- Tuesday, 21 January 2025
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Dozens of events are being held under the ongoing World Social Forum 2024, gathering thousands of people from diverse sectors, who whet debates on world’s pressing issues ranging from climate change to social justice, and to development and democracy to empowerment.
In an event hosted by Vijaya Development Resource Centre (VDRC) here Saturday, the experts underlined need of the democracy that delivers well to the voiceless and marginalized community where the social justice can be an effective tool.
They mentioned civil movement and engagement could reinforce democratic values and prepare atmosphere to cater social justice. The event was run under the theme of ‘Localizing social justice: A movement for civic engagement in democracy’ at Nepal Law Campus, Kathmandu.
“Information is prerequisite to functional democracy, and for people’s meaningful engagement in government activities,” said Anjali Bhardwaj, Founder of Satarak Nagrik Sangathan (SNS), India. Delivering her opinion in the panel discussion, Bhardwaj insisted that in absence of information, citizens are rendered powerless, feeble and get deprived of their rights.
Bhardwaj also shared how right to information (RTI) brought changes in India. “If democracy functions, it should service people,” she stressed. Sharing information is sharing power. RTI holds power to account, Bhardwaj reminded.
Similarly, former Chief Justice Sushila Karki suggested judicial activism to ensure social justice. She expressed worry over discrimination existing in many forms in Nepal. She urged the government to take a progressive measure to implement the fundamental rights of the citizens enshrined by the Constitution so that social justice would be ensured effectively.
“Being too liberal and modern in words, but too lackadaisical in action is contradictory,” she reminded. She sought political accountability for better governance and urged the civil society to keep tab on those who hold power.
Another expert Jaya Luintel, Co-founder and president of The Story Kitchen, opined that three dimensions in the society: voice, knowledge and power could be studied to analyze status of social justice in any community or State.
As she asserted, achievement of social justice remains elusive until voices of people from the marginalised community, including women, gender and sexual minorities are heard and addressed. “They must have their participation in the knowledge-making, and in power to provide a ground for social justice to thrive,” Luintel argued.
Moreover, she viewed the concept and implementation of social justice starts right from the home. Home which is considered a comfortable and a safe zone for individuals, is ironically not so for many women, she said, urging the government to adopt victim-centric perspectives while dealing with transitional justice.
Executive Director at VDRC, Keshab Prasad Sapkota, shared information on how VDRC was working on different fronts to contribute to social justice. Community development and social justice are major themes and activities forwarded by VDRC since in establishment, he said, adding that awareness and empowerment were given equal importance. VDRC focuses multiple fronts ranging from education, and cooperatives to information/awareness and economic justice, which, he argued, finally upholds democracy.
Sapkota showed concerns over shrinking civic space in Nepal and called for unity among civil society so that unified voice would be augmented. According to him, the cooperatives run by community initiative are not in crisis at all.
The WSF 2024 begun in Kathmandu under the theme ‘Another World is Possible’ will last through February 19. It has participation of CSOs from over 92 countries across the globe.
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Tiger found dead in Nawalpur
Nawalpur (Nawalparasi), Feb 17: A tiger has been found dead in Madhya Bindu of Nawalparasi (Bardghat-Susta East).
A male tiger was found dead in the forest near the road to in Arunkhola of ward no. 10 of Madhya Bindu municipality on Friday, District Police Office Information Officer DSP Bed Bahadur Paudal said. A team of police and Division Forest Office Kawasoti is looking into the incident. “Preliminary investigation revealed that the tiger died about 10 to 15 days ago”, he said.
Forest Officer at the Division Forest Office, Arjun Sapkota, said that a team including veterinarians has been deployed to find out the reason behind the death of the wild animal.
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First Oasis Women’s Gold Cup: Semi-finals today
Mangalbare (Ilam), Feb 17: Manebhanjyang Football Club, Darjeeling, India and Nawabuddha Youth Club Saptari are facing each other in the first semi-final of the first Oasis Women’s Gold Cup football tournament.
Likewise, the second semi-final match will be played between Dipendra Shikhar Football Club Rong, Ilam and Birtamod United, Jhapa, according to Chang Mukhia, the president of the host club, Oasis.
Earlier on Friday, Nawabuddha Youth Club Saptari defeated United Deumai 2-0 to book a place in the semi-finals. Mamta Pun Magar scored a brace for Nawabuddha in the 3rd and 20th minute of the match.
