile, almost all the political parties are unanimous in the view that the Maoist problem should be solved through peaceful negotiations.

"Since this meet has failed to give a concrete direction to the government for the third round of talks with the Maoists, there are possibilities that the next all-party meet may sit in the near future," Pandey of the UML said.

He blamed both the government and the Maoists for not forwarding their agenda openly and clearly. "Before the government calls these types of meetings, it should be clear about how it is going to address the Maoists' demands," Pandey said.

However, former deputy Prime Minister and leader of the Nepali Congress Ram Chandra Poudel said that the government was clear about its stand. "Now it is the Maoists who should be clear about their demands," he said.

But the participants refused to say anything about the date for the third round of talks with the Maoists. "But it could be before Dashain," Mahesh Acharya told the press after the meeting.

Along with the Prime Minister, today's meeting was participated in by representatives of all the political parties in the Parliament. However, Chiranjibi Wagle, convenor of the government's committee for talks with the Maoists, was absent in the meeting.