Ilam, Mar. 12: The women of Ilam who earn their livelihood by selling fuelwood have their own woeful story to tell.
Though a town, Ilam has 80 per cent of the people living in rural areas and most of the families meet two square meals a day by collecting fuelwood and selling it at downtown Ilam.
For the women of Tilkeni, i.e. ward No. 6 of the town, this has been a way of life, an ancestral occupation.
They have no land to till, no other jobs to pursue, and they are simply going round and round in the daily cycle of cutting wood and taking it to the market.
Wood cutting in forests is a backbreaking task, after a hard day’s work one brings home one’s collection of fuelwood and take it to the local market early next morning. But the downtown dwellers try to buy fuelwood at throw away prices, for they think it can be “plucked as flowers” in the forest.
“How difficult it is to get fuelwood in a forest, how long it takes to gather a band of faggot! One has to go up to Namsaling and Godak forests in its search, but town dwellers try to get it almost free of charge,” complains Mana Maya Tamang.
Searching for fuelwood in forests is not that easy these days: the forest users group will seize one’s load of fuelwood and Namlo (jute strap and rope) if they chance to spot them.
In this connection, Kavita Gurung recollects, “once they were in Namsaling forest, searching for fuelwood. Even after the whole day’s search, we could not collect much. It was almost sundown when we found some more fuelwood. Right at the moment a man suddenly appeared from nowhere. He started heaping all foul words upon us. At this, all my colleagues turned tail. I was left alone and he forfeited all my collection of fuelwood.”
“As it returned empty-handed, I could not go to the market the following day. We were almost starved that day and had to borrow from the neighbour some grains for a meal,” she adds.
Mana Maya Tamang has an ailing husband and so her eldest daughter accompanies her in nearby Godak forest while searching for fuelwood. Some times they have to return empty-handed, which means a trouble at home: there are many hungry mouths to feed. On top of that, she has to use the earning from fuelwood to buy medicines for her husband.
Their earning ranges from Rs. 60 to 70 a day; some times they together get as much as Rs. 100.
63-years old Manamati Rai, who has been settling there for the last three decades, recollects, “the forests were quite dense when they first came to settle there and one could make up to 14 loads of fuelwood. A load of fuelwood on one’s back would fetch Rs. 2 at most and even then, it was easy to make one’s ends meet.”
“Now it is so difficult to find fuelwood and the task is so hard, but one get so little in return. I feel like crying aloud when I remember the hardship one has to go through in the forest” she adds.
Nepalgunj, Mar. 12:Minister for Land Reforms and Management Dr Gangadhar Lamsal has said that the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management is geared towards making every aspect of land management innovative and more result oriented.
Inaugurating a mid-western and far-western regional seminar on land management organised by the Department of Land Reforms under the sponsorship of the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management here today, Dr Lamsal said such sectors of land management as preparation of land maps, development of land information system, land use plan formulation and implementation, and plotting will see an innovation in the near future.
Preparation of national policy conducive to optimum utilization of land is the need of the day as such a policy is crucial for poverty alleviation through generation of more employment opportunities and increased agricultural production as envisaged by the Ninth Plan, he observed.
He also called for constructive support from all sectors concerned for arranging proper settlement of landless people and leading them along the path of self-reliance.
Ex-mp krishna Prasad Upadhyaya Gautam stressed the need to keep up to date record of the land under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation, and the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management, check a tendency to amend the relevant law haphazardly and discourage the practice of allowing landless settlers to encroach upon land with the intention of garnering their political support during elections.
From the chair, Banke ddc chairman Omprakash Jung Rana underlined the importance of land use and land conservation.
Secretary at the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management Yoddha Shaha said the Ministry has already set in motion the process of formulating a national land policy covering all activities related to land.
Director of the Department of Land Reforms Tirtha Prasad Ligal expressed the belief that the seminar will come up with substantial suggestions for enhancing the level of transparency in the activities of the Ministry of Land Reforms and Management and the department and offices under it.
Director general of Department of Land Survey Baburam Acharya, administrator at the Guthi Sansthan Shyamraj Dhungel, Cdo Shyam Prasad Mainali and Nepali Congress Dolpa Ddc chairman Laxmi Narayan Neupane also spoke about various problems concerning land management.
The seminar was organised with the objective of discussing ways to ensure coordination and uniformity in the activities of the ministry and various bodies under it, maintaining transparency in their activities, preparing a directory to facilitate such activities and resolve the problems created by existing relevant law.
