Achievements in child welfare in Nepal lauded

By A Staff Reporter

Lalitpur, Apr. 12: UNICEF International spokesperson Vendela K. Thommessen today said Nepal had made substantial achievements in the field of child welfare, but called for more efforts to improve their situation.

"I was pleasantly surprised with the achievements in child welfare, but a lot more can be done yet," Thommessen who was in Nepal this week, told a press conference Friday afternoon.

"I found the Nepalese children working to raise the awareness of their parents," she said, adding, "I saw that women are gradually becoming more powerful."

"There are changes taking place' and I want to take back a positive message," the Swedish-model-and-actress-turned-UNICEF spokesperson said. She said education played a crucial role in changing the lives of the children, and stressed the need to educate domestic workers. She called for efforts to ensure safe motherhood.

"We are happy with the ways the non-governmental organisations and women's groups have been working to change children's lives in this country," said Kjersti F. Gjestvang, Executive Director of the Norwegian Committee for UNICEF. "We want to increase our support for Nepal."

UNICEF Nepal Representative Stewart McNab said the child mortality rate had been reduced due to the efforts of self-help schemes.

UNICEF has been working in Nepal for the last three decades to improve child health. The UN agency has been assisting the Nepalese government to provide polio vaccines and Vitamin A capsules to children, and iodised salt. It also supports water supply and sanitation programmes.

No talks being held with Maoists, says Gupta

Pokhara, Apr. 12 (RSS): Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta, has denied that talks were being held between the representatives of HMG and the Maoists. He said that no talks were being held with the Maoists within or outside the country, and the neither has the government taken any initiative for a dialogue.

At a meet the press programme organised by the Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ) Kaski district branch here today, Minister Gupta said that his views on the talks with the Maoist terrorists was already clear.

The government can think of holding talks with the Maoist terrorists only if they denounce terrorism, hand over all arms and ammunition looted from the security forces, comply with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal and join the national mainstream.

Denying that the government had asked the human rights activists for dialogue with the Maoists, he said that the government had not urged anyone in that way nor was it aware of any such step.

Minister for Information and Communications Gupta pointed out the need for one and all to extend cooperation to maintain the high morale of the Royal Nepal Army when it was fighting the Maoist terrorists.

In response to queries posed by the journalists, he said that it was regrettable and the first incident in the 54 year-history of the Nepali Congress that a person who had been a sincere activist of the party for 25 long years, HMG spokesman and a responsible minister should be expelled from the primary membership of the party. He expressed the confidence that the decision would be rescinded.

Newari paintings show opens

By A Staff reporter

Bhaktapur, Apr. 12: Lawmaker Narayan Man Bijukchhe opened a four-day Newari traditional painting exhibition (Paubha) amidst a function yesterday.

The painting exhibition was organised jointly by the Bhaktapur Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BCCI) and Khwapa Paubha Chwami Pucha (group of Paubha painters of Bhaktapur). The exhibition will last till April 14. ‘

Bijukchhe said that efforts have been made to make Bhaktapur a cultural city. "A Bill has been presented in the Parliament to make Bhaktapur a cultural city. The bill, if passed, will help preserve the culture and heritage of not only Bhakpur but also of Panauti and Sankhu that have distinct characteristics," he said.

He said that all have to support the programme to manage the Bhaktapur Industrial Area.

Prem Suwal, Mayor of the Bhaktapur Municipality, said that the municipality and the painters would jointly organise the training programmes to promote the traditional art and culture of the city.

Welcoming the participants, president of the BCCI Krishna Prasad Tamrakar said the exhibition of traditional painting of Bhaktapur would help boost the cultural image of Bhaktapur.

Tamrakar commended the roles of the painters’ group in the development and promotion of the traditional painting.

On the occasion, painter Prem Man Chitrakar was honoured.

RSS adds: NWPP president and MP Narayan Man Bijukchhe inaugurated the Khasang Khusung bridge at linking Jhaukhel VDC- 8 and Bhaktapur, yesterday.

Bijukchhe also handed over letters of commendations to those contributing to the construction of the bridge.

At the programme various speakers including DDC chairman Govind Duwal, DDC vice chairman Ramesh Shrestha, Jhaukhel VDC chairman Nawaraj Gelal, Bhaktapur Municipality 10 ward chairman Ash Kumar Koju, bridge construction user’s committee treasurer Gopal Ram Basu Kala also expressed their views.

The bridge was completed at a cost of Rs. 1,431,000 with cooperation from DDC, Bhaktapur, Municipality, Jhaukhel VDC and various organisation.