NICEA demands implementation of new pay scale

Kathmandu, Sept. 21 (RSS): Nepal Inter-Corporation Employees Association (NICEA) has urged the Finance Ministry to immediately implement the new pay scale and maintain the allowances and facilities of the corporations in accordance with the report of the Corporation Reform Suggestion Committee, and issue clear directives on this matter.

A communique signed and issued by the NICEA president Shishir Kumar Jha states that His Majesty’s Government should fully implement the report presented by the the Corporation Reform Suggestion Committee.

The communique further states that all the problems of the corporations can be resolved and the corporations made more dynamic by implementing the decisions taken by a meeting of the representatives of the Nepal Trade Union, Nepal Inter-Corporation Employees Association and other unions and associations affiliated to it.

Ten left parties hold unity talks

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept 21 Leaders of ten different communist parties including the Communist Party of Nepal Unified Marxist Leninist and its breakaway faction the CPN-ML today discussed various possibilities of forming functional unity among them for greater interest of the nation.

Today’s discussion among the leftist leaders was mainly zeroed in on the issue of constitutional amendment and left unity. At the meeting, all the leaders echoed their voice to bring significant changes in the present Constitution so as ‘to rectify errors in it ‘.

According to Trilochan Dhakal, Politburo member of the CPN-ML who is also the member of the draft committee for the Programme of Ten Left Parties told this daily that the left leaders expressed their diverse views regarding the amendment of the constitution, formation of new constitution and election of the constitutional council. However, he said that the conclusion would be drawn at the next round of meeting to be held on Monday. He also indicated ‘a kind of functional unity’ among left parties. It should be taken as an achievement, he said.

In a querry about the unification of the UML and ML he said -the dialogue between two parties is going on.

Talking to The Rising Nepal on telephone, leader of the CPN- United People’s Front Amik Sherchan said that the unity among the left parties is indeed a ‘need of the hour.’ Split in the communist parties has dragged the nation towards uncertainty. Hence, we should at least strive for functional unity, Sherchan said adding ‘ We trying to find the best possible ways to tackle the Maoist issue.’ Regarding the prime agenda of today’s meeting, the amendment of the present constitution, he said that it is quite essential to rectify errors in the Constitution. This could help solve the Maoists issue too, he said.

Hemanta Bahadur B.C leader of the CPN- United, after emerging from the meeting told this daily that the discussions were focused on the issue of the amendment in the Constitution. B.C said the amendment in the constitution is quite essential to strengthen democracy, otherwise it could develop anomalies within the constitution, which may jeopardize sovereignty of people. ‘ Constitutional errors should be rectified,’ he said.

What do take the Maoists issue?

BC said it is the outcome of all anomalies that has been developed in the span of past 12 years.

According to a press release issued by the CPN-ML, Trilochan Dhakal of CPN-ML, Raghu Pant of the UML, Hemanta Bahadur B C of CPN -United, Amik Sherchan of the United People’s Front, Pari Thapa of Rastriya Janamorcha, Lok Narayan Subedi of CPN- Marxist, Sitaram Tamang of the CPN-MLM, Sonam Lama of Unity Center, Govind Singh Thapa of Masal and Sunil Prajapati of Nepal Peasants and Workers Party were taking part in today’s meeting.

The tenth round of meeting will be held on Monday, the press release states.

Bouddha Pariyatti students awarded

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Sept 21 Outstanding students of Buddhism were awarded with the Buddha Era -2544 Awards amid a function here Wednesday.

Ambassador of Sri Lanka to the Kingdom of Nepal Pamela J. Deen gave away the awards and certificates to the outstanding students who scored top marks in Kobid, Pariyatti and Saddamma-Palak examinations run by Nepal Bouddha Pariyatti Education Central Office.

Buddha Pariyatti Shikshya has been run here since the past 38 years.

On the occasion, Controller of the Examinations Bhikshu Sheela Bhadra Mahasthaveera informed that 779 students appeared in the examinations out of which 686 have passed. There were 19 centres across the country.

The chief guest of the programme, Ambassador of Sri Lanka Pamila J. Deen, gave away awards to toppers of the examination, while Minister Counselor at Thai Embassy, Merayut Yoothlonglam, distributed prizes and certificates to the students passed in First Division. On behalf of the Pragyananda Smriti fund, Bikkhu Dhammapal Mahasthaveera gave away cash prizes.

Addressing the function, Ambassador Deen stressed the need for promoting education on Buddhism. She also assured all possible assistance from the Sri Lankan government to Nepal Bouddha Pariyatti Shikshya (NBPS).

Minister Councilor of Thai Embassy Berayut Yoothonglam said that the education on Buddhism has promoted the feelings of friendship, brotherhood and love among the people.

Controller of examinations of Pariyatti Shikshya, Bhikshu Sheela Bhadra Mahasthaveera presented a report on the exams conducted in the Buddha Year 2544.

The programme began with the Panchashila prayers by Bhikshu Sanmukha.

Bhikshu Buddhagosh Mahasthaveera presided.

Efforts afoot to refine health services act

Kathmandu, Sept. 21 (RSS): Health Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari, speaking at the House of Representatives today, said a task force has been formed under the convenorship of the health secretary with the representation of the Public Service Commission, the Ministry of General Administration, the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry and other concerned bodies and individuals to further refine the health services-related act and suggestions have been sought from professional health related organisations on improving this piece of legislation.

