- Tuesday, 19 November 2024
Sudurpaschim, April 16: Nepali Congress general-secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa has insisted on making development and good governance as the party’s major agenda.
Addressing an event in connection with the ‘Congress Dialogue in Community Programme’ in Dhangadhi today, he said the Nepali Congress should play a leading role in forging common view among the parties on issues of banishing corruption and establishing good governance by conducting a national debate cum discussion on development issues.
He emphasized that the party’s agenda should not be only for 2084 BS, but also for resolving the several problems seen today. He suggested making the year 2081BS as the year for the party’s sanctification and re-awakening.
General-secretary Thapa said that the Congress’ focus should be on its major agenda and not on government.
He opined that the suggestions collected during the Dialogue would support in making the party’s future policy and plans.
Stating that the problem of factionalism was seen in the party due to the faulty process of running the party, he said it is high time remedies are sought to end factionalism in the party.
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Universities will be free from partisan interests and sharing: Education Minister
Kathmandu, April 16: Minister for Education, Science, and Technology, Sumana Shrestha, has said there will be no unnecessary interference on behalf of the Ministry and her party Rastriya Swatantra Party in the universities’ affairs.
During her meeting with a team of education experts including Kedar Bhakta Mathema at Singha Durbar today, the Minister assured that there would be no undue influence on vice-chancellors or university officials to serve any personal or political interests. The Education Minister serves as the Pro-Chancellor of universities.
In the meeting, the team presented the submissions to the Minister, advising the government to promote a merit-based appointment process in universities. The delegation also thanked the Minister for making the appointments of Tribhuvan University (TU) rector and registrar through an open competition instead on the basis of political sharing.
According to the Minister, the appointments of members on the TU Service Commission will be based on open competition and she would not be involved in this process.
Reminding of the existing legal provisions barring government employees and teachers from taking membership in a political party, she said the violation of the law is punishable.
She further said that a task force has been established to address the government’s plan to revise the criteria for teacher appointments and eliminate the requirement of a B Ed degree for pursuing a teaching career.
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Madhes Province Chief Minister facing floor test today
Janakpur, April 16: Chief Minister of Madhes Province government Saroj Kumar Yadav is seeking a vote of confidence in the Province Assembly meeting scheduled for 1.00pm today.
Province Assembly Secretariat officiating secretary Arun Kumar Jha said that the Chief Minister is to present a proposal in the Assembly meeting seeking a vote of confidence. Chief Minister Yadav is taking the trust vote after the erstwhile ruling partner, the Nepali Congress party, withdrew it s support with the change in the political power equation at the centre.
This is the fourth time that Yadav is seeking a trust vote after being appointed as the Chief Minister.
The constitution requires that the Chief Minister should take a vote of confidence within 30 days of a party in the government withdrawing its support.
Chief Minister Yadav, who is also the parliamentary party leader of the Janata Samajbadi Party, commands the support of the CPN (UML), CPN (Maoist Centre), CPN (Unified Socialist) and the Loktantrik Samajbadi Party.
The backing of 54 members is needed for the vote of confidence in the 107-member Province Assembly. Chief Minister Yadav has a clear majority in his favour provided that the present ruling coalition parties are intact.
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Price of yellow metal sets new record, being traded at Rs 139,200 per tola
Kathmandu, April 16: The price of yellow metal has set a new record today in the domestic market. Hall mark gold is being traded at Rs 139,200 per tola (11.66 grams) today, an increase of Rs 1,700 per tola as compared to Monday.
According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silvers Dealers’ Association, the price of hallmark gold was Rs 137,500 per tola on Monday.
Similarly, worked gold is being traded at Rs 138,500 per tola today. According to the NEGOSIDA, the price of silver is fixed at Rs 1,750 per tola today.
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PM Dahal and former Prime Minister Khanal meet
Kathmandu, April 16: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ and CPN (Unified Socialist)’s honourable leader and former Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal have held discussions on the country’s contemporary political topics.
