Crown Prince to open industrial trade fair in Pokhara

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POKHARA, March 6: His Royal Highness Crown Prince Paras Bir Bikaram Shah Dev is scheduled to inaugurate the Western Industrial Trade Fair 2003 amidst a function at Basundhara Park Baidam on Monday.The trade fair is jointly organised by His Majesty's Government, Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Export Promotion Centre, Federation of Nepalese Chamber of Commerce and Industries (FNCCI) and Pokhara Chamber of Commerce on the occasion of export year 2003.
The five day long trade fair is organised for the development of education and health and promotion of tourism sector of the region and the promotion of the Nepalese export, it is said.

The preparation for the trade fair is almost completed, according to the first vice chairman of Pokhara Chamber of Commerce Rajendra Lalchan.

Industrial, commercial, handicrafts, information technology, flower business, agriculture, tourism fair and various other products and services will be displayed in the trade fair.

Folk dance, national folk song competition and children's park will also be the attraction of the trade fair.

About 150,000 people are expected to visit the trade fair, he said.

Letter handed over to PM

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KATHMANDU, March 6: UN Resident Coordinator in Nepal Dr. Henning Karcher handed over today to Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand an open letter from the UN Special Rapporteur on disability of the Commission for Social Development Bengt Lindqvist as part of the follow-up to Lindqvist's visit to Nepal from 3-7 September 2002.

The open letter, while recognising the important work being undertaken by the government, private and donor agencies in the area of disability in Nepal, requests His Majesty's Government to remove obstacles that prevent persons with disabilities from exercising their rights and freedoms.
The open letter suggests to the government to formulate a national disability policy and "Master Plan" after close consultation with national disability organisations.

Lindqvist further proposes to HMG to establish a National Disability Commission comprising a number of government ministries together with representatives of the organisations of disabled people and agencies of importance for the disabled field.

The letter advocates constituting a forum to hold annual meetings coinciding with International Disability Day (3 December) of non-governmental organisations active in the field of disability to increase awareness.

Lindqvist recommends also that HMG build and develop professional capacity in the disability field.
This could include creating training opportunities in areas such as inclusive planning, mainstreaming of service, community based rehabilitation and building an accessible environment.

Govt for responsive, impartial civil service: Minister Pandey
'Reforms to do away with malaises'

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LALITPUR, March 6: Minister for Information and Communications and General Administration Ramesh Nath Pandey has said that His Majesty's Government is committed to implementing the administrative reform programme to make the administrative machinery transparent and responsible to the people.

Minister Pandey made this remark while addressing the first regular meeting of the administration reforms committee held under his chairmanship. Minister Pandey is the chairman of the committee.
As per the understanding reached between His Majesty's Government and the Asian Development Bank, the committee will have to meet two times before the promulgation of an ordinance for making amendments to the Civil Service Act.

Similarly, it is said the Administrative Reforms Coordination and follow-up committee, constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister, has met only once whereas it should have held three meetings.

At the meeting, Minister Pandey said that although it might require some more time to implement the administrative reforms programme, the government was for making reforms in the programme as per the immediate and long-term needs of the country on the basis of collective conscience by including the experience of all sides and also by taking into account the concerns of the donor community.
Stating that the then Council of Ministers had decided to make amendments to the Civil Service Act on Jan 24, 2002, he made it clear that the Ministry of General Administration was making efforts for amending the act and that two committees, one under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister and the other under his own chairmanship, had been constituted in that connection.

He said that the committee, of which he is chairman, has met two times including the present one and that regular home work was being done for amending the Civil Service Act, but the matter had not reached its final stage.

He said administrative reforms have become necessary also in the context of the donor agencies and the civil society also showing their concern that this machinery has not been transparent enough and responsible towards the people for administrative reforms.

His Majesty's Government will make the administrative reforms progressive not retrogressive, he stressed.

He said that the recommendations on administrative reforms made by consultants from Singapore, America, Denmark and Kathmandu would be considered before formulating the administrative reforms programme.

Chairman of the Administration Reforms Committee Minister Pandey expressed the view that the proposed reforms in the civil service would dissuade the prevalence of fake certificates in the administrative services, remove gender inequality and help increase the participation of the indigenous nationalities and oppressed communities in the administration.

