Pradhan, Nayaghare awarded

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct. 17: Critic Krishna Chandra Singh Pradhan and essayist Yub Raj Nayanghare were awarded with the Sarbada Abhyarchana Puruskar and Haribhakta Katuwal Sarbada Srijana Samman respectively amidst a function here recently. The awards were given away by senior litterateur Indra Kumar Rai.

Rai, who is also known as the profounder of the Lilalekhan and Ayameli writer in the realm of Nepalese literature, said that novelty was the life of the literature.

"Literary figures should devote for creation than for money only," added the noted author.

Speaking at the function, senior critic Pradhan said that the literary writings should reflect social consciousness and clashes of different generations.

Another awardee Nayaghare who writes mainly on subjective essays and travelogue, shed light on the nature of travelogue essays and said: "The travelogue is the torch for awareness."

He further said that criticism of travelogue literature is not limited to a particular generation.

Critic Krishna Gautam and chairman of Sarbada Wangmaya Academy Thakur Belbase had also expressed their views at the function chaired by senior novelist and artist Lain Singh Bangdel.

Meanwhile, Ayameli writers including Indra Bahadur Rai, Bairagi Kainla and Ishwor Ballabh talked about on the development and creation of the Ayameli writings at an interaction programme on the topic of ‘From Teshro Ayam to Lila Lekhan’.

Govt fails to utilise 20th session: Oli

Kathmandu, Oct. 17 (RSS): Deputy leader of the Main Opposition Party, CPN-UML, K. P. Sharma Oli, speaking during special time at the meeting of the House of Representatives today, claimed that as the government had not been able to play an effective role in resolving the problems and facing the challenges of the country, the 20th session of Parliament has been without any enthusiasm or achievement.

Stating that though Parliament could have accomplished much in favour of the nation and the country at a time when the country was passing through a very critical phase the government was not for change but for maintaining the status quo, deputy leader Oli alleged that the government was unable to utilise the current session to impart dynamism to the economic, social, political, cultural and other sectors.

The government had not been able to introduce any concrete programme to resolve the problems of the oppressed, downtrodden and exploited classes, the womenfolk and landless settlers, he said and added, "the Maoist issue should be dealt with politically through dialogue and both sides must be sincere in this regard."

Ram Chandra Paudel of the Nepali Congress (NC) stressed the need to take concrete steps in the days ahead to resolve problems such as rampant corruption, violence, poverty and unemployment and noted that the leadership should become serious and accord top priority to rooting out corruption and banishing poverty for the sake of democracy and socialism.

Netra Lal Shrestha of the RPP said that there has not been proper representation of Karnali zone in Parliament and the budget has also not reached the districts in a proportionate manner.

Dilaram Acharya of the Rastriya Janamorcha said that some were arrested when they launched a movement for democracy and cases had been filed against 96 of them. He called upon the government to take steps to withdraw the cases.

Raghuji Pant of the CPN-UML said that the amount provided for the medical treatment of literary critic Kumar Bahadur Joshi was inadequate and as there was no law on kidney transplant in Nepal, nursing homes and middlemen were exploiting the straightforward Nepalese.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat directed the government to introduce law concerning kidney transplants.

Narayan Man Bijukchhe of the NWPP said that according to reports in the tabloid press a Belgian national had said he will never come to Nepal again because the travel agency and the Department of Immigration had demanded bribes from him. This matter should be probed, he added.

Lilamani Pokharel of the Samyukta Janamorcha said that the natural landcape of Kathmandu Valley was being defaced and sources of water were drying up as a result of the excessive pressure of population, adding that the government should make provisions for planned settlements, drainage, power supply and roads.

Ramnath Adhikari of the NC said that the government had not provided succour to those hit by earthquake in Dhading district a couple of months back and added, "the decision of the MPs bureau not to take Dashain allowance is welcome at a time when Parliament and the MPs are being assaulted all around."

Rajendra Prasad Panday of the CPN-UML said that the third round of talks between the government and the Maoists should succeed, the people should be guaranteed law and order when the festival of Dashain is just round the corner, tourism prerequisites should be created at Rara and the living standard of the people there raised.

Tara Samayangya of the same party said that the courts had been quashing every decision including that of the MPs’ constituency development fund and therefore the government should evolve laws and rules with seriousness and the development budget for each of the districts should be allocated proportionally.

