Bhaktapur, Jan. 22: Minister for Industry Omkar Prasad Shrestha gave away the “Gajendra Bhoosan” award and medal to a boy and girl student securing highest marks in last year’s School Leaving Certificate (SLC) examination from Bhaktapur at a special function held here on Friday.
On the occasion, chief guest Mr. Shrestha presented a cash award of Rs 3,000 and the Gajendra Bidhya Bhoosan medal and letter of commendation each to Roshan Bhakta Shrestha and Miss Lajana Shrestha, both students of the Mount Senai English Boarding School who secured highest marks in the slc examination from Bhaktapur district last year.
Addressing the function, Minister Shrestha called upon all to join hands in removing the aberrations seen in the country’s education system.
He said education should be for intellectual development and self-reliance, not job-oriented.
Social worker Shyam Dhaubadel, Sabitri Thapa, former minister Aishwarya Lal Pradhanang and principal of Mount Senai English School Rajeshwari Shrestha also expressed their views at the programme presided over by founder president of the Gajendra Bidhya Bhusan medal and award trust Mr. Gajendra Pradhanang.
Biratnagar, Jan 22 : Nepali Congress central member and former deputy prime minister Shailaja Acharya has said the congress has no alternative in the changed context. Addressing a nc town committee meeting here today, Miss Acharya pointed out the need of a strong leadership in the government.
Stating that the nc government will last out its full five year term, she also expressed confidence that nc’s politics is healthy and heading towards a positive direction.
nc morang district vice president Dilip Sapkota also spoke at the function chaired by nc town committee Biratnagar chairman Kedar Bahadur Basnet.
Lalitpur, Jan. 22: Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Sharat Singh Bhandari released the translated version of “Digha Nikaya” in Nepali language at a function organised by Bir-Purna Pustak Sangrahalaya here today.
The book which contains the teachings of Lord Buddha was translated into the nepali language by Dunda Bahadur Bajracharya. The 650-page book also gives information about the geography, history, society and culture, religion and philosophy during the Buddha-era.
Speaking on the occasion Minister Bhandari said the teachings of Lord Buddha are not for any special community but is a property of all.
Representatives of Thai and Sri Lankan Embassies Werayut Yoothongkan and Vijaya Padukkge, Prof. Keshavman Shakya and other speakers also shed light on the importance of the book.
President of all Nepal Bikhsu Federation Anirudhha Mahasthavir presided.
Kathmandu, Jan. 22 : The three-day international conference on democracy for Burma concluded her today after adopting a “Kathmandu declaration”.
Jointly organized by a number of national and international organizations like International Confederation of Free Trade Unions and Nepal Trade Union Congress, the conference brought together 60 representatives from 29 countries.
The declaration says restoration of democracy in Burma will not be possible without political and economic pressure against the Military Junta.
To this end, the conference stated that the Trade Union movement, at all levels, must be prepared to play a lead role in opposing the activities of the Junta and in paving the way for restoration of democracy in the country.
At the concluding function of the conference, representative from ftub, burma Myung Myung expressed the belief that Burma will see the dawn of democracy soon.
Meanwhile, a reception was hosted here today in honour of the visiting leaders who were here to take part in the International Conference on democracy in Burma organised by the Nepal Trade Union Congress.
Speaking on the occasion, general secretary of the International Confederation of the Free Trade Unions for Asia and the Pacific Noriyuki Sujuki complained a plan to organize such a conference in India and Thailand did not materialize as the countries did not give permission. He also expressed happiness that Nepal allowed to hold this conference thereby reaffirming its commitment to democracy.
President of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Laxman Basnet said workers can exercise their rights only in democracy and Nepal agreed to host the conference because of its commitment to democracy.
The international conference which began on January 20 concluded here today.Altogether 90 trade union leaders from 29 countries of the world participated in the conference.President of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Basnet had hosted a dinner for the visiting delegates yesterday.
Kathmandu, Jan. 22: John Shephered, a top British Government trade official, who is visiting Nepal to meet businessmen and officials, attended a passing-off parade in Pokhara of recruits selected to join the British Army.
Accompanied by British ambassador Ronald Nash, Mr Shepherd was met at Pokhara by Colonel Mark Dowdle, Commander, British Gurkhas Nepal.
There followed a short parade where the recruits demonstrated their newly taught military skills.
The inspecting officer, Brigadier Mervyn Lee, who is the colonel of the Queen’s Gurkha signals regiment and a trustee of the Gurkha Welfare Trust, praised the 230 recruits on their performance and congratulated them on their selection for service in the british army.
He said that there was a special bond between the two countries, best exemplified by the strong links with the brigade of Gurkhas, forged over a considerable period of time.
After the parade, Mr Shepherd, Mr Nash, Brigadier Lee and Colonel Dowdle took the opportunity to meet and talk to over 500 spectators. the majority were relatives of the recruits, many of whom had travelled considerable distances.
The recruits fly to the United Kingdom shortly to start further recruit training after which they will join their various regiments.
Kathmandu, Jan 22 : Nepal Chamber of Commerce general secretary Surendra Bir Malakar has expressed concern at whatever adverse impact there has been on the tourism industry following suspension of Indian Airlines flights to Kathmandu in the wake of the Hijacking last month.
Free movement between the two countries has helped the tourism trade and air services had been making a further contribution, he said.
He has called for discussions and initiatives to bring about the resumption of Indian Airlines flights to further enchance ties between Nepal and India and help boost tourism.
Kathmandu, Jan. 22:A Meeting of the employees working at various institutions and council under the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) formed Nepal Inter-corporation Employees Association Agriculture Ministry Co-ordination Committee in Kathmandu recently.
