Kathmandu, April 18:Favourites Manang Marshyangdi Club (MMC) came out from the jaws of defeat to beat Nepalese Under-16 team in tie-break after playing 2-2 draw in the regular and extra time in the today’s last quarterfinal match The MMC with today’s victory booked a place in semi-final to be played against the Friends Club on Thursday.
The Under-16 team almost pulled a surprise victory against the MMC having led 2-1 till the fag end of the second half of the regular time but thanks to striker Basant Thapa who superbly scored MMC equaliser in 45th minute to send the game in the extra time.
However, having remaining high and dry despite dominating whole of the golden goal proceeding, MMC really possessed edge against youth rivals with captain Upendra Man Singh, the national keeper under its wing.
Singh blocked one spot kick taken by Youth’s Jeevesh Pandey while Ganesh Limbu squandered the chance by hitting it wide. MMC’s Kumar Thapa, Rajan Rayamajhi, Basant Gauchan and Upendra Man Singh all scored for MMC to score 4-1 victory.
In the regular time, MMC Basant Thapa gave the dream lead in the 4th minute after collecting a pass from Rajendra Tamang. With the much-needed lead, MMC lost the tempo in the match but were regrouped after getting scare of lifetime from the Youth’s Janak Singh and Jeevesh Pandey.
Janak Singh gave his team the equaliser in the 40th through a flick header while Jeevesh Pandey gave U-16 the lead in the 43rd minute after collecting a cross from Ganesh Limbu. However, MMC ace striker brought back his team in the match in the 45th minute of second half by hammering a superb goal from a cross from Basant Gauchan.
Pokhara, Apr. 18: Reiyukai Nepal, established here 23 years ago as a chapter of the international organisation which works to identify the inner self, promote the spirit of love, instil respect for one’s ancestors and foster world peace, is to extend its cooperation from this year onwards for raising agriculture yields.
As 60 per cent of the 460,000 Reiyukai members in the country are dependent on agriculture and many of them live in rural areas, the organisation recently held a national level two-day basic training concerning agriculture.
The training programme was organised with the objective of transforming 48 farmers from the 47 Reiyukai branches and sub-branches across the Kingdom into instructors. The trained instructors will contact the agriculture offices and service centres in every district and start their work in line with stated objectives.
It is not possible for the country to increase the area under cultivation to keep up with the increase in population and meet the growing demand for foodgrain.
The central bureau of statistics had projected the population of Nepal for last year at 22,367,048, it is learnt.
The quantity of foodgrain necessary to feed nearly 22.5 million people is about 4,286,000 metric tons a year.
The total output of paddy, maize, wheat and millet last year was only about 4,100,000 mt, it is learnt from Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC). NARC has categorised these five crops as main cereals.
Looking at the figures for last year, the output of foodgrain fell short by about 1,000,000 mt.
The population census of 2048 Bikram Year states that 8.1 per cent of the population is dependent on agriculture. Intellectuals express concern at the import of foodgrain to meet the deficit in a predominantly agricultural country like Nepal.
On the other hand, data collected last year reveals that the total cultivable land in the country is 2,968,017 hectares.
Only 886,249 hectares of cultivable land (30 per cent of the total) has irrigation.
As the population continues to grow at the rate of 2.4 per cent per annum and the deficit in foodgrain goes on increasing, it becomes necessary to enhance the productivity of the cultivable land to increase agricultural output.
It is felt here that the time has come to pay attention to irrigation, soil nutrients (fertilisers), improved seeds and appropriate technology to increase productivity and output.
The private sector and the Agriculture Inputs Corporation (AIC) together were able to supply only 156,828 mt of chemical fertiliser last fiscal year which, on the average, is equivalent to only 30 Kg per hectare. This is one of the reasons for the decline in output, according to farmers concerned.
Agricultural loans of over five billion rupees were disbursed last fiscal year and aic supplied 1,905 mt of improved seeds, according to the data.