The government, therefore, is trying to improve the administrative reform programme on the basis of collective conscience and open mind by incorporating different minds and experiences, he added.
Secretary at the Ministry of General Administration Narendra Kumar Shrestha made it clear that the ministry, while making any amendments in the Civil Service Act, has done so only after necessary consultations with and approval from the Public Service Commission and the Ministry of Law.
He said the present rumours in the media regarding the amendment of the act were all false.
At the meeting, chief of the Administrative Reforms Coordination Unit Dipendra Bikram Thapa shed light on the reform procedures so far carried out by the committee and programmes which are currently in the process of implementation.

Secretaries of various ministries and the Public Service Commission and the representative of the Asian Development Bank who were present at the meeting had made suggestions for formulating short term, medium term and long-term plans for the programme, paying attention to the liability of the state due to the programme, and specifying clearly the terms and conditions for the appointment and sacking of employees.

They also suggested that the mass media, while disseminating news on the work on which the government has proceeded with ease through a certain procedure, should not create misunderstanding by disseminating wrong information.

Judicial integrity crucial for good governance: CJ

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KATHMANDU, March 6: Chief Justice Kedar Nath Upadhyay has stressed that the bar and the bench ought to develop a new thinking for proper utilisation of the judicial system and provision of legal redress in the present context when a majority of the Nepali people are incapable and unable to profit from the democratic judicial system due to the prevailing social structure and economic conditions.
Inaugurating the three-day Ninth Nepal Bar Association All Nepal Law Practitioners National Conference here today, Chief Justice Upadhyaya pointed out only some 15 per cent of the populace in Nepal has been able to make use of the judicial system.

He underlined the need at state level to make legal aid and conselling services result-oriented and effective in view of the state's policy to provide cost-free legal representation for underprivileged parties in order to dispense equitable justice.

He also pointed out the need for reforms in the existing laws concerning the area of jurisdiction of courts so that cases pertaining to employees are decided by the administrative court and other petty cases of a miscellaneous nature by the Appellate Courts.

Protection of human rights and people's welfare is possible only when good governance and a clean judicial administration are guaranteed, the Chief Justice remarked adding, good governance can be guaranteed in the real sense of the word when the judges, who are directly concerned with dispensing of justice, and legal practitioners have upright conduct and good character.

Stating there is a system in place that requires the Judicial Council to be more proactive for building an independent and capable judicial system and enforcing judicial discipline in order to fulfil its constitutionally assigned role, he pointed out the need for the Bar Council to play an active role in enforcing professional ethics in the realm of legal practice and also in doing away with shortcomings in this sector.

An independent and capable judicial system can be built only through ability, transparency, honesty, perseverance and dedication to work on the part of the bar and the bench, Upadhyaya said and expressed the confidence that the conference would prove to be a milestone in realising the slogan of justice for all.

Member of the National Assembly Radheshyam Adhikari remarked that elections to the House of Representatives should be held as soon as possible for resolving the national problems.
Attorney general Krishna Ram Shrestha said that legal professionals should be much more serious about their work in order to make the concept of rule of law more effective.

He added that the conference should come up with concrete decisions for addressing problems that have surfaced in the dispensing of justice.

Former minister Subhash Nemwang said that the constitution should not be attacked just because the politicians have failed to perform better in the past 12 years.

Former Speaker Daman Nath Dhungana said that the courts' function should be made prompt, effective and up-to-date. He also stressed that the Maoists should accept democracy and take part in peace talks.

Senior advocate Mukunda Regmi said that the sanctity of the independent judiciary, human rights and multiparty democracy should be respected in any agreement reached in course of the government-Maoist talks.

He suggested that it would be better if reforms were effected in the present constitution rather than going for a constituent assembly.

President of Nepal Bar Association Sindhu Nath Pyakurel, speaking from the chair, said the conference would take effective steps toward restoring lasting peace in the country and reinstating the sovereignty of the people.

Advocate Sapana Pradhan Malla, former president of the Bar Association Harihar Dahal, senior advocates Sarbagya Ratna Tuladhar, Basudev Prasad Dhungana and Krishna Prasad Bhandari, member of the bar Sushila Regmi, treasurer Baburaj Joshi and secretary Satish Krishna Kharel also spoke on various aspects of the bar.

Two thousand law practitioners are participating in the convention with the main theme 'sovereignty resting in the people: our faith and commitment'.

It is learnt that 90 working papers are to be presented in course of the convention.

