BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 16:Assistant Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation Narayan Singh Pun said today that Nepalese tourism entrepreneurs must take the advantage of the global communication network and must promote Nepal’s tourist destinations through the internet.

“As the economic development of Nepal largely depends on how the country goes about developing the tourism sector, the government is determined to boost tourism,” Pun said.

He handed over certificates to around sixty trainees of “Marketing Sales” and “Kitchen Management” here today.

The training was conducted under the joint aegis of the Institute of Tourism and Hotel Management, Salzburg, Austria, Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management, Eco Himal, Austrian Development Cooperation and the Hotel Association Nepal.

Citing the success story of Austria in the tourism sector, Pun said Austria, which has a population of seven million people receives 15 million tourists every year. The per capita income of Austria is $ 1900, the credit of which goes to the success of the tourism industry, he said.

Pun said Nepal too could increase its per capita income if the vast potentials of tourism were tapped.

He said that the Ministry of Tourism aimed to increase the number of tourists beyond the imaginable number for which trained manpower to cater to the needs of tourists is indispensable.

Pun said that the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management needs to expand its training programme in order to provide training opportunities to an additional number of people.

It is essential for every Nepali to receive some sort of training in any discipline besides the academic results so as to be sellable in the competitive job market, he said.

Secretary at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, Barun Prasad Shrestha said that the partnership approach among the national and international institutions to impart training on different disciplines affiliated with tourism was a positive sign.

The collaborative approach to impart tourism training would in the long run provide the required manpower for the tourism industry, Shrestha said.

Executive Director of the Nepal Academy of Tourism and Hotel Management, Meena Khanal said that the role of the tourism industry in the economic development of the country was increasingly becoming significant.

She said that the role of trained manpower comes foremost when talking about the sound development of tourism.

First Vice President of the Hotel Association Nepal, Narendra Bajracharya drew the attention of the Minister towards the problems impeding the development of tourism.

He said that the garbage accumulated in the streets of the valley had been giving a negative impression on the tourists coming to Nepal.

The poor treatment given to tourists at the airport by the immigration officials and the cab drivers have been imparting a negative impression upon tourists, Bajracharya said.

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Lalitpur, Dec. 16:Ministry of Youth, Sports and Culture (MYSC) today organised a seminar-cum-workshop on Formulation of National Youth Policy with an objective of soliciting appropriate suggestions prior to the policy formation through discussions among the government and NGOs working in the field of youth activities.

The policy would bring about uniformity and co-ordination between all the related governmental and non-governmental organisations to make the youth force productive, discipline and cultured, the organisers said. “The national youth policy will outline the role of institutions directly or indirectly concerned with youth activities, define the role of MYSC as the central government agency for youth affairs and also spell out the specific section of the population covered by the word ‘youth’”.

Similarly, the policy would develop long and short-term procedures for youth development and include the work area of the national youth council to be constituted soon out of realisation of the need of a separate government mechanism for implementing these procedures at district level, they said.

Various government agencies, national and international non-governmental organisations, representative agencies of the United Nations and representatives of social institutions and youth organisations of six national-level political parties are taking part in the three-day seminar.

People between 15 to 29 years are categorised as youths in Nepal and they constitute 27 per cent of the total population of the country. Some 25.6 per cent of the youths in the world are said to live in South Asia.

Inaugurating the seminar, Minister for Youth, Sports and Culture Sarat Singh Bhandari said it was unfortunate that a clear and concrete policy to guide the youth force, the main agent of change and progress in the country, should still be lacking. “However, the government has made attempts to address the problems of youths in the current Ninth Five Year Plan.”

Incidents that happen in the country every day were proof that change would be violent and extreme if the youth force was not guided on the right track, he said pointing out the need for serious contemplation of programmes which government and the non-governmental sector could undertake to cultivate morality and discipline among youth.

