FNJ convention
Quit arms, register party, Speaker tells Maoists

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 13: Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat said that the restoration of peace through constitutional means is the only way out to resolve the problems facing the nation.

Inaugurating the 20th general meeting of the Federation of Nepalese Journalists here today the Speaker talked about the Maoists’ new destructive campaign. "We can make conclusion after seeing the destruction and terrorism unleashed by the Maoists that they do not belong to a political party."

He said if the Maoists had even a little bit of concern for the country they must pave the way for new reforms and for peace by handing over arms to the government and following the constitutional path, Speaker Ranabhat said.

Ranabhat called upon the country’s Fourth Estate to make serious analysis of the current situation so as to use the might of pen to find a peaceful outlet of the present impasse.

"For whom are they doing this? The Press must investigate and analyse this fact," Ranabhat said

They must deposit their arms to the government and register their party to the Election Commission. "No interest is served from jungle hideouts, they must seek resolutions from the floor of the Parliament," he added.

If the Maoists fail to realize this fact, everyone will be a loser and the biggest loser will be the nation, he said. "If the situation of hopelessness persists people’s patience could run out precipitating in a new appalling atmosphere."

Expressing happiness over the joint programme launched by the seven political parties, Ranabhat said that if the political parties’ move ahead jointly and in a meaningful way, the Maoists-oppressed people would receive some relief.

The Speaker suggested that the political parties should forge ahead analysing the shortcomings and the achievements made during the past 12 years.

On the first day of the convention, Speaker Ranabhat felicitated senior journalist Chandra Lal Jha with Press Freedom Fighter honour.

At the inaugural function, Minister for Information and Communications Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta said that the State of Emergency was aimed at the Maoist terrorism. He said the press should not take it as otherwise, he said.

Minister Gupta, also the government spokesman, said that the programmes and security measures launched by the government were going as expected and the government would receive important successful very soon.

He said that lot of tasks had been initiated as per the suggestion of Federation of Nepal Journalists. "The bill on Rights to Information has been tabled in the Parliament, and homework to initiate reforms on Press, publication and national broadcasting acts are also underway. The coming session of the Parliament would make many reforms in the media sector," Gupta said.

He called upon the Press not to become the security shield for the terrorists. No journalist involved in protecting the right of freedom of expression has been jailed, he added. Many speaker, while giving their best wishes to the success of the biennial general meeting, had expressed their concerns about the imprisonment of journalists.

Nepali Congress Spokesman Arjun Narasingh K.C. said that the act of putting restrictions on journalists’ pen would not be tolerable at any cost. "The State of Emergency is aimed at putting an end to the Maoist terrorism," he added.

"Freedom is impossible without democratic system, and democracy should not be abused to provide shelter to the terrorism," K.C. said.

CPN-UML’s Raghuji Pant said that the activities of the Maoists had had serious impact on journalism of the nation. The need of the hour is to save journalist, who are facing much hardship and finding it difficult to keep their professionalism afloat, Pant said.

Nepal Sadbahvana Party’s Muktinath Mandal said that the FNJ’s general meeting would be successful in making effective conclusion over the difficulties faced by the journalists in the recent times.

FNJ President Suresh Acharya and General Secretary Tara Nath Dahal spoke about the existing problems faced by the Nepalese Press.

The inaugural function presided over by FNJ President Acharya. The FNJ General Meeting being participated by 647 representatives across the country will elect new leadership in tomorrow’s election.

Blair supports Nepal’s fight against terrorism
Deuba at 10 Downing St.

Kathmandu, May 13 (RSS): Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba held extensive talks with British Prime Minister Tony Blair at 10 Downing Street, London today.

Bilateral relations, regional and international issues and matters of mutual interest were discussed during the meeting, according to the Royal Nepalese Embassy in London.

The British Prime Minister pledged strong support to Nepal’s fight against terrorism and assured the British government’s support in the fight against terrorism as well as on economic matters.

Prime Minister Deuba expressed the sincere appreciation of His Majesty’s Government for the support and solidarity expressed by the British government to Nepal’s fight against terrorism in the country and urged increased British cooperation.

The two Prime Ministers also discussed matters related to development cooperation and the pensions of ex-British Gurkha soldiers.

