A campaign towards blindness world

By Preeti Subba

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12: 'We Serve'. It is not a motto but also an objective that Lions Clubs all over the world are carrying on with endless services in almost every aspect of human life.

Lions Club of Kathmandu-Sukunda (LCKS), one of 250 such clubs in the country, has chosen Kagati Village of Okharpouwa VDC in Nuwakot as one of its core areas to render services and to make the local people realise what 'service' means in life.

When Uttam Raj Kayastha, Charter President of LCKS, visited the village in 1997 to observe 'assemblage child marriages', he was appalled by the social and economic conditions of the villagers. He made up his mind to do something for the villagers and started a Lions Club in February 1999.
Since its very inception all the 20 members of the Club remained dedicated to uplifting the socio-economic conditions of the people by turning it into a model village.

The club started working for providing the basic needs for the people. The first lesson they learnt was "everything is possible if they unite their efforts".

The club has been involved in various social service activities - it has constructed a water supply project for Shree Bhawani Primary School, nutrition programme for the children and distributed clothes to the poor and the destitute that were received as donation from Japan.

Another successful project of LCKS in Kagati village is 'Sight First' programme. The club has joined hands with Lions Clubs International's Clobal Blindness Prevention Programme to eliminate reversible and preventable blindness. The Sight-First programme has dramatically reduced the preventable eye diseases among children and old people. Last year about 100 people were operated for cataract.
The LCKS opened a fully equipped eye clinic in 2001, and it has not been providing free eye check ups to both the locals and the people of the adjoining villages.

According to WHO's 2001/02 survey, there are 117,620 people completely blind in Nepal and 67 per cent of them are due to cataract. Kayastha believes that the contribution by the Lions Club would ease the job of the government.

As the WHO is mulling to make the world free of blind, projects like that of the LCKS could help thousands of people gain their sights back. The LCKS runs an eye clinic in Kathmandu that provides services at a minimum charge twice a week. "Because the charges are very low it has been attracting a large number of patients," says Kayastha.

Recently, Dr. Lary Sherrer of Pacific Eye Ware and North Shore Lions Club - Kauai of Hawaii presented the Lions Club of Kathmandu Sukunda with a most modern 'Eye Ultrasound Machine'.
The machine will be useful in detecting cataract and other problems related to eyes more easily than other conventional machines. The club already has an Auto Refractor Machine also provided by the Lions Club of Hawaii.

To expand its health facilities at Kagati village, the LCKS plans to build a health care centre. The Ministry of Health has already approved the project. "We have already bought land for the centre," Kayastha said, adding that the Japanese government is assisting in the construction of the centre.

NTUC to amend constitution at national meet

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12 : The Nepal Trade Union Congress (NTUC) is to amend its Constitution at its third national general convention to be held in Biratnagar from Febraury 23 to 25 as well as elect a new leadership for the coming year.

Trade union congress chairman Laxman Bahadur Basnet told a press conference here today that the general convention will also discuss topical issues and pass some important resolutions.
The general convention will be participated by l,000 representatives from 20 national affiliates and from the 75 districts.

Pointing out that the trade union feels parliament itself should amend the Labour Act passed by Parliament, Basnet called for the implementation of the Working Journalists act and scrapping of the Education Act Amendment.

He further said the corporations should not be privatised in a lackadaisical fashion, and that the government should come up with a definite policy on privatisation, adding that the minimum wage for labour should be increased in view of the changed circumstances.

UN stresses action to curb illicit trade in arms

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12: The United Nations General Assembly has emphasised the need of early and full implementation of the programme of action to prevent, combat and eradicate the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects.

The General Assembly has decided to convene in New York in July this year to consider the implementation of the programme of action at the national, regional and global levels according to a press release of the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC).

In this regard, the General Assembly has welcomed the convening of the group of governmental experts established to assist UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan to undertake a study on the feasibility of developing an international instrument to enable nations to identify and trace, in a timely and reliable manner, illicit small arms and light weapons.

The Secretary General has been requested to submit the study to the General Assembly at its 58th session.

The General Assembly has pledged all initiatives to mobilise resources and expertise to promote the implementation of the programme and to provide assistance to member states in this connection.
The General Assembly has decided to consider at its 58th session further steps to enhance international cooperation in preventing and combating illicit brokering in small arms and light weapons, taking into consideration the reports of member states, provided on a voluntary basis to the Secretary-General.

The General Assembly has decided to include in the 58th session the item entitled "the illicit trade in small arms and light weapons in all its aspects" it said.

All democratic forces should unite: Koirala

RSS

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12: General secretary of the Nepali Congress (NC) Sushil Koirala, inaugurating the annual conference of the Nepali Janasamparka Central Committee of India at Sirasa of Haryana State today, said that as the situation in the Kingdom at present is highly complicated, all the democratic forces should unite to rectify the Royal Proclamation and reinstate Parliament.
NC spokesman and former minister Arjun Narsingh KC called upon Nepalese living outside the country to be alert for the protection of the Parliamentary system.

Member of the Lok Sabha (Indian Parliament) Ajaya Singh Chautala said that cooperation would always be extended to Nepal to fight against terrorists.

Former minister of state Revati Bhushal, ex-MP Shankar Pandey, Trailokya Pratap Sen, Mrs Kamala Thapa, Medini Kumar Kebal, Tirtha Raj Bhattarai, Narayan Prasad Bhushal and a host of other speakers also expressed their views at the programme.

Women urged to avoid internal conflict

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 12: Gender discrimination or any stereotypical notion cannot be an obstacle when it comes to empowering women, although these are considered to be antifeminist elements.
Many organisations in the country are working for equity, equality and women's empowerment. They are, however, in a state of confusion looking for an identity. "Recognising one's potential suppressed-within, women should work to set their priority, move ahead with hard work, dedication and commitment. Only this can help emancipate woman from all kinds of discrimination," said Renchin Yonjan, creative head of environment matters, who had also worked for Kathmandu Metropolitan City in the recent past.

The younger female generation of this period thinks liberation is aping the western lifestyle or taking liquor, cigars and drugs. This happens due to internal conflict that causes confusion, leading to an abyss of darkness rather than empowering women and enhancing self-esteem, added Yonjan.
Self underestimation and superficiality in behaviours need to be avoided, instead of feeling inferior to men. The empowerment process is a state of mind not matter, she said.

The participants including teachers, students and housewives at an interaction programme organised by Swati, an institution that works for empowering women, here this afternoon stressed on generating activities that empower the status of women.