Kathmandu, Jan. 10: An interaction programme on matters relating to the concept of remote areas, criteria for classification of remote districts and the strategy to be adopted by the government to develop the remote districts was held at the Parliament Secretariat today.

Experts and scholars on subjects relating to remote areas, representatives of government and non-government organisations and members of Parliament participated in the programme.

Speaking at the programme National Assembly Chairman Dr. Mohammad Mohsin said the committees are the main organs of the parliament and that the under consideration bills should be discussed in the committees.

Chairman of National Assembly Remote Area Committee Krishnalal Thakali said a high level commission on effective and coordinative remote area development should be constituted under the chairmanship of the Prime Minister to finalise the role of the ministries and departments in the overall development of the remote areas.

Chairman of Public Service Commission Santa Bahadur Rai pointed out the need to give special attention to the economic condition of the people living in the remote and Himalyan districts of the country.

National Planning Commission member Dr. Jagdish Pokhrel said people living in the remote districts have become more backward due to the trouble caused by the so called Maoists.

Rajparishad member Jonden Ukyab, chief advisor of New Era Dr. Harka Bahadur Gurung, ex-secretary Madhusudan Dhakal, Dr. Chandra Prasad Gurung of wwf and Dr. Mahesh Baskota of icimod also expressed their views at the programme chaired by remote area committee chairman Krishnalal Thakali.

mps Yubaraj Gyawali, Balaram Ghartimagar, Goma Devkota, Komal Ghale, Mohan Raj Sharma and Bir Bahadur Singh also expressed their views on the occasion.

Kathmandu, Jan 10: The 30th anniversary of the Nepal Oil Corporation (NOC) was celebrated amidst a special programme here this afternoon. Speaking as Chief Guest Minister for Supplies Prakash Man Singh said that the corporation has been impressively carrying out its duty of stocking and supplying petroleum products in the nook and corner of the country from the last 3 decades.

‘But a lot must be done to expedite the process and thereby facilitate the consumers’, he said. Talking about the increment on environmental degradation because of the increase in vehicular traffic, Minister Singh said that the corporation must promote lead-free petrol while at the same time focus on expanding stocking capacity. Demanding urgency in-the- construction of the Raxaul-Amlekhgunj oil pipeline, Minister Singh also emphasized the need of on the job training of the employees of the corporation.

Secretary at the Ministry of Supplies, Padma Kumar Acharya said that since petroleum is an essential item for all consumers, employees must never even think of organising strikes or any such type of agitation that will unnecessary create a rift between the people and the government.

Hari Om Dhoj, Deputy General Manager of NOC opined that the recent price hike of certain petroleum products was more due to international price hike than due to our own plans.

Yuba Raj Sharma, Executive Director said that currently the corporation has the capacity of storing 26,940 kilo litre of oil in its storage tanks situated in Kathmandu, Thankot and Amlekhgunj.

Kathmandu, Jan.10 : The Government of Norway is to open its Embassy in Kathmandu from January 12.

Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs Knut Vollebaek is scheduled to inaugurate the Embassy during his three-day official visit to Nepal beginning tomorrow.

The visit of the Norwegian Minister is expected to be very fruitful for further enhancing and promoting the bilateral ties between the two kingdoms and increasing economic cooperation and investment.

Talking to rss representative here today, Minister Counsellor of Norwegian Embassy Ms. Ingrid Ofstad expressed confidence that the visit of the Norwegian Foreign Minister would contribute to promoting official contacts and strengthening relations between the two countries.

She also informed that the Norwegian Minister will be accompanied by senior government officials and business community representatives. Discussions between the business community of Nepal and Norway would pave the way for the promotion of bilateral investments in Nepal, she said.

The Norwegian Foreign Minister is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai, various ministers and high ranking government officials to discuss bilateral economic cooperation, investment promotion and identification and expansion of new areas of cooperation.

Stating that Nepal and Norway are enjoying good relationship at both government and non government level, Minister Counsellor Ms. Ofstad also told rss that Norwegian investors are interested in investing in Nepal’s energy and hydropower sector.