From the British side, Clare Short, Secretary of State for International Development, Adam Ingram, Armed Forces Minister, and senior officials from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Ministry of Defence and the Department for International Development were present in the meeting.

Present from the Nepalese side were Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat, advisor to the PM, Dr Shankar Sharma, member of the National Planning Commission, acting secretary Madhu Raman Acharya and Royal Nepalese Ambassador to UK Dr Singha Bahadur Basnyat.

Indian army chief arrives

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 13: General S. Padmanabhan, Chief of the Army Staff, Indian Army arrived here today by a special Indian Air Force plane on a four-day goodwill visit to Nepal at the invitation of Hon’ble General Prajwalla SJB Rana, Chief of the Army Staff, Royal Nepalese Army.

General Padmanabhan is accompanied by his wife Mrs. Roopa Padmanabhan. The visiting dignitaries were warmly received by Hon’ble General Prajwalla SJB Rana, Chief of the Army Staff, Royal Nepalese Army and Mrs. Rana along with other senior officials of the Royal Nepalese Army.

According to the Embassy of India, General Padmanabhan was given a guard of honour by SHERGANA of the Royal Nepalese Army. He visited the Royal Nepalese Army Pavillion at Tundikhel and laid a wreath in honour of the martyrs of Nepal at ‘Bir Smarak’.

In the afternoon, Gen. Padmanabhan called on the Chief of Army Staff of Royal Nepalese Army and discussed strengthening of relations between the two Armies. The Royal Nepalese Army and the Indian Army have a long-standing tradition of wide ranging cooperation.

Dr. I.P. Singh, Ambassador of India to Nepal, and Mrs. Singh, hosted a reception in honour of Gen. S. Padmanabhan and Mrs. Padmanabhan. The reception was attended by a large number of Nepalese dignitaries, senior officials from various Ministries and the Royal Nepalese Army and members of the Diplomatic Corps, reads a press statement of the Embassy.

FAO MEET
Growth needs to be pro-poor: Acharya

Kathmandu, May 13 (RSS): The 26th FAO regional conference for Asia and the Pacific kicked off in the capital today.

The biennial conference is one of a series of FAO regional conferences in preparation for a gathering of world leaders during "The World Food Summit : five years later" to be held at the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO)’s headquarters in Rome from 10 to 13 June 2002.

Apart from taking stock of progress in hunger reduction and making recommendations to accelerate the fight against hunger and poverty, the FAO conference, being held for the first time in Nepal, aims at discussing agriculture, rural development and food security priorities in Asia and the Pacific.

With two thirds of the world’s 800 million severely undernourished people the Asia-Pacific Region is the focus of the 1996 FAO World Food Summit’s goal of reducing global hunger by half by the year 2015.

Substantive agenda items for discussion are the preparation for the World Food Summit-regional dimensions, sustainable mountain development, livestock and fisheries development for household food and nutrition security and poverty alleviation and empowering the rural poor.

Senior government officers from all the member countries will hold in-depth discussions on a range of issues central to food security and rural poverty alleviation in Asia-Pacific countries from 13 to 15 May whereas the two-day plenary session of the conference will take place on May 16 and 17.

On that occasion, Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mahesh Acharya noted that it is recognised the failure to include the majority of the deprived from the mainstream of development will only negate poverty reduction and food security goals.

Agriculture in most of the Asia-Pacific Region is characterised by the prevalence of small farmers, landless labourers and resource poor fisher folks, Minister Acharya said. "Among them, poverty endemic and the incidence of and risk to food insecurity is high. Economic growth, therefore, has to be pro-poor, broad-based and sustained so that they become part of the growth process."

Noting that Asian economies that had entered into high growth path over the last several years experienced sudden slow down following the September 11 incidence and the events in its aftermath, he said although the poor normally benefit least from the growth, they are the most to suffer during contractions as they lose employment, saving and assets.

Minister Acharya expressed grave concern over violence and armed conflicts that have been on a rise in the region, leaving a majority of the poor living in mountain areas at peril and said this had not only affected the poor communities directly in their immediate livelihood but also constrained their access to services provided by government and other development actors.

Mountain communities suffer most from the environmental disasters while benefit stemming from the highlands resources are not shared with them commensurately, he said, pointing out the need to find solution to it through a just scheme of compensation for the mountain dwellers for compromising their production needs and conserving the environment.