Likewise, Birtamod United beat India’s Patna Football Club by 5-0 in the last quarterfinal match on Friday. Samiksha Magar scored a hat-trick for Birtamod. Similarly, Simran Rai and Monica Ghale scored for Birtamod United.
The final match of the tournament is scheduled to be held on February 19. The winner will win the gold cup along with a cash prize of Rs 200,000 and the runner-up will get Rs 100,000.
A total of eight teams from Nepal and India are participating in the competition.
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Duration of the prohibited zone extended
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The District Administration Office Kathmandu has stayed the designation of prohibited zone in district for the next two months. These areas have been prohibited to hold any kind of protest programs such as processions, demonstrations, sit-in and gatherings.
With effect from today, the major offices of the Executive, Legislature and Judiciary, the residences of high ranking office-bearers, the administrative center of the country and the main arrival routes have been designated as prohibited zone.
The prohibition applies from the old Pabira Workshop Chowk east of the President’s office, Samakhushi outlet in the west, South East Gate of the National Police Training Academy, Police Hospital to the south. The road from the Prime Minister’s Residence in Baluwatar through to the Russian Embassy and Italia Chowk, the road from the Speaker’s Residence to Gairidhara to the west, Lazimpat from the Chief Justice’s Residence, 100 meters eastward from Rastra Bank Chowk and 50 meters south of Italia Chowk are also designated prohibited zone.
“Based on the recommendations of the District Security Committee, Kathmandu, and in accordance with section 6 of the Local Administration Act, 2028 BS, gathering of more than five people to carry out processions, demonstrations, sit-ins, strikes and hunger strikes have been prohibited in the designated zones for a maximum of two months starting February 17,” reads the statement issued by the DAO, Kathmandu.
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Dr Pokharel new chair Nepal Eye Hospital
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The 19th annual general assembly of Nepal Eye Hospital has elected a new 11-member working committee under the chairmanship of Dr Gopal Prasad Pokharel. He was elected for a four-year term by the assembly held on Friday.
Other office-bearers will be elected from among the members selected by the Assembly. Newly formed working committee members include Kripashur Sherpa, Rajaram Shrestha, Anil Prasad Gorkhali, Meghraj Gajurel, Dr. Dip Bahadur Karki, Yudhdhwaj Sapkota, Narayan Prasad Neupane, Kanta Paudel, Bhoj Bikram Thapa and Kiran Thapa.
All of them are life members of the hospital. Senior ophthalmologist Dr Ram Prasad Pokharel is the patron of the hospital which currently has 124 life members and 136 employees.
Following the election, Chair Dr Pokharel vowed to upgrade the hospital and promised to work with all sides for the betterment of the hospital services.
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Police adjustment work has already started, says MoHA
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The Ministry of Home Affairs has clarified that the work related to adjustment of police personnel has been started as per the provisions of the Constitution. Spokesperson of the Ministry, Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, issued a statement on Friday stating that a five-member police staff adjustment committee has started working on it.
The five-member committee is working under the coordination of the head of the administration division with the joint secretary of the policy, planning monitoring and evaluation division, the deputy inspector general of police, the under secretary of the ministry and the under secretary of the police personnel administration branch as its members.
Spokesman Bhattarai has also stated that the ministry is committed to adjusting police personnel to the Nepal Police and Provincial Police Services in accordance with the Constitution and Police Adjustment Act, 2076 BS.
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50,000 fine for giving false information for citizenship
Ilam, Feb 17: Two people from Ilam have been fined Rs. 50,000 each for giving false information to acquire citizenship certificate.
A bench of Judge Keshav Prasad Ghimire of Ilam District Court announced the penalty against Bhuvan Singh Gajmer,50, and Chetan Gajmer,22, of Suryodaya Municipality-5. Bhuvansingh had given false information saying that his nephew Chetan is his son.
However, Locals Leela Bishwakarma, Shir Bahadur Kami, Kumari Tamang, Lalita Bishwakarma and Chandra Bahadur Ghale who verified Chetan as Bhuwansingh’s son based on the birth certificate have been acquitted by the court.
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‘Nature-based solutions help better adapt, protect more lives’
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Speakers and experts have called for integrating anticipatory disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) approaches with the climate science to make sure that more lives are protected from climatic disasters.