Four nabbed on charge of extortion

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KATHMANDU, March 6: The Ministry of Defence issued a communiue here today stating that security forces have taken into custody along with proof of wrongdoing Hare Ram Paudel and Ram Hari Paudel of Ramche and Nagendra Paudel of Bahrabise, Sindhupalchok district and Ram Prasad Bhandari of Dumarbana, Bara district for frequently threatening and intimidating the proprietor of a hotel at Chakupat, Lalitpur and demanding Rs 1.5 million from him. An investigation is being conducted.
The communique states it has been known that activities such as forcibly collecting donations from innocent citizens, kidnapping and threatening life are being carried out by some persons and groups, thereby affecting peace and security.

As there is the possibility that such activities will affect the efforts being made to resolve the crisis, the security forces have requested all groups concerned to stop such activities immediately, it is also stated.

The security forces are always committed to taking action against any person or group in accordance with the law and to guaranteeing law and order for the countrymen, it has also been mentioned.
The security forces have heartily requested the public to inform the nearest security agency of any person or group involved in criminal activities and extend cooperation in maintaining law and order.

Parties' cooperation must for lasting peace: DPM

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March 6: Deputy Prime Minister Badri Prasad Mandal has asked the political parties not to doubt the government's intentions to restore peace in the country.

He called on parties to cooperate with the government to restore lasting peace assuring that the process for this has already started.

Speaking at a function to mark the 12th anniversary of the Satya Sai School, he said that the cease-fire was announced and the peace talks have been initiated according to the wish of all the people.

Mandal said that education was the tool to develop a prosperous and well-cultured nation. He said that preserving the traditional culture, religion and art is equally important.

He said the humanist view of Satya Sai Baba would help the society to free from corruption and distortions and help create a civilised and well cultured society.

At the programme, President of the Private and Boarding School's Association Nepal (PABSON) Umesh Shrestha, coordinator of the Satya Sai Centre Education Coordinator Prof. Dambar Bir Thapa and its chairman Kamal Singh Karki, Principal of the School Krishna Awasthi and others spoke about the importance of education to progress and improve the society.

On the occasion, DPM Mandal awarded prizes to seven students of the school who passed the SLC examinations of last year.The programme was chaired by chairman of the school management committee Beena Pokharel.

Opportunities to the disabled urged

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March 6: The two-day meet on 'Promoting Decent Work for People with Disabilities' ended Wednesday requesting the government to provide opportunities to disabled people.

The meet urged the government to include people with disabilities in vocational training programmes, implement quota system, strengthen disability-oriented co-ordinating, establish a permanent national fund for training and employment, and establish a national commission of disabled persons, as well as to ensure the representation of disabled persons and social partners in such groups, ILO press release stated.Forty persons from the government, private sector and trade union, including 15 disabled participated in the meet organised by the International Labour Organisation (ILO).
The meet recommended the FNCCI and the trade unions to take active roles to creat awareness and to advocate about the rights of the disabled people, and develop a code of practice within their institutions.

Briefing the press about the resolution of the meet, Local Area Office Director at ILO-Nepal Leyla Tegmo Reddy that there was a need for creating opportunities to these people and provide skill-oriented training for raising their economic and social status.

She said the trade unions and other such bodies have an important role in creating employment opportunities to disabled people. She said the ILO office in Kathmandu would make follow-ups with the government, employer and trade unions for the implementation of the recommendations made by the meeting.Debra Perry, ILO's senior specialist in vocational rehabilitation for South Asia and the Pacific, said education and economic opportunity improve the lives of the disabled. For that, she said, effective implementation of the legislation is a must.

President of the National Federation of Disabled - Nepal (NFD) Munishwor Pandey said there were discrimination while selecting candidates for government services. He said there are only about 600 disabled people who have found jobs out of which 250 are in teaching profession.

The ILO has adopted clause 159 of the Convention on Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment (Disabled persons) of 1983 that calls for governments to develop and implement vocational rehabilitation and employment policy based on equal opportunity and treatment of disabled people. Nepal is yet to ratify the Convention.

China shopping centre opens in capital

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March.6: Chinese envoy Wu Chongyong inaugurated the country's first ever China shopping centre in midtown Kathmandu. The shopping centre known as 'Churchill Complex' has plans to start a night market to meet the demand of the metropolitan city and changing lifestyle in Kathmandu.

The market covers an area of 1,10,000 square feet and has 268 shops, with 67 shops on each of the floors. The complex has parking space for 150 cars and another 200 motorbikes at a time.
The shopping centre has plans to start an exclusive China market, including a Chinese restaurant in the future.The Chinese envoy inspected the newly established market after its inaugural.

