- Tuesday, 24 June 2025
Kathmandu, June 20: The price of gold and silver which saw high increase for the past few days has moderately declined since Thursday.
The price of gold and silver has fallen by Rs 800 and Rs 50 per tola (11.66 grammes) today as compared to the price on Thursday.
The Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association said the price of gold has been set at Rs 194 thousand 700 per tola and that of silver at Rs 2,150 per tola. Gold was traded at Rs 195 thousand 500 and silver at Rs 2,200 on Thursday.
International media have reported that one ounce of gold is being traded at 3,300 US dollars in the international market today.
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Besisahar- Chame road obstructed
Lamjung, June 20: Besisahar-Chame road, the only roadway connecting Lamjung and Manang, has been blocked due to landslide at Marsyangdi Rural Municipality- 4 this morning.
Naveen Bista, the information officer of the Dumre-Besisahar-Chame Road Project Office, said, “Landslides with large rocks have blocked the road, stranding vehicles on the way.”
According to him, it will take time to clear the road because of the immense size of the landslide. A landslide had blocked the road near that location on June 18.
Similarly, traffic has been disrupted due to two trucks breaking down on the Myardi cliff near the Lamjung-Manang border.
Currently, efforts are being made to operate traffic on the road. Passengers who need to reach their destination on time have faced more difficulties after the road was blocked.
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T20I-Tri-Series: Nepal, Scotland facing each other in final match today
Kathmandu, June 20: Nepal and Scotland are facing each other in the final match today with a target of clinching the T-20I Tri-Series.
The final match is taking place at 7:45 pm Nepal time in Glasgow of Scotland. Nepal has won two matches while Scotland has won in only one match so far in the ongoing series.
In the first match, Netherlands had defeated Nepal in the third super over. Similarly, Nepal won the match defeating Scotland by two wickets in the second match. Nepal defeated Netherlands by six wickets in the third match on Thursday.
Similarly, Scotland had defeated Netherlands by 39 runs in the first match as well as lost to Nepal by two wickets in the second match.In the third match, Scotland lost to Netherlands by 17 runs.
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Seven malaria cases reported in Chitwan in one year
Chitwan, June 20: Seven cases of malaria were detected in Chitwan district in the current fiscal year.
Such number of malaria patients was found in course of conducting sample test of 7,989 people who visited the District Public Health Office, Chitwan, for the suspected malaria infection.
Vector Control Inspector Ram KC said the infection was seen in the people returned from overseas employment. A total of 10 people were infected from malaria last fiscal year.
Specially, people aged above 15 years suffer from this disease. Malaria is mostly transmitted to people from the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. Fever, headache, vomiting, tiredness are symptoms of malaria.
KC said it was necessary to keep surrounding clean, sleep under mosquito nets to be protected from mosquito bites.
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HoR meeting: Q&A session with PM removed from agenda
Kathmandu, June 20: A question-answer session scheduled for today’s meeting of the House of Representatives has been affected due to protest by lawmakers of the Rastriya Swatantra Party and Rastriya Prajatantra Party.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli was scheduled to respond to questions raised by lawmakers in the Q&A session of today’s HoR meeting.
Lawmakers of both parties protested by standing up from their respective seats soon after Speaker Devraj Ghimire announced the commencement of the meeting.
Speaker Ghimire urged the lawmakers of RSP and RPP to create appropriate environment to proceed ahead with the House business as it was necessary to conclude discussions on the Appropriation Bill and forward other programmes including the question and answer session.
The Speaker informed that the question and answer session was removed from the agenda after the lawmakers of both parties denied to take their seats rejecting Speaker Ghimire’s request.
The lawmakers of both parties exit from HoR meeting. However, discussion on Appropriation Bill was underway.
An agenda was determined to answer to the questions of lawmakers by Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli as per the House of Representatives Regulation, 2079 BS.
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RSP complains of being deprived of putting their demands to PM
Kathmandu, June 20: The lawmakers of the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) have said that they had to boycott the meeting of the House of Representatives because their party’s issues could not be put across to the Prime Minister.
RSP acting spokesperson Manish Jha said they had to boycott the meeting as they were not allowed to express their views and could not inform the Prime Minister about their demand in the House meeting today.
