Birgunj, Apr. 27: Minister for Science and Technology Surendra Prasad Chaudhari inaugurated the silver jubilee function of the Ram Kumar Mahavir Prasad Kedia Eye Hospital, the Maharaja Agrasen Faculty of Management and the Brijlal Kedia Hindu University Secretariat today.
Speaking on the occasion, Minister Chaudhari pointed out the need to provide ni, vice chancellor of the Eastern University Dhruba Narayan Lal, treasurer of the World Hindu Federation Gopal Krishna Kharel, member-secretary of the Hindu University Madhav Lal Shrestha and Dr. Birendra Kumar Mallik also expressed their views.
Others paying tributes to late Brijlal Kedia were Babu Lal Chachan, Chiranjivi Lal Agrawal, Dr. Ramesh Pradhan, Ratan Lal Kedia, Dr. Dinanath Kedia, journalists Mathavar Singh and Iswor Chandra Gautam, Bara cdo Hiramani Bhandari and chairman of the Brijlal Kedia honour committee Hari Prasad Giri.
A message from His Majesty the King wishing for success for the function was read out on the occasion.
The messages sent by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and ex-Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai were also read out on the occasion.
Charikot, Apr. 27: Twenty eight Sherpas in Beding Village of Gaurishakar VDC Ward No. 1 have between them scaled the world’s tallest summit, Mt. Sagarmatha, 70 times.
Of them, Nwanyolden Sherpa has set a record for scaling the 8848 metre peak in winter.
Late Lopsanjanbu Sherpa, who succeed in climbing the peak four times, set three different records. He died at the age of 24 in an avalanche in the Tibet region while returning from the fourth climb.
He climbed the mountain in Sherpa and Kunphu costumes as well as in the national dress, Daura Suruwal.
In addition, Dawa Tashi and Nima Dorje of the same VDC climbed the summit seven times eac to scale Godwin Austin (K2), the second highest peak in the world.
We enhanced the pride of Nepal by successfully carrying out expeditions on Mount Everest in different styles as the risk of our lives. And it was Japan which accorded our endeavours high respect in contrast to His Majesty’s Government which only offered citations, first successful Everest climber from Beding Village Nyanyolden said.
He also set a record by scaling Dhaulagiri 1 by the south-west ridge, the most ardous route to the peak.
Situated at the altitude of 4,000 metres above sea level, there is a shortage of arable land in Beding Village. Nothing can be grown there other than potatoes and radish. The locals have to migrate thrice a year because of the climate.
The government should give special consideration to this village and launch a development project there, Norbu Sherpa, another mountaineer, says.
Meanwhile, Temba Chhiri Sherpa, l4, who was born at Rolwaling in Gaurishakar VDC is out to set a record for the youngest ever Everest climber. He is climbing to reach the summit on the day of Buddha Jayanti.
Some 800 mountaineers have reached the world’s highest summit so far, according to the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation.
Of the total number of successful expeditions, 181 were from among the Nepalese, according to Angphuwa Sherpa of Wilderness Experience Pvt. Ltd..
Kathmandu, Apr. 27: A molar tooth of an ancient elephant which police seized during a house raid in the capital a couple of months back was handed over to the Department of Archaeology (DoA) today.
Experts said that the elephant, archidiskodon planifrons, existed during a period between three to one million years ago.
The tooth was discovered in Bhakta Bahadur Shrestha’s house at Putali Sadak, police said. Having received a secret information that Shrestha was involved in drug trafficking, the Special Squad of Police led by the Chief of the Department of Investigation SP Prajwal Shamsher J. B. Rana had carried out search in Shrestha’s house for the suspected heroin.
The police, instead of finding the narcotic, came upon the white substance whose archaeological value they never knew until it was tested in the Central Forensic Lab of police. “We did not know what it was and were least concerned about its value in the beginning,” said Superintendent of Police Rana.
After having established that it was a fossilised bone of an ancient animal, the tooth was sent to DoA for further test, he added.
Zoologist Bhaiya Khanal at Natural History Museum, however, said that the tooth was yet to undergo chemical test for its exact dating. He informed that they had a similar type of tooth already in their collection. “By studying the literature of such fossils we have, we came to the conclusion that it belonged to an ancient species of elephant and that its existence dated back three to one million years.”
Shepherds had found the tooth in a forest at Godar Chisapani of Dhanusha district, which later Shrestha took to his home in Putali Sadak in Kathmandu, police quoted Shrestha as saying.
Lalitpur, Apr. 27: Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya today stressed government-civil society partnership to successfully implement the state’s policy and institutional reform package for achieving a higher growth rate.
The civil society will have an important role to play in implementing the reform package that the government has announced, Acharya told an interaction here this afternoon.
Acharya said that growing importance of the civil society was a special feature of the 21st century. “The government is committed to enlarge the role of the civil society. I communicated this message to the donor community in the recently concluded Nepal Development Forum meet in Paris,” he added.