Minister Bhandari showed a bleak picture of various problems being faced by the country’s youth and accused political parties of exploiting them for their political interest. “Youth unemployment, brain drain of youths, exhaustion of existing job-opportunities within the country and lack of a work ethic are pertinent problems in this connection.”

MYSC Secretary Sri man Shrestha said today’s main challenge was how to orient youth towards the mainstream of nation building and make them socially conscious, culturally aware, economically self-reliant, technically skilled, physically fit and mentally conscientious citizens.

Pointing out that development of a positive role for youth, good conduct and sensibility was necessary for guiding youth towards the right direction, he emphasised maximum use of youth power and skills for taking them on the right track.

BY NAVIN SINGH KHADKA

Kathmandu, Dec.16:In what appears to be the aftermath of the official decision to scrap off trekking permit from three major trekking routes earlier this year, the number of trekkers in the already concentrated areas has shot up remarkably. While it may have local tourism entrepreneurs smiling, doubts loom large if the swelling trekking business will be an equally cheering news for the fragile ecology in the highland.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), according to Ganesh Raj Karki, Chief of Mountaineering Division at the Ministry of Tourism and Civil Aviation, has recorded 20 per cent growth of trekkers visiting different national parks. Of the 15 national parks and protected areas throughout the Kingdom, nine are in the mountain region.

After the Department of Immigration stopped issuing trekking permit (priced US $35 for a tourist per week) for Everest, Langtang and Annapurna regions from July this year, DNPWC is the only agency that records number of trekkers entering national parks and protected areas. Not necessarily, however, all trekkers enter national parks and protected areas while they are footloose in the adventure zone. Which means the number of adventure souls in the highland must have shot up further.

Bearing the brunt due to the uptick in the visitors’ graph are the already over-concentrated areas like Annapurna and Everest regions that saw above 54,000 and around 18,000 trekkers respectively in 1997. Last year, the total trekkers’ figure in all the trekking areas across the Kingdom reached above 112,000 – a 23 per cent growth in the previous year’s record. The Everest region, according to World Wide Fund Office here, saw around 20,000 visitors in the last 11 months..

Mounting human pressure on such tourism hotbeds have begun to result into adverse environmental impacts. Especially at places with no alternative energy source available that pave way for increased consumption of fuel wood. “With the growing number of teahouses in these regions, the consumption of fuel wood is seriously on the rise,” says Deepak Dhamala, General Secretary of Trekking Agents Association of Nepal (TAAN).

The sorry picture, according to a report of International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), is already reflected by the denuded forests at several pockets in the Everest region.

As alarming is the piled-up trash trekkers and expeditioners leave behind. A Spanish expedition team collected 1200 kilogrammes of garbage from the surroundings of Mount Annapurna I in May this year. Few months later, a German team came back from Khumbu region with above 30 kgs of used batteries found littered in the trekking trail. The clean-up team warned that the batteries could contaminate river waters in the region.

And now that trekkers need no trekking permit, conservationists have one more fear: Trekkers’ unrestricted movement could pose additional threat to the fragile Himalayan ecology. “Under the permit system earlier, trekking routes were specified,” says Jay Pratap Rana, Member Secretary of King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation that has been assessing the changed situation to prepare a report. “Since trekkers use their own routes now, it will have multiplier effect.”

In a bid to regulate trekkers’ movement, experts prescribe check-points to provide the visitors itineraries and explain them their code of conduct. But, doing that means money matters. Even though national parks charge Rupees 650 as entry fee to trekkers, the protected areas are still short of fund.

An analytical report by Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation shows almost 43 per cent of financial gap for above US $85 million worth programs between 1999 and 2003 in 15 different protected areas in the country. Annapurna Conservation Area alone requires above US $15 million while the available fund is below US $10 million.

Sagarmatha National Park in the Everest region demands US $1.4 million while it has only US $350,000 cash in hand. Given the booming trekking business at certain trekking areas, one of the ways to bridge the financial gap at such places could be by bringing the local tourism entrepreneurs within the income tax net, says a senior official at MoTCA.