Referring to severe floods throughout the region, drought in the near-East, South-Asia and DPR Korea, extreme winters in North Asia, the worst earthquake in decades in India, war and civil strife in several countries in the region these days, Dr. R. B. Singh, assistant director general and FAO regional representative for Asia and the Pacific noted that agriculture performance of Asia and the Pacific Region has not been encouraging for the last two years due largely to the many natural and man-made disasters in past two years.

He expressed the confidence that steady adoption of genetically improved varieties and breeds, integrated pest management, integrated plant nutrient system, best practices in water-use and sustainable farming systems can lift production potential to new heights.

Photos of terrorists active in capital made public

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 13: Police have made public the identity of 16 more terrorists active in the Kathmandu Valley. The photographs of the terrorists were made public in the police programme of the Nepal Television.

The terrorists are: Dil Bahadur Rai alias Pravin, Prabhakar Pradhanang alias Bhola and Prahar, Umesh Sedai alias Kapil, Bipin Bhandari alias Kishore, Jogman Lama alias Janam, Govinda Poudel alias Kshitiz, Hira Bahadur Rokka alias Sanjeev, Buddhi Lama alias Karsang, Badri Bajgain alias Sanjay and Deepak Sharma, Tara Bhandari, Kamal Adhikary Kshetri, Arjun B.K., Ganesh Regmi, Sambhu Poudel, Phanindra Devkota alias Aakash and Amar B. K.

The police news report says they are involved in murder, violence, vandalism, loot and forceful collection of money. The police have asked the public to contact phone Nos. 414218 and 412780 and fax 415593 of the police headquarters or the Valley Police Office at phone No. 229180 if they see or come into contact with any of them.

Twenty-three persons of Sano Sirbari, Thulosirubari, Chautara, Pipaldanda, Sangachowk, Shyaule and Batase VDCs involved in Maoist terrorism gave themselves up to the district administration office on Sunday.

Police said those, who have surrendered to the district administration, were the so-called members of village people’s government, ward chiefs and members, related to the sister organisations of the terrorist group and members of the people’s militia.

They said they felt remorse about their previous activities and have disagreed to the Maoists killing, violence, vandalism, arson, loot and forceful collection of money.

Police said they have pledged to come within the constitutional framework and would lead normal lives.

90% women deliver babies at home

By B. M. Dahal

Kathmandu, May 13: Despite the government’s efforts to bring down the fertility and maternal mortality rates in Nepal, only 28 per cent of the pregnant women have accessed healthcare services from a doctor, nurse, midwife, or auxiliary nurse midwife.

About 90 per cent of the total deliveries take place at homes in the country, according to the 2001 Nepal Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS). However, the survey report indicates that the fertility rate declined to 4.1 births per woman during 1998-2000 from 5.1 births in 1984-1986.

Fertility is much higher in the rural and mountainous areas as compared to the urban areas. The survey shows per woman fertility in the mountainous areas is 4.8 births per woman. In the rural areas, women’s fertility is 4.4 births. The figure for urban women is 2.1. In the hills, fertility is 4.0 births per woman and 4.1 births in the Terai area.

Lack of awareness, health facilities and the early marriage are the major factors contributing to high fertility, which helps to give rise to the maternal and infant mortality rate. The majority of rural people are uneducated and they are deprived of health services and facilities.

Dr. Jyoti Agrawal, a senior gynaecologist, says many rural people still are unable to use contraceptives, as they are not available easily.

In Nepal, the contraceptive prevalence rate among currently married women stands only at 39 per cent.

"Ignorance is another reason why the rural women have high fertility. Since they do not know about the advantages of contraceptives and healthcare facilities, they do not want to use them," says Dr. Agrawal. "Many of them refuse to take permanent birth control measures because of their misconception."

She says that high fertility is directly related to the health of women and children. High fertility among rural women is one of the main causes of high maternal and child mortality rate in the country, she adds.

She is of the opinion that the government has to give more emphasis on health education and nutrition programmes besides making health facilities accessible to all.

Under-nutrition among women and children is another problem in Nepal. One in two children below five years are stunted. Ten per cent children are thin for their age and 48 per cent underweight. But the report says the nutritional status of children has improved slightly since the last decade.

The report shows that one in four women falls below the 18.5 cutoff for the body mass index (BMI), which utilises both height and weight to measure thinness. One in seven women is shorter than 145 centimetres. Such women are considered to be at nutritional risk. They may face the problems such as night blindness as well.

