Measles cases increase in Mahottari

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MAHOTTARI, Aug. 18: Cases of measles Parsa Dewang VDC of Mahottari district have become rampant since the past three weeks.

More than 2 dozen local children have been affected by the disease, said an employee at district hospital, Jaleswor.

Some 25 children have been undergoing treatment at the district hospital and 16 have been returned after treatment.

So far about 126 children of the affected village were vaccinated against measles, said in-charge of the hospital Dr Ram Lakhan Shaha.

In Mahendranagar, Malaria, which has been seen in epidemic proportions in Kanchanpur district is yet to be controlled.

At least 435 patients of Malaria of the PF type which is regarded as fatal have been seen. Of them, 191 patients have been admitted to Mahakali Zonal Hospital.

Although no death has been reported, 15 PF Malaria patients visit the hospital daily.

Similarly, the number of Plasmotive Vivex (PV) Malaria cases has also increased. According to the district public health office, the number of patients has reached 2,300.

The number may be still higher if those who go for treatment to private clinics or outside the district are taken into account.

Health workers from the health posts at Krishnapur VDC and Banda have been deputed for immediate blood tests in the Malaria hit areas of the district, said senior public health officer Bal Bahadur Mahat.

Need for changes in Children Act stressed

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 18: The educationists, guardians and teachers have laid emphasis on effective implementation and timely changes in the Children Act-2048 B.S.

The participants at in interaction programme organised by Youth and Children Development Organisation of Nepal in connection with the 38th National Children Day here today suggested that the guardians should be made conscious, and the guardians of the child labourers should ensure education for their children.

Stringent punishment should be meted out to the guardians not educating their child labourers, the voices of the affected children should be organised and free education should be provided to them and environment conducive to ensure their education should be created.

President of the organisation Nirbikar Shrestha presented a draft for the amendment of the Children Act 2048 B.S. and said that the parents and guardians not making provisions of imparting education to their children should be punished and various measures taken for the all round development of the children.

Minister of State for Labour and Transport and member of the Central Child Welfare Committee Shiva Raj Joshi said that equal opportunity should be provided to all the children and the system of the teaching the illiterate should be adopted.

Unity among ethnic groups to strengthen national unity

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 18: Minister for Physical Planning and Works Chiranjibi Wagle has remarked that national unity could be consolidated further if all the ethnic and linguistic communities are seen in the same light.

Addressing the inaugural function of "Mela-2059" organised by the National Unity Coordination Council here today, Minister Wagle expressed the view that the new generation would be impressed if the saga of bravery of their forefathers was included in the textbooks and publicised through the medium of education.

He also expressed the belief that this would contribute to nation building.

Inaugurating the gathering, Dr. Swami Prapannacharya underlined the need for one and all to be conscious of safeguarding and caring for one's motherland.

He stressed that all the great personalities who have contributed to nation building should be accorded the due respect and honour.

Yogi Narahari Nath said that although religion views one and all as individuals and in equal terms, it was some people with perverted thinking who have brought about caste discrimination in the society.
Prof. (Dr) Dinesh Raj Pant said no one should be declared a national hero by being inspired by communal thinking.

Another Professor Dr. Ramesh Raj Kunwar shed light on the speciality and importance of the institution of the Crown.

Historician Dr. Rajaram Subedi noted that a bad tradition would be started if honest persons were sidelined and certain people keep on occupying important positions through manipulation.
He pointed out the need for moving ahead on the path shown by the forefathers and work honestly in order to safeguard nationality.

Professor (Dr) Surendra K.C. commented that anyone suffering from the pains of poverty and inequality might be misled and take on the wrong path if the problem is not addressed properly.
He said the root cause of the Maoist problem in Nepal was also poverty and inequality.

Manorath Rijal of Chitre Bhanjyang VDC-7, Syangja, was felicitated on the occasion for designing the statues of five national heroes at different places of Syangja district.

Council vice-president Hom Singh Basnyat and president of the national hero Amar Singh Thapa foundation Baburam Singh Thapa said the National Unity Coordination Council aims at raising awareness of the younger generation about our brave forefathers and encourage them to contribute to national integration.

At the programme presided over by council president Diwakar Bikram Shah, various speakers threw light on the contributions of His late Majesty King Prithvi Narayan Shah the Great and other national heroes to Nepal's unification campaign.

Various artistes presented patriotic songs on the occasion.

Two washed away by floods in Panauti

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PANAUTI, Aug. 18: Two persons were washed away by flash floods caused by torrential rains in the Punyamati river at ward No.10 of Banepa Municipality yesterday.

Mrs. Gaiya Sharma, the wife of Devendra Sharma, a mechanic working at ward No. 10 of the municipality and a 11-year old boy was washed away the swollen river, according to the police.
The body of Mrs. Gaiya sharma has been recovered while the body of the 11-year old boy is still missing.

In Hetauda, flood and landslide victims of various VDCs of Makwanpur district have, so far, been provided with Rs. 460,500 in cash.