Speaking at a panel discussion on organized by think tank ‘Sustainable Development Policy Institute (SDPI) and Oxfam in Pakistan as part of the World Social Forum on Saturday, the speakers said that the incidence of climatic hazards and disasters are increasing which plung communities into vulnerability to disasters and are causing losses and damages.
Speaking on the occasion, acclaimed climate justice expert Harjeet Singh said temperatures are the determining factor of climate change which calls for analyzing science so that the communities can better adapt and prepare the communities against climatic hazards and disasters. He called upon the humanitarian sector to keep in mind the future warming levels and slow on-set disasters while designing humanitarian programmes. He said the communities know much about impacts of climate change such as glacier melting, changing cropping pattern and water availability. While climate change is creating new poor with more marginalities, there is need to opt for nature-based solutions for adaptation. He called for integrating humanitarian approaches with science.
Likewise, the Deputy Executive Director of SDPI Dr. Shafqat Munir said climatic hazards are now putting cities and towns at risk urging the needs for risk sensitive urban planning through applying both DRR and CCA strategies.
He said preparedness and anticipatory DRR approaches can better equip the vulnerable communities at local levels to cope with ensuing disasters/climatic hazards. The localization of DRR-CCA strategies and implementation plans can help save and protect more lives, he added.
Oxfam’s regional humanitarian coordinator Jermaine, from the Philippines, said effective climate action requires a balanced approach, considering both adaptation and mitigation efforts. Similarly, there is a need to ensure equity, right, and justice in line with the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) framework that prioritize fairness and equitable adaptation strategies. He said there is a need to train communities on DRR and early warning messaging should be clear.
Programme Manager ARTS Foundation, Saira Falak, from Pakistan, narrated about the losses and damages occurred in Pakistan during the floods 2022. She said during the emergency, the women lost their livelihood and plunged into further poverty. She said there is a need to build capacity of women on disaster risks and preparedness. She spoke about the non-traditional losses which impact people and economy badly.
Civil society expert from Nepal, Ram Sharan Sedhai said disaster creates, perpetuates and aggravates poverty which renders people more vulnerable to disasters and weakens their coping strategies. Once hit by disaster, the community needs resources, time and patience to recover from the impacts. Quoting from the Nepal’s 2015 earthquake, he said political will-power and stability have far-reaching impacts on decisions regarding saving lives. He called for training the first responders, such as local youth, police, elected representatives, and government.
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Men’s Cricket World Cup League-2: Nepal trounces Netherlands
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Nepal secured a resounding win over the Netherlands in the second match held on Saturday under the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League-2.
Opting to bat first after losing the toss, the Netherlands managed to score 137 runs in 39 overs, losing all their wickets in the process. In course of restricting the Netherlands, Kushal Bhurtel took four wickets while Lalit Rajbanshi two, and captain Rohit Poudel and Sompal Kami each claimed one wicket. Two Netherlands batters were run out during the innings.
Scott Edwards top-scored for the Netherlands with 33 runs, while Sybrand Engelbrecht contributed 23, and Bas De Leede made 27.
Chasing the 138-run target, Nepal met it in just 15.2 overs, losing only one wicket. Opening batsman Kushal Bhurtel played with his 28 runs, while Aasif Sheikh and Anil Shah both had swashbuckling performances, scoring half-centuries. Aasif contributed 54 runs, and Shah made 57. The lone wicket for the Netherlands was taken by Vivian Kingma.
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Agriculture pillar of economic transformation: Minister Dr Mahat
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has said agriculture is a foundational pillar of economic transformation.
“Before establishment of loktantra, debates focused on politics, while after new constitution, the debate shifted to economic issues,” he viewed. Minister Mahat said it while addressing a seminar on ‘Bases of economic transformation in Nepal: Good Governance, energy, agriculture, tourism, and labour and employment’ organized by BP Thoughts Foundation here Saturday.
Agriculture is essential for economic transformation, he reiterated, adding Nepal’s agriculture sector therefore deserves result-oriented investment. Self-reliant agriculture helps propel national economy, he underlined.
Modern agriculture with adoption of technology results in increased production. For it to happen, identification of geographically suitable crops is imperative, Minister Mahat reminded. He however argued energy, tourism and technology are other pillars to ensure economic prosperity.
The Finance Minister was of the view that in a democratic socialism, private sectors could be promoted as leadership of production, while government’s role would be monitoring whether the distribution is just. Government facilitates and reinforces private sectors, he assured.