Some 50 persons from land reforms and land revenue offices, land survey section and other related sectors attended the seminar.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12: The Nepalese parliamentary delegation currently on a visit to Australia under the leadership of Speaker Taranath Ranabhat met the office bearers of the Parliament, and the Foreign Affairs, Defense and Trade Committees under the senate’s legal and constitutional reforms commission.
On the occasion, they discussed matters of mutual interests.
In course of the visit the Nepalese parliamentary delegation was welcomed at Victoria by speaker of the State Parliament Alex Andrianopoulos.
A reception was held in honour of the Nepalese delegation and on the occasion the delegates were apprised of the working procedures of the State Parliament.
The Nepalese delegates also met the office bearers of Australia-New Zealand Banking Group Limited and shared with them the new development in Nepalese banking sector.
During their visit to Perth, the capital of western Australian state, the delegates met the office bearers of both Houses of the State Parliament and had discussions with them on matters of bilateral cooperation.
They also met the office bearers of the economic and solar energy related sectors of the state.
Meanwhile, Speaker of the House of Representatives of the Australian Parliament, Neil Andrew and Chairman of the Senate Mrs Margaret Reid hosted a dinner in honour of the Nepalese parliamentary delegation.
Welcoming the Nepalese delegation, Speaker Andrew stressed the need to promote the cordial relations between the governments of the two countries at the people-to-people level.
He also expressed the confidence that the Australian economic cooperation to Nepal would gradually increase.
In his reply speech, Speaker Ranabhat referred to the cordial relations subsisting between thte two coutries and said that the visit would further deepen the relations and noted that the cooperation of Australia to Nepal would be further expanded.
Officials of the Australian Parliament, leader of the opposition and former Australian Ambassador to Nepal Les Douglas were also present on the occasion.
Earlier, the Nepalese delegation held discussions with the office-bearers of the Human Rights Commission at Sydney and also visited Snowy Mountain Engineering Corporation at Cooma.
The delegation also met the Nepali community at Sydney, Canberra and Melbourne.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12: Graduates and post-graduates of universities of Russia and CIS nations are making significant contributions in the socio-economic activities of the developing countries including Nepal.
Vladimir Korolev, vice president of Moscow-based Russian Centre for International Scientific and Cultural Cooperation under the government of Russia, told The Rising Nepal.
Korolev is in Nepal to attend the First Asia Meet of CIS Graduates held in Kathmandu.
The Kathmandu Declaration which have raised several pertinent issues regarding the problems of education and problems of peace in the world is a major outcome of the Asia meet of CIS graduates, he said.
I am highly impressed by the traditional hospitality of the Nepalese people. Nepal is a country with an ancient civilisation and culture, Korolev said.
He went on: “The exchange of ideas with the vice chancellor of Royal Nepal Academy, the president of Nepal-Russia Chamber of Commerce and Industry and with other Nepalese dignitaries was very interesting.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12: Minister for Foreign Affairs and Finance Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat has said that education and knowledge are more important today than the resources for the all-round development of any nation.
Minister Dr. Mahat said this while addressing the concluding ceremony of Asia Meet of CIS Graduates held in Kathmandu Saturday.
Noting that the Asia Meet of CIS Graduates has internationally enhanced Nepal’s reputation, Dr. Mahat said that Russia and CIS countries have provided valuable cooperation in producing necessary technical manpower for developing countries like Nepal.
Finance Secretary of Russia (CIS)-Nepal Chamber of Commerce and Industry Dr. Jiva Lamichhane said that the Asia Meet would be able to strengthen regional relationship between the graduates and former Soviet universities.
Vice president of Roszarubezh Centre V. Korolev, President of Russia-Nepal Friendship Society A. Soloviev, pro-rector of Russian Peoples Friendship University (RPFU) A. Gladush and general secretary of Nepal-Russia Friendship Association B.R. Tuladhar threw light on the importance of Asia Meet of CIS Graduates.
On the occasion, memorandums of understanding were signed by Kantipur Engineering College with Russian Peoples Friendship University and two other educational institutes of Russia.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12:Deputy Prime Minister Ramchandra Poudel says that despite having enough prospect for water resources development, Nepal is not able to properly harness it and under such circumstances, if we can develop indigenous renewable energy sector this will help in elevating the living standard of the rural people as well as in poverty alleviation.