RSP has been protesting in Parliament over the ‘visit visa’ scam, calling for the formation of a parliamentary probe commission to investigate into the scandal and for the resignation of the Home Minister, alleging of his involvement.
“We wanted to tell the Prime Minister our concerns, but he left the meeting without listening to us. After that, we also left,” the RSP acting spokesperson said.
In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, all MPs of the RSP attended wearing black clothes and blue ribbons in protest. The blue ribbon is recognized globally as a symbol of opposition to human trafficking.
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Proposal to slash budgetary allocations for various Ministries presented in parliament
Kathmandu, June 20: Lawmaker of the CPN (Maoist Centre), Shakti Bahadur Basnet, has presented a proposal seeking to reduce by one rupee in the expenditure amount under the headings of Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport under the Appropriation Bill, 2025. Presenting the proposal in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives, Basnet expressed disagreement, citing though the budget of the Ministry has increased, it was not allocated in justified manner.
“The budget was not allocated for the development of road infrastructures in some constituency areas. What could be more irresponsible that this?” he argued.
Basnet mentioned, “Budget has also reduced in major corridors. Some districts have lots of budget for infrastructure development while no budget on this heading in other districts. It is not fair.”
Ram Kumar Rai from the main opposition party, the CPN (Maoist Centre), has proposed to reduce the budget amount allocated for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce, and Supplies under the Appropriation Bill, 2025 by one rupee.
“We have been raising our voices in favour of promoting exports. For this, we need to market local alcohol and there is no budget allocated for domestic industries such as jute mills and the bamboo industry. Similarly, budget has not been allocated for manufacturing modern agricultural tools. No budget has been set aside for self-reliance either,” Rai said while presenting the proposal in today’s meeting of the House of Representatives.
Devendra Paudel from the Maoist Center has proposed to reduce the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation by one rupee under the Appropriation Bill, 2025.
Presenting the proposal, Paudel expressed disagreement, saying that although land was promised to Dalits, landless people, squatters, and those without proper documentation, there was no mention in the budget about how the land would be made available to them.
“The budget could not address the real issues of the people,” he alleged.
Likewise, lawmaker from the Nepal Workers and Peasants Party (NWPP) Prem Suwal has proposed to reduce the allocated amount mentioned in the Appropriation Bill of 2025 for the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport, the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, and the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation.
Presenting the proposal, MP Suwal said issues such as the need to ensure rights of the farmers and workers and increasing agricultural production have not been prioritized in the budget, emphasizing that investment in hydropower production needs to be increased.
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Monsoon system spreads across the country from today
Kathmandu, June 20: This year’s monsoon system has spread across the country from today.
According to the Meteorological Forecasting Division, the monsoon ha spread across the country 23 days after its initial entry.
This year’s monsoon had entered Nepal from eastern part of the country on May 29 and had spread at most of the places of Koshi Province.
Similarly, the monsoon system had expanded at some parts of Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces and some eastern parts of Lumbini Province on June 12.
Meteorologist Pratima Manandhar said with the spread of monsoon system in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim province from today, the monsoon system is now active across the country.
“Currently, there is influence of monsoon wind at some parts of Koshi, Madhes, Bagmati and Gandaki Provinces and eastern part of Lumbini Province as well as partial influence of westerly and local wind at western part of the country,” she added, stating that there is also partial influence of low-pressure area formed around West Bengal of India.
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Election Commission officials consult with PM Oli on by-elections date
Kathmandu, June 20: The Election Commission has today consulted with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli regarding the elections to be held for the two vacant seats in the House of Representatives and the Provincial Assembly, as well as the 18 seats that will fall vacant in the National Assembly on March 4, 2026, and for the vacant positions in the local levels.
Election Commissioners, including the Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, met with Prime Minister Oli at his office in Singha Durbar today to discuss holding of the by-elections for the House of Representatives and Provincial Assemblies in the last week of November, and to finalize the elections for the 18 vacant seats in the National Assembly which will become vacant on March 4, 2026.
The Election Commission is preparing to set a date by this June 30, in consultation with the Government of Nepal, to hold elections in the last week of November for the vacant position of the Member of the House of Representatives in Rupandehi Constituency No. 3 and for the Gandaki Provincial Assembly Member from Manang Constituency No. 1 (2).
