May 13, 2005

THE GOVERNMENT IS PLANNING TO AMEND the civil service act through an ordinance. According to sources close to Law Ministry, provisions related to promotion of civil servants will be amended. The Law Ministry has already submitted the draft amendment to the Ministry of General Administration. In the draft amendment, the tenure required for promotion has been increased from 14 to 16 years, among others. Likewise, changes have been made regarding the provision of qualifications earned by working in different geographical regions and education degree. The Ministry of General Administration could submit the draft amendment for approval at the Council of Ministers after necessary study.

TWENTY WINNERS HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED FOR THE Nepal Development Marketplace (NDM) organized by the World Bank. Each of the winners will receive a grant award up to Rs 1.4 million to implement their innovative ideas. When the World Bank launched the campaign “Launa Aba Ta Kehi Garaun” in November last year, it received around 1037 entries for various innovative ideas to improve grassroots development and basic service delivery. In the final phase, 40 projects had been short-listed. All of these 40 projects were on display at the Patan Durbar Square on Thursday where the 36-member jury visited them for final selection. In a show of encouragement, the World Bank has decided to provide Rs 20,000 each to the 20 projects that were not able to get selected in the final phase. National Poet Madhav Prasad Ghimire handed over the trophies to the winners. The winning projects were diverse including those engaged in irrigation to renewable energy and from education to livestock development. The winners are Center for Renewable Energy, District Agriculture Development Office (Panchthar and Morang), Susma Education Development Committee, Himanchal Higher Secondary School, Nucleus for Empowerment through Skill Transfer, Generating Income to Foster Transformation, Support Foundation, Salt Trading Corporation Ltd, District Coffee Producers’ Association, Remote Area Women and Children Empowerment Center and Federation of Community Forest Users’ Nepal (Shesh Narayan). Likewise, other winners include Khotang Development Forum (for two projects), Environment and Public Health Organization, Integrated Technology Development Nepal, Global Multiple Cooperation Organization, Jeevan Bikas Samaj, MILAN and Fewa Matsya Byawasayi Samitee. “Go and spread the good work that you have set out to do,” Ghimire urged the winners. Speaking on the occasion, Praful Patel, vice president of World Bank for South Asia, said that although he had been to similar Development Marketplaces organized in India, Bangladesh and the United States, “I have not seen one like this in terms of quality of proposals.” Earlier, addressing the inaugural session, Ken Ohashi, country director of World Bank Nepal Office said that the bank had initiated the concept six months ago to generate fresh thinking. Likewise, Dr. Shankar Sharma, vice chairman of National Planning Commission (NPC), said that the government also hoped to replicate the winning ideas in rural areas. “We are looking for champions of society like you so as to improve service delivery in rural areas,” he said.

THE SUPREME COURT (SC) has issued an order asking the government to raise awareness to end the caste-based discrimination in construction, distribution and consumption of drinking water sources. A division bench of justices Ram Nagina Singh and Sharada Shrestha issued the order to intensify awareness-raising campaigns to end such discrimination in social life. The order was issued in response to a writ petition filed by lawyers in view of construction of separate drinking water sources for the people of Dalit community in far western districts of Dadeldhura, Kanchanpur and Kailali.

THE EXPORT OF READYMADE GARMENTS to the United States came down by 41.43 percent during the first four months of 2005 since the expiry of the Multi Fiber Agreement that ended the quota facilities enjoyed by countries like Nepal. As US alone absorbs more than 80 percent of the total garment exports of Nepal, single market concentration is also blamed for such plummet. Exports to US had suffered almost throughout the year in 2004. Garment and apparel products valued at over US$ 22.98 million were exported to US from January to April 2005, whereas garment products worth over US$ 39.24 million were exported last year, reveals the figures provided by the Garment Association of Nepal. Many internal factors and other non-tariff barriers such as social compliances, procedural complications, lengthy customs process and documentations, are said to be setbacks for export of Nepali apparel products that make them costly and less competitive. Udaya Raj Pandey, general secretary of GAN, asked the government to extend its support to help the industry survive, which generates 12 percent of the total industrial employment and earns 40 percent of foreign exchange of overseas export earnings. “Rescheduling of commercial banks’ loans to garment exporters for at least six months could be a great relief at the moment,” he said. Pandey hinted that there is a light at the end of the tunnel for revival of the industry since Asia-Pacific trade bill that promises duty free market access in US for 14 Least Developed Countries is most likely to be approved this fall. A strong lobby in US is working for the imposition of anti-dumping duty on Chinese apparels, which is yet another plus point for garment exporters from the Asia and Pacific region, he added