Deputy Prime Minister Poudel was inaugurating in Lalitpur today a day-long national workshop organised by the Engineering Institute, Energy Study Centre in co-operation with the Alternative Energy Promotion Centre with a view to giving final shape to the 20-year renewable energy plan.
If the human management could be improved and water resources harnessed in the country this would be a great turning point for the country, he observed.
A sustainable development in the country would be possible only through the technology best suited to its natural, geographical and social condition, he said.
With the political changes of the Bikram year-2046 came political polarisation in each and every sectors, thereby creating a crisis of confidence and a sense insecurity, he noted, adding that a good governance would be maintained in the country if all worked in accordance with their responsibilities and duties.
“Energy brings dynamism, activity and liveliness and development, in other words, is dynamism and liveliness ” he said.
From the chair, T.U. Vice Chancellor Nabin Prakash Jung Shah said that if it was possible to mobilise intellectual resources in resolving the physical, social and cultural problems facing the country this would prove to be very effective.
He also stressed the need for the government, academic institutions and private sector to act in a well-co-ordinated manner.
Secretary in the Ministry of Population and Environment Dr Govinda Raj Bhatt stressed the need to develop the Ministry as a ministry of energy and environment.
Dean of the Institute of Engineering Prof. Dr Jivraj Pokharel described as “highly useful” the report on a long term renewable energy plan prepared by Nepalese experts.
Alternative energy promotion centre executive director Shyam Lal Vaidya said the centre had been carrying out various activities in the field of renewable energy since its inception three years ago. He also informed the workshop that a policy on grant for renewable energy would be brought soon.
Director of the Centre Prof. Nagannath Shrestha said average energy consumption was quite low in Nepal as compared to other countries and therefore, a long-term plan was being formulation to emphasise decentralised energy production.
On the occasion, Secretary in the Ministry of Science and Technology Mohan Bahadur Karki, Engineering College (Pulchowk) Campus Chief Prof. Dr. Mukunda Singh Pradhan also shed light on the long term energy plan.
25 delegates from various government, nogs associated in the energy sector participated in the workshop.
Kathmandu, Mar.12:The secretary level talk between Nepal and Bhutan on the almost one decade old Bhutanese refugee issue started here today. The meet is the continuity of the secretary-level discussion on the same festering issue the two Himalayan Kingdoms had held in the Bhutanese capital Thimpu last month.
“We have kicked off the meeting to a good start,” said Ugyen Tshering, Bhutanese Foreign Secretary who heads the eight member Bhutanese delegation that arrived here this morning. “We have set out the work plan for the next three days,” he added after the meeting with Nepalese side this afternoon.
Earlier, talking to reporters at Tribhuvan International Airport after his arrival this morning, Tshering said that the talk this time will focus on the technical aspect of the verification process of the refugees. “This was the subject we had started during the secretary level meet in Thimpu last month and we will continue it here.”
It was for the same verification process, Nepal and Bhutan in 1993 had agreed to categorise the around 100,000 Bhutanese refugees in Nepal into four groups – Bonafide Bhutanese who have been forcibly evicted, Bhutanese who have migrated, Non Bhutanese people, and Bhutanese who have committed criminal acts. Ever since, the two nations have held eight Joint Ministerial Level Committee meetings – the latest one in Kathmandu in September last year.
Since the fourth round of ministerial talks in 1994 till the seventh meet in 1996, the two sides could not meet eye to eye on their positions on the four categories. The disagreement cropped up after Bhutan denied to take back refugees other than the first category – Bonafide Bhutanese citizens – citing its legal provisions.
Bhutanese refugees, languishing in the UNHCR maintained seven camps in eastern Nepal, claim that most of them were forced to sign the voluntary migration forms before they were forcefully evicted from the Dragon Kingdom. After the eighth round of ministerial level talks held here last year, officials had said that Bhutan had become flexible on accepting the second category refugees.
After his arrival here this morning, Tshering, however, said that the harmonisation of the two countries’ position on the four categories of refugees is still an “ongoing discussion between the two governments.” The harmonisation of the two countries’ position on the four categories of refugees is something that will carry on till the last refugee is identified, said Murari Raj Sharma, Foreign Secretary, who heads the Nepalese delegation in the ongoing refugee talks.
During the Secretary level talk in Thimpu last month, Nepal had proposed the verification process of visiting camp by camp and interviewing the head of each refugee family. Then, the Druk Yul demanded time to discuss within the Bhutanese authorities some issues related to the verification process.