Expert on agriculture value chain, Dr Badri Bastakoti, emphasized availability of irrigation, commercialization of agriculture, and guarantee of investment are prerequisite to elevate status of Nepal’s agriculture. “Compared to the past, there is change in agriculture, but the change is yet to meet expected reform. So, collective efforts of all three-tiers of government are must to ensure expected results in agricultural system,” he viewed.
Former chair of Nepal Farmers’ Association, Dr Bhanu Bhakta Sigdel, suggested sticking to BP’s ideology of socialism with agriculture in foundation. Investment should be increased in this sector, he added.
Similarly, former executive officer at Nepal Tourism Board, Dhananjay Regmi, underscored the need of reinforcing Nepal’s diplomatic relations to boost tourism. The two-day seminar whetted debates on the issues including energy and good governance.
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WSF 2024:
Folk songs common culture, treasure of entire Nepalis, PM says
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ has said folk songs are common culture and treasure of entire Nepalis.
Inaugurating the Open Folk Song Competition organized by the National Folk and Duet Song Academy Nepal on Saturday, PM Prachanda shared that folk songs are equally popular among all audience of all languages, ethnic communities and regions.
“Folklore and folk literature have been expressed as a unique tradition of general public since generations. Folk songs which remain major genre under the folk literature are the most prosperous genres. The folk songs carry the entire aspects and theme of Nepali life,” PM Prachanda mentioned.
The PM was of the view that the Nepali folk song which is spread beyond the Nepali territory presents the stories of Nepal’s every culture, natural beauties and the stories of sufferings and bliss.
PM Prachanda added that the unique character of folk and duet song should be safeguarded since it is a vital foundation for Nepal’s national identities in our multilingual, multiethnic and multicultural country.
He also stressed that the folk songs should ensure a robust assimilation and unity in the society along with cultural diversities. Saying that the people living in mountains, hills and Tarai have their own lifestyles, the PM stated that cultures are developed on the basis of the people’s lifestyles there.
“The major basis of cultural diversity in our country is ethnic, lingual, community and geographical diversity. We can develop national culture in a true sense only by respecting this,” the PM argued.
During the programme, the PM urged the Nepali community to remain vigilant towards foreign influence in Nepali folk song and music and called for ending the ill-practices.
We all should be serious towards increasing aberrations, he warned. PM Prachanda also appealed to all the artistes and singers to do away with being viral for getting more views but asked them for their orientations towards getting popularity. He stated that getting viral is equal to infectious publicity.
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Two foreign tourists die in Khumbu region
Salleri, Feb 17: Two foreign nationals who had been here recently for visiting Khumbu region, Solukhumbu were confirmed to have died.
According to the District Police Office, Solukhumbu, they are 42-year-old Elizabeth Dairo (Briton) and 26-year-old Wenshuo Dong.
As informed by Office information officer Anil Kumar Mishra, the British woman who had been staying at a hotel in Gorakshep of Khumbu Pasang Lhamu rural municipality-4, suddenly collapsed around 5:00 pm on February 14.
She succumbed to fall shortly after. Dairo had arrived in Lukla on February 7 and was en route to the Everest Base Camp. Similarly, the Chinese national who was found unconscious by passersby on February 13 breathed his life during the rescue operation.
Dong had arrived in the region on February 6, and it is said that he was returning from the Renjo La Pass at the time of the incident.
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Curfew at Ishanath of Rautahat
Rautahat, Feb 17: The District Administration Office, Rautahat has issued a curfew order to be effective at Ishanath municipality on Saturday.
Rautahat’s Chief District Officer, Hiralal Regmi, said the curfew was imposed after a dispute between the two groups escalated into a clash. The curfew is now into effect up to Jokaha village in the east, Sano Jokaha village in the west, Rampurkhap in the north and Jayanagar Police Beat area in the south from 5:00 pm Saturday. It shall remain enforced until further notice. The curfew was imposed in accordance with the Clause 6(A) of the Local Administration Act 2028 (1971), according to Regmi.
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RSS to award employees on RSS Day
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The has announced various awards for its employees and district correspondents to be conferred on the occasion of its 63rd anniversary.
A meeting of the RSS Board of Directors on Saturday decided to award district correspondents- Rupani GM (Banke-Woman), Manoj Dahal (Morang) and Niranjan Kumar Shah (Dhanusha). The award carries a purse of Rs 20,000 each.