A revenue investigation team from Kanchanpur, according to the source, recently found many tourism entrepreneurs evading tax in the Everest region. “An average lodge owner in such area makes as high as five to six million Rupees in a year.”

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec 16: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala has criticised the growing dependency on foreign aid as a hampering factor in attaining the goal of self sufficiency.

“The notion that nothing can be done without foreign aid has been established here as a tradition,” said Koirala adding that this may result in our inability to achieve an important goal of self reliance.

Koirala, who was releasing a book “Karmabir Ko Katha” (A Biography of a man of action) written by industrialist Hulaschand Golchha, pointed out at the necessity to act with courage, determination and dedication to achieve economic self reliance.

The book released today is the first volume of a biography of pioneering industrialist Ram Lal Golchha, father of the author, who started Nepal’s first jute mill in Biratnagar over five decades ago. The release of the 500-page book today coincides with the 101st birth anniversary of the industrial trail blazer.

Urging not panic over the doubt of not getting foreign aid, Koirala said “You always get assistance when you are in need of it and the performance on your part is good.” Given the kind of geographical situation of Nepal, however, foreign assistance is certainly necessary, he added.

Expressing concern over the rising trend of individualistic influence in the Nepalese economic horizon, Koirala emphasised an urgent need to revise the economic policy of the country.

Commending the role of late Ram Lal Golcha in his pioneering efforts for the industrial development of Nepal, Koirala said a man’s personality is formed on the foundation of his vision and sacrifice.

Former Finance Minister and senior UML leader Bharat Mohan Adhikari said those who are active in the field of trade and industry can drawn inspiration from late Golchha whose immense self confidence led to remarkable industrial and business achievement.

“I was in close association with late Golchha and was highly impressed with his quality of enterpreneurship,” recalled Adhikari.

President of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI) Pradeep Kumar Shrestha said that vision of late Golchha might be a source of inspiration for industrialists and businessmen at the threshold of the new century.

Highlighting the contributions of the late industrialist and social worker, the FNCCI president urged the government to do something in recognition of that.

Author of the book and the youngest son of late Golchha, Hulaschand Golchha said the prominent and pioneering industrialist was qualified with rare qualities one of them being simplicity. The present volume of his biography has been published after the efforts of late 26 years, he said adding that next volume of the book that dwells on memoirs, is in the press and will come out very soon, he added.

He demanded the government to dedicate a postage stamp and name the Biratnagar-Devangunj road in late Golchha’s name.

UML leader and writer Mod Nath Prashrit who edited the released book said ‘Karmabir’ was a remarkable entrepreneur who pioneered the work of taking Nepal into industrial the era.

Dr. Ram Dayal Rakesh presented a critical comment on the book.

Vice Chancellor of Royal Academy and poet Mohan Koirala said the book will inspire all active in industry and business sectors.

Several other personalities hailing from trade, business and religious sectors also expressed the words of tribute to late Golchha who was decorated with Suprasiddha Prabal Gorkha Dakshinbahu.

Kathmandu, Dec. 16 (RSS): Newly appointed Chief Justice Keshav Prasad Upadhyaya has said he will remain committed to upholding the administrative and financialindependence of the judiciary.

Talking to journalists after assuming his office at the Supreme Court today, Mr Upadhyaya noted that necessary steps will be taken to make timely changes in the laws pertaining to judicial administration and court management in order to deliver justice without delay.

The newly appoitned Chief Justice also expressed his determination to implement the report of the court management committee aimed at making the judiciary transparent and effective.

Stating that everyone is subordinate to laws, Mr Upadhyaya remarked that it is up to the Judicial Council whether or not the seniormost justice of the Supreme Court should be appointed as Chief Justice.

“My views alone will not prevail on this matter,” he further said.