Maternal mortality rate is very high in Nepal. Data indicate that 469 mothers out of every 100,000 lose their lives and 64 children among 1,000 live births die within one year.

Dr. Aruna Upreti says although the government and donor agencies have spent a huge amount of money in the health sector, women’s access to health facilities has not increased since the last decade.

"Nepal Family Health Survey 1996 showed that 90 per cent deliveries used to take place at homes. Similar is the situation at present as well," says Dr. Upreti.

She says that the health status of women in the rural areas, especially the western part of the country, is very disappointing. "I think, the government has to review its health policy. It should focus its activities more on the backward areas of the country," she says.

She says that doctors alone will not help address the problem unless the people are educated and basic infrastructure developed.

"The issue of health has to be looked from a broader social perspective to improve the people’s health status," she says.

In the meantime, Dr. Benu Bahadur Karki, Spokesman at the Ministry of Health, says that the government is working out plans to set aside three out of six beds at the primary health centres for pregnant women.

Currently, there are 180 such centres across the country. "We are increasing the number of such centres to 205 this year to provide healthcare facilities to pregnant women," Dr. Karki says.

He says the government is also launching safe motherhood programme to reduce the maternal mortality rate. Apart from this, it is establishing the community-based emergency obstretic care centres that will help pregnant women deliver safer.

Deserters from terror group tell woes in remorse

Liwang (Rolpa), May 13 (RSS): Many unsuspecting young boys and girls who at the prime of their blithesome life took to the path of violence and killing on other’s insistence and goading have now again started leading a normal life but with a deep sense of remorse about their past.

A large number of adolescent boys and girls, who, despite going to school or working in the farms with their families, joined the Maoist group lured by others’ false promises. This not only made their future look bleak during the course of their association with the terrorist organisation but many of them also lost their lives while several of them were handicapped or injured.

The parents of these youths joining the Maoist outfit were always full of anxiety about the lives of their wards and most of their time was spent in weeping. The fear of their sons getting killed any time haunted them always. Whether they are the newly-wed women or minors eagerly awaiting the return of their husbands and fathers they had nothing left but to wait and wait for months with a heavy heart.

Now, there are many youngsters like Rekh Bahadur Gharti of Rolpa, who, after getting frustrated with the inhuman behaviour and activities of the Maoists like brutally killing own brothers and sisters, maiming them, torturing them and destroying development infrastructures, have given up terrorism and returned back to society to lead a normal life. And the number of these youths is gradually increasing.

The 19-year-old Rekh Bahadur who was involved in the terrorist assaults at Ratmate in Rolpa and the district administration office in Dang is full of repentance for what he did and has this to say— I ruined by future by believing what others said. My future is full of darkness now.

They forced me into joining their group and gave me weapons for attacking different localities, he says with bitterness.

Rekh Bahadur who was an assistant commander of the district platoon section No 36 of the terrorist organisation was forcibly made to join the Maoist group in 2058 B.S. At present, he is under the control of the security forces.

It’s not good to join the Maoist group, he cautions his friends who are still in the terrorist organisation and calls upon them to renounce violence, stating that violence and killings are to nobody’s welfare.

Our age is an age for reading, doing business or service. One can earn a lot while still staying with the family. As regards me, I spend that age just carrying arms. Now I will find a job and work better, Gharti narrated his vague plans for the future.

Likewise, Om Prakash Gharti, also from Rolpa, says that if the Maoists really think about the country, there is no alternative for them other than their coming to talks and involvement in the election process. He further says the country would never progress by killing of a fellow Nepali by a Nepali and if the Maoists really love their country, they should abandon the path of violence.

He says that he joined the Maoist group after he could not pay the amount in donation demanded by them and due to the lure of a good job in future.

They used to give about 150 rupees as pocket money but for food, we had to ask from the villagers. We had no respite whether it was day or night, storm or calm and we had no time to think about the family or one’s health condition, he said.

He disclosed that more than 50 per cent young boys and girls were forcibly taken by the Maoists into their fold. While some of them would be trained in militant warfare and sent into action, those physically weak were used for carrying foodgrain and dispatching letters etc.

