Kathmandu, March 10:Under “the Poetic Journey,” poetry recitation, art exhibition and musical show were organised at Siddhartha Art Gallery Thursday amid a colourful function.
Artists Ms Laura Friedensohn and Ms Maura Moynihan, both from United States, exhibited Mani stones and paintings with the theme of peace and spiritualism inspired by Oriental religion and philosophy.
Earlier, poets Dr. Abhi Subedi, Manjul, Bijay Rana and Ms Maura recited their poems focusing on the post-modern values of life.
“Masterji and Other Stories” and the CD “Yoga Hotel,” by Ms Moynihan were also released at the programme.
Maura’s 23 paintings known as pop art were put up at the display. They lack formalism and traditional framework of paintings making but remind the art lovers about pop culture, which swept the world’s music, dance and song especially from United States in 60s.
“Each painting takes several hours to complete,” she said. The memory of the time and place of every image becomes so deeply ingrained in my mind and heart, she elaborates her mental process during the creation of art works.
Kathmandu has been a source for her artistic creation. “Kathmandu is overwhelming for a painter; teeming, beautiful, unique and rare,” Ms Maura expresses her views.
On the other hand, Ms Laura, through the installation of 29 items of Mani stones from Dopla, tries to convey the sacred vision inherent in the Buddha religion. The Mani stones, which have been traditionally prepared by Dolpalis have received special design from the artist. The sacred stones contain the words like peace, love, creation and heaven so as to create pious feelings in the viewers as well as the artist. The installation seems an artistic expression of various aspects of Buddhism.
The West’s attraction towards the Eastern life and culture is apparently visible in the painting show presented by the two foreign women artists.
Kathmandu March 10:The resignation tenderd by Gopal Chitrakar the Chief Photo Editor of the Gorkhapatra Corporation has been accepted from the date 28th of March 2000. Chitrakar had stated that he resigned due to domestic reasons.
Chitrakar who had been serving corporation since the last twenty-five years, started his career from the fifth level and later became acting general manager and also editor of Muna and Apsara monthly Nepali magazines.
He stated that he will now spend some of the time in studying journalism at the Tribhuwan University.
Itahari, Mar. 10: An interaction programme jointly organised by the Koshitappu Wildlife Conservation office and the NGO parks and people has decided to declare the conservation area a core area for the long term development of wetlands.
The interaction also decided to expel all domestic animals left loose in the conservation area till March 28 and initiate action against defaulters.
The programme came to the conclusion that they have to clamp down on deforestation and dismantling and theft of boundary wire and launch a campaign to develop the area as a tourist spot.
Extensive discussion was also held on the recovery of loans issued under the parks and people programme skill development and income generating schemes for people of the area.
Chairman of the Koshitappu Land Problem Resolution Committee Jayahari Sharma, inaugurating the programme said that all people in the locality should be active to develop the area for income generation.
Some 13 VDC chairmen from Sunsari, Saptari and Udaypur districts which fall under the core area took part in the programme.
Meanwhile in Bhaktapur, a two-day basic training for masons began here today with a view to assist in the construction of earthquake resistant houses in Bhaktapur district.
The training being held for the first time in the district by the department of housing is being participated by some 35 professional masons of the district.
Inaugurating the training, chairman of the natural calamity relief committee and CDO Dhrub Raj Wagle urged that houses should be built with the use of earthquake-damage prevention measures though this will be a little more expensive.
The department aims at conducting training for masons in earthquake resistant building techniques in all 75 districts of the country. It has already completed training in 25 districts including Bhaktapur.
Nepalgunj, Mar. 10: The regional museum set up in Birendranagar Municipality in Surkhet, headquarters of the Mid-Western Region, as per the concept of regional development has not yet taken shape.
The museum established in 2045 B.S. neither possesses an adequate variety of materials nor is it open to the public.
So far the costumes of the Thakuri, Tharu, Magar, Damai, Raute and Badi communities and their household appliances and some 58 pieces of ornaments have been collected by the museum, its chief Purushotam Acharya said.
The office has a total staff of eight including a non-gazetted first class level office chief, an assistant accountant, three other subordinate staff and two peons.
Experts opines that the museum will remain meaningless if it is not able to reflect the cultural diversities of the region in the form of costumes, art and lifestyle.
The museum has not developed and expanded to a desirable level due to shortage of funds, it is learnt.
It spends around Rs. 400 thousand annually under administrative and general heads and the budget is determined at the central level, it is stated.
It received a developmental budget of Rs. 100,000 last fiscal year.
Construction of the museum building began in 2039 B.S. and was completed at a cost of Rs. 946,000. It is currently under the ownership of Surkhet Valley Town Development Committee.
It is said that the building leaks due to lack of proper maintenance.
The museum is scheduled to hold an exhibition during the current fiscal year.
Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Minister of State for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Panta says the problems of women and the downtrodden class in our society are complex and they should be resolved through sympathetic consideration.
She was speaking at an interaction programme organised by CERID here on “educational materials prepared under the literacy for empowerment.”
CERID executive director Dr Hridaya Ratna Bajracharya described literacy as important not only for reading and writing but also for enhancing one’s talent and capabilities.
Besides, it was also necessary to protect and enjoy one’s rights and those of others in keeping with democratic norms and values, while empowerment was also necessary leading a meaningful life in the society, he added.
The programme co-ordinator Dr Samira Luitel referred to active representation of women and the down-trodden class in the preparation of materials and sponsor of the programme.
Secretary in the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare Mrs Urmila Shrestha stressed that the units and individuals concerned had active role to play in making literacy programme effective.
Syangja, Mar. 10: Minister for Finance and Foreign Affairs Dr Ram Sharan Mahat says the pace of development has gained momentum after the restoration of democracy in the country.
Inaugurating the ninth district council of Syangja District Development Committee at Syangja bazaar other day, minister Dr Mahat said the investment in such sectors as roads, water resources, industrial establishment and production was encouraging and Nepal’s annual exports amounted to Rs 50 billion.
“The government is determined to control growing corruption in the country,” he noted, saying, “Such problem is due to lack of a mechanism to look over the transparency of income in the country, nevertheless there is no reason to be despondent about that.”
Pointing to the popular programmes like ‘the Bishweshwar with the Poor,’ ‘the Ganeshman Peace Campaign’ and ‘the Women Empowerment’ launched by the government for the uplift of the rural poor, he said co-operation from all should be forthcoming in their implementation.
Success of those programme would depend on the local level political workers, he said.
The chief whip of Nepal Congress parliamentary party Gopal Man Shrestha described the Maoist problem as a collective problem and the door for national consensus should be kept open in order to resolve the problem.
The government attention should focus on the need to build Andhikhola Embankment, Andhikhola-waling road and concrete bridges at Lamachaur and Setikhola in the district, he said.
MP Shanker Prasad Pandey called for a collective pledge of all political parties to end what he called growing wayward tendency and inconsistencies in the country.
His point was that all should extend a hand of mutual goodwill for the preservation of our cultural heritage.”
MP Hitkaji Gurung stressed the need for all to carry out development work with mutual goodwill and consent and select and implement projects on the basis of transparently and practicability. The district development committee chairman Ram Bahadur Thapa presented a budget of Rs 356,345,820 for the next fiscal year.
Seniormost member of the district council presided over the meeting.
Meanwhile in Bhadrapur, National Assembly member Bishweswar Dahal, while inaugurating the 8th district council of Bhadrapur District Development Committee here recently, advised the district council to be keen on doing something concrete for the district.
From the chair, the District Development Committee chairman Arjun Rai presented a revised budget estimates of Rs 97,276,000 for the next fiscal year at the district council.
Of the total budgetary outlay, Rs 82.926 has been earmarked for various programmes.
On the occasion, Nepali Congress district committee acting president Sudhir Shivakoti, RPP district chairman Dilip Rai, Kundan Bhattarai of CPN-ML, CPN-UML district under secretary Chakra Bhetwal, Shyam Lal Meche of Nepal Sadbhavana Party called upon all to rise above party politics to achieve a balanced development of the district.
Chief guest Bishweswar Dahal, on behalf of the District Development Committee, gave away a cash prize of Rs 10,000 to Mrs Mina Pathak, gold medalist in karate event of 8th SAF Games, cash prizes of Rs 5,000 each to Rajiv Dahal and Miss Kaushalya Sharma, who got outstanding positions in the S.L.C. Examinations-02055 BS.
Rs 15,000 was provided to Bhanu Secondary School of Shivajalarya and Rs 5,000 and a certificate to engineer Shambhu Karki of the District Development Committee for his excellent performance.
Similarly in Tribhuvannagar, Nepali Congress Central Organisation Department Chief Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, MP, says development of roads, health drinking water sector, postal service and communication is vital for the development of districts and the inability to achieve progress in that direction seems to be a shortcoming of various political parties.
Inaugurating the 7th district council of Dang district development committee here recently, he advised the Dang district council to move ahead choosing appropriate projects for the development of the district.
MP Gehendra Giri suggested that the district council should formulate programme designed to elevate the living standard of the poor farmers and the people in general.
MP Prakash Jwala stressed the need to discourage a tendency of political parties not to be attentive to the works done by other parties.
MP Bijul Biswakarma said, “multi-party democracy is the best form of polity and we should conduct ourselves according to the democratic tradition.”
The District Development Committee chairman Bharat K.C. presented a budget of Rs. 1107,893,000 for the next fiscal year at the district council.
