His Majesty receives letters of credence

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: His Majesty the King received letters of credence from ambassadors-designate of the Republic of Singapore and the Republic of Mauritius See Chak Mun and Daneelal Seewoo respectively amidst special functions held separately at the Narayanhiti Royal Palace today.

Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand, Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya, Speaker of the House of Representatives Taranath Ranabhat, Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narendra Bikram Shaha were also present on the occasion.

After the credential ceremony, His Majesty the King received in audience the ambassadors of Singapore and Mauritius separately at the Narayanhity Royal Palace.

Wedding

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: Their Majesties King Gyanendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev and Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah graced the auspicious wedding of A.G. Sherpa’s son at Hyatt Regency Hotel, Bauddha, today.

Court permits CIAAS to detain Wagle for 25 days

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Nov. 22: The Special Court today granted the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) permission to detain former Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Chiranjibi Wagle for 25 days, from the day of his arrest on November 4, to probe into his involvement in helping his son amass wealth while he was minister.

The decision was handed down this evening by a bench headed by special judge of the Court Top Bahadur Magar. The nation's constitutional anti-corruption body, the other day, had sought a month's detention from the Court to further investigate former minister Wagle's case. However, the Court could not rule out Wagle's case on Thursday as the lawyers from both sides had failed to finish their pleadings.

The CIAA had arrested one of the most powerful ministers in the Sher Bahadur Deuba-led government on November 4 after about a dozen of interrogation sessions with him in connection with his son's collecting property that ran into million of rupees "without any valid source of income and within a very short span of time."

Pleading on behalf of the CIAA, advocates Yubraj Subedi and Prem Raj Karki said that they needed a month-long time to probe into Wagle's involvement in Wagle junior's amassing of rupees 33.7 million. "Being one of the most powerful ministers during Deuba-led government he could influence people in hiding or distorting evidences that could prove him of being involved in helping his son to amass wealth if he is not taken into custody, ," they furnished reason before the bench.

They also said: "The CIAA has found that he has amassed property by making his son Devendra Wagle as a shield. There are chances he must have amassed wealth under the cover of others. It is thus important for the CIAA to detain him to facilitate further investigation in the case." The CIAA, earlier, has found deposits worth 19 million rupees in Devendra's name in various banks, which it alleged that junior Wagle earned through unlawful sources. It has already asked the concerned banks to freeze junior Wagle's accounts. The CIAA, however, has not detained Devendra Wagle yet.

Seven rebels killed in search operations

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: Seven terrorists were killed in encounters during the search operations of the security forces on Wednesday and Thursday in the west and far-west districts of Dailekh, Kanchanpur, Kailali and Accham districts, the Defence Ministry statement said today. While carryout search and opertions, the security forces found guns, pistols, socket bombs and ammunitions of various weapons and explosives.

The Ministry said the revenue patrol team of the security forces on Wednesday found contrabands worth Rs. 53,900 at Sunauli of Rupandehi district.

A medical team of the security force provided medical services and distributed medicines free of cost to 69 persons in Gorkha district on Thursday, the Ministry said.

Legal backing for disabled demanded

By A Staff reporter

LALITPUR, Nov 22: Bodies working for the disabled people today called for a strong legal provision in the country for the well being of the physically challenged.

They said that the nation should give priority for the disabled people when it comes to offering jobs and other works. "More than the social respect they need opportunities and an access to use the physical environment," said Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Gore Bahadur Khapangi from the chair of the chief guest.

President of National Disabled Federation Munishwor Pandey said, "the government has been signatory to a number of international conventions but when it comes to practicality, it has never happened so."

He also demanded for the formulation of some policies for safeguarding and bringing them in the mainstream of development. There are reports that say there are over 2 million disabled people in the country.

Speaking at a workshop on accessibility for physically disabled people organised by National Association of the Physically Disabled-Nepal in collaboration with the Danish Council of Organisations of Disabled People (DSI-Denmark) Minister Khapangi said it was high time for all of the countrymen in thinking about how the disabled could be respected and made independent. Ms. Tina Mortensen, a DSI representative said that creating awareness in the society that the disabled were also the citizens of the country and that they were competent in various fields of knowledge was important.

