- Wednesday, 18 December 2024
Kathmandu, April 12: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has called upon the Nepali speakers and the people of Nepali origin residing in various countries of the world to invest the skills, knowledge and capital they have earned for the motherland Nepal.
PM Dahal made this call in a meeting with a delegation of the Association of Nepali Origin (ANO) at his official residence in Baluwatar today.
Stating that although of different nationalities, the campaign of linking all the Nepali-speaking and Nepali-origin people throughout the world is positive, he urged bringing the Nepali speakers throughout the world together through this campaign, as the mother or the father land is the same.
The PM said the ANO’s campaign of connecting the Nepalis spread across the globe by means of language and culture is positive, pledging the necessary support on behalf the government for the success of the campaign.
A gathering, on March 19, of Nepali speaking people from various countries around the world held in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, constituted the ANO with the goal of uniting the Nepali race and preserving the Nepali language and culture.
Thanking the ANO for running the campaign of connecting the Nepali speakers by means of art and culture, Prime Minister Dahal expressed his best wishes for a new campaign.
ANO president Dilliram Adhikari expressed gratitude to the government for the cooperation and best wishes received so far from the government, and expected the same in the days to come. “We will take ahead this campaign as the ambassador of the Nepali language, art and culture throughout the world. At the same time, the campaign will further contribute to the nation’s development, preserving and publicizing the ‘Nepaliness’, connecting the future generation to Nepal,” he asserted.
The organisation will likewise encourage the Nepali investors living abroad to put investment in Nepal’s education, health and other sectors and to carry out social works in the country where their ancestors’ identity is linked.
The ANO delegation comprised of its vice-president Sushil Kumar Panta, general-secretary Chudamani Bhattarai among other office-bearers.
The Bangkok gathering representing the Nepali origin social campaigners from 27 countries of the world was transformed into the ANO’s First Convention and a 54-member working committee was formed under Dilli Adhikari, a Nepali origin social worker born in Bhutan and currently living in the USA.
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Lyricist Thapa and singer Deshar feted
Manahari, April 12: The Bhim Birag Music Literature Art Academy has feted lyricist Rajendra Thapa and singer Nisha Deshar.
Lyricist Thapa was honoured with ‘Bijuli Maya Ban Shrestha International Music Award’ carrying a purse of Rs 100,000.
Prominent lyricist Nagendra Thapa, literary writer LB Chhetri, Manju Thapa, singer Sushila Manandhar jointly honoured Thapa with cash prize along with a shawl, amidst a programme organized in Hetauda on Thursday.
Likewise, singer Deshar was honoured with the ‘Bhim Birag Youth Music Award, 2079’ of Rs 25,000 in cash.
After being honoured on the occassion, lyricist Thapa said he had articulated the society and situation he faced through lyrics.
Entrepreneur Kanhaiya Krishna Shrestha had instituted the ‘Bijulimaya Ban Shrestha International Award before the name of his mother Bijulimaya Ban Shrestha.
Noted personalities of the lyrics and music sector, including Ambar Gurung, Prem Dhoj Pradhan, Bhaktaraj Acharya and Gatteman Rajbhandari were already honoured with the award.
Foundation Chair Keshablal Shrestha highlighted the contributions of Thapa and Deshar. The Foundation has been felicitating those contributing to the enrichment of language, literature and music.
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Shrestha elected UML Nawalpur chair
Triveni (Nawalparasi), April 12: Jeevan Shrestha was elected chair of the CPN (UIML) Nawalpur district.
The 9th district convention of UML Nawalpur unanimously elected 103-member district committee under the leadership of Shrestha.
The district convention that kicked off on last Monday concluded on Thursday evening electing a new district committee.
Among others elected were Yamunath Acharya (vice-chairperson), Bhimlal Kandel (secretary), Shadananda Lamichhane (deputy secretary) and Kalpana Devkota (woman deputy secretary), election committee’s chief election officer Ramesh Kafle informed.
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Rain likely to occur in Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki today
Kathmandu, April 12: The Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has predicted that the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly regions, including Koshi province and fair in rest of the parts of the country. It is due to the partial influence of westerly wind and local wind in the country, the Division claimed.
According to the Division, the weather will be partly cloudy in the hilly region and fair in the rest of the country this afternoon. Light rain with lightning is likely to occur at a few places of the hilly region of Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces and at one or two places of the rest of the hilly regions.
