Acting Chief Justice

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: His Majesty the King, in accordance with the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal 1990, has designated the seniormost justice Govind Bahadur Shrestha as the acting Chief Justice of the Supreme Court until the Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyaya, who has departed to Sri Lankan capital Colombo today to attend the third meeting of the Chief Justices of the judicial group, resumes his duties.

This is stated in a notice issued here today by the press secretariat of His Majesty the King.

PM for proper attention to women empowerment

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Chairperson of National Women's Commission Dr. Durga Pokharel handed over "the National Women's Commission Draft Bill-2059" to Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand amidst a function held here today.

The commission has prepared the bill after consultation and interactions with the people of various walks of life in 53 districts of the country. Prime Minister Chand handed over the draft bill to Assistant Minister for Women, Children and Social Welfare Anuradha Koirala to review and give the final touch to the bill in accordance with the procedures.

On the occasion Prime Minister Chand said the empowerment of women is not only the concern of women but it is the issue of all the human being of the world therefore all should pay proper attention about the empowerment of women.

He stressed the need to gradually move ahead for the empowerment of women in the country at a time when we are just practising to follow the duties and responsibilities. There is the need of creating conducive environment for women empowerment in the country, he said. Women empowerment would help make the whole family literate, he added. Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal stressed the need to carry out the wave of education and awareness to the women.

He expressed the confidence that the proposed bill would be very instrumental to present women's problems and their development. Minister for Home, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Dharma Bahadur Thapa said all should pay attention to the effective implementation of the proposed bill for the empowerment of the women.Assistant Minister Koirala said there could be no representation of the grassroot level in the commission as the proposed bill has fixed the criteria of qualification and age for the chairmanship of the commission.

MP Maiya Devi Shresetha, vice chairperson of the Commission Mrs. Pratibha Rana, member Binda Pandey and Sita Giri also spoke of the proposed bill. From the chair, chairperson of the Commission Dr. Pokharel said necessary steps should be taken to provide relief to the women living in the district.

Need for optimising use of marginal rivers stressed

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Minister for Water Resources Dipak Gyanwali has stressed the need to optimise the use of marginal rivers to meet the growing need of power. Prioritisation of projects is essential for optimum turnover, said Minister Gyanwali at a programme on "South Asia Centre for Policy Studies - Task Force Study Findings" here today.

Minister Gyanwali said that dynamics of micro and macro aspects should be taken into consideration while implementing the power projects. Moreover, common efforts to tap the resources are essential, he added.

Hydropower expert Shanker K. Malla said that energy utilities in South Asia are mostly operated by the public sector which is not commercially not viable. Hence, revenue from sale of energy does not meet the full costs of supplying electricity, resulting in deteriorating service delivery, he added. Losses incurred during transition and distribution are high in the region. Import of petroleum products to meet the growing demand of energy will keep on increasing, putting additional pressure on the balance of payments (BoP), Malla added.

He further said that there was a great deal of complementarity in the energy sector in South Asia. The region is endowed with coal, gas and water resources. The existing arrangement between the countries of the region is nominal though its potential is enormous, he added.

Commenting on the paper presented by Malla, another energy expert Santa Bahadur Pun pointed out the need for joint efforts in harnessing the resources of the region.

The programme was jointly organised by the Institute for Integrated Development Studies (IIDS) and South Asia Centre for Policy Studies (SACEPS).

Probe into Dhamija, Lauda scams soon

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: The Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation has decided to reopen the files of the Dhamija and Lauda Air scams to begin comprehensive investigations into two of the most notorious cases of fraud in Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation (RNAC), the national flag carrier. The Ministry said that initial procedures for reopening the cases have already started. It might be noted that the two cases had caused losses worth billions of rupees to the national flag carrier.

The Ministry has also formed a six-member study team, involving the employees, to make the corporation's management efficient, to control leakages and irregularities and to infuse accountability among the staff, said Joint Secretary at the Ministry Shanker Prasad Koirala.

Acting deputy director Gobardhan Khadka of the Passenger Services Department is coordinating the team. Other members are senior aeronautical engineer Mukunda Joshi; senior accounts officer at the Nepalgunj regional office Madan Man Bajracharya; accounts officer at the Department of Finance (DoF) Yubraj Adhikary, senior assistant at the DoF Tarini Raj Dahal and assistant at the Department of Marketing Management Ganesh Kumar Ghimire. Both the employees unions of the Corporation have welcomed the measures to scrutinise the irregularities and to punish the guilty.