Committee holds meeting

Kathmandu, Oct. 17 (RSS): The special committee on Foreign Exchange Regulations (second amendment) Bill-2058 met in the presence of Finance Minister Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat today.

The committee wound up clause-wise discussions on the bill.

Committee chairman Ram Chandra Bhattarai presided over the meeting.

Likewise, at today’s meeting of the special committee on the first amandment bill pertaining to Financial Intermediary Institutions-2058, Finance Minister Dr Mahat shed light on the reasons for introducing the bill and its objectives.

The meeting began clause-wise discussions on the Financial Intermidiary Institutions (first amendment) Bill-2058 and the amendment proposals relating to it.

Committee chairman Devendra Ghimire presided.

Trade treaty should serve interest of both nations: Dr. Thapa

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Oct 17: Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa has stressed the need to make joint efforts to hammer out solutions in case of there emerges any complication in the relations between two countries. The problems should be solved through dialogue, said Dr. Thapa while talking to Gorkhapatra, the sister publication of this daily.

Touching upon the extensive issues of the Nepal-India trade treaty, Dr. Thapa said that the age-old relations between two countries should not be confined within the trade alone. Trade is a catalyst to gear up economic activities of both the nations, hence the issues should be tackled by maximizing benefit to both sides, he said.

Along with cultural, economic and geographical proximity, there are number of challenges that have to be taken into considerations while addressing the issues between the two countries.

When asked about the challenges, Dr. Thapa categorically mentioned that there are two types of problems. First it is bilateral, which begins with the issue of our common border. However, efforts from both sides have been made to iron out complications so far. Another problem, according to Dr. Thapa, comes along with the trade and transit treaty. Whether you term it as problem, possibility or relations, so many things have taken place to promote the economic interest of both neighbouring countries, he said. Whatever the problems have emerged, should be mutually tackled, Dr. Thapa noted. Questions have been raised from various quarters regarding the intention of India regarding the automatic renewal of the trade treaty, he said, ‘I have come across number of opinions about the intention of trade treaty, ‘but it is not unilateral thing’. According to Dr. Thapa, a lot of exercises from various sectors such as industrialist, businessmen would help address the issues.

When asked about the possible outcome of the ongoing talks between the Commerce Secretaries of Nepal and India, he said ‘the result would be positive’. One should understand that the markets of both the nations are equally important to each other. We should also be assured that the trade treaty is not only for trade alone, it should be for the economic development of Nepal, otherwise we will always lag behind.

On the question whether he sees any possibility of the package deal regarding the trade treaty, Dr. Thapa replied ‘the treaty should be renewed in its original shape as far as possible.’ The question of package deal was raised before, he said and added but some misunderstanding and apprehension in both sides have cropped up. Hence, both sides should make efforts to identify the issues, he added.

Asked whether the issue of the trade treaty needs to tackle at political level, Dr. Thapa replied ‘It is the cabinet that decides upon the major issues in the country. It is a constitutional process.’

Instead of resolving the problems between two nations, number of problems have emerged between two countries. Is this our failure? No, I do not think it’s our failure, but there are some problems. But it has to be solved through dialogue and mutual understanding, he added.

However, Dr. Thapa who has been closely watching Nepal India relations for a long time stress the need to think for sustainability and long term interest of both nations.

UML launches ideological protest against Maoists

BY OUR CORRESPONDENT

Ramechhap, Oct. 17: In a move to counter the Maoists’ terrorism, CPN-UML District Committee is organising a series of ideological protest programmes under its nationwide ‘Ideological Consolidation Campaign’ in different parts of the district despite the warning of the Maoists’ to halt such activities.

The Maoists had threatened to take stern action against the UML, if it continues to organise programmes, according to the UML sources. The Maoists had also accused the UML of forcefully taking the Maoists workers into the UML camp.

However, ex-MP and UML district chief Dev Shankar Paudel refuted the Maoists’ charges and said: "The Maoists are resorting to such threat against the UML because they fear that the UML move would expose their wrong ideas and the Maoists cadres would join the UML."

Paudel also said that people had turned a deaf ear to the Maoists warning and made their presence in large number in the UML’s rallies and functions. "People had attended in the programmes with high enthusiasm though the Maoists instructed them not take part in the programmes," he added.

Meanwhile, UML MP from Dolakha district Anand Pokharel challenged the Maoists to face the ideological movement of the UML by laying off the bullets and bombs. Pokharel made this remark at a programme organised in Those VDC of Ramechhap Monday.

