Gorkhapatra to involve private sector

By A Staff Reporter

Kathamndu, June 18, The government’s long term policy on Information and Communications aims to develop the Gorkhapatra Corporation as a publishing house. To make the corporation more competitive, the policy is directed towards the involvement of the private sector in its management.

The policy is also directed to introduce modern technology in the Gorkhapatra Corporation for the efficient collection and editing of news. Besides, the policy is also focused on effective distribution of its publications.

To foster a healthy, subjective and quality jouranalism, the policy aims to move the Gorkhapatra Corporation towards the development of Nepalese language and literature.

The policy also aims to involve private sector in the management of the corporation and float shares to the public.

Training to promote herbal medicines

Butwal, June 18 (RSS): More than 75 per cent of the people in the country have been using herbs and Ayurvedic medicines in one way or another.

According to Science and Technology Association of Nepal (STAN), Nepal imports allopathic medicines worth Rs. 14 billions from India and other countries annually whereas the home production of herbal and ayurvedic medicine from easily available plants in the jungle is worth less than Rs. 3 billion.

Herbs worth billions of rupees are being wasted due to the lack of proper knowledge of treatment and identification of useful herbal plants.

However Singha Durbar Baidhyakhana has conducted a study and investigation of 750 species of herbs, STAN said, adding of the 1,500 species of herbs found in Nepal- half of them are not being utilised yet.

Despite the surplus availability of the medicinal plants like eucalyptus, etc found in the kingdom, no concrete study and investigations have been carried out.

This information was provided at a 10-day training programme on ‘identification and utility of herbs’ organised by STAN here.

Speaking on the occasion STAN President Modnath Prashrit stressed the need of promoting herbs and ayurvedic medicines at a time when allopathic medicines have been used excessively, as majority of diseases except for aids and cancer can be treated with herbal medicines.

Prashrit had provided training on herbal treatment methods, Dr. Munkarna Thapa on physiology, epidemology and herbs conservation methods, and Krishna Bhushal on contagious diseases and bacteria.

Altogether 250 species of herbs collected from the local jungles and herbal medicines were exhibited at the programme participated by 33 persons from 10 different villages of Rupandhehi district.

Nepal, China deal on currency convertibility hailed

Kathmandu, June 18 (RSS): Nepal Association of Tour Operators (NATO) has welcome the bilateral settlement agreement (BSA) signed between Nepal and the People’s Republic of China

Under the BSA Chinese yuan has been enlisted as a directly convertible currency that allows Chinese tourists to carry their local currency in Nepal and Nepalese banks can purchase it at a convertible rate.

It is indeed a great achievement on our part after receiving approved destination status from China for promotion of Nepalese tourism, NATO says, adding it will facilitate Chinese tourists to exchange yuan in Nepal and relieve them from U.S. dollar problem.

Stating that His Majesty’s Government should speed up the work of opening consular offices in different parts of China to smoothen the issuance of visas to Chinese tourists, NATO suggested that His Majesty’s Government should open a seperate counter at Tribhuvan International Airport to facilitate the movement of the Chinese tourists who travel in groups.

NHRC speaks on field visit to Khara

Kathmandu, June 18 (RSS): The National Human Rights Commission has stated that it has made field visits to Nepalgunj in Banke district and the Khara Ilaka and district headquarters Musikot of Rukum district and acquired information on the overall human rights situation in those places.

During the study visit, information was acquired especially on the encounter last month between the Maoists and the Royal Nepal Army at Khara and the impact this had on human rights and the life of the local people, it is learnt.

In course of the study tour, four bodies were found near the bridge on Duduwakhola stream at the border of ward Nos. 4 and 7 of Phamdi VDC seven kilometers north-east of Nepalgunj municipality. As it was apparent that security personnel had not fulfilled the necessary legal procedures, information was being sought about this from HMG and the necessary process was being taken ahead.

The NHRC team comprised chairman Nayan Bahadur Khatri and members Dr. Gauri Shankar Lal Das, professor Kapil Shrestha and officer Pradeep Shankar Wagley, it is stated.