In a joint statement, Shalik Ram Acharya, president of the employees association, and Ganga Prasad Acharya, general secretary of the employees union, said that both the unions welcome the formation of the study team by involving the employees of the corporation to investigate into the irregularities, leakages, red-tapism and initiate management reforms. The study team will submit its report within 45 days.

Yuvaraj Adhikary, a member of the study team, said that they would carry out investigations without any prejudice and will recommend actions against those found guilty. The involvement of the staff of the corporation is expected to make the job of the team more efficient and fair. The team will also suggest ways to control leakages as well as anomalies and distortions within the corporation. It will also give recommendations to improve passenger services. The ministry said it also expects advice on ways to increase revenue and bring about austerity.

RNAC staffers say the Corporation is neck-deep in debt, and they want anyone involved in bringing the once prestigious enterprise to the brink of collapse to book. They blame the appointment of incompetent people at the helm of the Corporation by those in power and their focus on commission for themselves instead of the wellbeing of the corporation for the dire strait the corporation is in.

Sister violinists produce musical vibes in capital

By Indra Adhikari

KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Dr. M. Lalitha and M. Nandini, popularly known as the Violin Duo from the south Indian state of Karnataka, enthralled the audience by their performance at the Royal Nepal Academy Hall today.

Inside the hall, everything sat quiet listening to the melody emanating from the strings, and the pauses and long pauses were welcomed by thunderous applause. Sur Sangam, as the musical evening was called, started with Sukarma, a Nepali group, playing the yaman and pillu ragas, classical music fused with Nepali folk tunes. Sukarma has already performed in Japan, Kazakhstan, Italy, France and several other countries. It also plays classical Nepali music regularly on Radio Nepal.

The two Indian sisters are widely acclaimed as outstanding South Indian Classical Carnatic violinists. They have already performed in the USA, Singapore, Norway, Australia and Malaysia. It's their maiden performance in Nepal.

At a press meet on Tuesday, the sisters said Nepali folk music had close relations with Indian classical music. To hammer their point home, they cited Resham Firiri, a Nepali folk song which hangs to many tongues, as an example of classical music fused with folk tune. The sisters come from a family where violin-playing has been a tradition for generations. In other words, they come from a Sishya parampara direct lineage. Beginning with their grandfather, their mother and uncles were also famous violinists.

The innovative music in which the sisters have excelled is deeply rooted in the traditions of Carnatic and is layered with a touch of fusion from different kinds of international classical music and jazz.
The fine tune of the Muthuswamy sisters attempts at preserving eastern classical music despite the hard blow from western influences. The music also combines the originality and uniqueness of South and North Indian classical rhythms.

The sisters compose and teach music besides performing on stage. The Mohanam, The Swaram, The Drupad Aalap, Kriti are some of the popular ragas they play. The sisters learnt western classical violin playing and passed the final (8th grade) examination from Trinity College of Music, London. Lalitha holds a Doctorate in Indian Music from University of Madras.

The sisters have been honoured with nine awards and honours including "Kalaimamani", the highest honour given by the state government of Tamil Nadu, for their achievement in music. His Holiness Shri Shankaracharya Swami of Kanchkamakoti Peetam had also honoured them for securing first place in the State violin competition.

Before the musical evening started, Indian envoy to Nepal Shyam Sharan stressed on cultural exchanges between the two countries through musical troupes. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Sharma said that the government has been working to depute a cultural lobby group to India for cultural exchange and attracting cultural tourists to Nepal.

Pradhan urges USA for duty-free to Nepali apparels

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: American Ambassador Michael E. Malinowski met Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies Mahesh Lal Pradhan at the latter's office today. On the occasion, Minister Pradhan thanked the US government for its assistance in the economic development of Nepal and requested cooperation in bringing in additional American investment for the industrial development of Nepal.