She also indicated the possibility of Norwegian assistance in poverty alleviation, srengthening of public sector organisations and corruption control.

Noting that Norway is the third largest investor in Nepal, she expressed the belief that the establishment of the Norwegian Embassy will help further consolidate formal relations between Nepal and Norway.

Norway, which has been assisting Nepal in such sectors as basic and primary education, and poverty alleviation, is interested in extending cooperation for the implementation of the Melamchi Drinking Water Project, especially the construction of tunnel under the project, the Minister Counsellor said.

Norway is interested in investing in Butwal Power Company, she said, adding however, it has never put pressure on Nepal in this regard. Norway always advocates open and transparent privatisation procedures, she further added.

Kathmandu, Jan. 10:Nepal’s economic growth rate, hovering around three per cent during the last five years, is likely to increase to 6 per cent, thanks to political stability, favourable weather conditions and increase in the exports.

The agricultural sector is said to have played a major role in the increase of the estimated economic growth, according to economic indicators. The growth in the agricultural sector during the current fiscal year is estimated between 4 and 5 per cent, said Dr Yuva Raj Khatiwada, Nepal Rastra Bank’s chief economic advisor.

Such a growth in this sector will have a direct, positive impact on the country’s overall economy, which is based on agriculture, Dr Khatiwada said.

In addition, the country’s exports have increased by 40 per cent, NRB said in its recent report.

National Planning Commission member Dr Shankar Sharma said the remittance, increase in industrial production and better loan management had increased the economic growth rate this fiscal year which ends mid-July.

“The industrial output this year is likely to increase from that of previous years,” Sharma said of the projection, which is due to be published.

Dr Khatiwada said political stability during the last seven months had created a congenial atmosphere for the growth in industrial output and investments in the industrial sector.

Khatiwada said the investors were attracted by political stability and reforms in internal fiscal policy.

Another economist Dr Bishwambhar Pyakuryal agrees to Khatiwada. There have been positive indications because the Nepali Congress government has already started implementation of the measures pledged during the election and because of the free market economy the country has embraced, Pyakuryal said.

Kathmandu, Jan. 10:State Minister for Information and Communications Gobinda Bahadur Shaha today said that the multitude of languages, customs and cultures prevalent in the country constituted its cultural identity and appealed to all to preserve this cultural edifice marked by unity in diversity.

Nepal is called a garden with many flowers as it is the homeland of diverse ethnic communities with their distinct customs and cultures, Shaha said inaugurating the one-day nation-wide Phoolbari Song Festival here this morning organised jointly by Radio Nepal and Nepal Television on the occasion of 278th Prithvi Jayanti and National Unity Day.

The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal-1990 provides ample room for the development of the languages used by various communities side by side with the development of the national language, he said.

Shaha said that the government was committed to the principle of unity in diversity and appealed to the countrymen to contribute in the preservation of national unity and integrity and the promotion of the existing cultural, religious and ethnic integration.

Prithvi Narayan Shaha the Great was a farsighted and skilled statesman in the history of Nepal, Information and Communications Secretary Sriram Poudel said. It is he who deserves the credit for unifying the divided quarters and giving Nepal the status of a nation, Poudel added.

Executive Director of Radio Broadcasting Services Development Committee Mukunda Prasad Acharya said that the festival was organised with a view to give the audience a taste of the entire Nepali culture and hoped that it would be instrumental in preserving the existing cultural diversity.

Nepal is a multicultural, multi-lingual and multi-ethnic country, Nepal Television’s General Manager Tapanath Shukla said and appealed to all to have respect for each other’s language, culture and customs.

The song festival that featured 26 songs representing Tamang, Rai, Sherpa, Limbu, Gurung, Magar, Tharu, Chepang, Jhangad, Jirel, Newari, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Rasuwali and Hyamlo communities was aired live by Radio Nepal and NTV.

Biratnagar, Jan. 10: President of the Nepali Congress and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has said that he has realised the need for reassessment of the policies and programmes implemented by His Majesty’s Government for the all round development of the country since the policies and programmes have failed to produce tangible results.

nc president Koirala was speaking at a mass meeting after laying the foundation stone for construction of a building at Ward No. 1 of Katahari vdc to be built by Morang district branch of the Nepal Trade Union Congress.

