Free lunch offered to elderly people

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: ‘Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah Auspicious Birthday Celebration Main Civic Committee’ offered free lunch to the elderly people at the Pashupati Bridhhashram today.

On the occasion, the health of 205 elderly persons living at the Bridhhashram was examined under the aegis of the Om Hospital. Medicines were also distributed to the elderly patients free of cost.
Rajparshad Standing Committee member Dr Swami Prapannacharya initiated the programme.
At the programme, Director of Om Hospital Dr Bhola Rijal said it is a pious work to serve the elderly.
Akhanda Baba Swami Kamalnayanacharya said it is the greatest social work to provide service to the elderly. He urged different social institutions and organisations to pay attention to the service of the elderly.

Koirala for making people focal point to end crisis

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BIRATNAGAR, Feb. 22: President of the Nepali Congress and former prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has stressed that solution to the existing problems in the country should be sought with the people as the focal point.

Talking to media persons at the Koirala residence here today, he said that was only the way out of the present situation. President Koirala arrived here today in connection with the third national general convention of Nepal Trade Union Congress which begins here from tomorrow.

The Nepali Congress is launching a joint campaign with the CPN-UML for restoration of peace and preservation of democracy in the country, he said and made it clear that both the parties were seeking to revive the House of Representatives in connection with resolving the problem together.
Stating that the people have not been guaranteed peace and security even after the declaration of the ceasefire, he said the Nepali Congress was working to arouse a feeling of self-confidence and peace among the people.

He said that the Nepali Congress and the CPN-UML have a common view regarding the demands for a round-table conference and constituent assembly put forth by the CPN-Maoist.

He also added that His Majesty’s Government and the CPN-Maoist should come up with clear views regarding that matter.

In reply to a query, Koirala said that he had met and held talks with CPN-Maoist leaders Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Dina Nath Sharma few days back and found that they were themselves in confusion regarding their demand for round-table conference and constituent assembly.

Asked about the revival of the House of Representatives, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, who was there with president Koirala, said he was for the revival of the House of Representatives as a way of reclaiming one’s lost rights.

‘Health services in remote areas top priority’

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: Health Minister Dr. Upendra Devkota has said that the present government has given priority to carry out the quality health services to the people of remote areas of the country.
Inaugurating the 9th National Conference of the Society of Anaesthology and 5th meeting of the SAARC Anaesthology here today he said medical professionals should also cooperate the government to strengthen capacity of the district and zonal hospital and provide quality health services.

On the occasion Minister Devkota honoured Dr. Pushpa Das Shrestha and Hema Singh for their long time contribution in anaesthelogy.

The function was held under the chairmanship of the chairperson of the society Dr. Jyotsana Maskey.
There are about 80 anaestholoy specialists in Nepal among them only 20 are out of the Kathmandu Valley.

‘Govt doing homework for peace talks’

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DHANGADHI, Feb. 22: Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Mahesh Lal Pradhan said the government is engaged in homework with proper alertness for dialogue with the Maoists and expressed hope that the talks will be successful.

He was addressing a reception in his honour organised by the Kailali Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

FNCCI acting president Binod Bahadur Shrestha said the federation has forwarded the concept of trade school.

Second vice president Chandi Dhakal called for production of goods that are concerned with the masses.

From the chair, president of Kailali Chambers Uttam Bahadur Kathayat demanded blacktopping of the Dhangadhi Airport, quarantine check post for Gauriphanta and on problems regarding the crisis of saw-mill and brick industry, lack of railway services to Gauriphanta and lack of Customs Office at Khakraila.

Peace journey to be held

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: As clarion call for peace, the Bramhakumari Rajyog Service Centre is organising a peace journey throughout the country on the day of Shivaratri (March 1).
According to the organisers, the peace journey in Kathmandu will begin from Narayanhity Royal Palace and a peace prayer conference and collective meditation will be held at the Dashrath Stadium.
“The objective of the programme is to generate spiritual awareness, and enhance love, friendship and harmony among people for the cause of peace,” said Bramha Kumari Rajdidi, director of the centre, at a press conference here today.

The Shivaratri festival is considered appropriate time to initiate peace process, the organisers say.
Thousands of participants, who include saints, gurus, monks, nuns, students, teachers and people from all walks of life, will take part in the peace journey, they said. Calling for peace, helicopters will distribute pamphlets and floral bouquets on the occasion. Besides, musical programmes will be organised.

A 51-member organising committee, advisory council and well as various sub-committees have been formed under the coordination of Rajdidi. Established in Nepal 37 years ago, the centre has 100 branches and sub-branches and more than 240 Geeta schools across the country.