He requested the ambassador to make efforts towards making the export of Nepali readymade garments into the USA duty free and non-quota specific. Referring to the visit in the immediate future of a Nepali delegation to the United States to discuss with US officials about the state of Nepal's garment export, Minister Pradhan urged necessary cooperation in making the visit meaningful. The US ambassador, on the occasion, expressed happiness over being able to assist the economic development of Nepal and gave assurances of maximum effort on his part in resolving the problem relating to the export of Nepali readymade garments.

Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies Lava Kumar Devkota was present on the occasion.

Mukti eyes revival of traditional charm of music

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Mukti Shakya, who is probably the only remaining active member of the fabulous pop singers of Kathmandu's pop scene of the 70s, has been working to revive traditional charm in modern Nepali music.

Having badly missed the original appeal of Nepali music while in Spain with his Spanish wife, Mukti returned to Nepal in the early 90s after about a decade in the Iberian country. Nostalgia of Jaisideval and the Basantapur dabali in mid-town Kathmandu and the sounds of temple bells kept echoing in his ears, elbowing Mukti to return to Nepal and leave the material comfort of Europe behind. He then formed a band Mukti & Revival with the objective of pumping traditional taste in modern Nepali songs. He was associated with a Spanish band when he decided to return to quench his hunger for Nepali music.

His first album Kalankiko Jam in 2000 brought him instant fame, with Chaubandi Cholo firmly establishing itself in the popularity chart for months and among the new breed of pop singers. Greatly heartened by the success of his first album two years ago, Mukti released his second album Bujhaideu amidst a function at the Hotel Vajra today.

The 12 songs in the second album speak of frustrations of the modern man in the contemporary world and the loneliness experienced by a Nepali in a foreign land. Some of the songs speak the language of human tragedy and suffering. Three of his songs were recorded in Spain. Some songs have original folk flavour. One of his songs is in Newari, his mother tongue.

Members of his four-member band include Binod Shrestha, Roshan Kansakar, Robin Shrestha and himself. The band has staged performances inside the country and abroad. The lyricists in the album include Newari writer Basu Pasa, Sneha Sayami and Prakash Deep, while some lyrics he composed by himself. The album is being produced and marketed by Santana Recording. Mukti and his band will be performing in Hong Kong in mid-2003 and will travel West late this year and in early 2004.

'Big parties' approach to blame for anomalies'

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 8: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Prasad Sharma has said it was the absence of a clear approach among the bigger political parties that has led to the rise of anomalies and aberrations in the country.

Speaking at a Face-to-Face programme organised by Reporters' Club Nepal here today, Minister Sharma said the period between 2008 to 2014 B.S. in Nepal was also under the active leadership of the King but no political parties or the press were restricted then.

The Maoist problem can be resolved through the medium of talks but cooperation from every sector is expected, Sharma said adding that the two should come forward for dialogue. Stating that the journalism sector should also take up its social responsibility, Minister Sharma said the bigger political parties should play their part for bringing about elections soon. Shedding light on the popularity and significance of His Majesty's address in Biratnagar, Sharma said the present government is concerned to make Nepali society free from corruption. Nepali Congress leader and former Finance Minister Dr. Ramsharan Mahat said the King's address in Biratnagar was non-controversial.

The main problem in the country is Maoist violence and no economic agenda can work if the violence continues, Dr. Mahat said. Dr Mahat also said the Nepali Congress will surely cooperate if the Maoist problem can be resolved through dialogue but talks should not be limited to speeches only. In case a letter calling for an all party meeting is received, the party will decide on it only after discussions in the party, he added.

CPN-UML leader and former Finance Minister Bharat Mohan Adhikari said the budget should not have been re-introduced through ordinance until elections for the House of Representatives are held. The CPN-UML is concern over this, he said. The CPN-UML supports constitutional monarchy, Adhikari said and accused some people of making efforts to bring the King into controversy.

RPP leader and former Finance Minister Dr. Prakash Chandra Lohani expressed the view that the present government has not allowed the country's economy to deteriorate but neither has it been able to adopt any creative measures. Describing the King's Biratnagar speech as oriented towards strengthening democracy, Dr. Lohani pointed out the need for unity and a common approach of all political parties represented in Parliament.

Acting president of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Binod Bahadur Shresetha said the Biratnagar address was made not to bring any side into controversy or to waste time. This important address had helped towards resolving the problem through patriotism.