According to Makwanpur District Administration Office, similarly, 745 families affected by floods and landslides were provided with tarpaulins, 276 blankets, 374 sackfuls of clothes, 38 quintals of foodgrain, 79 sackfuls of ready made garments, 321 sets of utensils.

The recent floods and landslides have claimed the life of 112 people and damaged some 658 houses in the district. In addition, about 3,115 people have been affected by the natural calamities, natural calamity relief committee said.

Technician's team are reaching out the doorsteps of general people's houses, industrial entities, government offices and public schools in the flood-hit areas to collect data about the damage.
A saving account with Rs. 1351,117/- received on behalf of various social organisations in aid of the victims has been opened at the Agricultural Development Bank, Hetauda in the name of natural calamity relief committee to distribute financial assistance and relief material in a systematic manner.
Meanwhile, the Nepal Tarun Dal (NTD), district working committee Bhaktapur collected relief materials in aid of the people affected by floods and landslides in various parts of the kingdom.

The collection programme was initiated by central president of ntd bal krishna khand by putting some amount on the banner.

The chief guest of the programme was Minister of State for Information and Communications Hari Narayan Chaudhari.

Concluding the programme, Chaudhari called on all to lend humanitarian help.

Dal's district president Janahari Basnet informed that some clothes, food grains and cash was raised from the programme.

In Lamjung twenty three local households have been displaced by the development of cracks in the ground and the possibility of landslides in Bansar VDC ward No 3 following continous rains.
the displaced families have been accomodated in tents at a local school.

The rains have also damaged a drinking water tank and 500 meters of pipe as well as a rice mill.
Meanwhile, the 27th meeting of the Nepal Communist Party (United) central working committee has decided to work for leftist unity.

The meeting also decided to hold the central council meeting of the party in Rauthat district on September 1 and 2.

Expressing profound grief at the massive loss of lives and property caused by recent torrential rains in various parts of the country, the meeting decided to request his majesty's government to provide necessary relief assistance to the affected families and take short and long-term measures to resolve the problem of natural disaster recurring every year.

Do away with untouchability

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KATHMANDU, Aug. 18: If education could be made accessible to the impoverished and backward classes, conservative attitudes such as untouchability and caste discrimination prevailing in the society can be wiped out, said speakers at a programme organised in the capital Saturday.

Rajparishad Standing Committee chairman Dr. Keshar Jung Rayamajhi, at a programme organised by the People's Development Society Services Association on the occasion of the civil code and national social solidarity day here Saturday, said that in building an equitable society, there should no discrimination and untouchability in the society.

Ramji Prasad Sah of Nepal Sadbhavana Party said that everyone should join hands for the elimination of social stigma such as untouchability.

Vice-president of sanatan religion services committee Shila Panta said that discrimination never leads to peace but instead, it only promotes jealousy and controversy.

Dalbir Bishwakarma, Dwarika Man Singh, Dirgha Raj Prasai, Radheshyam Thapa and a host of other speakers said that untouchability should be done away with in this 21st century.

Meanwhile, the civil code day celebration committee, Morang organised a talk programme on the 20th Civil Code day and contribution of His late Majesty King Mahendra in Biratnagar on Saturday.
Speakers at the programme shed light on the significance of the day and historical background of the dalit commission.

They also pointed out the need for reservations for the Dalits and bring them into the national mainstream by providing them equal opportunities.

Chief judge of Biratnagar Appellate Court Baliram Kumar emphasized the need for social awareness and awakening in order to put an end to communal discrimination.

Ex-minister Radha Prasad Ghimire said His late Majesty King Mahendra has an important contribution in the uplift of the Dalits and stressed on unity among the dalits for their well being.
The committee's Morang chairperson Hiralal Suncheri presided.

Meanwhile, the district level Dalit coordination committee organised a day-long workshop on the rights of the indigenous dom community in Itahari on Saturday.

Local Development Office Chandra Kumar Ghimire, ex-mayor of Inaruwa Khemraj Pokhrel, Deputy Mayor Arjun Mehta and superintendent of police Narendra Kumar Khaling and other speakers shed light on matters relating to social untouchability and communal discrimination.

Coordinator of the district level Dalit Coordination Committee Dal Bahadur Shaha Shanker presided.

Castle School students help out

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Aug. 18: Students of Castle School, UK built walls, painted doors and windows, levelled the floors of classrooms and worked in the drinking water project for a school in Shermathang village of Helambu.

The visit was part of the International School Conservation Programme of the Kathmandu Environmental Education Project (KEEP). Already 155 students have worked in five different projects in and outside Kathmandu Valley.

Castle School presented sports and educational materials, musical instruments, a steel cupboard and a VCD and tape recorder to the Shree Jyoti Lower Secondary School.

Under the student exchange programme, seven different groups of the World Challenge Expedition - UK and Edge Hill Venture Scout Unit - UK have taken part in various activities such as environment conservation, community development and in International Youth Integration activities.

A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was also signed between KEEP/Nepal and Castle School to provide funds for community projects.

Students of Castle School said they plan to return to continue with the project.