She pleaded the government to seriously take up the issue and formulate rules for the disabled citizens. Kishore Thapa, Director General of the Department of Urban Development and Building Construction said that while making public places such as hospitals, supermarkets, schools, auditoriums, the government should keep in mind the needs and necessity of the disabled people.

During the workshop the organisers said that they would start an extensive multi-media campaign in close coordination with the media to aware people about the rights of the disabled. Kiran Shilpakar, Kishore Thapa and Bharat Raj Pokharel had presented papers on the role and challenges of the government and media sector; public facilities for physically disabled people; and role of media for the promotion of the physically disabled people respectively.

POL distribution in valley normal, says NBSM

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: A joint inspection team of the Nepal Oil Corporation, Consumers' Forum Nepal and Nepal Bureau of Standards and Metrology coordinated by the Department of Commerce has found that the supply and distribution of petroleum and oil (POL) products in the Kathmandu Valley has remained normal.

The Department, in a press statement has stated that it has stopped the supply of kerosene to two kerosene dealers for being irregular while selling the petroleum prouct, for practising illegal selling, and for unauthorized selling of the good.

The Department has filed a case on Consumers' Protection Act 2054 at the Kathmandu District Court against Botters' Nepal for distributing 50 gram Bhujiya as complementary for every bottle of its 1.5 bottle coca-cola. The Bhujiya imported through Rameshwor Foods (Nepal) from Rameshwore Foods India was imported in September 2002 but bore the date of manufacture as October 2002. "The case has been filed after the Bhujiya was already in market in Nepal one month ahead of the date of manufacture," the Department of Commerce said.

Social protection govt's focus

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: In order to ensure social protection to all workers under the framework of International Labor Organisation (ILO) Convention No. 102 on 'Social Security and Beyond', a one-day round table disscussion was held in the capital today.

In his inaugural speech Health Minister, Dr. Upendra Devkota said that the government has recently brought the programme to provide health services by introducing health insurance system.
He said access to health services was the birthright of all citizens, and no one should be barred from her services due to poverty.

He said, "Social protection will be the focus for the present government," He welcomed the technical support being provided by the ILO and DFID. Member of the National Planning Commission, Dr. Yuvaraj Khatiwada in his analysis on the study on expenditure in the social sector between 1995 and 2000, said the question is whether the funds provided have really reached the needy people. He said people are exposed to risks and vulnerabilities and the conditions are exacerbated in times of conflict. He noted that the government is facing financial problem arising from the public sector pension scheme.

At the programmme, Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Director ILO Kathmandu, said, "The absence of social security measures is a serious issue in our society and strikes the poor - namely the vulnerable workers in the informal economy - the hardest." Describing the banner of 'Social Security and Beyond', she said the word beyond is meant to find complementary ways to promote soicial security to the hitherto excluded. As resources are limited and it is not always possible to provide universal social insurance coverage, they have to look at other social protection systems in the informal sector for solutions, she added. She called social protection as a key area for action in Nepal to reduce poverty.

The ILO, in its mandate to promote decent work, is exploring avenues that enable its partner organisations to provide social security to workers in the formal and informal sectors of Nepal.
The convention 102 recognises the obligation of its members, governments, employees and workers organisations, to provide social security to workers. In the convention, the ILO has grouped together a range of subjects to provide workers secial security on a daily basis. These include the provision of income in the case of unemployment, sickness, accidents, etc., and underline the workers' needs as regards to nutrition, shelter and education of their children.

John Woodall, senior specialist on social security from the ILO, presented ILO's Convention 102 which lays out a framework of social security provision for nine separate contingencies, namely medical care, sickness, unemployment, old age, employment injuries, family, maternity, invalidity and survivor benefits. He emphasised the need to find the optimum balance in Nepal between the provision of social protection and what the country afford.

Ms. Ginette Forgues and Ms. Ismene Stalpers, also of ILO, presented other approaches used for extending social protection to those which are excluded from formal schemes. In their presentations they noted that in Nepal, many such health insurance schemes are showing progress to reach the poor in the communities by facilitatingj their access to primary health. Dr. Shiva Sharma of the National Labour Academy stated that it is vital to build on existing socia solidarity schemes.