His efforts will be focussed on solving court problems with the cooperation from all quarters to enhance people’s faith in the judiciary while upholding the dignity and spirit of the judiciary at the same time, he said and spoke of the need of coordination between the bar and the bench.

Noting that programmes will be enforced in a planned manner to strengthen the courts physically, he asked His Majesty’s Government to extend its cooperation for this.

Necessary arrangements will be made to put in place reform measures after studying legal and practical problems which delay the settling of cases, Mr Upadhyaya said, adding that periodic plans will be worked out to ease the pressure of pending cases.

-BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 15: Nepali Congress Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting today instructed the congress lawmakers to defend the government in the special session that has been summoned as per the demand of the main opposition to discuss price hike.

“The lawmakers have been asked to join hands and face the charges levelled by the main opposition against the government,” Nepali Congress spokesman Narahari Acharya said.

The meeting also passed a proposal, which extends the party’s gratitude to the voters of Jhapa-6, Rautahat-4 and Morang-1 for bringing victory to the NC candidates in the recently concluded by- elections.

“The CWC has decided to postpone the General Convention of the party,” Acharya said.

The General Convention had earlier been scheduled for Ashad 2057 B.S. According to the party statute, the membership to different bodies of the party should be renewed six months prior to the Convention. As the process of renewing the membership is yet to acquire completion in around 30 districts and the three constituencies that went to by- elections recently, the meeting decided to postpone the Convention to Kartik, 2057 B.S, Acharya said.

All the CWC members apart from Bijay Kumar Gacchedar were present in today’s meeting. The CWC will meet again on December 18.

Kathmandu, Dec 15 (RSS): An interaction programme concerning the Melamchi project was held here recently.

On the occasion, Minister for Housing and Physical Planning Bal Bahadur kc expressed confidence that the setting up of the Melamchi Drinking Water coordination committee would be of help to the government and said the drinking water problem would be resolved in another four years.

General secretary of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party Pashupati Shumsher J.B. Rana said local people’s representatives have a significant role to play in the implementation of the Melamchi project.

Committee chairman Pasang Lama chaired the programme at which other office bearers also expressed their respective views.

BY A STAFF REPORTER

Kathmandu, Dec. 15: Addressing a seminar on improving coordination between the legal and medical communities to end violence against women organised by Legal Aid and Consultancy Centre (LACC) Health Minister Ram Baran Yadav said that education was the only tool to end violence against women that is rampant in our society. He, however, did not make commitments for government initiations to make the medical professions sensitive to violence victims.

In a 1997 survey conducted by SATHI, an NGO working with domestic violence victims, reveals that 87 per cent of Nepalese women fall victims of domestic violence, 30 per cent are raped while 93 per cent are mentally tortured by their families.

“When rape victims legal help they are revictimised by both medical and legal professional,” said advocate Dr. Shanta Thapaliya. She said that lack of separate family, juvenile and camera courts and insensitivity of law practitioners are frightening the victims from approaching for legal help. She also opined that discriminatory laws, lack of appropriate laws and weak implementing of international laws adopted to end violence against women and minors are violating the victims’ right to legal protection against maltreatment and torture.

Dr. Klaus Wagner of World Health Organisation said that violence against women is an inexcusable crime, therefore they are entitled to legal protection against torture of any kinds.

Representing Nepal Medical Council Dr. Anand Shrestha said lack of knowledge and exposure in medical professionals to medical jurisprudence and forensic science, delayed approach for medical test by victims and social, political and administrative pressure for hasty medical tests of victims are the causes behind vague and inaccurate medical report.

Bhaktapur, Dec. 15 (RSS): One per cent of the total population of the world has developed cancer, and in Nepal around 40,000 people are found to be cancer positive, according to a who report. Every year another 15,000 cases are added and around 6,000 people die of the disease.

Disclosing this, a press meet organised by Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital also said most cancer patients can be cured if diagnosed on time and treatment provided promptly.