Seniormost member of the district council Tej Bahadur Rana presided.
Kathmandu, Mar.10: The 37th contingent of Sri Singhanath Battalion working in peace keeping operations in Lebanon at the call of the United Nations returned home today on completion of its term there.
The contingent led by major Pradip Kumar Shrestha comprises of 109 army personnel of various ranks.
Meanwhile the first batch of the 38th contingent of Sri Samsher Battalion left here today for Lebanon to replace the 37th contingent of Sri Singhanath Battalion.
The contingent led by lieutenant colonel Ramindra Chhetri comprises of 207 army personnel including officers, Jcos and other ranks.
Lt. General Sushil Raj Karki welcomed the Royal Nepalese Army peace keeping troops returning home and saw off those leaving for Lebanon.
Kathmandu, Mar.10 : Chairman of the Rajparishad Standing Committee Dr Keshar Jung Rayamajhi gave away prizes and certificates to students winning inter-valley oratory contest jointly organised by Lalitpur district education office and Nightingale Boarding Secondary School on the occasion of the 25th Education Day here today.
Fifteen schools had taken part in the oratory contest whose medium was both English and Nepal.
In the Nepali oratory contest on the theme of “Nari Shikshyako Mahatwa” or importance of education, Kriti B. C. of Nightingale Boarding Secodnary School, Kupondole, Prabhat Gautam of Gyanodaya Balbatika, Sanepa and Kamala Shrestha of the New Life English Boarding School came out first, second and third respectively.
Similarly, in the English oratory contest on “Inter-relations of discipline and children rights” Dipshika Munkarmi of Gyanodaya Balbatika, Sanepa, Abinash Khadka of Arniko Boarding School, Khumaltar and Sanu Prajapati of Nightinagle Boarding School, Kupondole came out first, second and third respectively.
Speaking on the occasion, Dr Rayamajhi highlighted the contribution of boarding schools in promoting education.
Kathmandu, Mar.10 : Minister for General Administration Siddha Raj Ojha has said multi-party democracy can be strengthened only if civil servants and politicians maintain good relations.
Mr Ojha, while inaugurating an interaction on the role of the bureaucracy in consolidation of democracy organised by the Nepal Public Administration Association here today, spoke of the need of neutral administration to help democracy take roots in the country.
Chief Election Commissioner Bishnu Pratap Shaha, presenting a working paper, observed that an able, efficient and politically netural administration is an essential component for the success of democratic system.
Mr Shaha also spoke of the need to make more effective the role of the Public Service Commission to enhance self-confidence and morale of the civil servants since corruption begins with the abuse of authority, initiate concrete steps for corruption control and turn the present bureaucracy more service-oriented.
Prof. Lokraj Baral and Prof. Dr Bhimdev Bhatta had commented on the working paper.
Association general secretary Vidyadhar Mallik highlighted the objectives of the programme chaired by former president of the association Chudaraj Uprety.
Kathmandu, Mar. 10: Home Minister Purna Bahadur Khadka has said His Majesty’s Government is making efforts to resolve problems through talks peacefully.
Mr Khadka informed the National Assembly meeting today about the country’s present law and order situation and the loss of life and property caused by violence of terrorists, adding that violence and murder further complicates the problems rather than solving them.
Stating that all those who have faith in democracy also believe in resolution of problems through talks and discussions, the Home Minister noted that His Majesty’s Government has been making appeals for giving up violence, murder and terrorist activity and engage in the task of ensuring national interests by arriving at certain conclusions.
After the start of the ongoing 16th parliamentary session, 243 people including 30 local people, 53 police personnel and 160 terrorists have been killed in clashes, said the Home Minister, adding a total of 1213 persons including 146 police personnel have been killed and property worth Rs 110 million has been damaged since Falgun 1, 2052 B.S.
Stating that two terrorists were killed yesterday in a confrontation between the patrolling police and terrorists at Bhati and Sukahiya vdcs in Kalikot district, Mr Khadka said the police personnel recovered two hand grenades and two muskets from the site of incident.
A total of 5,374 persons have been arrested in course of taking action against those who are involved in terrorist activity and 3,778 of them have been released after investigation, he added.
Similarly, he also informed the House that 1,432 muskets, 40 12-bore guns, 117 country-made pistols, 12 three knot three rifles, seven revolvers, 25 grenades, 453 hand bombs, 95 pipe bombs, 187 socket bombs, 22 pressure cooker bombs, 403 kgs of gelatin, etc have been recovered.
Noting that on the one hand the police organisation has got to be mobilised to discourage such terrorist activities, while it has to develop itself as community police in order to give the people a feeling of security by controlling social crimes, he observed that in view of such situation, a separate unit of armed police is deemed relevant and a task force has already been set up to submit a report along with suggestions about the form and duties of such body.