The round table was participated by representatives from government departments, trade unions, employers' organisations, international and national organisations and insurance companies involved in issues dealing with social security and social protection.

Meet discusses GIS to mitigate quake risks

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: A refresher training on Earthquake Vulnerability Reduction for Cities (EVRC) was held here that focussed on attaining expertise to use geographic information system (GIS) in quake risk management.

Thirty participants from Bhutan, China, India, Iran, Malaysia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines and Thailand attended the 12-day course that ended today. According to the International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD), 17 participants were the Nepalese. This is the second in the series of the EVRC course. The first training was held also in Kathmandu in May last year.
The course dealt with the assessment of the earthquake hazards, vulnerability of buildings, transportation lifelines and people and the application of the GIS in risk assessment, said Pradeep Mool, remote sensing analyst at the ICIMOD.

The participants learned how to map buildings from aerial photographs and high -resolution satellite images and to collect building information related to quake vulnerability. They learned techniques of reducing the building susceptibility by reinforcing the existing buildings. The course was composed of lectures, field visit to urban Kathmandu, group discussions and hands-on digital exercises by applying GIS software, remote sensing and digital photo interpretation, said Mool.

The participants were familiarised with the skills in visualisation of risk data and presentation on the policy and implementation of seismic vulnerability reduction techniques in Kathmandu. The training was jointly organised by the International Institute for Geo-information Science and Earth Observation (Netherlands), ICIMOD, Nepal National Society for Earthquake Technology and the Asian Disaster Preparedness Centre (Thailand).

Peaceful atmosphere can help flourish tourism

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: Lalit Heritage Exhibition 2002 that aimed at the promotion and preservation of the art and culture of Lalitpur concluded here today. The exhibition was jointly organised by Lalitpur Sub-Metropolitan City (LSMC), the Urban Management, Economic Diversification Project (UMEDP) and Village Development Area of Khokana.

During the event, an exhibition on heritage conservation, archeological studies, tourism development and economic diversification were displayed. Local handicrafts and cultural activities were also presented.

Meanwhile, Lalit Conservation Awards 2002 for conservation of traditional buildings, new construction in traditional style and open space improvements were distributed to encourage private individuals and organisations in their efforts and contributions for the conservation of the built-heritage of Lalitpur.
Dilendra Shrestha received first prize while Ashok Bajracharya was presented with consolation prize for the conservation of traditional buildings.

Likewise, Maitri Ratna Shakya won first award and Sita Lamsal, Kiran Bahadur Shakya and Jitendra Kumar Shrestha received consolation prizes for the new construction in traditional style. Meanwhile, RSS adds that Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Prasad Sharma has said the tourism industry could flourish if a peaceful atmosphere could be maintained in the country.
Addressing the concluding session of the "Lalit Heritage Exhibition-2002" organised jointly by the Town Management and Economic Diversification Project and Lalitpur Sub-Metropolis here today, Minister Sharma noted that Lalitpur has been making big contribution to tourism promotion by preserving Nepali culture, civilisation and historical assets.

Minister Sharma presented letters of appreciation and cash prizes to various individuals and institutions making important contribution to the protection of traditional styled building, promotion new style of construction and assisting the renovation of old architecture. Photographs of historical and archaeological heritage, utensils of metal and clay, costume, handicrafts of Patan and Newari cuisine were on display at the three-day exhibition. Various cultural dances of Patan were also presented at the exhibition.

The exhibition was observed by a large number of people including foreign visitors.

Govt to check duplication of S & T activities

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 22: A reception was hosted here today in honour of Minister for Science and Technology and pro-chancellor of the Royal Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (RONAST) Dr Upendra Devkota. Minister Devkota, on the occasion, said a committee would soon be constituted to check the duplication in programmes carried out by RONAST and the ministry and to specify their area of activities.