On the occasion, the Commission has informed that there are 13 positions of ward chairpersons vacant at the local level.
Prime Minister Oli assured that the government would support the necessary facilitation according to the preparations made by the Commission for the elections. He also suggested the commission on the preparations that need to be made for the upcoming periodic general elections.
Election Commissioners Dr Janaki Kumari Tuladhar and Sagun Shumsher JBR and senior officials from the Office of the Prime Minister and the Council of Ministers, were present during the meeting.
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Meeting of top leaders of three parties, including PM Oli, commences
Kathmandu, June 20: A meeting of the top leaders of the three major parties, including Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, has begun at the Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers in Singha Durbar to discuss contemporary political issues as well as the transitional justice.
Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Chairman of CPN (Maoist Centre) and former Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ are among the top leaders of the main parties in attendance in the meeting.
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Minister Bhandari pledges to zero tolerance on labour exploitation,
discrimination
Patan (Lalitpur), June 20: Minister for Labor, Employment and Social Security, Sharat Singh Bhandari, has stated that the government has a zero-tolerance policy towards exploitation and discrimination against Nepali workers.
Addressing the multi-stakeholder policy dialogue on labor migration, gender equality, and climate change organized by the International Organization for Migration Nepal in Lalitpur today, Minister Bhandari said that the government has intensified activities in support of Nepali workers abroad.
He stated that the protection of workers’ human rights alongside responsible trade practices is the government’s top priority while recognizing the interrelationship between trade, migration, and human rights.”Foreign employment is not only a source of income but also a matter of dignity and rights for workers.
Nepali male and female workers are making significant contributions to the development of labour destination countries, and those countries must act in accordance with global values and principles to ensure safe, systematic, and regular labour migration,” said Minister Bhandari.
He also expressed that the Ministry is preparing for emergency rescue concerning the security of Nepali citizens in conflict-affected areas.
“Many Nepalis are spending the nights in the bunker, and if the situation gets more complicated, the government is ready for rescue,” he said.
Minister Bhandari expressed gratitude for the support of partners such as Swiss Compact, mentioning that efforts are underway to further enhance the ‘Shram Sansar’ mobile application for monitoring and supporting the situation of Nepalis abroad.
Stating that efforts are ongoing to legalize Nepali people who are currently illegally residing in various countries, Minister Bhandari mentioned that special priority has been given to the protection of female workers.
The Labour and Employment Minister stated that the process of amending the Foreign Employment Act has already begun, expressing commitment to promptly revise old and impractical legal arrangements. He added that the government has launched a decade-long campaign to promote domestic employment with the objective of developing foreign employment not as a necessity but as an option.
Noting that the ratification process of International Labour Organization Conventions 81 and 87 is progressing, Minister Bhandari emphasized the need to accelerate the pace of inclusive economic growth for Nepal to upgrade from LDC status.
He also made it clear that he plans to improve transparency and policy decisions through the formalization of the labour market and the use of digital technology and called for everyone’s support and cooperation, emphasizing safe, dignified, and regular labor migration is only possible through collective efforts based on collaboration with all stakeholders.
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HoR meeting: Lawmakers complain of discrimination in budget
allocation
Kathmandu, June 20: Lawmakers have claimed that more budget than required has been allocated in home districts of top leaders of major political parties and ministers.
Participating in the discussion on headings of different ministries under the Appropriation Bill in today meeting of the House of Representatives, they expressed dissatisfaction over non-allocation of budget in a proportional manner.
On the occasion, Deepak Giri expressed dissatisfaction over allocation of Rs 10 million budget for the construction of Tarigaun airport in Dang.
He argued that though the government had made publicity of not allocating budget less than Rs 30 million, the government failed to address the sentiments of lawmakers by allocating budget less than required for land acquisition of airport.
Similarly, Menaka Kumari Pokhrel mentioned that less amount of budget was allocated for construction of Tarigaun airport despite Prime Minister’s commitment of providing enough budget for the same.
Likewise, Purna Bahadur Gharti Magar and Ammar Bahadur Thapa commented that the budget allocation was not in favour of the people, realistic and border welfare of the country.
