AUSPICIOUS KANYADAN TODAY

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 22: The 'Baryatra' or wedding procession from the bride groom's house will enter Narayanhity Royal Palace in the afternoon today in connection with the wedding of Her Royal Highness Princess Prearana Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah with Kumar Raj Bahadur Singh.

The tradition is that the bridegroom is considered to have been accepted once he is welcomed by the father of the bride when the former arrives at the bridal home along with a procession of family members and neighbours accompanied by band music. According to the wedding programme, the 'Purbanga' rites will be solemnised in the morning today and the 'Kanyadan' or giving away of the bride will take place in the evening.

Auspicious birthday celebration committee formed

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KATHMANDU, Jan. 21: A 553-member 53rd Auspicious Birthday Civic Main Function Committee - 2059 has been constituted under the chairmanship of Uma Shrestha to observe the 53rd auspicious birthday of Her Majesty Queen Komal Rajya Laxmi Devi Shah.

The committee has intellectuals, businessmen, representatives of various organisations, litterateurs, journalists, social workers, lawyers and distinguished persons as members.

The committee has formulated various programmes for February 18, 19 and 20 to celebrate the birthday in a joyous and grand manner.

PM emphasizes on speedy implementation of projects

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan 21: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand today gave assurances that security would not pose a problem in the implementation of development projects.

"There has been steady improvement in the security situation, and those projects which could not make headway due to insecurity will be go ahead smoothly," Prime Minister Chand said while chairing a meeting of the National Development Problem Resolution Committee held at the National Planning Commission Office, Singhdurbar on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister said this in response to concerns of planners that many development projects had to be stalled due to the worsening security condition since the past few years.

At the meeting, NPC Vice chairman Shankar Sharma and member Yub Raj Khatiwada had briefed on the problems facing the projects being carried out by the different ministries.

They pointed out lack of security, absence of serious coordination and rampant corruption as some of the factors hindering the implementation of key projects.

Ministers, heads and office bearers of constitutional bodies, HMG's secretaries and other top bureaucrats were present at the meeting.

Instructing the ministers and civil servants, Chand said that the concerned ministries should themselves take the initiative for the speedy implementation of the projects by reviewing and evaluating them.

"There must be cent per cent progress in the top priority projects. If not, at least 90 per cent of the work should be completed as this is a measure of the government's accomplishment," he said.
PM Chand instructed the NPC and the Finance Ministry to coordinate with each other and mobilise the still unutilised money to resolve the problem of fund crunch.

Sharing their problems, ministers blamed lack of budget, delay in its release, inefficient management and poor monitoring for the lacklustre performance.

Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Kuber Sharma called for a crusade against corruption as it would relieve the financial burden on the government. The ministries should themselves prepare the files on corruption cases by taking into account all unsettled accounts, he advised.

He also demanded evaluation of the government's 100 days in office.

Minister for Water Resources Deepak Gyawali said the tendency to record unmentioned budget in the red book would "erode the credibility of the government and will not help foster micro-management."
However, Finance Minister Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha denied the allegation. He said that due to lack of progress in project implementation, there would be delay in the release of the quarterly budget.
Stating that the government has allocated Rs. 38.67 billion for development expenditure, he informed that Rs. 11 billion is from the national coffers while the rest is being made available through donor funding.

The Ministry also has the right to raise internal loans of up to Rs. 12 billion. "Therefore, there will no delay in the release of the development budget in the days ahead," he said.

Minister for Physical Planning and Works Narayan Singh Pun said that Nepal was not making use of the trillion rupees worth of assets. "They must be converted into cash to decrease foreign dependency."

Auditor General Bishnu Bahadur KC said that the ministries must maintain fiscal discipline as mentioned in the Economic Procedure Act. He said that the NPC should chalk out the budget on the basis of available resources and should not depend on the donors.

Bajura likely to face food crisis

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 21: Bajura is on the verge of an impending food crisis. The far-western district has always been a food-deficit area. Food production this year could decrease by as much as 60 per cent. On top of that, the Maoist attack on Sanfe Bagar a year ago coupled with decreased production have doubled the price of food.

Surya Bahaur Giri of Kolti, Bajura used to grow five quintals of rice on his three ropanies of land. This year the yield was no more than a quintal because of hailstorm, delayed monsoon and then too much of it.