Govt, ILO sign deal to support ex-Kamaiyas

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March.6: The Ministry of Land Reforms and Management (MLRM) and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) signed an agreement today for the implementation of an action programme on skill development, vocational training and income generating activities for the former Kamaiyas, or bonded labourers, and their grown-up children.

In addition to technical support, Rs. 37.7 million will be provided to the ministry from ILO's project on Sustainable Elimination of Bonded Labour in Nepal' to implement the action programme.
The agreement was signed by Bharat Mani Risal, joint secretrary at the ministry and Ms. Leyla Tegmo-Reddy, Director, ILO area office Nepal, in the presence of Anant Raj Pandey, Secretary at the MLEM, ILO officials, Dr. Roger Plant, Head, Special Action Programme to combat forced labour, Geir Myrstad, Head, Programme, Reporting and Resource Planning, IPEC and other high level ILO project and government officials.The action programme will directly benefit approximately 14,000 formerly bonded families, of which 8,000 have no land and no homes. The ministry will bring together all eligible ex-Kamaiya adults - men, women and their children - and provide them with skill training, vocational education, micro-finance services and set up a revolving fund to provide loans for self-employment or cooperative-based income generating activities. The programme will be carried out in Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Kailaili and Kanchanpur districts in Mid- West Nepal. The programme will also emphasise upon social mobilisation of the freed Kamaiyas by forming cohesive and functional groups within the target beneficiaries. It will pursue the goal of economic empowerment through training on employable and marketable skills.

The ILO project has already initiated educational programmes for the freed Kamaiya children and adults in the five districts, through competent national and local organisations. The programmes are aimed at making every family member literate and seeing that children complete at least primary school. The education programme also constitutes awareness-raising advocacy programmes against forced labour.

The project, by supporting impoverished and disadvantaged groups and preventing child bonded labour, is expected to contribute significantly to the government's priority of reducing poverty through employment expansion, social justice and the elimination of forced labour and worst forms of child labour.

Poor investment climate forces capital to remain idle

By Raj Kumar K.C.

KATHMANDU, March 6: If their capital continues to remain idle in the absence of a proper investment climate, state-owned financial institutions like the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and the Rastriya Beema Sansthan (RBS) could face a serious financial crisis.

The volume of payment will be larger than their real income in the next few years, which will eat up their idle capital and have dire consequences in the money market, say economists.

The government, instead of borrowing money from donor agencies, should borrow from these institutions with provisions of interest and payback period. This will help the EPF and RBS utilise their idle capital and build up a healthy investment climate, say they.

It will maintain fiscal discipline and help reduce the volume of foreign debt. Besides, it will regenerate capital. However, due to lack of a government policy, billions of rupees remain idle with mounting liabilities.

However, a senior official at the Ministry of Finance said, "The government cannot guarantee returns on their investment. Organisations like the EPF and RBS can invest money at their own risks...It is upto them to invest or keep their money idle."

Asked whether the government could borrow from the EPF and RBS instead of issuing treasury bills, the MoF official said that there was no such policy for now.

Dr. Govind Bahadur Thapa, director of the Research Department at Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), admits that large amounts of capital with the EPF and RBS are lying idle. " But they have no option other than to deposit the money in a fixed account or to issue treasury bills in the secondary market."
Besides, the money of the EPF and RBS are of a different nature. They have to make payments to their clients or policyholders when they make their claims. Therefore the government cannot borrow it, he said.

Dozens of development works are unable to move ahead due to lack of resources, although billions of rupees remain idle. A former NPC member said that His Majesty's Government, for fear of donor pressure, has not formulated any policy or law to mobilise the capital.

There are many instances in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh where capital belonging to such government undertakings is invested in development works.

The government should have such an investment policy that makes it easy to mobilise internal resources, says Prof. Dr. Madan Kumar Dahal, chief of the Department of Economics at TU.
However, he said that organizations like the RBS and EPF should have an investment plan of their own as well. Any capital that lays idle for long is not good for the economy.

EPF, one of the largest state-owned enterprises that collects provident funds of around a billion rupees from more than 400,000 employees, is desperately looking for areas to invest.

The EPF provides an interest of 7.25 per cent, which is higher than that provided by any banking institution. Besides, the EPF provides compound interest on the deposits.

The EPF is mulling over to cut down its interest rate, said a senior EPF official. "For how long will it be possible to pay our clients and policyholders if we fail to invest?" he questioned.

Similar is situation of the RBS, the biggest insurance company in the country. It collects a million rupees in premium everyday. "We are ready to invest in mega projects like the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, if the government is willing to guarantee returns on our investments," said a senior official.