Similarly, Ram Bikash Chaudhary (Rupandehi) has been recognised for the ‘best feature’ award for his news story titled-‘ Bat’s Lifecycle in Crisis’, while Krishna Prasad Sapkota, senior editor, has been selected for the award towards editing section.
Ashok Ghimire (news reporting), Suresh Acharya (photo and audio-visual), and Rajesh Kumar Shrestha (account/administration) have been selected for the award, according to RSS General Manager Siddharaj Rai. The award carries a purse of Rs 20,000 each.
Similarly, Radio Nepal (among RSS subscribers), Ratopati online (in terms of giving credit to the RSS news) and the Prateek daily are also to be honored on the occasion of the RSS Day being celebrated coming Monday that coincides with the Democracy Day.
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Country should take liberal policy to promote brain gain, Dr Wagle
Pokhara, Feb 17: Economist and lawmaker Dr Swarnim Wagle has said that Nepal should chart out separate strategy to link the Nepali migrant workers working aboard adding that there are three categories of the migrants.
Dr Wagle, the Vice-President of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), said that Nepalis residing abroad permanently by quitting the Nepali citizenship could be linked through cultural proximity. “They should be brought to Nepal time to time from embassies; could be taught Nepali language and also could be taken to touristic sites. These could help deepen their cultural and emotional attachment to Nepal,” Dr Wagle said at a plenary session on “Brain Gain” organized by Nepal Literature Festival in Pokhara on Saturday.
Dr Wagle stressed the need of creating enabling environment along with economic and political rights to them adding that the concept of global citizen has in being developed.
We need to bring liberal policies to promote Nepalis who are aspiring to do something for the world market, which encourages foreign investment, he added.
He, however, said that people’s foreign migration cannot be stopped in today’s globalized world. “Economic and social incentive should be offered to prevent the youth exodus. No one leaves the nation if economic opportunity and security was ensured,” Dr Wagle said.
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Adityadhoj Joshi Memorial Award to Thapa and Saha
Kathmandu, Feb 17: RSS correspondent of Gandaki Province, Ram Bahadur, Thapa and senior office assistant at RSS central office, Rajinan Saha, are to be honoured with this year’s Adityadhoj Joshi memorial Award.
Nepal National Employees Association, National News Agency (RSS) presents this award every year.
The Association decided to present this award to Thapa and Saha this year, said Association Chairperson, Prem Prasad Upadhyay.
The award will be presented on the occasion of 63rd anniversary of RSS on coming February 19.
The Award carries a purse of Rs 7,500 each. The Association has been distributing the award to two of the RSS employees every year. The Award was instituted in the name of the RSS’s former manager Adityadhoj Joshi in 2066 BS.
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20 people injured in road accident
Malekhu, Feb 17: Around 20 people were injured in a road accident at Benighat Rorang rural municipality in Dhading district along Prithivi highway this morning.
Of the injured, condition of three is said to be critical. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police at the District Police Office, Santu Lal Prasad Jaiswar, the accident took place when a heading towards Chirwan from Kathmandu carrying bus carrying pilgrims and truck coming from opposite direction collided with each other at Benighat Rorang rural municipality-3.
The injured are receiving treatment at Highway Community Hospital in Malekhu and Malekhu Teaching Hospital, added Jaiswar. Thirty pilgrims were in the bus.
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5,555-kg bell installed at Panchakot to promote tourism
Dhorpatan (Baglung), Feb 17: A giant bell weighing 5,555-kg has been installed at Sarbasiddadham Panchakot in Baglung district to promote religious tourism here.
The bell named ‘ Muktinath Maha Ghanta’ was brought to Panchakot last week where there are dozens of other religious infrastructures such as Sish Mahal, Gandaki Mata’s Temple, Yagyashala (to perform Yagya) and a huge statue of Lord Hanuman.
Construction of religious infrastructures at Panchakot began since 2072 BS in financial support of several donors, local government and money collected from Mahayagya, it was shared.
The bell was installed to develop and promote Panchakot, a hilly area situated at 1,750 metres above the sea level, as a religious tourism site, said Muktinath Pithadhishwor Kamalanayanacharya.
The bell, made up of various metals such as gold, silver, copper, brass and iron, will be officially inaugurated on February 21 on the occasion of a yagya (a religious function, to be initiated on that day, he shared.
It took eight years to build the bell at the cost of around Rs 20 million, he informed. The sound of bell would reach as far as Baglung, Parbat, Myagdi and a majority of villages in Mustang district, he claimed.