With a father, wife and two-years old son at home, he was forced by the Maoists to join their group in 2056 B.S. when he was studying in grade 9.

They kidnapped me even though I once joined the Maoist group and renounced it and I was later arrested by the security forces in Dang, he says relating his past.

Despite my penchant for studies, I was compelled to join the terrorist outfit in 2056 B.S. Bhadau after I was forced by them to either enlist in their organisation or pay the amount of money demanded by them, he said, adding that during his days with the Maoist organisation, he underwent several training exercises such as crawling, zigzag running, walking and attacking.

After being recruited as a militiaman in 2056 B.S., Om Prakash was then immediately moved to a squad in two or three months and by 2058 B.S. Asoj, he was working in a platoon. He was a section commander when he left the Maoist outfit.

Suggesting those of his ilk who are in the Maoist group to not to be misled by the false promises of the Maoists but to struggle against those who forced them to join the group, he said our hands were not made for killing our own brothers and sisters. They should be instead used in the country’s development and that was the way through which we would all have a bright future.

Presently, some of the youths like Rekh Bahadur and Omprakash who have been able to break away from the grip of the Maoists are compelled to go abroad in search of work while others are living as refugees in their own country.

Their skills, talents and creative faculties are being wasted by remaining untapped and it is being alleged that the unconcerned and unperturbed attitude of the Maoist leadership to the sorry state of the state proves that they are not at all concerned about the country and the people.

Fifty years old Belmati Gharti of Gam village says that activities of the Maoists like looting, extortion, kidnapping and threatening have stopped after the security forces arrived in the village.

The Maoists will again bother us if the government (meaning the security forces) withdraw from the village. We have no money to go elsewhere for safety, she worries.

Concurs Bhakta Bahadur Gharti of Thulodhunga village-7. He says he was robbed of his livelihood by the Maoists and he even had to allocate Rs 15-1600 out of the pension amount of his father for the Maoists.

They threaten to kill if not given the amount, he says and complained that they were not allowed to practice their religion, offer worship or even to listen to the radio.

An army soldier on security duty in the area vowed to crush the terrorists who brutally killed his fellow army soldiers and who tortured the villagers.

We do not care for our lives. Our success will be when we restore peace and security in the country. We can defeat the terrorists only if we could get some modern weapons and a few helicopters. We’ve received a lot of information about them, he said defiantly.

Carpet trade can be expanded, says Khadka

Kathmandu, May 13 (RSS): The 63rd meeting of the Carpet and Wool Development Board was held here today under the chairmanship of Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies and board chairman Purna Bahadur Khadka.

Discussions were held at the meeting on the problems faced in the export of carpets which makes a significant contribution to the economy.

On the occasion, Minister Khadka said that apart from the European market, there was ample prospect for the export of Nepalese carpets to the USA, Canada, Japan and other countries and therefore the firms concerned should jointly carryout promotional activities.

He said that Nepalese carpets have a distinct quality and this should not be allowed to decline, adding that attention should be focused on quality production.

Publicity should be carried out for the export of Pashimina also, he said.

Assistant Minister for Industries, Commerce and Supplies Prakash Bahadur Gurung said that the standard of the Nepalese carpets should be maintained.

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Bhanu Prasad Acharya and other board members attended the meeting.

Project deal signed with ILO to fight child labour

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, May 13: The International Labour Organisation (ILO) today signed a Project Agreement with the Ministry of Land Reform and Management that will contribute to strengthening the capacity of the Ministry to combat the child bonded labour in Nepal.

The Action Programme entitled "Strengthening Institutional Capacity of Ministry of Land Reforms and Management for expedited rehabilitation of former bonded labourers (ex-Kamaiyas)" was signed by the Joint Secretary, Bharat Mani Risal, on behalf of the MOLRM, and the Director, Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, on behalf of the ILO.

The Action Programme will cover a period of twelve months and will be implemented in five districts of the Mid and Far-western Development Regions where ex-Kamaiyas are being rehabilitated.

The main component of the Action Programme is to provide institutional support to the Ministry for additional field level staff members to expedite the rehabilitation process, as well as for the collection and dissemination of updated information on the situation of ex-Kamaiyas, including their children.

The Action Programme will also enable ex-Kamaiyas to achieve better livelihood opportunities through income generating activities, so that they can send their children to schools.