Though a huge sum of money had been spent in sectors such as agriculture, industries, water resources and education, the achievement is disappointing, he said.

Party President Koirala pointed out the need for all the organisations affiliated to the Nepali Congress to launch struggle for the eradication of corruption, the main enemy of the nation and the people.

There should be cordial relations between the labourers and the industrialists to make the country prosper, Mr. Koirala said, adding that as the future of the country is linked to the activities of the labourers, the government should be sensitive on the development of industries and should implement specific policies for the welfare of the working class.

President Koirala said only the trade union which had initiated the struggle for democracy in the country can understand the problems of the people who live in the huts.

National president of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Laxman Bahadur Basnet informed that the Trade Union Congress has been conducting child education classes and skill development trainings all over the country for the wellbeing of the workers and their children.

nc morang district president Ashok Koirala said rights of all are respected in democracy and added that the nc has been continually struggling for the rights of the working class.

General secretary of the Nepal Trade Union Congress Pushkar Acharya said the Trade Union Congress has been running social activities all over the Kingdom for the uplift of the lower class of people.

At the function presided over by president of the Nepal Trade Union Congress, Morang Narayan Babu Karki, various other speakers including the central member Mrs. Sudha Dahal, vice president of the Morang Trade Association Champalal Rathi also spoke of the various struggles launched by the Trade Union Congress for the welfare of the workers.

The total estimated cost of the one-storey building of the Trade Union Congress, Morang to be constructed on one kattha land is Rs 750,000. The building will have two meeting halls and two rooms.

Also present at the function was central member of nc and chief of nc women’s Department Mrs. Nona Koirala.

Peace & harmony: 
Meanwhile, nc President and ex-prime minister Girija Prasad Koirala has stressed the need for harmony between materialism and spiritualism for peace and consolidation of the nation, society and even political parties.

nc president Koirala was inaugurating a spiritual talk programme organised in connection with the “Ishworanubhuti Pashupatinath Rath Yatra” or chariot procession which is heading for Mount Abu, Rajasthan, India from Kathmandu.

Mr Koirala expressed the belief that the chariot procession will contribute to further strengthening the religious and cultural ties between Nepal and India.

Failure to properly use the sense of discretion given by God to human beings has led to myriad of social anomalies and aberrations, he said, adding the ultimate goal of any religion is wellbeing of the living beings.

He also appreciated Brahmakumari Rajyog Service Centre’s contribution to promotion of spiritualism among human beings.

On the occasion, nc president Koirala felicitated central director of Brahmakumari Rajyog Service Centre, Nepal Rajdidi by wrapping a shawl around her.

Brahmakumari Rajdidi also reciprocated by felicitating the nc President in the same manner.

Mr Koirala also felicitated the participants of the chariot procession by presenting caps to men and shawls to women.

From the chair, director of Brahmakumari Rajyog Service Centre, Nepal Rajdidi said human beings can shape their own destinies.

Various other speakers also expressed their views on the occasion.

The procession originated from Kathmandu together with another Shivasagar chariot procession which originated from assam, India entered Biratnagar Sub-Municipal Corporation this morning amidst warm welcome from thousands of devotees.The chariot procession will proceed for India tomorrow. Propagation of the message of world peace is the main objective of the chariot procession.

Lalitpur, Jan. 10: Prime Minister Krishna Prasad Bhattarai today said that the upcoming session of Parliament would pass the controversial Women’s Bill that guarantees women’s fundamental rights, including the rights to parental property.

“However, women will have to continue their efforts to preserve the rights even after Parliament passes the Bill,” Bhattarai said at a programme organised by the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare to hold discussions on the Jagriti Women’s Income Generation Programme here today.

He said that men could play a significant role in making women aware about rights and providing them with the opportunity of policy making.

He reiterated his commitment that the present Nepali Congress led government would bring about a drastic change in the country by means of economic and educational revolution within next five years.