The bell will be placed nearby under-construction 108-feet tall Kalash. The then Prime Minister Sushil Koirala had laid a foundation stone for construction of religious infrastructures at the site some eight years ago.
Over Rs 500 million has been spent so far to develop Panchakot as a religious tourism spot, added Damodar Shastri Dahal, Chairperson of Sarbasiddidham Panchakot Development Council.
According to him, more infrastructures are under-construction for tourism attraction and conservation of religious cultures. Panchakot, which draws some 300 to 400 tourists in a day, is expected to see surge in the arrival of visitors with the new attraction-Muktinath Maha Ghanta.
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‘Childhood cancers amenable to treatment’
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Doctors have said childhood cancers are more amenable to treatment. Pediatric Oncologist at Patan Academy of Health Sciences, Dr Sucharika Tandukar, said childhood cancers have better cure rates as compared to cancers in adults.
“Other diseases could be seen along with cancer in adults”, she mentioned, adding as children suffering from cancer have less possibility of having other diseases, there is higher chance of recovery.
Dr Tandukar shared, “Many children die an untimely death due to cancer in lack of access to treatment in Nepal. Around 1,000 children suffer from cancer every year, only 500 have access to treatment.”
Similarly, Pediatric Oncologist at Bhaktapur Cancer Hospital, Dr Rhitu Sapkota, explained that 30 per childhood cancer is cured, stating that around 70 per cent of children cannot be completely cured in lack of timely treatment.
Underdeveloped countries like Nepal have low childhood cancer survival rate, added Dr Sapkota, sharing that it is 80-90 per cent in developed countries. Chances of curing cancer are less in adult as adults are found suffering from different diseases likes high blood pressure and diabetes.
The government has a target of curing 60 per cent childhood cancers till 2030 in Nepal, added Dr Sapkota. Blood cancer cure rate on children is 97 per cent in the world. Children are found suffering mostly from blood cancer, bone cancer and eye cancer.
Ten per cent of children suffer from cancer due to heredity and 90 per cent due to genetic defects. Childhood cancers are treated at Patan Academy of health Sciences, BP Koirala memorial Hospital, Bhanktapur Cancer Hospital and Kanti Bal Hospital.
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Daughter dies while mother attempting self-immolation injured critically
Jhapa, Feb 17: A daughter died while her mother got critically injured when the mother attempted self-immolation in Jhapa district Friday night.
According to Dundiraj Giri, Police Inspector at the District Police Office, Jhapa, Maya Ramtel, 28, of Gopaldandi of Buddha Shanti rural municipality-2 in the district tried to burn herself and her daughter pouring down petrol.
She had tied her daughter in her body with a shawl during the attempt. Both were critically injured in the incident and were rushed to B and C Hospital. The daughter died this morning while the condition of mother is critical. Most of body parts of Maya were burnt in the fire, said Inspector Giri.
He shared that a suicide note was found nearby the incident site where Maya mentioned that she chose to self-immolate since her husband had an extra marital affair.
Police have arrested Maya’s husband Rajan BK and started investigation into the case.
The incident took place when Maya’s husband was out of the house, police said.
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Nature conservation is issue of common concern and challenge: President Paudel
Patan, Feb 17: President Ramchandra Paudel has said nature conservation has become the issue of common concern and challenge to human beings.
President Paudel shared this while addressing the ‘Wildlife Conservation and Environmental Justice’ conference jointly organised by the Ministry of Forest and Environment, Judges’ Society Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation here today.
‘Currently, the world is surrounded by environmental challenges including climate change. Nepal is not away from it. National and international concern and interest have increased in the sector of environment and wildlife conservation”, he mentioned.
Stating that nature, bio diversity and wildlife conservation are directly connected with sustainable development, the President stressed, “We are aware about the role played by wildlife found in Nepal in balancing ecological system. But people’s awareness level about this is more important.”
He laid emphasis on the need of effectively addressing the current issues like human-wildlife conflict, smuggling of wildlife, illegal trade as well as management of human-wildlife conflict, wildlife conservation.
“We also should think issues like managing challenges caused by increasing number of wildlife, arrangement of wildlife-friendly physical infrastructures, national capacity building and activeness of state mechanisms as the result of wildlife conservation”, added President Paudel.