The excessive use of chemical fertiliser and an unscientific agriculture system have caused rapid decrease in the fertility of soil. It is time to pay attention to blending the use of compost fertiliser with chemical fertiliser to consistently improve the soil fertility, according to the concerned experts.
Considering the area under paddy cultivation and the expected yield in the current fiscal year, productivity is expected to be the maximum as compared to each of the last 30 years, according to NARC.
Realising that there should be not only a green revolution but also an evergreen revolution to increase foodgrain output, NARC has initiated research accordingly, says senior scientist and head of NARCs publicity and documents division Bhola Man Singh Basnet.
An integrated pest management programme should be carried out to increase productivity, according to scientists.
Likewise, the concerned authorities should also pay attention to agriculture markets, cold storage, credit at low interest rates, accessibility of technical services, construction of rural roads, etc. To motivate farmers to raise farm output.
Many people are of the view that the agricultural sector should be revolutionised. Through commercialisation and mechanisation. The misconception that educated people should not do physical or manual work should be discarded.
Drawing attention towards cultivable land with irrigation left fallow throughout the year, some intellectuals suggest that law should be enacted under which land owners cannot keep cultivable land fallow.
More land tax should be levied on such fallow land. And if land tax could be reduced on land cultivated throughout the year, it will go a long way towards increasing agricultural output, according to chairman of Kaski District Development Committee Punya Prasad Paudel.
The government has already formulated and introduced the 20-year agriculture perspective plan. However, central member of Nepal Peasants Association Keshari Raj Parajuli laments that framers are still in the dark about the plan.
From 1960 till now, 163 strains of 28 different crops have been released in Nepal for various areas, registered and recommended for use with a complete technology package, according to NARC.
Among those recommended for the rainy season are 44 paddy strains, 15 maize strains, three millet, four groundnut, six soybeans, two bean, two lentil and two jute strains.
The desired productivity and output levels will be achieved only if the complete technology package recommend after necessary research is applied, according to scientists.
Amargadhi (Dadeldhura), Apr 18: The Water Induced Disaster Prevention Department organised a mobile seminar on water induced disaster reduction here on Monday. Acting chairman of the district development committee (DDC) Nar Bahadur Bista inaugurated the seminar.
Forty persons including teachers, chairmen of village development committees (VDCs), representatives of the DDC and Amargadhi Municipality and the district NGOs, police, administration, irrigation and soil conservation and road offices attended the seminar.
On the occasion, acting DDC chairman Bista said that the seminar will suggest ways to prevent water-induced disasters in Dadeldhura district which is more prone to such disasters. Chief district officer Dilli Prasad Shivakoti urged the participants to extend the knowledge gained through the seminar to the grassroots level.
Chief of the administration section of the water induced disaster prevention department Amar Kumar Pradhan shed light on the importance of the seminar.
Acting Mayor of Amargadhi Municipality Padma Singh Bhandari presided over the programme. Various working papers on the impact of water induced disasters and ways of disaster mitigation were presented at the seminar. The participants were also taken on an inspection tour of the Radunwa Khola Erosion Prevention Project.
Bhaktapur, Apr. 18: The nine-day international conference on “Culture, heritage management and tourism” organised under the auspices of the Bangkok-based headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) concluded here on Sunday.
The conference suggested formulation and implementation of separate plans of action for heritage conservation for different cities according to their specific requirements.
The conference also called on Bhaktapur Municipality to preserve its natural environment, revive traditional construction technology and initiate local heritage assistance programme for overall conservation of its traditional architecture and heritage.
One hundred and fifty tourism entrepreneurs and cultural experts from 24 countries including different cities attended the seminar.
Cities represented in the conference were Bhaktapur of Nepal, Hubai of South Korea, Hoian of Vietnam, Candy of Sri Lanka, Levuka of Fiji, Lijiang of the People’s Republic of China, Luwang Prawang of Laos, Meleka of Malaysia and Vigan of the Philippines.
