Pokhara, May 9: Five organisations in Kaski district have expressed happiness at the decision of the United Nations to declare the Full Moon Day of Baisakh, on which Lord Gautam Buddha was born, became enlightened and attained Nirvana, a public holiday.

In a communique published here, chairman of the Dayak Sabha Tilakman Gubhaju, Gyanmala Sang Chairman Subarna Kumar Bajracharya, Women Upasika Association chairman Mrs Panchalaxmi Buddacharya and Youth Buddhist Association chairman Uttam Man Buddhacharya said the U.N. decision is a matter of special pride for the Nepalese.

Dharmashila Buddhist Vihar here has also expressed happiness at the U.N. Decision.

Gratitude has been expressed towards the government of Sri Lanka which proposed the public holiday, the nine Buddhist countries of South East-Asia which seconded the proposal, and l2 various other countries and member countries of the general assembly.

Kathmandu, May. 9: An all party meeting held today under the chairmanship of Speaker Taranath Ranabhat to discuss preparations for the 18th Session of Parliament which is to commenced from May 15 laid emphasis upon the need for Parliament and all bodies concerned to show accountability and sensivity. The meeting was held in order to make Parliament effective, responsible and in consonance with the people’s expectations.

During the meeting held at the Speaker’s Office, the participants stressed that all should be concerned to make the upcoming session result-oriented.

Speaker Ranabhat pointed out the need for all to rise above individual and party interests and uphold the spirit of cooperation and tolerance between the ruling party and the opposition so as to enhance the dignity of the Houses of Parliament.

Referring to the upcoming session as a budget session, Minister for Finance Mahesh Acharya said that efforts have been made to include suggestions from lawmakers while preparing the budget as per the norms of the parliamentary system under which consensus is sought among differing opinions.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala was also present.

Also present were chairman of the National Assembly Dr. Mohammad Mohasin, Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel, leader of the Main Opposition Party Madhav Kumar Nepal and leaders from all political parties represented in Parliament.

Lawmakers Rajendra Pandey, Sitanandan Raya, Surendra Pandey and Rajeswar Devkota spoke about how Parliament could be made more respectable and effective.

The meeting also passed a resolution mourning the demise of senior leftist leader Nirmal Lama.

Kathmandu, May. 9: A high-level investment promotion directive committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala to act as a fast track committee with a view to make the promotion of domestic as well as foreign private investment effective in accordance with the open and liberal economic policies and the policy concerning privatisation adopted by His Majesty’s Government.

According to the Prime Minister’s office, the deputy prime minister, the ministers for construction and physical planning, water resources, finance and industry, the vice chairman of the National Planning Commission and the chief secretary have been designated members of the committee with the secretary at the Prime Minister’s Office as member secretary.

The Prime Minister’s Office will act as secretariat for the committee.

The committee will encourage and promote domestic as well as foreign private investment, sanction investment proposals, bring about necessary coordination in endorsement and implementation, follow-up on and supervise the implementation aspect of such proposals, create an environment conducive to such proposals and issue necessary directives in this connection.

Kathmandu, May 9 : A delegation led by Nepali Congress Tanahu district committee chairman Raghunath Poudel met with Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala Saturday and urged him to implement development work in the district in an effective and continuous manner after setting the priorities.

The delegation also met with the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Development, the Minister for Home, the Minister for Water Resources, the Minister for Information and Communication, the Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies and the Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives and apprised them of various matters pertaining to development work in the district.

During their meetings, the delegation called for the construction of concrete and gravel access raods to the urban area, construction of bridges over various rivers, arrangements for drinking water, telephone and trunk line and electrification, and construction of embankments for irrigation.

Bishnu Bir Ale of the NC, NC district committee secretary Krishna Prasad Goutam, joint secretary Parashu Ram Giri and president of NC constituency No. 2 Nil Bahadur Thapa were among the 26 members of the delegation.

Meanwhile a delegation from the Nepal Magar Organisation met with Prime Minister Koirala today and asked for initiatives on the part of His Majesty’s Government for the promotion and preservation of the Magar language, culture and history.

The 5-member delegation led by its chairman Gore Bahadur Khapangi also included women’s wing chief of the organisation Bam Kumari Budha.

Also today secretary at the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation Rabi Bahadur Bista apprised Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala at the latter’s office today of the existing condition of forests and the existing forest policy and programmes.