A documentary Bhokmariko Mausam (Season of Famine), screened today in the capital, portrayed a grim situation of the three villages - Kolti, Jukote and Dhamkane - of the district. The documentary, along with a situation analysis, was made public by the Center for Investigative Journalism.

Food deficit in the district has grown into a hand-to-mouth problem. The production of wheat, millet and maize has also decreased. As if natural calamities were not bad enough, whatever little crops were left standing have been destroyed by wild animals.

Mohan Bahadur Shahi of the Agriculture Development Office, Bajura said that the reduced production could create severe food shortages in the district. People in the outlying areas must walk six days to Martadi, the district headquarters, to buy rice.

Last year, the district had only 750 tons of food in stock, which was 7,438 metric tons less than its needs. More than 600 tons of food were distributed in the district last year, and the district now has a stock of 150 tons. This stock must last until Nepal Food Corporation supplies additional food.

The Sanfe Bagar airport, the nearest airport at Bajhang district in the west, and its market are still to open after the terrorists' devastating attack last year. This has made supplies all the more difficult. People are now forced to buy rice at Rs. 40 per kg at Martadi which is twice the normal rate.

The security forces keep a close eye on any food brought from outside. People need to get written permission from the district administration office to buy rice to see that it does not land in the hands of the Maoists. This has also restricted the free availability of food in the district. There have been incidents of Maoists looting rice from villagers. The Maoists also snatch some portion of the harvest from the villagers. The sale of shoes, especially green canvas shoes and slippers, is prohibited in the district as the rebels could use them. As a result, many villagers walk barefoot even in the cold season.

KMC to make city plastic free

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 21: Following approval by the board of directors, the Kathmandu Metropolitan City (KMC) today announced its annual budget of a little over Rs. 800 million for fiscal year 2059/60. The country's only metropolis has allocated 37.97 per cent of its total budget for general expences, and the remaining 62.03 per cent for development.

In its delayed budgetary explanation, the KMC has given top priority to economic discipline, plan-oriented development and economy. The KMC said it would reduce unnecessary expenses and focus on productive ventures.

At a press conference organised this afternoon, the KMC said that it had retained its earlier objective of making Kathmandu City neat and clean, healthy, systematic and environmentally pleasant. "Meanwhile, we would like to focus on the environment as well. We are working out to make the city a 'plastic free zone' and then would also systematise the existing problem of garbage diposal," said Shiva Bhakta Sharma, acting Mayor of the KMC.

The Kathmandu Valley produces about 400 metric tons of waste everyday. Unmanaged abattoirs are polluting the city environment.

Sharma said that an organic fertilizer station, well-equiped slaughterhouses and crematories would be established, which would immensly lessen environmental pollution.

The city needs more lavotaries, wide roads as well as more parks, he said. To save the city from the natural calamities, a clear and well-managed housing strategy would be implemented, he added.

The KMC said that the hoarding boards problem in the city would be managed."For this a physical survey has been taken up," said DSP of city police Bishnu Singh Basnet.

There are 750,000 permanent inhabitants and 250,000 floating people in the KMC.

Public services monitoring committees constituted

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 21: His Majesty's Government has constituted seven Public Service Monitoring and Inspection Committees under the Public Services (Execution, Monitoring and Inspection) Ordinance 2059 in a bid to see if public services are being provided to the people in time and in a just manner in all the 14 zones of the country. This was stated in a press statement issued by the Home Ministry today.

In the course of the inspection, should the team have any doubts about the services being provided, then it is to recommend a time frame within which it is to be done. The committee will also recommend action to those responsible if necessary besides recommending action to those engaging in corruption and rewards for those doing good work.

Each of the teams has been constituted with a convenor and a member and has been assigned to two zones each. Accordingly, convenor Jagdish Khadka and member Mohammad Arif will be monitoring Mechi and Koshi zones; convenor Hem Bahadur Singh and member Jaya Bahadur Khatri, Sagarmatha and Janakpur zones; Convenor Bharat Mani Jangam and member Kumar Bahadur Karki, Bagmati and Narayani zones; Convenor Sriman Shrestha and member Krishna Raj Pandey, Gandaki and Dhaulagiri zones; convenor Rameswor Shah and member Shyam Prasad Upadhyaya, Lumbini and Rapti zones; Convenor Bishnu Raj Pant and member Devi Verma, Bheri and Karnali zones; and Convenor Champak Sunwar and member Dhruva Narayan Shrestha, Seti and Mahakali zones.

