Second general conference of SAF held

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March 10: The South Asia Foundation (SAF) founded by UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador Madanjeet Singh held the second general conference and a meet of the SAF Learning Initiative (SAFLI).

The meeting was participated by vice-chancellors and rectors of open universities in Colombo and Sri Lanka, a press statement of SAF said.

President of Sri Lanka HE Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga inaugurated the conference.
With IT and computer literacy rapidly becoming a part of the life of young people of the region, courses on South Asian Studies may be transmitted online and through TV, and it was simultaneously decided that SAFLI will offer a post-graduate Diploma in environment and sustainable development together with optional IT courses, the statement said.

Likewise, SAF will try to link various institutions engaged in South Asian studies with the SAF Documentation Centre based in Delhi, it is stated.

Additionally, the second SAF Scouts Friendship Camp was held in Maldives from 15th-22nd February 2003, which was participated by Nepali scouts as well.

SAF has been supporting the scouts' camp for two consecutive years now. The first SAF scouts jamboree was held last year in Bhutan.

Netherlands to provide Rs 117.4 M grant assistance

RSS

KATHMANDU, March 10: The government of the Netherlands has agreed to provide a grant assistance of Euro 14,12,592 (equivalent to Rs 117.4 million) to His Majesty's Government of Nepal through Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV/Nepal) for the implementation of the Local Governance Strengthening Transition Programme (LGSTP).

The grant assistance will be utilised for the capacity development of District Development Committees in Ilam, Panchthar and Taplejung districts of Mechi zone and Humla, Jumla, Mugu and Dolpa districts of Karnali zone.

It is expected that participatory planning process as stipulated in Local Self Governance Act will be institutionalised and efficiency and effectiveness of development programmes enhanced through improved organisation, system and procedures.

This programme will also support social mobilisation and build social organisation and awareness in communities, empowering people to participate in decision-making process in 60 Village Development Committees (VDCs) in Karnali and Mechi hill districts.

A memorandum of understanding to this effect was signed here today by Dr. Madhav Prasad Ghimire, joint secretary, Ministry of Finance, on behalf of HMG and Jan de Witte, director, SNV/Nepal on behalf of the government of the Netherlands.

HMG has expressed sincere appreciation to the government of the Netherlands and SNV/Nepal for providing continued assistance and support in socio-economic development of Nepal.

Top priority to revenue recovery: Shrestha

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LALITPUR, March 10: Minister for Finance Dr. Badri Prasad Shrestha has said that as the economic condition of the country at present is the most difficult during the last fifty years, top priority has to be accorded to revenue recovery and leakage prevention to improve the situation.

Giving directives here today to the officers completing a month-long training conducted by the Revenue Administration Training Centre, Minister Dr. Shrestha said that as big responsibility had befallen on the shoulders of the civil servants in the present extraordinary situation, they should not be swayed away by allurement, be fully disciplined and work in the improvement campaign.

Earlier, even when the entire general expenditures was spent from revenue mobilisation, there was a situation to save 10 to 15 billion rupees to sustain the development expenditures, but as there is the problem of recovering less revenue than estimated, the situation at present is such that internal loan had to be taken to meet even the general expenditures.

On the occasion, he gave away certificates of training to 74 gazetted third class section officers including two women of the revenue group.

Secretary at the Ministry of Finance Bhanu Prasad Acharya and chief of the training Ishwar Kumar Shrestha also expressed their views on the occasion.

Shailaja urges parties to be liberal for peace

By A Staff Reporter

KATHMANDU, March 10: Leader of the Nepali Congress and former Deputy Prime Minister Shailaja Acharya has said that the political parties should not hesitate to make sacrifices to make the nation free of violence and terror.

Speaking at an interaction programme organised here this afternoon, Acharya asked the political parties to be liberal when it comes to the interest of the country. She was hinting at the political parties which have been staying away from the all-party meet called by Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand in a bid to discuss about transforming ceasefire into a permanent peace in the country.

"At a time when the nation is in difficult time due to the Maoist problem, only mutual cooperation and coordination between the His Majesty the King and the political parties could pave way for resolving the crisis," Acharya said.

She blamed the political parties and other political forces for failing to objectively identify the problem, and added, "The future of only that party is bright and secure, which shores the nation up safely from the storms that threat its peace and tranquility."

"It is a positive sign that the atmosphere of talks between the government and the underground CPN-Maoists is being created. When the warring Maoists have accepted constitutional monarchy and multiparty democracy, their demand for a constituent assembly carries no meaning," she said.
Disagreeing with the concept of the electing a constituent assembly, she warned, "If the nation goes towards such an election there will be growing polarisation that could invite even bloody civil war," said she.

As to what could be the solution to resolve the present crisis of confidence between the democratic and other forces, Acharya said that the dissolved parliament should be reinstated. "If that is not possible, a national level government should be formed to hold elections."

She also maintained that while the nation needed peace and prosperity the question of sharing of the power was no political agenda at all.

Talking about her own party leader, Acharya told the press that her party was suffering from internal struggle between the truth and untruth. "Nepali Congress is rich in the thoughts, principles and ideologies but the shoulders of its top leaders are weak."

She also said that she was for 'unity' among the partymen. "But I would not go for the kind of unity by bringing in people who are unscrupulous."