He also briefed the Prime Minister about the implementation aspect of the recent decision of the government on forest management in the Terai, Chure and Inner Terai regions. On the occasion, Prime Minister Koirala instructed the secretary to implement the decisions without any delay.

Minister of State for Forests and Soil Conservation Mohammad Aftab Alam was also present on the occasion.

Kathmandu, May 9: Prime Minister and Royal Nepal Academy (RNA) Chancellor Girija Prasad Koirala inaugurated National Drama Festival – 2057 at a function held here this afternoon.

Before he inaugurated the festival by reciting four lines from noted dramatist Balakrishna Sama’s verse play Bhakti Thapa, Koirala said that sometimes a Prime Minister too has to act like a player. “As a matter of fact, we are all players of a drama that begins with our birth and ends in death,” he added.

He lauded RNA Academician and artist Nir Bikram Shah, who is the coordinator of the festival, for reviving Nepalese theatre to prominence through such programmes.

The entire festival that is dedicated to late Sama consists of 30 plays, RNA sources said. “Various artistes from 33 different districts are taking part in the festival.”

At the function, Premier Koirala felicitated senior novelist-dramatist Govinda Bahadur Malla Gothale and senior stage artiste Bekha Narayan Maharjan for their outstanding contribution to the development of Nepalese literature, especially drama.

RNA Vice Chancellor poet Mohan Koirala said that despite various constraints and difficulties, the Academy would make sincere attempts in promoting art and artistes.

oordinator Nir Bikram Shah and RNA Member-Secretary Dr. Tulsi Prasad Bhattarai also shed lights on the festival and the history of the development of Nepalese drama.

Kathmandu, May 9: The Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper Mill is now feeling secure in the domestic market following a provision in the Indian budget this year to levy an 8 per cent production duty on cheap paper at a time when such paper is affecting the market here.

But the Indian budget this year has also levied an 8 per cent counter value duty and 4 per cent Additional Special Duty (Asd) on goods imported from Nepal. Consequently, difficulty has arisen in the export of Nepalese goods to India.

The tax on goods exported from Nepal to India, which used to be 8 per cent, has now reached 20.64 per cent.

The Bhrikuti mill has been exporting over 35 metric tons of paper to India a year. The mill was on the verge of closure in 1992. But before that it had succeeded in raising its annual production to 10,112 mt.

Established in 2049 (1992-93) with the technical and financial cooperation of the People’s Republic of China, the mill was privatised in 2049. The Golchha Organisation, the Kabra Group, and a British company, Intermatch Ltd, purchased the mill for Rs 225 million.

Following privatisation, the mill’s name was changed to Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper Mill. It had commenced production from January 1993.

Sixteen public sector undertakings including this mill were privatised after hmg took up its liberalisation and open market policy in the wake of the restoration of democracy. These undertakings were becoming a burden for the government.

Bhrikuti Pulp and Paper mill exemplifies the enormous progress recorded by loss making enterprises following privatisation.

The mill suffered a total annual loss of over Rs 30,000,000 some l8 years ago. But it turned around and paid Rs 278,380 in revenue to hmg in 1996-97. It now directly employs more than 582 persons.

When the mill was privatised, the workers felt job insecurity. But now they say they feel more secure.

Those who had left their jobs voluntary then have now rejoined the mill’s workforce, according to general manager Keshav Lamichhane.

When it was established, the daily production capacity of the mill was 13 mt and this was down to 7.8 mt a day by the time it was privatised. But capacity has now been increased to 18 mt, and a 70 mt capacity machine has also been installed, it is learnt from the management.

Daily production has now reached 28.14 mt. A 50 mt capacity plant has also been installed to recycle scrap paper and manufacture quality paper from various types of waste paper.

With the recycling of scrap and waste paper, felling of trees for raw material has decreased at the local level.

A 70 mt capacity machine with a digester and washing and bleaching functions in four phases produces pulp of high quality.

A range of papers from 38 to 40 gram thin to newsprint and maplitho are manufactured.

The mill also exports 800 mt of pulp to Japan annually.

Before privatisation, there was a shortage of experts at the mill. At present foreign consultants are working there to bring about all round improvements. Additional machinery has been procured to increase capacity further, according to the general manager.

The average annual production is 10,000 mt. This will be increased to 15,000 mt from this year, it is learnt from mill sources.

The daily production capacity is 88 mt at present. But the mill has not run to full capacity due to lack of raw material.