“The state alone won’t be able to see to all the areas,” Acharya said. “The non-governmental organisations should focus their attention in the areas where the government has failed to reach.”
Acharya said that the government was ready to amend the existing laws to make sure that the NGOs could uphold the poor people’s cause more effectively.
The nation, however, expects the NGOs to be transparent and accountable and work in a non-partisan basis.”
NGO-Federation President Gauri Pradhan said that the government and the civil society were very closely related. “The government and the NGOs are not the opposites,” Pradhan said and assured of the civil society’s assistance to the government in its development efforts.
NGO-Federation’s Vice-president Dr. Renu Rajbhandari said that NGOs faced problems as they were still governed by the undemocratic laws made before the advent of the multiparty democracy.
Rajbhandari said that the NGOs should be accountable to the state adding the state should be equally accountable to the NGOs.
Organised by NGO-Federation and participated in by professors, businessmen and NGO operators, the interaction discussed the civil society’s role in national development.
Kathmandu, Apr. 27: The Manmohan Memorial Foundation organised a colloquium on Manmohan Adhikari and the Communist Movement on the occasion of the first death anniversary of the then cpn-uml president and former prime minister Manmohan Adhikari here today.
On the occasion, cpn-uml general secretary and leader of the main opposition cpn-uml party Madhav Kumar Nepal said the late Adhikari had fought for independence and freedom for more than half a century, adding that those who want to take up politics should do so by winning the hearts of the people in this age of democracy, rather than by serving threats.
People’s Democracy or ‘Janabad’ is not possible through the path adopted by the Maoists, he noted.
Samyukta Janamorcha president Amik Sherchan observed that the late leader was a towering personality in the history of communist movement, while leftist intellectual Govinda Bhatta said the late Adhikari’s contribution has placed the communist movement on high esteem.
Foundation president and member cpn-uml standing committee Bharat Mohan Adhikari noted that 100 students from the Dalit community will be awarded Rs 100 a month as scholarship and a book on the late Adhikari will be published soon.
Foundation secretary Ishwor Pokherel also spoke on the occasion.
Kathmandu, April 26:A delegation of Hotel Association Nepal led by Narendra Bajracharya, President-HAN met with Chief Minister of Goa Mr. Franciso Surdiorha and Ms, Victoria Fernandies, Minister for Tourism in Goa who have arrived Kathmandu to participate in Goa Festival organised at Hotel Soaltee Crowne Plaza, Kathmandu in association with Embassy of India, B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and the Government of Goa and discussed regarding joint cooperation to enhance tourism in Nepal and India
On the occasion Narendra Bajracharya, warmly welcomed Franciso Surdiorha. Chief Minister of Goa, Victoria Fernandies, Ministers for Toriusm of Goa and high officials of Goa State Government and said that there are immense potentialities to develop tourism in Nepal and India by drawing the attention of tourism entrepreneurs from both countries, according to a HAN statement today. He further requested for establishing direct Air Service between Goa and Kathmandu and said that tourism could be promoted by developing joint packages, for which we would like to work together. He hoped that Goa will play a leading role to develop tourism in both countries.
Expressing happiness to participate in Goa festival organised at Kathmandu, Franciso Surdiorha assured full cooperation from Goa State Government for enhancing tourism promotion of both countries and hoped same cooperation from Nepalese side.
Victoria Fernadies, Minister for Tourism of Goa highlighted the State Government’s initiatives for tourism promotion in Goa and expressed willingness of the Goa State Government for reciprocal cooperation for tourism development of India and Nepal. S.S. Keshkamat, Director of Tourism Goa, elaborated Goa Government’s Policy for the development of tourism and said that Goa Government has provided all facilities to tourism industry as other industries of Goa are enjoying.
Also extensive discussions were made to develop relationship between the related government and non government organisation of both countries towards frequent meeting for tourism development. Shyam Bahadur Panday, past President-HAN, Ribhu Chatterjee, Executive Member-HAN and Jyoti L. Khanna, Managing Director-Yeti Travels also spoke the importance of joint venture for tourism development between India and Nepal. The meet appreciated joint venture for organising Goan Jatras Festival for the first time in Nepal and hoped that it would significantly contribute for enhancing tourism in both countries.
Kathmandu, Apr.26: Royal Nepal Airlines Corporation Employee Union has withheld its pressurising programme for one month in response to the management’s time bound working plan to implement the different agreements reached between the union and the management, a press release issued today by the union said.
“After the new chairman took over, since the RNAC management has sent to us a time bound work plan to meet our demands and keeping in view the request of the new chairman to stall the pressure programme, we have decided to withhold our programme for one month beginning tomorrow,” said the release signed by N.B. Rai, Chairman of the union.
“In return of our co-operation we believe that the management will implement all the agreements – meant for the welfare of the staff of the corporation — reached between the management and the union within the end of the next month.”
The union has further warned that if its demands are not fulfilled this time, it will resort to more severe pressure tactics.