He also expressed the view that RONAST should launch programmes that would make it self-reliant and mobilise its manpower to the maximum possible extent. Welcoming Minister Devkota, RONAST vice-chancellor Dr Dayanand Bajracharya said the RONAST is planning to conduct programmes by according priority to biotechnology, rural technology, traditional knowledge, and studies on mountain and it could provide remarkable contributions in this field of His Majesty's Government gives RONAST the responsibility of running programmes in these sectors. Secretary Dr Krishna Manandhar said that it was a matter of pride that intellectuals have reached the responsible positions of the country.

Academician Dr. Keshar Man Bajracharya, head of the Science and Technology Promotion Division Dr. Trinetra Pradhanang and Dr. Dinesh Raj Bhuju also spoke on the occasion.

Nepal's situation discussed in US

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KATHMANDU, Nov. 22 :A panel discussion on the current economic, social and political situation in Nepal was held recently in San Francisco a function attended by Nepalese and American scholars.
The three panelists were Dinesh Bhattarai, deputy chief of mission, Royal Nepalese Embassy, Richard Blum, the Honorary Consul of Nepal and Dr. Judith Justice, professor of anthropology, University of California, San Francisco.

The event was organised by the Asia Society in association with the Nepal Association of Northern California and the World Affairs Council, San Francisco. This was a follow up to a talk program by Jai Pratap Rana, Royal Nepalese ambassador to US, hosted by the World Affairs Council, San Francisco earlier last month.

While the panelists had rather divergent views on the current situation in Nepal, they collectively provided a very stimulating but sobering overview of the critical issues facing Nepal today. Mr. Bhattarai said that Nepal has remained vulnerable to maneuvers by forces opposed to the democratic process and further added that the Maoist insurgency had done extensive damage to the fabric of Nepalese society.

Mr. Blum outlined the rampant corruption among the politicans and bureaucrats and stated that the new efforts by the king in strengthening political stability and curtailing corruption are a positive. On the Maoist insurgency, he pointed out that the Royal Nepal Army is ill-equipped to fight the Maoists and emphasised that the government needs more military equipment to contain the violence. However Dr. Judith Justice stressed that there is a need to better understand the root socio-economic cause leading to the insurgency.

She added that during the past 25 years of her involvement in Nepal, the living conditions for the majority of the poor have remained virtually stagnant, with 70 per cent of the rural population living below the poverty line.The programme ended with a question and answer session.

Home is where the heart is

By A Staff Reporter

LALITPUR, Nov. 22: A house is more than just a place to live in, it is a place where a child feels secure and where his heart is. The Convention on the Rights of the Child also mentions housing as one of the basic rights of children.

At an interaction programme organised on the occasion of the Child Rights Day the other day, children showed concerns about their right to a place to live in. Sangita Lama, 16, of Dhaukhel, Kathmandu had to run away from her house situated along the banks of the Vishnumati River when that was demolished to make a road. "How does a child feel when she overhears a warning just before her examinations to either vacate her abode or wait for a bulldozer to pull down the home?" she asked. She was speaking at an interaction programme on 'secure housing for the children's development' organised by Child Development Youth Network (CDYN) of Lumanti Housing, Lalitpur.Many more children in Nepal have been rendered homeless for other reasons, namely the Maoist insurgency.

There could be more than half the children out of 9.4 million aged under 16 who are living in utterly hopeless condition when it comes to their living standards and the basic facilities. Ganga Adhikari, another girl child from a Bhutanese refugee camp in the eastern district of Jhapa said that people mostly talk about the child's rights to education, entertainment, food and labour but not housing. This most important need has been completely neglected, she said. A house can protect the children from various perils such as timidity, mental suffering or depression, (s)exploitation and absence of good environment for all round development.

On the occasion, she submitted a memorandum on children's right to housing for the refugees to Gore Bahadur Khapangi, Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare (WCSW), on behalf of the refugee children. Giving assurances, Minister Khapangi said, "The government will try to solve the prevailing problems of children."

Pointing out the role of civic society and different organisations, Lajana Manandhar, a social worker, said that discussing about child rights twice a year does not boost their rights. Employment for the landless settlers would help their children would give them a better future, she said.

A declaration on children, an outcome of the interaction by the children themselves, was handed over to the minister by Laxmi Rai, President of CDYN. About 200 children from different children's organisations had participated in the programme, which was conducted by the children themselves.