Light snowfall is also likely to occur at some places of the high hilly and mountainous regions. The weather will be partly cloudy in hilly regions, including Koshi Province tonight and fair in rest of the part.
Light rain accompanied by lightning is predicted to occur at one or two places of the hilly regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces. Light snowfall is likely to occur at one or two places of the high hilly and mountainous regions of Koshi and Gandaki provinces.
According to a weather bulletin released by the Division this morning, there is a possibility of light snowfall at a few places of the high hilly and mountainous region of the country.
The weatherly change is likely to partially affect daily life as well as agriculture, health, tourism, mountaineering, road and air transport in the region, the Division said, calling for adopting necessary alert measures.
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Child injured in forest fire in Dolpa dies
Dolpa, April 12: One among the three children injured in a forest fire at Tripurasundari municipality-4 in Dolpa died.
Chief District Officer Tulasi Prasad Dahal informed that 10-year-old Sulas Budha died in course of the treatment at the district hospital in Dolpa.
He said preparations were being made to send remaining two to Kathmandu for further treatment. The children were critically injured when they went to collect mushroom in the nearby community forest on Thursday morning.
They were rescued and taken to the district hospital in the evening. Dr Akhanda Upadhyay said the injured could not be saved despite all possible efforts.
Tripurasundari municipality has arranged a helicopter to take the injured children to Kathmandu for treatment, chief administrative officer Jagdish Chandra Nepali said.
It may be noted that three of the four Nepal Army personnel who were injured while trying to douse a fire at Masta community forest at Thulibheri municipality-4 in Dolpa district on Tuesday also lost their lives.
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British parliamentarian Wood pledges to work for increasing UK development aid
Kathmandu, April 12: Member of the House of Lords in the United Kingdom (UK) Stewart Wood said he would put efforts to increase UK development aid for the social transformation of Nepal.
Parliamentarian Wood who came Nepal as a special volunteer at the invitation of ‘VSO’ Nepal enquired information about the project activities run for addressing gender inequalities and prevention of Gender Based Violence (GBV).
Wood, also the Labour Party leader, had had a meeting with the locals of Biratnagar and Bara. He lauded the efforts being made there for social transformation.
Talking to RSS, he said the programmes on girls education and livelihood implemented by VSO with support from the FCDO in Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Chaudandigadhi Municipality in Koshi Province and Girls’ education and youth leadership in Jeetpur-Simara Sub-Metropolitan City in Madhesh Province was exemplary.
The British lawmaker further said he was impressed by the aspirations of the Dalit communities in Bara for education and change.
Also the special advisor to past Prime Minister of the UK, Gordon Brown, Wood further said he would share the positive changes taking place in Nepal after return to his country and put all possible efforts to increase British government aid for socio-economic development in Nepal.
He, who also taught political science at Oxford University, said he would increase partnership for Nepal’s educational development and encourage British tourists to visit Nepal.
Country Representative of VSO Nepal, Jaishankar Lal, said the service rendered by volunteers like Wood in Nepal has added energy to the work being done in the social sector.
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Industries in Hetauda fail to operate in full capacity
Bagmati, April 12: The Hetauda industrial area has been facing challenge in operation due to declining state of sale of goods produced by industries.
Due to crisis of raw materials, cost increment and bank interest rates, the production of these industries has been limited to 40 percent. At present, 115 industries are operating in the industrial area.
According to the Industrial Area Management Office, these industries are currently operating at 40 percent capacity.
Industries operating in three shifts now are limited to only one shift. Workers and employees have been cut off with the decreasing capacity of the industries.
According to office chief Bhojraj Biradi, the economic slowdown after the COVID pandemic has affected entire industries here.
A process has started for canceling the contracts of two dozen industries that remained defunct due to the economic slowdown.
Biradi said only the work of signing the agreement and occupying the land was done, but the process of action has been forwarded as the industry is not operating.
Cases have also been filed against the office at the District Court for cancelling the contracts of some industries, he said. Of the 147 industries established in the industrial sector, 115 are manufacturing industries of different nature. Nine industries have been closed and 23 are under construction.
Industrialists complained that it is difficult to pay rent as the condition of the industry is pathetic. According to the office-bearers of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the situation of the industries has become fragile due to high cost of goods produced by the industries operating here, non-sale of the products produced and the economic slowdown.
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ACC Cup kicks off from today, Nepal taking on Malaysia
Kathmandu, April 12: The ACC Men’s Premier Cup Cricket Championship is taking place in Oman from today. Nepal is competing with Malaysia under the championship today itself.