There is provision for the Home Ministry to include additional members to the committee, said Spokesman of the ministry Gopendra Bahadur Pandey.

'Internationalise Bhutanese refugee issue'

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan.21: Just a day after foreign relations experts demanded that the Bhutanese refugee issue be internationalised, a Foreign Ministry source said it had no plans to take any measures towards this direction any time soon. However, the source accepted that the crisis had already been partially internationalised as the refugees are receiving assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees (UNHCR).

"We want to resolve the crisis through bilateral talks, and Bhutan too wants it this way. Abrupt internationalisation means breaking the existing bilateral process. It may have negative implications, therefore, it is not advisable to internationalise the issue immediately," the source said.

The source hinted that Nepal was thinking of accelerating the verification process by forming more verification teams and stressing on repatriation of the verified refugees.

Nepal is in frequent communication with Bhutan regarding the resolution of the refugee crisis, the source said talking about the long-delayed 12th round of talks between Nepal and Bhutan.

Discussions are also going on about resuming the verification process.

The Joint Verification Team (JVT) had verified more than 12,000 refugees in Khudunabari, one of the seven refugee camps, about 14 months ago. Since then, verification has stopped and the results have also not been published.

Consultation held to enhance HR adherence

By A Staff Reporter

Kathmandu, Jan: 21: An extensive discussion was held here today to finalise the National Human Rights Action Plan (NHRAP) aimed at encouraging people's participation in national development in an integrated and methodological manner.

The recommendations made by the NHRAP meet will be incorporated in the tenth five-year plan, which will be announced soon.

The government and the United Nation Development Programme jointly organised the first national consultation on the NHRAP-Nepal to discuss various crucial issues related to fundamental human rights as declared by the Geneva Convention.

The NHRAP consultation meet aims at enhancing observance of human rights in Nepalese society and making positive contributions to the evolution of a human rights culture in the country.

The main objective of the programme was to make the government's commitment to the achievement of the human rights more explicit and integrate them into the national development programme, specifically directed towards the alleviation of the human rights situation of the vulnerable groups in Nepalese society.

The NHRAP was prepared after a consultative and participatory process in 13 districts as well as in the five regions.

It has identified the present human rights situation within the various sectors or themes such as women, children, labour, education and culture, health, environment and development, prison, judiciary, law and legislation, minority and disadvantaged groups, conflict management and institutional strengthening.

The final resolution of the action plan is expected to be launched by March 2003 although it was earlier scheduled for December 10, 2002. Nepal will be the first South Asian country to adopt the action plan in its national programme.

Dr. Shankar Prasad Sharma, vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission, said that preservation and promotion of human rights had been given top priority in the 10th Plan.

As the country's economy is in a critical condition and is highly dependent on the donors, the action plan of the NHRAP should centre on the national policy, Sharma said.

Dr. Henning Karcher, UNDP Resident Representative, said, "Empowering those who are entitled to social and economic rights to claim these has to be an integral part of the development process."

He said that the concept of human rights was multi-dimensional and multi-faceted. The development of the country is impossible without assuring and preserving the fundamental rights of human beings, he said.

Chief Secretary Dr. Bimal Prasad Koirala said the action plan must be realistic. "We are on the way of consolidation human rights after the restoration of multiparty democracy, and Nepal is not lagging behind", he said.

Nicholas Howen, UNHCHR Representative, Asia Pasific, said that the government plan should focus on resolving the existing crisis by addressing the socio-economic and political problems.

'The people who carried the National Flag were not honoured'

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, Jan. 21: The people who have carried the Flag of the nation with sincerity have not received anything, and were ignored but the people are worried about the false promises made by those who have carried party flags and promised that they would make villas out of sacks.

Still, a person who has vowed to cycle around the globe, that is Puskar Shah, is very worried about this concern of most Nepalese.

Shah, who faught against the erstwhile Panchayat system and even got shot, had felt much would be accomplished in the country and he himself, along with other ordinary Nepalese would benefit, is now worried about the present situation in the country.