Have you developed symptoms such as difficulty in swallowing, sores that do not heal for a long time, changes in your voice, excessive bleeding from the nose, change in the colour and size of moles or constipation ?. If so it could indicate cancer.

Medical director of the hospital and senior cancer specialist Dr Madan Kumar Piya is of the opinion that people are not sufficiently cautious about cancer, the second most dangerous disease after hiv-aids.

Most cases are rushed to hospital when it is too late for them to be saved even with the full range of treatment.

Cancer in Nepal mostly develops through smoking, irregular food habits and pollution. The malady is treated in three different ways including radio therapy, chemotherapy and surgery.

Only one third of the patients here are saved or their lives prolonged as 80 to 90 percent are brought in for treatment at the final stages of the disease, Dr. Piya said.

Mostly cancer of the lungs and digestive organs are found in males whereas women are more afflicted by cancer of the breast and womb.

Chairman of Nepal Cancer Relief Association Hari Prasad Paudel said that curative and preventive measures are being taken at its 26 branches in a bid to combat the killer disease.

With the establishment of a cancer hospital in the country and availability of radiotherapy, the number of cancer patients going abroad for treatment of this malady has declined, he adds.

Senior consultant radio therapist Dr. Arati Shaha says some 18 cancer patients of lung, throat and womb have been treated so far through radio therapy installed at the hospital.

The cancer patients can take advantage of the radiotherapy which is helpful in healing in an affordable manner.

The centre is currently providing radiotherapy, chemotherapy and surgical services and the flow of patients is gradually growing, public relation officer Sheela Saiju said.

The hospital, a non-profit autonomous institution has also started to render services for women in identifying womb and breast cancer by establishing a separate clinic.

Kathmandu, Dec. 15 (RSS): The coverage of agricultural statistics in 2050 B.S. will be more or less same as that of 2048 B.S.

The data content of the census was based on the guidelines of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in 1991/92 for the world census of agriculture programme.

The data collected were identification (holding and holder identification), general characteristics of land holdings, characteristics of farm households (age and sex of household members), farm labour, land and water resources, crop cultivation, livestock, farm buildings and structures, farm machinery, ancillary activities on farm holdings and agricultural credit.

The development of an agricultural census which takes a minimum of 18 months is very expensive.

Data from agricultural censuses can be useful for policy analysis and research studies on a wide range of issues including the role of women in agriculture, characteristics of a particular crop and problems faced by small farmers.

A two-day national seminar on “system of food and agricultural statistics in Nepal” began here today under the joint auspices of the Central Bureau of Statistics (cbs) and the fao with a view to assessing the activity concerning national food and agricultural statistics, identifying demands and hopes of data users and solving problems standing in the way.

In the inaugural session, member of the National Planning Commission (npc) Dr. Shankar Sharma said in the past eight years after economic reforms were started, though the progress in the non-agriculture sector is satisfactory, agricultural productivity is farm from satisfactory.

Stating that it is only through agricultural development the goals of poverty alleviation and sustainable economic development can be realized, Mr Sharma laid stress on the need of quality data.

Npc member-secretary Yadav Lal Vaidya expressed confidence that recommendations and conclusions hammered out by the seminar will be useful in working out new strategies for agriculture.

Fao resident Winston Rudder spoke of the need to develop agriculture sector which can play a crucial role in the country’s development.

Cbs director general Savitri Singh noted that the ninth plan has emphasised the development of agriculture for poverty alleviation.

Fao agricultural expert Ryuki Ikeda said the improvement of agricultural statistics in Asia and Pacific Countries Project which covers 16 districts aims at collecting agricultural data in fao member nations.

Dr S. M. N. Subhani, Dr Haribabu Tiwari of the Ministry of Agriculture, Triratna Manandhar and Tulasi Gautam had presented working papers on data collection.

About 40 persons from the cbs, the npc, the Ministry of agriculture and the Nepal Agriculture and Research Council (narc) are taking part in the seminar.