This is the 10th international T-20 match between the two countries. The game is being played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground in Muscat, the capital of Oman.
Malaysia has won only one match whereas Nepal became victorious in eight games before this. Ten teams are playing in this Championship to be held in T-20 format.
The teams have been divided into two groups. Nepal is in Group A, including Hong Kong, Malaysia, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. Bahrain, Cambodia, Kuwait, Oman and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are in Group B.
The team winning the Championship will qualify for the Asia Cup. Hong Kong and Qatar will compete in another match of Group A scheduled for this afternoon. Nepal will play against Qatar tomorrow and against Hong Kong on April 15. Nepal’s last match under the group stage will be against Saudi Arabia on April 16.
The Championship will run till April 21. The Nepali team is composed of Rohit Kumar Paudel (Captain), Gulsan Jha, Karan KC, Pratis GC, Kushal Bhurtel, Sundeep Jora, Bibek Yadav, Abinash Bohara, Sompal Kami, Deependra Singh Airee, Lalit Rajbanshi, Kushal Malla, Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah.
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Illegal opium cultivation on 172 ropanis of land destroyed in Rukum Paschim
Triveni (Rukum Paschim), April 12: Police have destroyed the illegal opium poppy farming on across 172 ropanis (1 ropani is equivalent to 508.74 square metres) of land at different parts of Rukum Paschim.
The District Police Office (DPO), Rukum Paschim said that the illicit plantation in Aathbiskot municipality, Musikot municipality and Sanibheri rural municipality in the district were razed down recently.
Police Inspector and Information Officer at the DPO, Rukum Paschim, Dharmendra Khadka, shared that a team of police destroyed opium cultivated in 60 ropanis area in Aathbiskot municipality ward no 1 and ward no 2 and in 45 ropanis in ward no 5.
Similarly, cannabis planted in 29 ropanis of land ward no 3 in Sanibheri rural municipality, in one ropani in Musikot rural municipality, in 37 ropanis in ward no 3 and 7 of Aathbiskot rural municipality were also destroyed, informed Police Inspector Khadka.
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Mass Communication and Social Media Bill soon: Minister Sharma
Kathmandu, April 12: Minister for Communications and Information Technology Rekha Sharma assured that the Mass Communication Bill and Social Media Bill would be endorsed by the Federal Parliament very soon.
At the 12th session of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) Kathmandu chapter here today, Minister Sharma observed that the Bills were necessary to regulate communication sector and make it orderly, dignified and in tune with the changing times.
Both the bills were in the final preparation to present in the Federal Parliament, informed the Minister, also the Spokesperson of the government.
According to her, the incumbent government was positive about giving concession to the self-employed and small-scale media houses while further organizing the public welfare advertisement.
The Minister opined that the concession on the news service charges of the Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS), the state-run news agency, could be considered to such media houses.
Asserting that the incumbent government was in favor of freedom of expression, Minister Sharma expressed her commitment to revise minimum wage for the journalists and make it timely.
She argued that the truthful and factual dissemination of news would aid the government in its delivery.On the occasion, various media professionals were honoured in recognition of their contribution to society and the country through journalism.
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Municipality to distribute 5 Kg iodized salt per month to poor families
Kankrebihar (Surkhet), April 12: The Chhayanath Rara Municipality of Mugu district is to provide five kilogrammes of iodized salt every month free of cost to the poor families.
A decision has made to provide the salt as per the set quota to more than 4,000 indigent families through the municipal ward office under the Mayor with the Poor programme, Mayor Bishnu Kumar Bham said.
According to him, the Municipality has adopted the policy of purchasing the salt and distributing it from the ward office itself to end the compulsion of traveling to the district headquarters, Gamgadhi, to buy salt.
The salt would be provided to the needy families based on the ‘indigent family’ identity card issued by the Municipality. The cards can also be renewed from the ward office.
At present the underprivileged communities are compelled to travel to the government depot in Gamgadhi to take five packets of salt, producing their citizenship cards.
The problem of going to Gamgadhi to get salt will be resolved forever after salt is distributed from the ward office.
Similarly, the Municipality has brought special policy to cultivate the uncultivated land in the municipality, Mayor Bham said. It has also taken initiatives to operate a slaughter house as well as emphasized on production of agricultural produce, distributing seeds to farmers and sending the agriculture extension workers to the villages.