The general manager further says that the annual requirements of straw, bran and grass, the main raw materials, are procured from districts stretching from Saptari to Kailali.

Meanwhile, local people allege that effluents and emissions discharged by the mill have been degrading the environment of the area.

But general manager Lamichhane says pollution caused by smoke from the mill chimney is below the ceiling prescribed by the government.

The effluent discharged is to be treated before being channelled into the river. Other waste is are used as manure by the local people, he added.

“Following enforcement of the local self-governance act, a tax of 25 paisa had been levied on every kg of straw while a scrap tax and a local development tax have also been introduced, and this is unjustice to the mill,” said the general manager.

Kathmandu, May 9: Minister for Foreign Affairs Chakra Prasad Bastola attended an interactive business luncheon meeting hosted in his honour by the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ficci) in New Delhi this afternoon.

Addressing the captains of Indian trade and industry, Minister Bastola said that Nepal-India relations are multifaceted, and geographical proximity, cultural similarities and adherence to common values have shaped the ancient ties between the two countries.

Assuring Indian businessmen of His Majesty’s Government’s resolve to further encourage Indian investment in Nepal, Mr Bastola expressed the government’s determination to pursue economic liberalization and reforms of financial institutions.

The minister hailed the policy of the government of India to progressively increase the level of direct investment and institute a fast track approach to the processing of applications for investment in Nepal.

He named energy intensive industries, tourism related industries, agro enterprises based on cereals, horticulture and floriculture, sericulture, herbal and livestock products, and pharmaceuticals and service sector like health care as thrust areas with avenues for enormous possibilities of bilateral cooperation.

The minister also assured the gathering that Nepal would do its best to promote regional cooperation in the core economic areas at the eleventh saarc summit to be held in Nepal.

He also answered questions on bilateral economic and commercial relations particularly relating to potentialities of investment and trade in Nepal.

Royal Nepalese Ambassador to India Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa, Indian Ambassador to Nepal K.V. Rajan and Foreign Ministry officials of the two countries were also present on the occasion.

Likewise, Foreign Minister Bastola had a meeting with Indian Defense Minister George Fernandes this morning.

Mr Ajit Kumar Panja, Indian Minister of State for External Affairs called on the Minister for Foreign Affairs today and discussed bilateral relations and matters of mutual interest.

Minister Bastola also had a meeting with Indian Home Minister Lal Krishna Advani this afternoon.

On the occasion, they discussed bilateral relation and matters of mutual interest.

Royal Nepalese Ambassador Dr. Thapa, Indian Ambassador Rajan and Foreign Ministry officials of both countries were also present on the occasion.

Itahari, May 9: Though accessible health services for the impoverished do exist, a community health insurance campaign, the first of its kind in South Asia, has been launched from Sundarpur VDC of Morang district by the B. P. Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS).

BPKIHS has taken up this challenging task to translate into reality B. P. Koirala’s notion of providing affordable medical treatment to Nepalese living in each and every hut in line with the ideology of democratic socialism.

BPKIHS held interactions and discussions with the people of Sundarpur VDC over eight months to ensure success for its endeavour in line with its rural oriented health policy.

BPKIHS vice-chancellor (VC) Shekhar Koirala says that the community health insurance scheme started from Sundarpur in Morang, one of the districts chosen for health education, is probably an innovation in the health sciences.

The programme was launched with sensitivity towards the health of the people after a well-equipped hospital as visualised by Girija Prasad Koirala when B. P. Koirala was undergoing treatment for cancer in New Delhi, India was built in Dharan, he said.

Under the programme, insurance premiums of Rs 90 for children below 14 and Rs 180 for those above that age have been specified for the rural areas while premiums for the urban area are Rs 300 for children up to 14 and Rs 600 for people above 14.

As this social health insurance scheme could become an example for many developing countries, we are committed to making it a big success, VC Koirala added.

Talking to RSS, Sundar VDC vice-chairman Raj Kumar Tamang said that the service oriented policy of BPKIHS has made the villagers confident of good health and long life. The VDC has been enthusiastically associated with the social health insurance scheme.

Pointing out that he had been afflicted by various diseases, vice-chairman Tamang said he was making preparations to avail himself of the health services made accessible by BPKIHS.

According to Bheem Prasad Paudel, a resident of ward No. 6 in the VDC, his entire family has been insured as BPKIHS provides medical check-ups, drugs worth up to Rs 2,500 and surgery for up to Rs 10,000 free of cost.