UNESCO heritage consultant for the Asia-Pacific region Richard Angleheart said sustainable tourism development of any heritage city depended on the tourist attractions it could offer.
He thanked all the participants of the conference and Bhaktapur Municipality for the successful conclusion of the conference and stressed the development of all aspects of tourism to bolster up the local economy.
Meanwhile, the international non-governmental organisation, A.C.A.-Japan has been undertaking various programmes in rural areas of Nepal in the last five years.
The programmes include construction of school buildings, provision of scholarship grants to students, literacy classes, afforestation, agricultural training and health programmes.
Addressing a press conference organised by the ACA here on Sunday, ACA-Japan president Sugahiko Aujimoto said that the assistance under the various projects has benefited the target groups.
He said the assistance for various programmes of the NGO would be increased to Rs 10 million in the next year.
Local community participation has been the main thrust of the programmes carried out by the project, he added.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18:Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that Nepal’s agenda for institutional improvement in the country’s state machinary and economic policy reforms have been taken very positively by the representatives of the donor countries and agencies.
Minister Acharya said promotion of understanding and cooperation among the government, civil society and the private sector is crucial to attracting more foreign assistance.
The Nepal Development Forum is meeting in Paris at present. The meeting, usually held every two years between the donors of Nepal and His Majesty’s Government, has been held at an interval of four years this time.
Political instability in Nepal was the major factor behind the delay in holding the meeting.
The agendas being discussed at this forum are a little bit different from the ones discussed in the previous meetings, Minister Acharya said replying a question.
This time, Nepal’s focus will be on winning the donors’ trust in the policies adopted by the country and its priority areas, he added.
The donor countries and agencies are concerned about Nepal’s development and the progress and prosperity of the Nepalese, he observed.
They have taken very positively Nepal’s commitment to improve its economic policy, control corruption and ensure law and order, and good governance and are of the view that these commitments should be fulfilled soon so that the people can experience some relief, the Finance Minister said.
The donors wish to see increased private sector investment in Nepal’s telecommunications and water resources sectors.
He also said that the donors have appreciated Nepal’s commitment to encourage private sector involvement in development and reform financial strategy.
This forum meeting should not be meant for demanding more foreign money, rather it should be utilized for effective mobilization of international resources through judicious utilization of available money and other resources, Minister Acharya said, replying to a question.
Discussions at the Forum have centered a round major development challenges facing Nepal, strategy to be adopted to face the challenges and basic aspects of development, he said.
He also expressed confidence that the Paris meeting would be instrumental in boosting Nepal’s development activities and poverty alleviation through the attainment of basic objectives of development.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18 : Administration of vitamin ‘A’ capsules to the children an half year old to 6 of age kicked off today in 64 district across the country where national vitamin ‘A’ programme has been carried out phase wise by Ministry of Health, HMG.
The programme which lasts till tomorrow aims at administering vitamin ‘A’ capsules at ward level to around 2.78 million children with the help of 35,000 women volunteers.
The programme is also to impart knowledge about the natural sources of vitamin ‘A’ such as green vegetable, fruits, fishes, eggs and breast feeding.
Ministry of Health has been launching the national vitamin ‘A’ programme with the objectives of not to prevailing the vitamin ‘A’ deficiency as a problem to public health, reducing child mortality rate, preventing eye diseases by the vitamin ‘A’ deficiency and inculcating the habit of balance diets.
The programme has been carried out twice a year, once in the month of Baishakh and another in Kartik by the women volunteers in association with local people’s representatives, government offices and local non-governmental organisations.
The districts where the programme has been implemented include Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Saptari, Siraha, Dhanusa, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Routahat, Bara, Parsa, Nawalparasi, Rupendehi, Kapilvastu, Dang, Banke, Bardiya, Surkhet, Kailali, Kanchanpur, Doti, Achham, Dadeldhura, Baitadi, Bajhang, Darchula, Bajura and Kalikot.