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Locally made electric wheelchair makes life easier for Bomjon
Bharatpur (Chitwan), April 12: Physically challenged Durga Bomjon, a local teacher at Chitwan Secondary School in Chitwan, no longer needs to seek anyone’s support to commute to school, thanks to a locally made electric wheelchair that has made his movement a lot easier and convenient.
After Sunil Pariyar, a young engineer, and his research team built a customized electric wheelchair for Bomjon, moving around has been an easy affair for him.Bomjon gushed that the electric wheelchair has changed his lifestyle and expressed his gratitude to engineer Pariyar and his team for manufacturing the mobility vehicle.
“The electric wheelchair has helped me fulfill my dream of riding scooter and it has become easier to cross the road,” he said expressing joy and convenience the vehicle has brought into his life.The engineers’ group founded Infinity Lab and has been undertaking wheelchair manufacturing and research in partnership with the Narayani Polytechnic Institute in Bharatpur, Chitwan district.
Pariyar, who has been building and repairing wheelchair for nine years, is on a campaign to build Nepal’s environment-friendly wheelchairs. He shared, “The Lab has been repairing old wheelchairs and building new ones at the request of individuals, hospitals and social organizations after researching on various designs of the wheelchairs.”
The Lab designs the frame and makes new model of wheelchairs, further said Pariyar who emphasized that the government should provide wheelchairs to people with disability for free of cost.
Khem KC, who is also associated with the Lab, articulated his intent to collaborate with the government agencies to research and development of wheelchair.
At present, KC has been manufacturing wheelchairs in the design and size as per the requirement. According to him, wheelchairs are mostly required for patients sustaining injuries from accidents, strokes and spinal cord injury.
He described, “The spinal cord injury patients remain in bed if they do not avail wheelchair.” After working in hospital for 12 years and witnessing the difficulties facing the patients with physical disabilities, he started working on wheelchair production.
Engineer Sunil is credited for building first ever electric wheelchair in Nepal. He lamented that there was less awareness about wheelchair use and there was no wheelchair-friendly environment in the country.
“There is a tendency of shying away from using wheelchair. For this, social awareness is necessary. The practice of confiding people with disabilities to house should be ended and there should be a change in the way society view people in wheelchair,” he maintained.
Bharatpur Metropolitan City’s executive member Gopal Darai commended that the Infinity Lab’s role was inspiring. He underscored State’s support for research and development of such works.
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PM Dahal and UML Chair Oli meet
Kathmandu, April 12: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and CPN (UML) Chairman KP Sharma Oli have held talks on the latest contemporary political topics in the country.
During the meeting took place at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers today, the two leaders are learnt to have discussed the session of the Federal Parliament among other topics, besides the contemporary political issues.
Talking briefly to the media persons in Singha Durbar after the meeting, UML Chair Oli said the meeting of the House of Representatives could not be held due to the main opposition party, the Nepali Congress.
When journalists asked him whether the Parliament session is going to be prorogued because of the government not giving it the business, Oli said: “It’s because the Congress obstructed it.”
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Handicraft exports to Europe dwindle by 20 per cent
Kathmandu, April 12: The war in European continent has its impact on the handicraft industry here in Nepal. President of the Federation of Handicraft Associations of Nepal, Prachanda Shakya said handicraft exports to Europe have decreased by 20 percent.
According to him, goods like hand-made paper, pashmina, felt and others are exported in large volumes to Europe. Handicraft goods worth Rs 6 billion were exported to Europe last year. Shakya shared that the exports have gone down by 20 per cent this year.
“The war in Europe has affected the handicraft trade of Nepal. However, handicraft export to other countries is moderate,” Shakya said.
As per Federation’s data, handicraft and sculptures items worth approximately Rs 12 billion are exported from Nepal. Handicraft exports in the two months – Mangsir and Poush – alone are Rs 8 billion.
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Wildfires reported in over 70 community forests in Myagdi
Galeshwar (Myagdi), April 12: Forest fires that broke out in more than 70 community forests in Myagdi district over the last one month have destroyed more than 2,000 hectares of forest area.
As a result, the wild animals have started entering human settlements from the forests and hundreds of trees and thickets have been burnt. Valuable herbs, birds and wild animals and other forest products have been destroyed.
Incidents of wildfires are taking place around Beni, the district headquarters, and various other places of the district along with the onset of season of high winds. The data shared by the Division Forest Office shows that forest from 10 to 150 hectares in area have been destroyed due to the raging fires.