Cooperation sought for service delivery

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GULMI, Feb. 22: Convenor of the Public Services and Inspection Team for Lumbini and Rapti zones Rameshwar Shah has pointed out the need for cooperation from one and all to make the services provided by the government to the people effective in the present circumstances when there are no people’s representatives.

He was speaking at an interaction programme among the civic society, non-governmental organisations and the journalists organised at Tamghas, the headquarters of Gulmi district.
President of Gulmi Chamber of Commerce and Industry Banda Ram Bhushal, president of Gulmi district branch of the NGOs Federation of Nepal Dan Bahadur K.C., president of district branch of Nepal Bar Association Tulasi Panthi, district unit president of Chemists and Druggists Association Sher Bahadur Thapa, social worker Nar Prasad Shrestha and Vishnu Lamichhaney expressed their views at the programme.

Though the representatives of all the political parties were invited at the interaction programme, only those of the RPP from among the major parties turned up.

British court rules against ex-Gurkha’s case

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Feb 22: The High Court in London after five days of hearing on Friday ruled against the case of discrimination brought by seven Gurkha ex-servicemen against the British Army.

“This has concluded several months of vociferous claims by GAESO, who had alleged discrimination in relation to Gurkha pay, pensions and accompanied service arrangements,” said a press statement of the British Embassy in Kathmandu today.

They had also alleged that there was a general culture of institutional discrimination with the armed forces against Gurkhas in which they are systematically given lesser conditions and benefit than other members of the British Army, the press statement reads.

The Embassy release said, “The UK government has never accepted these allegations. “In accordance with the 1947 Tri-Partite Agreement between the governments of Nepal, India and the UK, we are required to have different arrangements in the Brigade of Gurkhas in order to maintain a distinct Nepalese identity and to preserve Nepalese nationality of those Gurkhas serving in the British Army.
The ruling has vindicated the UK’s position in respect to pay and pensions by confirming that existing arrangements are not discriminatory rather that they are entirely reasonable, lawful and appropriate, the Embassy said.

The Embassy statement also said that the ruling was a bitter blow to the GAESO activists, whose extreme and persuasive fund raising activities throughout Nepal have been conducted under the misplaced belief that their campaign will lead to better and improved terms of service.

It also said that the ruling lifts a number of uncertainties, and allows the Brigade of Gurkhas, as an integral part of the British Army to focus on preparations for operations including the Gulf and Sierra Leone.

CIAA files graft case

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KATHMANDU, Feb. 22: The Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) has filed a corruption case against joint secretary Sriram Pant at the Special Court saying he enjoyed an unnaturally luxurious lifestyle by amassing illegal property.

CIAA said sources of Rs. 11,767,000 was not revealed and demanded fines as per the amount and imprisonment.

The Commission has also made his wife Bhawani and relatives as defendants saying he had kept the property in their name.

He has lots of land in Chitwan and Kathmandu and a house worth Rs. 4,390,000 in Kathmandu. He began buying lands and depositing money in the bank after he came to tax offices. His wife was charged of destroying evidences by breaking the bank locker which CIAA had sealed.

Country’s only rail service hit by budget crunch

By Our Correspondent

JANAKPURDHAM, Feb.22: Should the country’s only railway service, the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railway, be derailed forever?

This was what the high level probe committee formed to look into the September 2 accident of the railways had asked a railway technician, and the answer was if the passengers cannot reach their destination safely, there is no use of running the trains only to give employment to a few persons.
Three persons were killed and about 30 others were injured some of them seriously in the accident.
The technician pointed out that the country’s oldest railway service is breaking down and it lacks the minimum technical facilities, making the journey more perilous everyday. Of the prerequisites to run a railway safely such as track, bridges, points and crossings, passenger coaches, locomotive, telecommunication, and signaling, the last two are non-existent, and the condition of the others are deteriorating everyday.

A local journalist says the railway carries thousands of passengers everyday but the railway staff and technicians, who know the actual condition of the rail and the track, fear whether the rail would reach its destination every time they flag off the train.

After the accident, railway workers had demanded Rs. 5 million to carry out the maintenance works and to seek Indian help to expand the railway service and make it safer.

Technicians say it is risky to continue running the train without maintaining the track and the locomotive. Executive Chief of the Janakpur-Jayanagar Railways Bipin Kumar Thakur says it does not lack the technical hands, it is the fund that we lack.

Railway staff are hopeful after the Minister for Labour and Transport Management Kamal Chaulagain made a public commitment to improve the situation of the railways. In the meantime, the Ministry Labour and Transport Management has formed a Railway Management Committee to put the internal management in order and to run the railway as a company.Country’s only rail service hit by budget crunch.