Speaking in the "Disha Nirdesh" programme on Nepal Television on Monday, cycle traveller of the world Shah even said that the situation got worse after the establishment of democracy in the country. He said in the interview. "Why I even shed my own blood, feeling better things would come after the stablishment of democracy, that was not fulfilled. The blame for this goes to who ruled the country during the last 12 years". He added that he now feels it was useless to have ushered in democracy.

Shah, who has travelled door to door, from nation to nation and met individual persons, has carried the message of the world's highest peak Sagarmatha, the birthplace of Lord Buddha, and it may be recalled that he was bodily injured when he was a part of the popular peoples' movement back in 1990.

He is now fed up of the great expectations that he had and what actually happenned, like in the popular Nepali song entitled " Ke soche maile, ke bhayo ahile".

Remembering the time when he spilled his blood while protesting against the Panchayat system, he recalls, "nothing much happened to those who carried the flag of this nation, but only those who carried the flag of various parties and those who were able to build huge buildings when they were living in huts and such foolhardy antics were evaluated".

Shah, who still wants to travel to 150 more nations carrying his message of peace and international brotherhood, is now more concerned about the difficult situation in his own motherland.

"I have travelled around the world carrying a message of peace, but when I see murder and mayhem in my own country, I feel very sad," Shah said.

Shah, a brave and courageous person, has taken shelter in footpaths, jungles and even with unsavoury characters, but he feels hurt when they mention that his own country is suffering from violence and mayhem.

Shah who always prays to God that he will meet a good person every day before he stes out on his tour, showing his hand where he received a bullet wound during the protest programme back in 1990 syas, "this nation is not a nation which has been cursed by "Sati", but it has been cursed by the martyrs".

Marital relations not only personal but spiritual too

By Madhav Bhattarai

Among the many traditions, the institution of marriage assumes pride of place in Hindu culture. In the long process of social evolution, Hindu culture has come to be very generous and refined. It has become brilliant not only by the life-long experiences but also by the knowledge acquired through the ages.

The human race has developed through the integrated union of man and woman. Of the two, if one remains inadequate or incomplete, the entire society becomes handicapped. Therefore, Hindu culture has accorded equal importance to both of them.

The Hindu tradition does not see marital relations only as being personal, but also as being familial and social, and more importantly spiritual. The objectives of marriage are to produce offsprings to carry on the family lineage and to contribute to social development.

Looking deeply, marriage is an important evolutionary event in one's life. It brings about a new turn in life. It should not be seen only as a licence to physical relationship, but should be accepted as a means to achieving fulfilment in life and should be utilised to promote sacrifice, compassion, goodwill and charity. Marriage is an institution in which both men and women fulfil their domestic responsibilities because family life is one of the means of achieving liberation in one's life. According to Hindu scriptures, any religious and other family rituals remain incomplete without women. All rituals, including marriage, calls for virtuosity, and to maintain that there must be union of man and woman.

In Hindu rituals, there are eight types of marriage, and they include almost all types of marriage practised in today's society. Of them, the Brahma marriage is considered the most superior. In Brahma marriage, carnal desires and relations or any kind of exchanges of materials goods are expected. Here, dowry is not a compulsion and is voluntary.

In spiritual marriage, it is the union of souls. During the rituals, the different gods and goddesses are worshipped, and the bride and groom pray for a long, peaceful and happy conjugal life in the presence of relatives and others. They also seek the blessings and approval of their elders and others.

All the rituals performed and the hymns recited during the process prove that marriage is the inseparable union of the souls, and in any marriage it is not only the coming together of two individuals but the association of the whole social and familial context.

We must look into the different aspects while entering into marriage. The Hindu scriptures have given serious thought to these matters. The scriptures have given special emphasis to equality in family background, age, morality, character, beauty and health of both the girl and boy. The scriptures have directed that a girl be given in hand in marriage after considering the family standing, behaviour, age, education, physique, body and resources of the groom.

The institution of marriage is a mutual agreement, in which both the parties benefit equally and are given equal importance. Therefore, a husband should never try to dominate the other half either ideologically or in other spheres. Such a solemn pledge is made in front of all at the time of marriage.
(Bhattarai is the Nayab Bada Gurujyu)