Speaker Taranath Ranabhat said that the buzzword of ‘women empowerment’ was limited to speech only. “The concerned individuals and organisations have to initiate some concrete programme so as to make the women feel that their role is equally important in society.”

A lot of resources were being mobilised by the civic society in women empowerment sector but the outcome was still very little compared to the investment of resources, he said.

From the chair, Minister for Women and Social Welfare Chiranjibi Wagle said that the programme aimed at making women self-reliant through self-empowerment.

State Minister for Women and Social Welfare Kamala Panta, who also holds the post of Chairperson of the women’s Income Generation Programme Steering Committee, said that everyone should rise above politics when it comes to the implementation of the programme.

Convenor of the Programme Central Working Committee Lila Koirala called for the co-operation of all sectors in making the programme a success.

Member of the Working Committee Dr. Balgopal Vaidhya said that the programme aimed at uplifting the political, economic and social status of women.

Secretary at the Ministry of Women and Social Welfare Urmila Shrestha said that the programme would cover 64 thousand women from 940 Village Development Committees and would further be extended to 380 thousand women from all the VDCs within the next five years.

Kathmandu, Jan. 10: The Government of Japan has agreed to provide grant assistance to His Majety’s Government. Two separate notes to this effect were signed and exchanged between His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Japan here today, according to a press release of the Ministry of Finance.

Under the first note, the Government of Japan will provide a grant assistance of about Rs. 48.2 million to carry our detailed design of approximately 39 km long Sindhuli Bazaar-Khurkot section of Dhulikhel-Sindhuli road. The detailed design of this section is expected to be completed within one year.

It may be recalled that the construction of 37 km long Sindhuli Bazaar-Bardibas section has been completed and 50 km long Dhulikhel-Nepalthok section is under construction with the financial and technical assistance provided by the Government of Japan since 1996.

Under the second note Japan will provide a grant assistance of about Rs. 56.7 million to His Majesty’s Government under the debt relief measures.

The grant assistance is in lieu of repayment of the principal and the accured interest of the outstanding loans extended by the Government of Japan to His Majesty’s Government.

The Government of Japan has been providing such grant assistance to Nepal under its debt relief measures since FY 1978.

The grant assistance from the Japanese Government under its debt relief measures is used to procure commodities which are essential for various development works.

This grant assistance is the third portion of debt relief measures for the Japanese fiscal year 1999.

The letter were signed by Mr. Ram Binod Bhattarai, secretary at the Ministry of Finance and Japanese ambassador Mitsuaki Kojima on behalf of His Majesty’s Government and the Government of Japan respectively.

His Majesty’s Government has expressed its sincere appreciation to the Government of Japan for this assistance and for its keen interest and continued support for the socio-economic development of Nepal.

Kalaiya, Jan. 9 : The Nepal Association for Welfare of the Blind (NAWB) has released loans totaling Rs 1,093,350 to 176 blind persons under the community-based rehabilitation project for starting various income-generating activities.

The loans were distributed with the assistance of the Helen Keller Association, Japan.

The blind are learnt to have started different enterprises with the loans and have paid back Rs 919,619 in interest.

Under the project, free eye examination has been so far conducted on some 36,754 eye patients and medicine distributed free of cost to them.

The association also administered anti-polio drops to 1,022,026 children under five years of age in the district for the prevention of blindness and other eye diseases among them.

In addition to this, the association has been providing facilities for the teaching of braille to 25 blind children at three schools of the district.

Kathmandu, Jan. 9 : Raj Parishad Standing Committee Chairman Dr. Kesarjung Rayamajhi has spoken of the need for everyone to work honestly and dutifully for the overall development of the country.

Dr. Rayamajhi was addressing a felicitation and medals distribution programme organised by Rayamajhi Kuldevata Samiti here today.

On the occasion Dr. Rayamajhi also felicitated various personalities making important contribution to the promotion and development of Rayamajhi culture and traditions.

Mp yadav Bahadur Rayamajhi and chairman of the felicitated personality committee Thir Bahadur Rayamajhi also expressed their views.