Moti Lal Sarki, Indra Bahadur Bishwakarma, Uttam Lal Musahar and Jivan Sundal, all below the poverty line, have also had an opportunity to be insured and they say they need no longer worry about the cost of treatment when they fall ill.

Likewise, Chhayamaya Limbu of Sundarpur VDC ward No. 9 Jagrit Tole says there is no hassle in getting treatment at the hospital and treatment is free of cost once the insurance card is shown. All members of her family have been insured, she says adding, “the social health insurance scheme provides much relief to women.”

Dr. Nilambar Jha, Umesh Lal Karna and Narayan Chapagai, who were active in interactions and discussions with the rural people on the health insurance scheme, says that awareness of the scheme among the rural poor has not been raised sufficiently.

As rural people have often been deceived, they were suspicious of the objectives of BPKIHS and it was difficult to reassure them, according to those taking part in the interactions and discussions.

BPKIHS has made all necessary arrangements to reassure rural people that the health insurance scheme which started from the Nepali New Year’s day is reliable and provides for accessible health services, according to director of the hospital Dr. Narayan Kumar.

Nepalgunj, May 9: Minister for Information and Communications Jayaprakash Prasad Gupta has said that the present government is making every effort to maintain law and order, control corruption and provide a clean administration.

Minister Gupta, who was speaking at a party workers’ gathering organized by nc banke district committee here today, said the government has taken various important decisions to resolve the obtaining problems and the efforts have started showing positive signs.

With the government giving important responsibility to the police for maintaining law and order, they are working with a high morale and as a result of this the situation has seen some improvement.

Stressing the need for the cooperation of all sectors in corruption control, he said the opposition parties should play important role in this regard as processions and slogans do not help control corruption.

He also disclosed that Nepal Television will be hooked up to satellite and Radio Nepal will have a second channel during this fiscal year.

Likewise, he added, a new channel of Radio Nepal will be introduced in Surkhet to promote radio programmes in local languages.

He also spoke about the plan to launch a communication package programme in Banke and provide pmp telephone service in the terai area. Under the pmp system, 12 telephone lines can be distributed from one telephone set, he added.

Minister Gupta also said that Nepal Television Kohalpur will be linked to national transmission in coming two months and priority will be given to local languages in radio programmes.

Banke ddc chairman Om Prakash Jung Rana, nc Banke district president Krishna Man Shrestha and various party workers spoke about different problems in the district.

Minister Gupta also inspected the telecommunications corporation regional office and acquired information about the office’s various activities.

In Nepalgunj, Minister for Information and Communications Gupta said that the government has taken initiative to work in close association with Federation of Nepalese Journalists (Fnj), Nepal Press Union (Npu) and Nepal Press Council (npc) for strengthening the country’s press sector.

Minister Gupta, who was speaking at a meet the press programme organized by npu, banke here today, said that although the constitution proscribes cancellation of the registration of any newspapers for any materials published in them, some newspapers seem to have misused the spirit of the constitution by fanning terrorist activity.

He also alerted the press sector against such a tendency.

Necessary homework is under way to hold discussions with fnj on introducing a bill concerning right to information in the Parliament, Minister Gupta said.

Though the country has not seen a drastic change in the past two months the government has taken various important initiatives like improving the law and order situation, reduction in the number of ministries, development of a concept of “Chhetrapal” and increase in the facilities of police, he said.

Maoist terrorist activity has drawn criticism from all political parties, he said, adding the government has taken an important decision to strengthen the police force so as to control the terrorist activity.

Replying to questions raised by the journalists, Minister Gupta said it would be irrelevant to advocate the entry of second generation in party leadership. Leaders and workers should fulfil their responsibility on the basis of their ability, he added.

Nepali Congress still needs the leadership of prime minister and party president Girija Prasad Koirala and the party will gather a new momentum under his leadership, he observed.

Kathmandu, May 9: Nirmal Lama, senior communist leader and one of the members of the Constitution Recommendation Commission of 1990 passed away at the Teaching Hospital at 6:10 in the morning today.

Seventy-year-old Lama was suffering from cancer of the food pipe for the last nine months.

Lama’s condition had deteriorated after the cancer spread to his brain. He had been admitted at the Teaching Hospital on May 6.