Similarly, the programme targets to cover Julma, Dolpa, Mugu, Humla, Parvat, Arghakhanchi, Baglung, Dailekha, Myagdi, Kaski, Lamjung, Syanja, Palpa, Manang, Mustang, Tanahu, Chitwan, Makwanpur, Ilam, Dhankuta, Terhathum, Bhojpur, Panchthar, Khotamg, Taplejung, Udaypur, Okhaldhunga, Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, Pyuthan, Kathmandum Bhaktapur, Lalitpur, Nuwakot and Rasuwa districts. Usaid and unicef, Are assisting in the programme from its inception and Australian-aid from last year.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18:Election Commission is to introduce voter’s identity cards in 41 constituencies under second phase pursuant to clause 23 of voter list act 2052, in keeping with a plan to introduce voter’s identity cards in all constituencies across the country to make the election impartial.
Nationals can get the vote only with the voter’s identity cards in the districts where the clause has been effected.
According to the commission, the constituencies where the identity cards be introduced include Ilam 3, Jhapa 1,3 and 6, Dhankuta 1, Morang 5,6 and 7, Sunsari 1, 2 and 4, Saptari 3, Siraha 1 and 4, Danusha 4, Mahottari 2, Sarlahi 3, Makwanpur 2, Rautahat 1, 2, 3 and 4, Bara 3, Parsa 1, Chitwan 2 and 3, Kaski 2, Palpa 3, Nawalparasi 4, Rupandehi 2 and 3, Kapilvastu 2 and 4, Surkhet 2, Banke 2, Bardiya 2, Doti 1, Kailali 1 and 4 and Kanchapur 3.
The identity cards have been introduced in a total of 13 constituencies including 10 in Kathmandu valley under first phase and one constituency in Sunsari, Kathmandu and Baidati each in the begining on experimental basis.
The number of constituencies where voter’s identity cards have been introduced reached 54 so far .
The identity cards are to be issued in more 51 constituencies in 2057/58 under third phase. The constituencies include Sankhuwasabha 1, Dolakha 2, Kabhre 2 and 3, Nuwakot 3, Kaski 1, Gorakha 1, Tanahu 2, Syanja 1 and 2, Baglung 1, Dailekh 1, Dadeldhura 1, Baitadi 2, Udaypur 1, Sindhuli 2, Jhapa 2, 4 and 5, Morang 1,2, 3 and 4, Sunasari 3, Saptari 1,2, 4 and 5, Siraha 2, 3 and 5, Dhanusha 1, 2, 3 and 5, Mahottari 1, 3 and 4, Sarlahi 1,2,4 and 5, Bara 1, 2 and 4, Chitwan 1 and 4 and Lalitpur 1.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18: Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) has reduced the bank rate from 9.0 to 7.5 per cent effective April 14.
It is almost two and a half years since NRB reduced its interest rate on loans it provides to the banking system. The central bank has then reduced the bank rate from 11 to to 9.0 per cent.
The commercial banks, agricultural development banks and Nepal Industrial Development Corporation are entitled to this facility on the refinance loans they take from the central bank after making investments in the priority sectors.
“We hope that bank rate reduction will enlarge the demand for credit in agriculture, industry and employment generation sector as it is expected to reduce the interest rate on lending,” NRB Governor Dr. Tilak Rawal told a press meet here today.
Rawal said that readjustment of the bank rate would augment the credit access facility, employment opportunities and raise the income level but failed to make a projection about the elasticity of investment.
“We just want to give a signal that the commercial banks should lower their interest rates,” he said.
The central bank has also reviewed the interest rate on the refinancing loans to the Grameen Bikash Banks as well as other institutions that offer micro-credit facilities to poor people in the rural areas. The interest rate on such loans has been reduced to 6.5 per cent which previously stood at 9.0 per cent.
Rawal said that this provision would help promote the economic activities as the micro-credit institutions could provide loans at lower interest rates, as their cost of capital would go down.
