Bhadrapur, Feb. 20 :One is never too late to learn as is amply shown by 71-year old man at Suranga village in Jhapa district.
Septuagenarian Hasta Bahadur Karki, an S..L.C. Drop out from Bhojpur, is preparing for his next attempt to get through the “iron gate.”
For this purpose, he is now appearing in the test exam that started on Tuesday at Birendra Secondary School of Chandragadhi.
“National Development will not be possible without education, that is why I am taking the exam,” he says, hoping to join higher education if all goes with the S.L.C.final.
He is in good health and travels daily 25 kilometres on foot to appear in the exam.
Chitwan Feb. 20:Nicknames given to poor families like ‘firewood-seller’, “forest-encroacher” and ‘forest destroyer’ are now a tale of gone era, thanks to the concept of lease forestry with technology, training and assistance to receive loans.
Among the 36 VDCs in Chitwan district, six are fortunate enough to have the programme to rehabilitate degraded government forest lands for poverty alleviation. The basic features of this lease forestry is that there is a community agreement in assigning government lands to poor people, organized as well functioning lease-hold groups that are responsible for developing and protecting these lands. These groups also share the benefits and burdens and government investment is done in skill development and awareness raising schemes of rural people.
Sheela Nath Jha, Assistant Forest officer, says “A total of 468.3 hectre of lands has been given away to poor peasants on lease for 40 years.”
“This land was degraded and was prone to encroachment from people living in the surrounding areas, but now they have been cultivated and the living standard of the people has also risen,” he states.
Not only cultivation of land but other income generating works have also been popular with these peasants. Bee farming is one such preoccupation. Hem Bahadur Dallakoti Chetri, a been farmer says that annually he produces six tonnes of honey and sells it with an annual income of Rs. three hundred thousand. An average monthly income of Rs. twentyfive thousand surprised this scribe while visiting his backyard and seeing the honey combs! “Two different varieties of bees Meliphera and Apis-serena have changed my life,” Chhetri smiles.
Even Rameswor Koirala, main branch officer of Agriculture Development Bank, Bharatpur is confident of receiving back all the loans that the bank has given away to the peasants of Kavilas and Morak VDCs. “The lease-hold concept has been very successful in Chitwan and is today one of the primary catalysts of poverty alleviation in the area,” he says.
The co-ordination mechanism among the department of Forest (DOF), the Department of Livestock Services (DLS), Agriculture Development Bank (ADBN) and Nepal Agriculture Research Council (NARC) has been practical enough not to go to nitty-gritty but nonetheless, seeks active support and participation of individual farmers in the areas. At district level, a body called the District Co-ordination Committee (DCC) has been formed. The District Forest Officer is the coordinator of the body. Other members are the ADBN branch manager, Veterinary officer, livestock officer, local development officer, women development officer, assistant chief district officer and one elected member of the District Development Committee who is responsible for the forestry sector. Two lease-hold members (one male and one female) are also members of the committee. Monitoring of lease-hold forestry activities is done by this body on quarterly and annual basis.
Kathmandu, Feb. 20:Nepali Congress lawmakers, who demanded change of parliamentary leadership last week saying they did not have confidence on the parliamentary leader, today said the political crisis would end without any crash.
The present crisis would be solved through dialogues and would not split the party, they told an interaction.
“NC has a history of solving the problems through dialogues and it is expected to be the same this time,” said Tarini Dutta Chataut. Chataut and nine other ministers resigned on Friday, two days after 58 rebel Congress lawmakers demanded that the Prime Minister face the “no confidence” motion in the parliamentary party. The ministers said they “stepped down under moral ground since Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai’s leadership was in question”.
The status of the resignations remains unclear and the Prime Minister’s Office, where the papers should be submitted, has not confirmed their move yet.
Chataut, a Congress Central Working Committee member who was Law Minister, confirmed the resignations. “We resigned as we felt it unbecoming to remain in office after 58 lawmakers showed dissatisfaction over the leadership of the parliamentary party leader,” he said.
NC spokesperson Narahari Acharya said that the crisis would have a safe outlet. Acharya denied that difference of thinking among the lawmakers would end up in splitting the party. “NC has sustained worse blows in the past,” he said.
NC Parliamentary Party Secretary Benup Raj Prasain, who has called for the meeting tomorrow in consultation with the Congress President, said that the legal procedures of the parliamentary party would not thwart dialogues and understandings.
On whether Bhattarai would attend the parliamentary party meeting, Prasain said that he had not been informed otherwise.
However, Prime Minister’s Press Advisor on Friday told the press that the head of the government would not attend the meeting unless it was postponed at least till February 26 or 27. The Prime Minister, Nepal said, had not been consulted before fixing the date for parliamentary party meeting, which will decide the fate of the motion.
Prasain said that the meeting was slated for Monday keeping in view the works of the parliamentary committees and the ministries.
Lawmaker Mahadev Gurung, one of the 58 signatories, said that the MPs were forced to resort to signature campaign to change the leadership of the government as it had failed to address the problems of the people during the last nine months. “The government has not been able to maintain peace and security; let alone the issue of reconstruction and development,” he said.