In the meeting took place at the Prime Minister’s official residence at Baluwatar today, the two leaders talked on formation of the Sudurpaschim provincial government and the role of the Unified Socialist party, among other political topics.
Manohari Timilsina, the Prime Minister’s press expert, said PM Dahal and leader Khanal discussed on the latest political activities during the meeting.
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Nepal-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations taking place tomorrow
Kathmandu, April 16: The third round of Nepal-Bangladesh Foreign Office Consultations is taking place here tomorrow.
Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh, Mr Masud Bin Momen is arriving today on a three-day official visit to Nepal in that connection, according to a press release of Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Secretary Sewa Lamsal will lead the Nepali delegation consisting of officials of various ministries of the Government of Nepal at the consultations. The two delegations will discuss wide-ranging areas of cooperation between Nepal and Bangladesh.
The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh is also scheduled to pay a courtesy call on Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Narayan Kaji Shrestha during his visit.
The Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh will leave Kathmandu for Dhaka on 18 April 2024, the Ministry said.
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PHC endorses Raya as Auditor General
Kathmandu, April 16: The Parliamentary Hearing Committee has unanimously endorsed Toyam Raya, to the post of Auditor General.
Committee Chairperson Pashupati Shumsher JB Rana said proposed Raya was unanimously approved for the position of the Auditor General.
Presenting the 15-page action plan, Raya expressed commitment to carry out activities to reduce arrears. A meeting of the Constitutional Council held on March 31 had recommended Raya for the position of Auditor General.
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Crops and livestock special production zone scheme implemented in 10 districts of Karnali
Kankrebihar (Surkhet), April 16: The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives has implemented the ‘crops and livestock special production zone programme’ from the current fiscal year.
The programme has been implemented in ten districts in the Karnali Province and it identifies special zones for various productions on the basis of geographical cluster. Rs 100 million has been allocated in the current fiscal to enforce the programme.
According to the information officer for the Ministry, Rambhakta Adhikari, the areas suggesting potentialities for specific crop production and livestock rearing technically were identified and chosen for the implementation of the programme. The programme aims to seek commercial promotion of agriculture and livestock development.
The programme has been implemented as a pilot project in the initial year.
The programme includes field-based capacity enhancement training for farmers, support them in the marketing of the products, knowledge sharing on the significance of the use of organic fertilizer and use of biopesticides and biofertilisers among them and other necessary assistance to farmers, it is said. Likewise, there is a policy of fixing a support price for agricultural produce before farming, according to Adhikari.
The Ministry has the goal of conserving and promoting the indigenous crops, increasing their production and extending support in the marketization.
Similarly, it is stated that the production and use of organic manure and fertilizers would be promoted. “The policy and programme has included the provision of determining the minimum support price of major agriculture produce before the cultivation of crops,” the Information Officer Adhikari said.
Likewise, the Ministry has stated that the programme’s objective is also to incorporate agricultural crops, livestock, fishery and agro-forestry related enterprises. The programme also has the goal of promoting agricultural cultivation on uncultivated and unused land as well as of encouraging land plotting for enhancing agriculture production.
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KMC to organise month-long skill fair from May 1
Kathmandu, April 16: The Kathmandu Metropolitan City is to organise a month-long ‘Skill Fair’ from coming May 1 at local Tundikhel.
The KMC is organising the skill fair under its pride project. It has collaborated with the Federation of Professional Training and Employment of Nepal for the fair.
Officiating Chief of KMC Social Development Department, Bimala Koirala, shared that an understanding has already been reached between the Department and Federation where the Federation would run and manage the training.
A target has been set to impart training to 2,081 people related to 36 professions of 10 sectors in the fair. The Federation would have the responsibility to manage trainers, required materials, equipment and conduct demo, shared Koirala. The training would be imparted based on curriculum approved by the KMC.
It is expected that the skill fair would help the objective of integrating the scattered skills and making skilled human resources accessible to employers, stressed Koirala.
