BRIEFS (Spotlight Weekly)

THE FOREIGN MINISTRY SAID Nepalese citizens were killed in an earthquake that struck the western Indian state of Gujarat on January 26. The ministry did not give details. The quake, measuring 7.9 on the Richter scale, devastated several towns and settlements in Gujarat, killing more than 20,000 people.

THE NEPAL DEVELOPMENT BANK Ltd. (NDBL) and the Industrial Development Bank of India (IDBI) have signed an agreement under which the latter has agreed to pick up 10 percent equity in the NDBL. According to the agreement, a representative of IDBI will be appointed to the management of NDBL and the Indian bank will provide technical assistance to its Nepalese partner. The first development bank of Nepal, NDBL was set up with an authorized capital of Rs 320 million and issued capital of Rs 160 million. The bank, which started operations six months back, has already registered an operational profit of Rs 18.6 million, said bank chairman Uttam Pun.

THE SEVENTH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING Of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) has decided to initiate various studies to jointly move forward to the World Trade Organization (WTO). The meeting, which concluded in Kathmandu Monday, also decided to organize a SAARC Economic Meet, advance the study of small and cottage industries of member countries and study the infrastructure development of transportation sector in the region. According to the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry, the meeting also okayed a Pakistani proposal to organize SAARC Trade Fair in Pakistan in April this year. The meeting also decided to forward the process of forming SAARC Mediatory Council and has authorized the SAARC Tourism Council to organize a SAARC Tourism Mart.

THE LAST RITES OF PIONEER SOCIAL worker Dayabir Singh Kansakar were performed at Shobha Bhagvati in the capital Tuesday. Kansakar died at the age of 90 at his residence in Kathmandu Monday evening. Late Kansakar had established Paropakar, Nepal's first social service organization, during the Rana regime. He selflessly devoted his life in the service of the helpless and the destitute under different organizations known as `Paropkar.' Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, senior government and opposition leaders and people from all walks of life paid tributes to Kansakar.

THE SOCIAL JUSTICE COMMITTEE of parliament has urged the government to form a commission to provide immediate relief to former `Kamaiyas' (bonded laborers). At a press meet on Wednesday, chairman of the committee Jivan Prem Shrestha said the commission should be given special powers to provide basic amenities to former Kamaiyas. A seven-member team comprising lawmakers from the Social Justice Committee had inspected temporary camps of Kamaiyas, who were freed seven months ago. The problem of immediate rehabilitation still has not been solved, said Shrestha.

NEARLY 2,000 public transport vehicles have gone on an indefinite strike beginning Saturday in protest against a student organization’s demand for a 50 percent reduction in the fare for students. The Nepal National Transport Entrepreneurs' Federation and Nepal Transport Entrepreneurs' Federation, which are already launching another agitation against the government's decision to ban vehicles older than 20 years from next year, called the strike in the capital valley. They said they would continue the strike unless the government intervened and found an amicable solution. On the other hand, ANNFSU, the student organization of the CPN (ML), has said it is also ready to sit for tripartite negotiations if the government invited them. Officials have declined to intervene, describing the controversy as a "bilateral matter".

THE FEDERATION OF NEPALESE Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) and Confederation of Danish Industries (CODI) signed a memorandum of understanding in Copenhagen recently to promote trade and investment between the two countries. In the memorandum, both parties have agreed to promote bilateral trade and investment, transfer technology, increase cooperation in service and commercial areas, exchange information and organize trade fairs in both the countries periodically. The Danish business community has expressed interest in importing chemical-free agro-based products from Nepal, FNCCI President Pradip Kumar Shrestha said, upon his return from Copenhagen.

THE FINANCE MINISTRY HAS brought out a new budget preparation manual (BPM) replacing the one issued in 1997. A senior official at the ministry said work on preparing the budget for the forthcoming fiscal year has begun since the third week of January, and that the new manual would guide the next budget. The ministry is preparing to present next year's annual budget estimates during the third week of May. The prime objective of the new manual is to create effective improvement in budgetary expenditures by achieving the target through elimination of shortcomings seen in the past, officials said. According to the new manual, government ministries will have to answer three questions while demanding funds: the major objective of the program, revenue likely to be generated, and the cost of the program.