“The nation is gripped by uncertainties,” said Gurung. “Our campaign for the change of leadership is for bringing this situation to an end. The primary issue is that of protecting democracy and not of changing the leadership,” he said.
Gurung expressed doubts that the second-generation leaders of the Congress party would be able to give the nation a safe outlet. Girija Prasad Koirala alone is the man capable to take the government leadership, he said.
Another disgruntled MP Gopal Rai toed Gurung’s line of argument. The second-generation leaders were not dynamic and charismatic enough to tackle such situations skilfully, he said.
Khem Raj Bhatta Mayalu said that lawmakers’ dissatisfaction was due to the government’s failure to fulfil its commitment of maintaining peace and security, generating employment and developing the nation. “Our dissatisfaction is not a choice but a compulsion; the nation needs a more dynamic leadership,” said Mayalu.
Ananda Dhungana said that the signature campaign was initiated keeping in view the problems of the public. Dhungana said that the present government would not be able to address people’s problems, as it suffered indecision.
The interaction was organised by the Reporters’ Club.
Kathmandu, Feb. 20:Nepali Congress leader Sher Bahadur Deuba, who returned here today cutting short his Australia visit, has said the Prime Minister should stand up to charges labelled against him by the ruling party’s lawmakers.
“I am hurt by the news that the lawmakers of the Nepali Congress themselves had moved a motion of no confidence against the parliamentary leader,” he said. “Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai should face the motion legally.”
Deuba said he was unable to understand why the lawmakers had taken such a step, particularly because the NC leadership had reached an agreement only three months earlier following a similar signature campaign against the Prime Minister. According to that agreement, Deuba said, Bhattarai was to resign between May and June this year.
The agreement was kept secret keeping in view that it would have negative impact on the public, he said. “I have not been able to understand what serious mistake has the Prime Minister committed during these three months and that he is being asked to step down at once.”
Deuba said it was not in the best interest of every one to invoke the articles of the Constitution and the party statute over and again. “Since that has already happened, the best thing now is to guide to a logical end, in the spirit of the statute.”
Stepping down or standing up to the charges of the fellow legislators would almost mean the same, he said. “Since charges have already been made, the PM should face upto them.”
Deuba said the Parliamentary Party Secretary, who had also been appointed by Bhattarai, had betrayed him by calling the meeting tomorrow despite the PM’s request to defer it.
Deuba said that the no-confidence move was an irreverence to Bhattarai who had contributed to the party since its establishment half a century ago.
Deuba said that he would not play the role of a mediator in this issue. He did not comment on the issue of leadership transfer to the second generation.
Kathmandu, Feb. 20:Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai has demanded that the party defer tomorrow’s parliamenty party meeting, which came with the breach of “certain agreement” between him and Nepali Congress leaders.
“I request the party to grant me an extended time,” Bhattarai said in a late evening statement, which affirms his preparedness to face the “no confidence” motion moved against him last week by 58 Nepali Congress lawmakers.
“If granted me the time I demand, as per the party statute, I will respond to all charges leveled against me,” Bhattarai said in the emotional statement that came for the first time since the MPs’ abrupt move to censure him.
The Congress lawmakers on last Wednesday demanded Congress Parliamentary party meeting saying they had no trust on Bhattarai who was sworn in as PM on June 1 last year.
“What are my faults and how have I harmed the nation, people and democracy that necessitated the no-trust motion against me, all of a sudden?” Bhattarai wondered in the statement.
Bhattarai criticized the present move by dissident MPs as a sudden breach of “certain agreement between him and other Congress leaders late last year in which we had agreed to have retrospection in the functioning of government and its achievement. “That agreement has been violated unilaterally”, he said. Bhattarai further said that the agreement had been reached late last year following a signature campaign by disgruntled MPs against his leadership.
Bhattarai further said that he had not been apprised of the blames he had been charged with in the petition and said that he must have the time to assess and reply all these allegations of NC lawmakers.
“I must know the blames leveled against me because I must reply to these charges against me by NC legislators,”he said questioning the Parliamentary Party Secretary’s notice, which he said made a mockery of the rights, dignity and the instructions of the parliamentary party leader. The Secretary, Bhattarai said, has issued him a notice that he take part in the parliamentary party meeting within five days.
Bhattarai said that he had been dedicated to the cause of nation, democracy and the party without any craving for returns right from the establishment of Congress. “I alone am alive from among the founding members of Nepali Congress,” Bhattarai said.
“Probably because of this the party projected me as the Prime Minister and received a clear majority in the parliamentary elections last year,” he said.
“Since the time I have been elected the Prime Minister of the nation I have been working tirelessly as per the constitutionto realise good governance, establish a corruption free society leading to nationbuilding.”
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 20:
Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai again asked for the postponement of the meeting of the NC parliamentary party scheduled for Monday.
In a press statement issued late Sunday evening, Prime Minister Bhattarai said that the parliamentary party meeting was called without consulting with him and asked to postpone for a period of one week to enable him to attend.
The meeting of NC parliamentary party was called to discuss the no-trust motion registered in the party by 58 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress against Prime Minister Bhattarai.