People aged between 18-58 years could participate in the training. The training is going to be imparted with a target of making 5,000 people self-employed directly by imparting employment-oriented training to 15,000 people.
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Jhulaghat border crossing point in Baitadi to remain closed from this evening
Baitadi, April 16: The Jhulaghat transit point along the Nepal-India border in Baitadi district is to remain closed from this evening in view of the Lok Sabha election in Uttarakhand of India.
Baitadi’s Chief District Officer Bhimkant Sharma has said Jhulaghat will remain shut from 6:00 pm Tuesday until 7:00 pm on April 19 considering the Lok Sabha polls in Uttarakhand State in India. The election has been scheduled to take place on April 19.
However, in case of emergencies, the border can be reopened through a mutual agreement during the official closure. There is a practice for closing the transit points during an election in the neighbouring country.
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Implementation of laws vital for good governance: PM Dahal
Kathmandu, April 16: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has stressed that the establishment of good governance in the country could be ensured only through a successful implementation of laws.
In his address to a programme on “Challenges for good governance and government’s future roadmap” organised by the Institute for Strategic and Socio-Economic Research (ISSR) here today, the Prime Minister stressed the need to pay special attention to the effective implementation of laws to take the country towards a path of good governance and prosperity.
“Prevention of corruption is warranted for the country’s overall development, to promote the citizens’ interests and establish good governance,” the government head said, echoing the need to enrich anti-corruption bodies legally and with resources.
As he announced, the government is committed to investigating any cases of corruption that took place at any time frame and seeking legal action against those responsible for such offences. “Good governance, social justice and prosperity are the top priorities of the incumbent government, and the establishment and promotion of the first one is in the centre,” he added.
The Prime Minister highlighted the essentiality of continuous collaboration and cooperation among the three tiers of government, private sector, civil society, media and the masses to bring the government policy against corruption, and for good governance into practice.
As he said, the successful implementation of laws is needed to operate the governance effectively. “This will lead the country to a path of good governance and prosperity.”
Sharing that a huge transformation was necessary in policy and legal sector, Prime Minister Dahal clarified that the government was active to formulate federal acts in accordance with national resolution and necessity.
He mentioned, “The government has been making necessary preparation to forward a process to make laws and amend some laws through discussion with all parties represented in the parliament.”
Underlining that scientific policy, standard and implementation of reward and punishment and were necessary to ensure good governance, the Prime Minister shared that the government has been moving ahead in the process of accelerating the development construction projects.
“Serious discussion is underway about achievements, problems, challenges on development projects, as well as reforms in policy-level, legal, structural and working-style sectors to resolve the problems,” he stressed.
Sharing that the government would move ahead with some arrangements at structural reforms sector in the upcoming policy, programme and budget, PM Dahal added projects would get adequate means and resources along with prioritization of development projects, as well as should be completed within slated time.
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Education Minister and Chief Election Commissioner discuss action against party-affiliated teachers
Kathmandu, April 16: Minister for Education, Science and Technology Sumana Shrestha and Chief Election Commissioner Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya held discussions in Singha Durbar today regarding the Ministry initiating action against the teachers, university teachers and the employees affiliated to political parties.
On the occasion, the Minister and the Chief Election Commissioner discussed on implementing the laws that prohibit teachers from involving in politics in the context of the Ministry receiving complaints of teachers taking the membership of political parties and engaged in active politics.
Minister Shrestha sought the Election Commission’s cooperation in identifying the teachers involved in politics.
“A kind of general understanding has been reached on removing party politics from the education sector. Currently we are on discussion as to how to remove it and the Ministry expects the Election Commission will provide the details required to collect evidences,” Minister Shrestha said.
During the discussions, CEC Thapaliya said that there was no any problem initiating action against the party-affiliated teachers and employees considering the existing laws, the decisions made by the law courts in the past and the international practices as well.
According to Minister Shrestha’s Secretariat, during the consultations the Chief Election Commissioner mentioned that the Commission has made decisions to this connection in the past and it will extend cooperation in the enforcement of the laws.
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