Stating that in order to manage the transfers of health personnel, a policy has been pursued to match the timing of transfers with the academic session and an arrangement will be made allowing the chief of the district health office to transfer employees from one body to another within the same district, Mr Bhandari noted that the district health chief himself will be given the responsibility of carrying out work relating to administration of employees in the district.

A total of 77 medical officers have already been appointed though the demand made with the Public Service Commission was for 174, he said adding, population density, urbanisation, geographical location and remoteness of the area should be taken into account while providing health facilities to the people.

Noting that proper policies will be worked out to dissolve the unnecessary development committees upon reviewing their activities, the Health Minister remarked that homework is being done to carry out such works as security, sanitation, etc as per the policy of His Majesty’s Government and the recommendations of the public expenditure review commission.

An arrangement has already been made for drinking water at Bir Hospital and a new Ct Scan machine has been set up at the hospital, he said.

He said hospitals will be developed with the valley hospital concept taking into consideration the increase in population of Kathmandu Valley as well the pressure of sick people from accross the country.

Branch offices will be set up in two more development regions in order to increase the effectiveness of monitoring for medicines and for this purpose pharmacy units will be established in the district health offices of 17 districts in the Terai.

The Health Minister disclosed that three more beds and a seperate maternity unit will be added to the primary health centres situated in all the 205 electoral constituencies of the country.

Following the concept of decentralisation a provision has been made from the current fiscal year to provide district health and public health offices with budgets at the local level in order to buy necessary medicines for health institutions in the district and if required additional medicines and equipment will also be sent from the centre, he added.

A separate emergency fund has been set up at the regional health directorates in all the five development regions for immediate medical relief in case of natural calamity or epidemics, Mr Bhandari said adding that arrangements have been made to control encephalitis and provide medical treatment free of cost to those infected by the disease.

Necessary arrangement will also be made to run community based primary health care services for the dalits, underpriveleged and freed Kamaiyas, and work has begun to set up a biomedical engineering unit within the organisational structure of the Health Minsitry in order to carry out regular check ups and maintainence of medical equipment, he clarified.

He said that the organisational structure was being reviewed to make the Ministry and organisations under it efficient and to specify the functions, duties and rights of the posts, and a separate division was being created at the Ministry to look after health institutions and hospitals and monitor and evaluate programmes conducted by departments under the Ministry.

In the context of improving the organisational structure, regional health service directorates will be placed directly under the Ministry, and the directorates will be provided with necesary humanitarian physical facilities and the necessary administrative, and financial powers delegated, he added.

Stating that a provision for hotline had been made at the Ministry to receive complaints and suggestions from the public on the functioning of government and private hospitals, he appealed to the public to report on unauthorised sale of drugs, charging excessive prices and selling of outdated drugs.

Those seeking clarification from the health Minister were Dr. Banshidhar Mishra, Yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi, Netra Lal Shresth, Tirtha Gautam, Ramkumar Chaudhari, Sushil Nepal, Ashtalaxmi Shakya, Bijaya Subba, Prakash Jwala, Nar Bahadur Hamal, Bhadra Bahadur Thapa, Devi Lal Thapa, Prem Bahadur Singh and Ratna Prasad Neyupanay.

Then, Deputy Speaker Chitra Lekha Yadav, who was presiding over the meeting, informed the House that September 23 has been specified for the Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation to reply to the questions raised during the discussions concerning the Ministry.

The next meeting of the House of Representatives will be held at 11 a.m. on Sunday.

‘Tourism issues to be discussed in Seoul, Osaka’

Kathmandu, Sept. 21 (RSS): A four-member Nepalese delegation led by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. left here today for Seoul, the capital of the Republic of Korea to attend the meeting of the 14th general assembly meeting of the World Tourism Organisation to be convened there.

Talking to RSS and Radio Nepal at the VIP lounge of Tribhuvan International Airport before leaving for Seoul, Minister K.C. said that general assembly meeting to be held in two phases at seoul and Osaka, Japan will review the present position of world tourism and discuss the tourism promotion concepts of Nepal as well as other tourism related matters.

Stating that views will be exchanged in connection with cooperation for long term development of tourism in Nepal, Minister K. C. said that he would also apprise himself of the new technology and equipment available in Singapore for cleaning the Bagmati river during his return home.

Nepal has been a founder member of the World Tourism Organisation since 1975. Nepal has been taking part in its general asembly meetings. The World Tourism Organisation has 139 members countries.

The Minister was seen off at Tribhuvan International Airport by officials of the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.

ILO, CIVICT agreement signed

Kathmandu, Sept. 21 (RSS): An agreement was reached today between the International Labour Organisation (ILO) and the Centre for Victims of Torture (CIVICT) to build the national capacity and improve the quality of counselling services provided to traumatised children who have been trafficked for exploitative employment and sexual exploitation.

Director of ILO Nepal Leyla Tegmo Reddy and executive director of CIVICT Dr Bhogendra Sharma signed the agreement on behalf of their respective organisations.

According to the agreement, a four-month intensive internship course consisting of theoretical classes and field work entitled "Internship Programme on Psychological Counseling" will be carried out. Interns taking part in the programme will be trained in communication skills, problem-management counseling, resolving medically unexplained pain, helping children and adolescents, eliciting explanatory models and other illness experience, stress and coping, relaxation, and prioritising problems.

Moreover, the interns will be trained in major mental disorders, suicide, trauma reactions, systematic desensitisation for phobias, exposure therapy for trauma reactions, and conducting focus groups.

The trained cousellors will then be placed in ILO-supported transit and shelter homes.