General Secretary of the Nepal Communist Party (Unity Centre) Prakash had covered Lama’s body with the party’s flag before he was brought to the Amrit Secondary School in Mhenpi at 1:10 p.m. this afternoon.

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, Speaker Taranath Ranabhat, Leader of the main opposition party Madhav Kumar Nepal, President of the Nepal Workers’ and Peasants’ Party Narayan Man Bijukchhe and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Nepal (Marxist-Leninist) Bamdev Gautam paid tributes to Lama today.

Well wishers, politicians and party workers thronged the premises of the Amrit Secondary School to pay their last respects to Lama.

The funeral procession of late Lama will start from Mhenpi at two in the afternoon tomorrow. The procession will end at Swayambhu where his last rites will be performed jointly by the Unity Centre and his family members.

Lama, leader of the Nepal Communist Party (Unity Centre) was born in Kurseong, Darjelling in January 1930. He completed his Bachelor in Arts from Tribhuvan University and joined the Nepal Prajatantra Congress in Jogbani in 2005 B.S.

Lama who joined the Nepali Congress in 2007 B.S. was the first Office Secretary of the party. Following the unification of the Nepal Prajatantra Congress and the Nepal Rastriya Congress in 2007 B.S. Lama was one of the frontline commanders of the revolution against dictatorial Rana rulers.

He left the Congress party and joined the Nepal Communist party in 1951.

Lama was arrested for the first time in 1952 and imprisoned on Khursani Parva and Bhedabakhra Kanda incidents. He was arrested and imprisoned several times in the course of his political career.

Lama was underground from 2031 B.S. to 2046 B.S. during the ban imposed on political parties by the then Panchayat regime.

He became the politburo member of the Nepal Communist party (Unity Centre) after its formation in 2047 B.S.

Following the split in the Unity Center Lama had been working as a senior leader of the Center. Late Lama is survived by his wife Sukanya Waiba, one son and one daughter.

RSS adds: As wished by senior leftist leader Nirmal Lama before his death, his eyes have been transplanted on two needy persons at Tilganga eye hospital today.

Those receiving the eye transplantation were a 52 years old women from Sarlahi and a 60 years old woman of Nuwakot, according to the hospital.

Meanwhile CPN-UML central committee at its meeting held today expressed profound sorrow over the demise of CPN-Unity Centre leader Nirmal Lama, and decided to postpone by a day the current central committee meeting and close down the central office and fly the party flag at half mast.

Meanwhile, in a statement of condolences, CPN-UML general secretary Madhav Kumar Nepal has said that in more than five decades of political life the Late Lama made important contribution to gearing ahead the Nepalese communist movement, democratic movement and the movement of patriotism.

Likewise, NC leader and former prime minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said late Lama will always remain among the Nepalese people for his exemplary role in drafting the Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 and his arduous life.

Similarly, the central secretariat meeting of Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Chaired By NWPP president Narayan Man Bijukchhe expressed deep sorrow over the demise of a untiring fighter of Nepal’s communist movement and extended heartfelt condolences to the members of the bereaved family.

Expressing profound sorrow over the demise of Mr Lama, Nepal Communist Party (Marxist) has said that the statement given by Mr Lama a few days ago from his hospital bed regarding the present political situation should be taken seriously by every honest political worker.

Likewise, Socialist Movement Nepal, Nepal Communist Party (Malema) and Informal Sector Services Centre (INSEC) have also expressed deep sorrow over the demise of Mr. Lama.

Meanwhile Minister for Home Govinda Raj Joshi has said that he has been profoundly grieved on hearing the news of the passing away of leftist leader and freedom fighter Nirmal Lama this morning. The late Lama passed away this morning at the TU Teaching Hospital at the age of 70.

In a condolence message, the home minister stated that the leading role played by Lama in the leftist history of Nepal and his contributions to the democratic struggle and to safeguarding democracy after its restoration will be remembered for ever, adding that in his demise the country has lost a freedom fighter and a good politician.

Home Minister Joshi also prayed for the eternal peace of the departed soul and conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family.

Likewise, Chief Whip of the Nepali Congress Binaya Dhwaj Chand, in his condolence message, said he was stunned to learn of the demise of Mr Lama, a senior leftist leader and a member of the constitution drafting committee in 1990, and at the same time the country has lost a great politician.

He has wished eternal peace to the departed soul and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family. He prayed for strength to the bereaved family to bear their grief.