Sharing that Nepal has achieved remarkable achievement in the nature conservation and there is a possibility of support of this sector in economic development of the country, he requested all to involve in policy-making to its implementation by carrying out detailed analysis of existing challenges and opportunities of wildlife conservation and environmental justice.
The President underscored, “As legal frameworks we establish play a significant role in shaping our conservation efforts. It is appropriate to engage increasing collective understanding by sharing experiences and strategies focusing on our experiences and problem-solving methods.”
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Speaker Ghimire emphasizes professional efficiency enhancement
Kathmandu, Feb 17: Speaker Devraj Ghimire has stressed educational upliftment, linguistic development and creative and professional efficiency enhancement of professional of education sector.
Inaugurating the 28th international conference and annual general meeting of the Nepal English Language Teachers’ Association (NELTA) here today, Speaker Ghimire called for educational transformation by enhancing professional efficiency.
Ghimire expressed his confidence that the trainings, workshops and conferences organized by NELTA to exchange experience, skills and knowledge would contribute towards development of related field.
NELTA’s Chairperson Motikala Subba Dewan shared that they had expanded the network across 58 of 77 districts in the country.
Dewan mentioned that the organization has been working towards improving the quality of education through English education and to enhance professional development of teachers of English in Nepal since its establishment in 1992.
Over 1,000 representatives from 20 countries including India, the UK, the USA, Japan, Bangladesh and Malaysia among others are participating in the international conference, it was shared.
The participants will partake in 164 workshops to be organized during the conference which will feature poetry symposium, paper presentation and discussions, among others. The conference will run till February 19.
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Mundum Int’l Art Expo kicks off
Kathmandu, Feb 17: ‘Mundum International Art Exhibition’ organised by Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality of Khotang district has kicked off in Kathmandu today.
President Ramchendra Paudel inaugurated the expo organised at Nepal Art Council, Babarmahal.
On the occasion, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Sudan Kirati, expressed the belief that such types of international expo would help promote sustainable tourism development.
“Nepal is rich in nature and culture. Diktel Rupakot Majhuwagadhi municipality has become successful to introducing natural and cultural heritages of Khotang district in a new way through paintings. Such act will contribute in sustainable tourism development based on nature and culture”, he mentioned.
Around 200 paintings of painters of 50 countries have been put on display in the exhibition. Mayor Tirtha Raj Bhattarai said the expo was organised with an objective of promoting tourism by developing geographical, religious, cultural and tourism sectors of the municipality.
They are confident that the expo would help for social upliftment, he added. The expo will run till February 29. A total of 43 painters including 19 foreigners had drawn 109 live paintings for the promotion of local cultural, religious and tourism areas by visiting different places of the district from October 4-8, 2023.
The orgnaiser has expected around 1,000 visitors in the expo daily.
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WHO congratulates Nepal for legislation to restrict trans-fatty acids in food
Kathmandu, Feb 17: The World Health Organization (WHO) has congratulated Nepal for formulating law on restricting levels of industrially produced trans-fatty acids in food items.
Issuing a press statement recently, Saima Wazed, Regional Director for South East Asia, lauded Nepal for taking steps to curb the production of trans-fat through legislation, a move aimed at promoting health and saving lives.
“Eliminating trans-fatty acids is a cost-effective measure with great health benefits in preventing premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases,” said Director Wazed.
She expressed her confidence that the new legislation would potentially protect nearly 80 per cent of the South East Asia Region’s population from the harms of trans-fatty acids. Trans-fat is found in industrially produced vegetable ghee and oil.
Nepal issued the new laws on trans-fatty acids on February 8 in the Nepal gazette. The new legislation mandates that the amount of trans-fat should not exceed 2 per cent of the weight of the total fatty acids contained in the food items.
Globally, 540,000 deaths are attributed to intake of industrially produced trans-fatty acids, according to the WHO. “High trans-fat intake significantly increases the risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. Trans-fat has no known health benefits,” said the press statement.
In the WHO South-East Asia Region, non-communicable diseases cause 69 per cent of the nearly nine million deaths every year with cardiovascular diseases being the major cause of death, according to the press statement.
Nepal has become the fifth nation to issue the legislation on trans-fatty acid after Thailand, India and Bangladesh adopted the regulations on the same in 2022 while Sri Lanka followed suit in 2023.
The WHO has expresses its confidence that the elimination of trans-fatty acids from the food supply would enhance the health and wellbeing of people and also help attaint the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) target of reducing premature mortality by one-third from non-communicable diseases by 2030.
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