The UML MP also challenged the Maoists to come into the mainstream of the politics to show up their strength and popularity.

Another UML district leader Kamal Sunuwar said that the UML should not afraid of the Maoists’ threat and launch crusade against their false and ultra-leftist thinking.

The UML organised similar programme in Chisapani on Saturday and will hold other programmes in Mane Dhobi, Ramechhap Danda and Gwakba Bhanjyang in the first week of this month.

For a few weeks, the main opposition party CPN-UML has organised the nationwide ideological protest programmes to counter the Maoists ideologically after its plea to stop the killing and kidnapping of the UML workers and representatives was not responded by the ultra-left group.

Lower House passes bills

Kathmandu, Oct. 17 (RSS): The House of Representatives today unanimously passed the Electricity Pilferage Prevention Bill 2001.

Minister for Water Resources Bijaya Kumar Gachchhedar had tabled a resolution seeking passage of the bill.

Responding to queries raised during discussions on modifications to the resolution, Minister Gachchhedar said that as there was no law for the complete prevention of power leakage and pilferage, the bill had been introduced by incorporating the suggestions of the MPs in this connection.

Stating that appropriate and relevant suggestions and amendments as proposed by the MPs have also been incorporated in the bill, he called upon the MPs to withdraw their amendment resolution.

Earlier, MPs Krishna Prasad Dahal and Navaraj Subedi had withdrawn their amendment resolution as their suggestions had already been incorporated in the bill.

Similarly, the House of Representatives today passed the National Academy for the Upliftment of Indigenous People and Ethnic Groups Bill-2058 as proposed by Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle, who is also looking after the affairs of the Ministry of Local Development.

Earlier, replying to questions raised during the discussions on the amendment proposal on the bill, Minister Wagle said the bill has been introduced for the all-round development of indigenous people and ethnic groups and the government will set aside adequate budget for the operation of the academy.

He also urged the opposition MPs to withdraw the amendment proposal assuring them that major points in their proposal will be incorporated in the bill.

CPN-UML’s Subash Chandra Nemwang withdraw his party’s amendment proposal after the suggestions in the proposal were included in the bill, while the amendment proposal tabled by Pari Thapa of Rastriya Janamorcha was rejected by the meeting.

Also today, a message from the National Assembly regarding the rejection by the Upper House of the Civil Code (11th amendment) Bill 2058 was also tabled at the House of Representatives meeting.

Likewise, chairman of the Parliamentary Foreign Relations and Human Rights Committee Som Prasad Pandey presented the committee’s study report at the meeting.

The meeting also agreed to discuss the suggestions of the National Assembly on the bill concerning loan recovery by banks and financial institutions.

The House of Representatives meets again at 11:00 a.m. tomorrow.

Bid to reduce child mortality
Administration of Vitamin ‘A’ capsule begins from today

Kathmandu, Oct. 17 (RSS): The administration of Vitamin ‘A’ to the children of 6 months to 5 years of age in 73 districts of the country will start from tomorrow under the National Vitamin ‘A’ Programme.

Centres for feeding Vitamin ‘A’ capsules have been set up at all the wards that seems convenient for the families living in the municipalities and the VDCs.

The programme which will last till October 19 aims at administering Vitamin ‘A’ capsule to around 3.15 million children of the 73 districts. About 40,800 women health workers are being deployed for the campaign.

The National Vitamin ‘A’ Programme run by HMG since the last eight years has turned out to be helpful in saving the the lives of the children.

The Ministry of Health has been carrying out National Vitamin ‘A’ Programme since 2050 B.S. in a bid to reduce child mortality rate, prevent blindness caused by Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency and end the problem of Vitamin ‘A’ deficiency which create public health problem.

The programme is being implemented for first time in Rolpa district this year. The target is to cover Rukum and Jajarkot districts which are yet to see the implementation of the Vitamin ‘A’ programme next year.

Apart from the Vitamin ‘A’ programme, nutrition education has also been imparted to the communities to inculcate the habit of eating green vegetable and yellow fruits regularly.

Under the National Vitamin ‘A’ programme, Vitamin ‘A’ capsules are administered to the children below five years of age twice a year, once in April and another time in October.

The local people’s representatives and workers of various government and non-governmental organisations have been extending cooperation to the women health workers involved in the National Vitamin ‘A’ Programme.