The Committee, which aims at solving problems of employees through talks with mangement, is affiliated to Nepal Inter-corporation Employees Association National Committee.
The office bearer are – Hari Ram Poudel as coordinator, subhash Adhikari as secretary and Yadav Raj Sharma as treasurer while the members are Suba Raj Poudel, Prakash Dhakal, Sushil Datta Mishra and Madhusudan Khanal.
Kathmandu, Jan. 22: The Agriculture Development Bank head branch office in Bharatpur (Chitwan) has focused its loan programme on commercialisation of the agricultural sector.
Under this programme, agro-based production in the entire district has increased significantly.
Major portions of the loan flow have been channelled into poultry farming, hatcheries, production of feed and egg trays, veterinary medical facilities and sale of chicken eggs and meat, manager at the branch rameswar koirala said.
Chitwan district is emerging as the biggest poultry centre in the country as a result of the positive impact of bank loans and enterpreneurs concerned have started calling it an egg basket.
The bank is also assisting in the keeping of hybrid cows and buffaloes and bee-keeping with modern technology. Consequently, the production of milk and honey is also rising gradually.
The loans received from the bank for the purpose of sale of agricultural inputs and products, though on a small scale, have proved to be of help for small farmers and entrepreneurs.
Similarly, the flow of huge investments into the establishment of bio-gas plants in the district has led to the promotion alternative energy to a great extent.
The bank is also providing loans for livestock like pigs and goats, the mass cultivation of potatoes and vegetables, operation of cottage and small industries and cutting and crushing mills, purchase of tractors and irrigation purposes.
According to statistics, the bank recovered Rs. 76,100,000 out of its total loan investment of Rs. 80,600,000 during the first six months of the current fiscal year.
About 124 percent progress has been achieved in investments and 85 percent progress in loan recovery.
The Bank had a total of Rs. 338,100,000 in outstanding loans as of the month of paush this year, and of the total, Rs. 49,000,000, or around 12 percent is bad debt.
Some impediments such as paucity of requisite infrastructure and advanced technical counselling, inadequate supply of quality seeds and fertilisers, lack of quality control for feed and medicine and failure to get desirable returns on the sale of ago products and livestock have hindered the smooth implementation of the loan programme to some extent, manager Koirala said.
Nepalgunj, Jan 22: Former speaker and Nepali Congress central member Ram Chandra Poudel has said that Nepali Congress workers should organise on the basis of thought if democracy is to be strengthened.
Speaking at a get-together for party workers organised by the Nepali Congress Banke district working committee here today, Mr Poudel said it is a positive thing for a democratic party if party workers raise their voices when the leadership does not perform, and the nepali congress will take the path shown by workers who express their concerns.
The development of the poor and helpless in the country is possible through the socialist policy of the Nepali Congress, he said adding that party workers should also play an active role in this.
Pointing out that he subscribes to the view that party leadership should be formed or changed on the basis of policy, the former speaker said party works should not embrace groupism but thrash out policy matters with the leadership.
Nepali Congress Banke chairman Krishna Man Shrestha chaired the get-together during which questions and suggestions relating to the problems seen within the party and the functioning of the government were presented before the party central member.
Also present on the occasion were party central organisation department chief Baldev Sharma Majgaiya, Minister for Law and Justice and parliamentary Affairs Tarinidatta Chataut, party spokesman Narahari Acharya and former speaker Daman Nath Dhungana.
Meanwhile, Participants at a two-day mid-western regional seminar on “Consolidation of parliamentary system” stressed the need for coordination among the government, mps and local representatives in development activities to consolidate parliamentary system.
At the seminar that concluded today, ex-deputy speaker Damannath Dhungana, nc spokesman Narahari Acharya and ex-speaker Ramchandra Poudel presented working papers on the role of mps and local bodies in law making, inter-relation among government, mps and local representatives, and the concept of local self-governance in a democratic system respectively.
At the seminar that was attended by local representatives and mps representing the mid-western region, Minister for Law and Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Tarini Datta Chataut said the suggestions of the seminar will be of much help for the government to work on the consolidation of parliamentary system. Mayor of Binendranagar Municipality Balaram Sharma presided.
Kathmandu, Jan. 22: A delegation from the Nepal Health Technicians Association led by its chairman Hira Sharma has again handed over a memorandum relating to the professional interests of health technicians.
The memorandum calls for the fulfilling of the demands in consonance with democratic norms and the sensitivity of the health services since delay in redressing grievances have only added more complexities.
The Association had submitted a memorandum on December 10 also.
Also yesterday, district committees of the association including those in Nuwakot, Dhading, Kaski, Rupandehi, Dang, Rukum, Pyuthan, Rolpa, Gorakha, Nawalparasi, Makwanpur, Parsa, Bara, Lamjung, Sunsari, Morang, and Baradiya districts made an appeal to the Prime Minister in this regard through the district administration offices.
A delegation led by the Kathmandu district committee chairman of the association submitted its memorandum at Kathmandu District Administration office yesterday.
The association has laid emphasis on the formulation of policy for good quality, cooperative health services for the public, inclusion of the programmes in the national budget so as to make ayurved and other naturopathy methods more scientific and properly equipped, maintenance of transparency, arrangements for manpower, medicine and other physical infrastructure at existing health units, setting up of a division for quality treatment and promotion purposes and application of a decentralisation policy.
Amendments to the existing laws relating to the health sector in such a way as to uphold the interests and morale of health technicians, arrangements for the study in standard medical courses, and the functioning of the health workers council in a transparent and lawful manner are also among the 20 demands put forth by the association.