” I should know the charges on the basis of which no-trust motion was registered in the party so that I can clarify and answer those charges in the meeting”, he said.
” I would attend the meeting of NC parliamentary party and explain my position only when the charges against me are known”, he said.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 20:
Former Prime Minister and central leader of the ruling Nepali Congress Sher Bahadur Deuba cut short his visit to Australia and returned to Kathmandu today because of the new development in the Nepali Congress and national politics following the registration of no-trust motion in NC parliamentary party by 58 lawmakers against Prime Minster Krishna Prasad Bhattarai.
Deuba, upon arrival at the Tribhuvan International Airport, said that the move to oust Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai unceremonious way is an insult to the life-long sacrifice of Bhattarai, who is also a founder of the Nepali Congress.
Deuba said that it was also a violation of agreement reached between party president Girija Prasad Koirala and Prime Minister Bhattarai three months ago.
” It was a betrayal”, Deuba said.
Bhattarai had agreed to gracefully hand over power after six months for which Koirala had also been committed.
But making move to oust him in such a way is a great insult to the founder leader of the party, which may not do good to Nepali Congress.
Meanwhile efforts were made today to resolve the crisis in the Nepali Congress. Prime Minister Bhattarai and party president Koirala had talks Sunday but ended without any agreement. Details were not made available. Similarly, other Nepali Congress leaders also held discussion to find an amicable outlet of the present political crisis in the Nepali Congress Party.
Some 58 lawmakers of the Nepali Congress registered no-trust motion in the NC parliamentary party against Bhattarai. The meeting of the parliamentary party has been called Monday to discuss the motion.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 19:
The 50th National Democracy Day was observed with different programmes all over the country today (Saturday).
In Kathmandu, a programme was organised in Tundikhel by National Democracy Day Celebration Committee to mark the National Democracy Day.
Addressing the function, Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai said that democracy should be developed as the symbol of national unity and national development in the country and asked all to contribute from their respective sector for the consolidation of democracy and development of the nation.
Democracy has already become way of life for the people of Nepal and all should work for the promotion of democratic culture and preservation of democratic norms of values, Prime Minister Bhattarai said.
Earlier Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai went to Martyrs’ Memorial ( Sahid Gate) and paid tribute to all known and unknown martyrs who laid down their lives for the cause of democracy in the country. Leaders of different political parties, chiefs of constitutional bodies, ministers and high-ranking officials also offered their homage to the martyrs.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 19:
Maoist guerillas attacked a police post in Gharati Gaun of Rolpa district, about 450 kilometer west of Kathmandu and killed at least 15 policemen Saturday morning.
According to police, a group of guerillas of underground Nepal Communist Party (Maoist) attacked the police post with bombs at about 0130 hrs Saturday morning in which 15 policemen were killed on the spot.
Those who were killed in the incident are police inspector Shree Ram Acharya, assistant sub-inspector of police Hari Shankar Parajuli, chief constable Kul Raj Tharu, chief constable Hasta Bahadur Bohora, constables Padma Lal Shakya, Krishna Bahadur Kafley, Indra Bahadur Bista, Bir Bahadur Kumal, Chandra Bahadur Thapa, Tek Bahadur Gharti, Pushkar Ghimire, Kashi Ram Khanal, Laxmi Prasad Thapa, Dhan Bahadur Ale and Nanda Raj Bhandari.
Other 20 policemen were also injured in the incident, some of them very seriously, police said.
Seventeen of 20 injured have been brought to Kathmandu for treatment and the rest three were taken to Nepalgunj today.
However, the casualty in Maoist side was not known.
The Maoist Communist Party has launched an armed insurgency to overthrow the present multi-party system and establish one-party communist regime.
In the incidents of violence related to Maoist insurgency, more than 3000 people have been killed.
By Nepal News Correspondent
Kathmandu, Feb 19:
His Majesty King Birendra Bir Bikram Shah Dev said that people’s faith and confidence in a democratic polity can be sustained only if their aspirations to live a life with dignity in an atmosphere of freedom is ensured through good governance and effective development of institutions.
In a message to the nation on the occasion of 50th Democracy Day, His Majesty the King paid tribute to His late Majesty King Tribhuvan and all those who laid down their lives for the cause of democracy.
Following is the full text of His Majesty the King’s message to the nation on the occasion of 50th Democracy Day:
Beloved countrymen,
On the occasion of the National Democracy Day, we would like to pay homage to our august grandfather, the late King Tribhuvan, and all those who laid down their lives for the cause of democracy.
Today, as we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the ushering in of democracy in our country, we should not forget that the people’s faith and confidence in a democratic polity can be sustained only if their aspirations to live a life with dignity in an atmosphere of freedom is ensured through good governance and effective development of our institutions, while enhancing the glory of the nation.
It is, therefore, essential that institutions established under the constitution and all others carry out their responsibilities impartially and efficiently so that every Nepali gets the feel of good governance.
May this day inspire all Nepalese to forge ahead by consolidating democracy in the interest of the Nepalese people. May Lord Pashupatinath bless us all!