NRB has also readjusted the interest rate on the refinancing loans it provides to the commercial banks for export sector loans. The interest rate for such loans is fixed at 6.5 per cent from the previous 7.0 per cent.
This is done with a view to encourage export trade, Rawal said.
NRB last year introduced a provision of refinancing commercial banks on export sector loans at 7 per cent. Under this provision, the commercial banks provided loans to the export sector at 10 per cent. According to the revised provisions, they are to flow credits at 9.5 per cent.
This provision will make Nepalese goods competitive in the international market by reducing the cost of production, Rawal said.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18:Finance Minister Mahesh Acharya has said that Nepal’s agenda for institutional improvement in the country’s state machinary and economic policy reforms have been taken very positively by the representatives of the donor countries and agencies.
Giving a telephonic interview from Paris to RSS today, Minister Acharya said promotion of understanding and cooperation among the government, civil society and the private sector is crucial to attracting more foreign assistance.
The Nepal Development Forum is meeting in Paris at present. The meeting, usually held every two years between the donors of Nepal and His Majesty’s Government, has been held at an interval of four years this time.
Political instability in Nepal was the major factor behind the delay in holding the meeting.
The agendas being discussed at this forum are a little bit different from the ones discussed in the previous meetings, Minister Acharya said replying a question.
This time, Nepal’s focus will be on winning the donors’ trust in the policies adopted by the country and its priority areas, he added.
The donor countries and agencies are concerned about Nepal’s development and the progress and prosperity of the Nepalese, he observed.
They have taken very positively Nepal’s commitment to improve its economic policy, control corruption and ensure law and order, and good governance and are of the view that these commitments should be fulfilled soon so that the people can experience some relief, the Finance Minister said.
The donors wish to see increased private sector investment in Nepal’s telecommunications and water resources sectors.
He also said that the donors have appreciated Nepal’s commitment to encourage private sector involvement in development and reform financial strategy.
This forum meeting should not be meant for demanding more foreign money, rather it should be utilized for effective mobilization of international resources through judicious utilization of available money and other resources, Minister Acharya said, replying to a question.
Finance Minister Acharya, in his address at a dinner hosted in honour of the heads of the delegations to the Nepal Development Forum being held in Paris on the evening of April 17, requested the donor community to cooperate with Nepal in its reform agenda, create safety nets to help the marginalised people and make the reform process sustainable.
The return of democracy has brought with it enormous demand and expectations of the people, who are at the same time surging ahead ventilating their expectations and frustrations, he said, adding Nepal’s institutional inadequacies and structural rigidities have failed to correctly respond to many of the voices of the people.
“Our bureaucracy needs an overhaul, the financial sector needs drastic reforms and the private sector needs to be enthused,” he said.
“We have to push ahead with a decentralized system of governance, combat corruption, ensure a clean and efficient administration, redress gender inequality and spatial imbalances in development efforts,” he added.
The present government is not disturbed by the enormity of the challenges ahead: it is committed to face up to them, he said, adding there is only one way to tackle the challenges– the path of economic reform.
“Let us all find out the reasons why despite enormous amount of aid flows to Nepal, the prosperity and prospects for the teeming millions in Nepal still remains elusive,” he said, proposing discussions on the weaknesses on Nepal’s part and the forces that are holding back Nepal and the Nepalese people.
Meanwhile, Finance Minister Acharya in course of taking part in the Nepal Development Forum meeting in Paris, the capital of France had seperate meetings today with the leaders of delegations from Norway, Asian Development Bank, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States of America.
On the occasion leaders of delegation of donor countries and agencies heartly appreciated the policy of economic development and institutional reform measures adopted by Nepal and expressed committment to provide cooperation for the implementation of the proposed reform measures.
Likewise, representatives of various donor community yesterday held extensive discussion with the Nepalese delegation led by Finance Minister Acharya on the cooperation of the donor countries in Nepal’s development endeavours at the Nepal Development Forum meeting being held in Paris.