The ongoing bureaucratic level talk is believed to be a groundwork for the ninth ministerial level meeting that will formalise the verification process of the Bhutanese refugees.
The Nepali-speaking Lhotsampas (Southern Bhutanese) began to enter Nepal as refugees in 1990 after Bhutan launched its ethnic cleansing policy.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12: Former prime minister and Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba has hailed the views expressed by Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai Sunday at a function about the handing over of government leadership to the leaders of NC’s second generation.
Reacting to the Prime Minister’s views on the handing over of government leadership to NC’s younger generation, Deuba said: NC’s founder-leader and Prime Minister Bhattarai’s views are to the benefit of nation, democracy and the party. I take the views expressed by the Prime Minister as the serious concern over the future of nation, democracy and the party.
The second generation is honoured by Prime Minister Bhattarai’s proposal. I feel honoured as I also belong to the second generation, said Deuba.
This expression of the Prime Minister is sure to resolve the problem, that emerged between the party and government relating to government leadership sometime before, as per the traditions of the Nepali Congress, Deuba expressed his confidence.
Kathmandu, Mar. 12:Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said here today that the leadership of government will now be handed over to the young generation.
Prime Minister Bhattarai was speaking at a function organised by the Federation of Nepalese Transport Entrepreneurs Associations to felicitate him and the members of the Council of Ministers.
“I have no interest to continue to be a Prime Minister for ever; I’m already quite old and nc president Girija Prasad Koirala is 3-4 months elder than me”, the Prime Minister said. “This being the situation now this is the turn of the party’s younger generation to take the leadership.”
“We two (Bhattarai and Koirala) are the ones in the entire South Asia who struggled for the longest period for democracy and suffered throughout the life,” he said. “Both of us are unanimous when it comes to the all-round development of the country, and national interest.”
“There is no truth in the recent media reports on the so called dispute between me and party president Koirala but I don’t mind them,” he said.
If we are able to resolve serious problems of poverty and unemployment to some extent, other problems will be resolved easily, he observed.
Stating that the government has given top priority to maintenance of law and order in the country, he said peace and security are the prerequisites for development.
The Prime Minister also stressed the need to increase the quality of education so as to ensure the country’s development and progress of the people.
Describing tourism as the backbone of national economy, he said the government has set a target of increasing the number of tourists visiting Nepal by ten folds within five years.
As announced earlier, the government has initiated necessary efforts for developing Dhankuta, Birgunj, Palpa, Nepalgunj and Kathmandu into model cities, the Prime Minister said.
Urging the transport entrepreneurs not to increase transport fares in such a manner as to cause inconvenience to the people, he assured them that the government will make necessary arrangements for importing vehicles at concessional prices.
Plans to operate trolley bus and rail services in the Terai are being considered, he said, adding development of water ways is also in the development agenda.
Minister for Finance and Foreign Affairs Dr. Ram Sharan Mahat said Kathmandu valley can become a clean and green, peaceful and beautiful place if His Majesty’s Government, environmentalists and transport entrepreneurs work together honestly towards minimising pollution in the valley.
Minister of State for Population and Environment Bhakta Bahadur Balayar said efforts were made earlier to make Kathmandu valley free of pollution but only the present government has been successful to this end.
The Federation felicitated Prime Minister Bhattarai, Finance and Foreign Minister Dr. Mahat and Minister of State for Population and Environment Mr. Balayar in recognition of their special contribution to the promotion the transport entrepreneurs interest and to the protection of the environment.
On the occasion, the Federation also announced that arrangements have been for blind passengers to travel free of cost in all public transport vehicles from today.
Speaking at the function chief whip of nc parliamentary party Gopalman Shrestha urged transport entrepreneurs to carry out their business not only for profit but also with a sense of service.
Federation president Sharad Prasad Upreti presided.
Kathmandu March. 10:A two-week training on Basic Journalism for women organised by Nepal Press Institute and UNICEF concluded here today. This was the first specially developed training module for women participants of graduate level.
The training, which had 19 participants from Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Pokhara and Kanchanpur focused on the definition of news, features, the art of interview taking, writing news and articles, ethics of journalism.
Speaking at the opening session, General Secretary of NPI, Bharat Dutta Koirala expressed pleasure on the changing scene of Nepali journalism. He observed that not long ago participation of women in journalism was negligible. Now the situation is different as part of the training each participant had to produce an article.
NPI President Gokul Pokhrel gave the trainees a certificate at the end of the session.