The Action Programme is an element of the project "Towards the Elimination of Child (Bonded) Labour in Nepal" under Italian Social Partners’ Initiatives to prevent child labour and is a reiteration of the ILO/IPEC’s (Internatiional Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour) commitment to support the government in combating the worst forms of child labour in Nepal, as stipulated in the ILO Conventions 29 and 182, which are ratified by the His Majesty’s Government of Nepal.

TV cutting theatre activity

Kathmandu, May 13 (RSS): It is a matter of curiosity that only one play is staged in a month these days as against dozens just 15 years ago.

Stage artistes have to wait for months to speak their lines and the stage sees no activity during the rest of the time.

Senior stage artistes said the importance of drama is still intact although its market has been replaced by electronic entertainment including television and video.

Audiences however take an interest in the theatre if it happens to be good.

Senior stage artiste Prachanda Malla said the stage has been lacking in activity because of cinema and television though it would play to full houses for weeks one and a half decades ago.

Although theatre artistes say that a play is successful only after it is staged and not just after it is written, its market faces a bleak situation because of much writing but fewer stagings and low audience figures.

In view of these facts a National Drama Festival 2059 began in the capital today with an objective of helping the development of literature, art and culture through drama, to raise the enthusiasm of stage artistes and to arouse interest in the people.

On the occasion of the birth centenary of Bal Krishna Sama, plays including Pralhad, U Mareki Chhaina, Talamathi, Ma, Motiram, Boksi, Buhartan, Andhabeg, Amit Basana and Mutuko Byatha will be staged during the three-day festival organised by the Royal Nepal Academy (RNA).

Sama brought about a revolution in the Nepali theatre by writing tragedies as against the earlier tradition of writing comedies only. He contributed more than three dozen plays on historic, Vedic and social themes.

The festival has being organised since 2033 BS.

Speaking at the inauguration of the festival, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Bal Bahadur K.C. said the government is ready to assist stage artistes for the uplift of Nepali language, literature and the genre of the drama.

Vice Chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy Mohan Koirala said the festival was organised to highlight the contributions of Sama in drama and to encourage artistes up country.

Member secretary of RNA Dr. Tulsi Bhattarai said the success of a play is not in its writing but in its staging and the audience response.

Convenor and academician Neer Shaha said 10 plays were selected out of 27 presented at the festival.

WLL transmission to meet rural telecom needs

By Raj Kumar K.C.

Kathmandu, May 13: If everything goes as expected, the Nepal Telecommunications Corporations (NTC) will provide telecommunications services to all the development regions through the Wireless Local Loop (WLL) within next 3-4 years.

Engineers say the WLL system is cheaper and more effective than the existing VHF and MARTS.

The NTC is carrying out the project in the western development region. "But the project is facing difficulties for security reasons," says Bhesh Raj Kandel, Chief of the Rural Telecommunications Project at NTC.

WLL is not only suitable for the rural areas but also effective in urban areas where installation of wire is not possible.

"Considering these factors we are planning to provide services through WLL in all the development regions barring some Himalayan districts," Project chief Kandel says. "VSAT will be fine in the Himalayan districts," he added.

According to a technician, WLL is a method of transmitting frequency through radio at the repeater station. It is just like a mobile telephone that covers the wave within a certain distance. "That makes it comparatively cheaper and effective," he said.

The cost of a WLL line will come around six to seven thousand rupees, says a technician at NTC.

It is mainly useful for the rural areas where wire telephone and mobile are not available, says Kandel. "The contract has been signed to provide telecommunications services to 600 villages at present," he says.

Asked whether the NTC has any plan to provide telecommunication services through WLL in the urban areas Kandel says: "The priority has now is in the rural areas."

The Ninth Five Year Plan had targeted to provide one telephone line to each Village Development Committee (VDC). However, the target remained unfulfilled owing to lack of budget. NTC will provide telecommunication services through WLL within the Tenth Five Year Plan (2059-63). Later on, the extension of WLL lines will be given to the private sector.

The NTC has already prepared a revised report related to rural telecommunications services. But it has not been made public yet.

Experts say WLL could be the best alternative to MARTS and VSAT in rural areas. It may be recalled that more than 60 per cent VDCs across the country do not have access to the telecommunications services. The Maoists violence has further intensified the problem by destroying telecommunication towers and related infrastructure in the past one and half years.