In course of the discussion, the representatives of donor countries clearly put forth their plans, suggestions and reactions regarding development assistance.
At the meeting, Finance Minister Acharya apprised the donor representatives of relevant development issues of Nepal and government efforts and commitment to enhance the effectiveness of development assistance.
Also yesterday, the Finance Minister had extensive discussions with the representatives of the World Bank and Asian Development Bank on the role of those multilateral financial institutions and Nepal’s development strategy.
The donor community representatives made Nepal’s socio-economic challenges and problems, and the reforms policy Nepal has to adopt to face up to these challenges the focal point of the discussion.
They also pledged continued support to Nepal’s development endeavours.
Finance Minister Acharya apprised the representatives of Nepal’s reform agenda and its commitment to translate it into reality.
The Nepalese delegation included National Planning Commission vice chairman Prithviraj Ligal, Royal Nepalese Ambassador to France Indra Bahadur Singh, special secretary at the Finance Ministry Bimal Prasad Koirala, senior economic advisor Tula Raj Basyal and joint secretary Madhav Prasad Ghimire.
Kathmandu, Apr. 18:The present government has given top priority to controlling terrorist activities and has expressed the determination to encourage security personnel and all civil servants involved in this task.
A provision has been made for additional financial assistance and compensation to security personnel, civil servants and general public victimized by terror and dependents of the victims.
According to the Home Ministry, the family of persons killed by terrorists will from now onwards be provided a financial assistance of Rs. 150,000/ and an additional Rs. 50,000/ will be provided to the family of those killed prior to this announcement.
The families of civil servants or individuals other than police personnel killed while on duty in works and action relating to controlling terrorism or maintaining law and order will receive a financial assistance of Rs. 750,000/ and their children will also receive scholarship as being provided to the children of police personnel killed while on duty.
Meanwhile, a health coordination committee has been constituted under the convenorship of the health Minister with the secretaries of Finance, Home and Health, and directors of Bir Hospital, T.U. Teaching Hospital and Birendra Police Hospital as members in order to make necessary arrangement for the medical treatment of those injured in terrorist activities.
The victim family assistance and rehabilitation coordination committee has also been constituted under the convenorship of the Education Minister in order to provide financial assistance and rehabilitate the dependent families of those killed by terrorists and other victims. The secretaries at the ministries of Children, Women and Social Welfare, Home, Works, Housing and Physical Planning, Health, Labour and Transport Management, Land Reform and Management, and Sports and Education, and member-secretary of the Social Welfare Council are members of the committee.
Likewise, the compensation of Rs. 500,000/ being provided to the family of the police personnel killed while on duty in anti-terrorist activity has been increased to Rs. 750,000 and the families of those killed earlier will also receive an additional Rs. 200,000/.
Similarly, the children dependent on those police personnel will receive an annual scholarship Rs. 10,000 for studying at the primary level, Rs. 12,000 at lower secondary level, Rs. 14,000 at secondary level, Rs. 16,000 at the higher secondary level, Rs. 18,000 at graduate level and Rs. 20,000 at the post graduate level.
Police personnel sustaining minor injuries will be provided a compensation of Rs. 5,000 to Rs 25,000 after treatment while those dismembered will be provided Rs. 25,000 to Rs. 50,000/.
Likewise, police personnel on duty in the terrorist affected “A”, “B” and “C” categories of districts will be provided an additional monthly allowance of Rs. 2000, Rs 1000 and Rs 700 respectively.
Besides this, any damage caused to the property of the police personnel deputed in the terrorist affected districts will be assessed and 50 per cent value will be provided, compensation of Rs. 3,000 to Rs 10,000 will be provided in case of damage caused to personal property of such police personnel and in case the uniform and toiletries received in accordance with the scale of police personnel is damaged by terrorist then they will be replaced.
Police personnel with good performance record in the terrorist affected districts have already been promoted as per the policy of His Majesty’s Government to immediately promote such police personnel making good performance in those districts.