Only four days back, bushfire damaged 65 hectares of forest area of the Bagarphant community forest at Jyamrukkot, Beni Municipality-2. Similarly, around 150 hectares forest area was destroyed by fire at the Mulchhahari community forest on Wednesday.
Security personnel and locals were mobilized to douse the forest fires, but could not bring the infernos under control even after two days of efforts.
“Valuable herbs, wild animals and numerous trees have been decimated by the raging forest fires,” said Bhim Bahadur Rijal, a local.
The Division Forest Office Myagdi stated that around 80 hectares of forest has suffered damage due to a blaze in the community forests at Niskot, Upallo Badarbang areas in west Myagdi. The Office said it is challenging to tame the wildfires due to the difficult topography and as the forests are located on steep hill slopes.
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NA delibertes on resolution proposal on ensuring free healthcare
Kathmandu, April 12: Deliberation on the resolution proposal on ‘Ensuring free healthcare services’ continues in the meeting of the National Assembly (NA) today.In the proposal presented by President of Development, Economic Affairs and Good-Governance Committee, Kamala Panta, in today’s meeting of the Upper House.
The proposal was seconded by parliamentarians Krishna Prasad Poudel, Jit Jung Basnet, Sharada Devi Bhatta, Narayandutta Bhatta, Tul Prasad Bhiswakarma, Bimala Ghimire, Bhuwan Bahadur Sunar and Bishnu Bahadur Bishwakarma among others.
Along with support to the resolution, they demanded with the government to guarantee free healthcare services to all citizens, arguing that the people’s right to live fell under the fundamental rights of the constitution.
It is said that the resolution proposal was presented acknowledging the need to guide the Ministry of Health and Population and the government to ensure the free healthcare services to citizens and safeguard their rights.
The proposal highlighted the need for free healthcare services for citizens stating that people were dying prematurely in lack of treatment. Furthermore, it also called for providing free health equipment and services and financial assistance during the period of examination and treatment.
“It will be the State’s highest priority, obligation and responsibility to save any citizens from premature death in lack of money and access to quality healthcare services. In the democratic and welfare state, no citizens shall die prematurely in lack of treatment,” the resolution proposal stated.
It further read, “In accordance with the constitution of Nepal and universal Declaration of Human Rights, any treatment will be ensured by establishing every citizen’s access to healthcare services and ensuring every citizen’s right to live.”
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Recommendation Committee formed for appointing officer-bearers for two Commissions
Kathmandu, April 12: Government has formed recommendation committee for appointing officer-bearers for the two commissions related to transitional justice.
The cabinet meeting convened at Singha Durbar in Kathmandu today decided to form a committee chaired by former Chief Justice Om Prakash Mishra to recommend Chairperson and members for the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and Commission for Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons.
The Committee includes former Justice at the Supreme Court Jagadish Sharma Poudel, Dr Arjun Kumar Karki and Stella Tamang, shared Minister for Communication and Information Technology Rekha Sharma.
The meeting also decided to recommend President Ram Chandra Paudel to end the current session of the parliament by mid night of May 14, informed Minister Sharma, also the Spokesperson of the government.
Likewise, the meeting has decided to recommend to President Paudel to nominate Dr Anjan Shakya in the vacant seat of the National Assembly.
Furthermore, the meeting decided to give orange the recognition of national fruit. Similarly, Dr Damodara Poudel has been appointed the Honorary Consular General for the Ohio State of the USA.
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NA approves resolution proposal on ensuring free healthcare service
Kathmandu, April 12: The National Assembly (NA), the upper house of the Federal Parliament, today unanimously approved the ‘Resolution Proposal on Ensuring Free Healthcare’.
President of the Development, Economic Affairs and Good-Governance Committee, Kamala Devi Panta had presented the proposal.
National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal put the proposal to a decision after the deliberations on it. The motion was unanimously endorsed.
“The thematic committees concerned are directed to monitor whether the topics of concern included in the Resolution Proposal are implemented or not,” Chairperson Dahal said, issuing directives.
Addressing the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population, Upendra Yadav, expressed the commitment to implementing the topics mentioned in the Proposal.
He said health services are being provided under nine different topics as immunization service, integrated neonatal and pediatric, malnutrition, family planning, maternal and child health services.
The Health Minister also informed the Assembly that health centres are being constructed at the local units.
He shared on the occasion that 7 million 727 thousand and 363 individuals of 2 million 394 thousand and 695 households throughout the country are included in the health insurance scheme.
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