Charging the management of ignoring their demands, ranging from promotion of the corporation’s staff to strengthening the airline’s fleet, the union had begun its pressure programmes tying black band around the arms since April 7 this month.
Kathmandu, Apr. 26: The newly elected working committee of the Association of District Development Committees Nepal (ADDC/N) has handed in a 19-point memorandum to Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, president of the Federation Krishna Prasad Sapkota said at a press conference held here yesterday.
The memorandum incorporates demands endorsed by the recently held 3rd general convention of the federation including sanctioning without any alteration of the plans and programmes forwarded by the District Council in keeping with the spirit of the local Self Governance Act, prevention of the tendency of allocating the budget through another channel, release of revenue allocation funds to the DDC through the respective district in accordance with the provisions of the act, raising ceilings and rates of tax that contradict the spirit of the act as per recommendations made by the problem solution committee.
The federation has asked for the launching of programmes such as the women’s awareness campaign, Bisheswar With the Poor and the Ganeshman Peace Campaign through local bodies, and for establishing of the powers of the DDC in accordance with the Local Autonomy Act by dissolving the river inundation control committee, water resources committee, trainees selection committee under the cottage and small industry development committee and development monitoring committee formed under the chairmanship of the chief district officer in contravention to the act.
The practise of irregular freight charges by private airliners operating in Karnali zone and other remote areas should be curbed, president of the federation and Kabhre DDC president Krishna Prasad Sapkota said.
The convention has elected a 23-member new working committee under the chairmanship of Sapkota.
Risiraj Lumsali has been elected vice president and Krishna Prasad Jaishi spokesman of the committee.
The committee includes Arjun Rai, president of Jhapa DDC, Lilanath Shrestha, vice president of Siraha DDC, Tulsi Prasad Nyoupane, president of Sankhuwasabha DDC, Govinda Duwal, president of Bhaktapur DDC, Tej Narayan Yadav, president of Mahottari DDC, Rajiuddin Alam, vice president of Rautahat DDC, Ramesh Sharma, president of Kapilvastu DDC, Nirmal Kumar Gauchan, president of Mustang DDC, and Chitra Bahadur Thapa, vice president of Tanahu DDC as members.
Similarly, the other members of the committee are Deep Bahadur Shahi, president of Kalikot DDC, Bom Bahadur Khatri, president of Pyuthan DDC, Tek Bahadur Khand, president of Dailekh DDC, Bharat Bahadur Khadka, president of Doti DDC, Maya Bhatta, member of Baitadi DDC, Tirtha Bahadur Budha, president of Jumla DDC, Jeevan Bahadur Shahi, president of Hulma DDC, Lal Kumar K.C., President of Dolakha DDC, Jagannath Thapaliya, vice president of Chitwan DDC, Rajendra Prasad Agrahari, member of Nawalparasi DDC and Madhav Poudel, ex-chairman of the Federation.
Kathmandu, Apr. 26: The question of good governance has emerged as one of the major concerns for policy makers and administrators all over the world. The issue of improvement of public governance demands special attention in South Asia, Tejendra Khanna, Former Lt. Governor of Delhi, presently chairman of the board of directors of Ranbaxy Laboratories, the premier Indian pharmaceutical company said here today.
In a talk programme jointly organised by B.P. Koirala India Nepal Foundation and Nepal Administrative Staff College, he said some of the important changes for the present administrative situation in South Asia are deterioration in the maintenance of law and order, decline in work culture and internal discipline in public bodies, low productivity in the use of public functionaries and declining service ethic and lack of serious political focus and intent aimed at effecting meaningful administrative reforms.
Speaking on the occasion Shambhu Prasad Sharan Kayastha Executive Director Nepal Administrative Staff College said inefficiency, rampant corruption, delays in decision making, lack of accountability are serious maladies in our region. He said politicians and bureaucrats largely overlook and forget their responsibility and commitment to the common people. Kayastha highlighted the priorities of government headed by Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala and said the government has put top priority to civil service reforms and major improvements are anticipated in the next few years.
Indian Ambassador K.V. Rajan introduced main speaker Tejendra Khanna and briefly highlighted the activities of B.P. Koirala India Nepal Foundation.
Butwal, Apr. 26:Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said that the dignity of the judiciary will be enhanced only if the legal practitioners move ahead by adhering to dutifulness and honesty.
Chief justice Upadhyaya pointed out the need of cordial relations between the Bar and the Bench at a reception organised by the Appellate Court Butwal here today.
Mr Upadhyaya said the effectiveness of the judicial administration will be increased if the directives issued for the judicial reform are followed.
Also speaking on the occasion were central councilor of the Bar Association Shaligram Banjade, Public Prosecutor Kumar Chudal, Chairman of the Rupandehi Bar Association Giri Raj Khadka, President of the Appellate Court Butwal Unit Ben Bahadur Poudel and Senior Advocate Tej Prasad Kandel.