Ranju Kumari Jha asked the government to allocate budget for all districts equally while Ram Prakash Chaudhary opined that the federal government did not allocate enough budget for Madhes Province.
Similarly, Prabhu Sah shared that budget has been allocated only in the district of leaders of ruling parties while Ram Krishna Yadav stated that the government practised discrimination in budget allocation.
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Government ready to rescue Nepalis from Israel, Iran: Foreign Minister
Kathmandu, June 20: Foreign Minister Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has said the government would adopt all possible measures for the security and rescue to the Nepalis living in Israel and Iran due to present developed scenario there.
The government is in preparation to rescue to those Nepalis willing to return home, she added. In a joint meeting with Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation and Home Ministry at Foreign Ministry today, Minister Rana shared this during the discussion about situation developed due to tension between Israel and Iran.
The Foreign Minister argued that the Nepali Embassy in Israel is actively working at coordination of Foreign Ministry, registration has been opened for those Nepalis willing to return home.
“It is also responsibility of Israel to facilitate the Nepalis, who are in Israel under G2G process, to return them home safely and send them in a safer place if they want so. The Israeli government has already requested to help them to go to other countries from border areas for the same”, mentioned Foreign Minister Rana.
The government is in ready position to rescue the Nepalis if they want to return home, she opined.
On the occasion, Labour Minister Sharat Singh Bhandari shared that the ministry is also in constant contact with Nepalis there and the government should involve in preparation to rescue the Nepalis willing to return home.
He added that work permit has not been issued for those who are about to leave for Israel. On June 13, the day the war between Israel and Iran broke out, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement appealing to both parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve the issue through dialogue, while requesting Nepalis in those countries to stay in contact with the Nepali embassy concerned.
Subsequently, on June 15, a travel advisory with contact details was issued, urging Nepalis to adopt maximum vigilance from a security perspective. With the current closure of air routes in those countries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs directed all Nepali embassies in the Gulf the previous Wednesday to facilitate processes such as providing ‘online visas’ for Nepalis wishing to go to safe locations or neighbouring countries.
The Ministry has also started to collect information from Nepalis by opening an online portal, and so far more than 600 people have registered their details on that portal. This process is still ongoing.
Likewise, the Ministry issued a travel advisory for the second time last Wednesday, requesting Nepali citizens currently in Israel and Iran to exercise maximum caution for security, and advising not to travel to Israel or other Middle Eastern countries from Nepal.
This week, Foreign Minister Dr Rana met with the Israeli ambassador to Nepal, Shmulik Arie Bass, requesting the Israeli government to make proper arrangements for the safety of Nepali citizens.
Similarly, the Nepali Embassy in Israel and the Nepali Embassy in Qatar overseeing Iran have been directed to establish close contact with relevant government officials, organizations working in the region, and the Nepali community, and to provide ‘real-time reporting’ to the ministry regarding the matter.
Currently, there are between 5,500 to 7,000 Nepalis in Israel, and most of them are in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and Haifa. Similarly, there are 18 Nepalis in Iran.
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PM Oli commits to broader development, inaugurates Gwarko flyover
Lalitpur, June 20: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the newly built Gwarko flyover would resolve the nagging problem of traffic jam at Gwarko and vicinity.
Inaugurating the flyover at Gwarko amidst a programme organized by the Ministry of Physical Infrastructures and Transport, PM Oli made commitment to forward the holistic and multi-dimensional development of the country.
The over pass was built by the Ministry. It is the first of its kind in Nepal. The infrastructure was constructed by Ashish Samanantar Religar JV in the framework of engineering procurement construction (EPC). It cost Rs 170.6 million.
The overpass has 500-meter approach road. The initiative aimed at wiping out traffic congestion at Gwarko Chowk was launched four years back.
“We’ve been working untiringly for development. Just yesterday, it was found that Dailekh had a deposit of methane gas sufficing for Nepal for 50 years. Among three such places identified for exploration and excavation, such potential was found from the one alone,” he explained, adding that once the iron production begins from Dhaubadi, it will boost country’s economy.
With the exploration of mines, modernization of agriculture will also be forwarded. Establishment of new industries and social and administrative reform were equally prioritized, according to the PM.
Moreover, the PM argued the Sunkoshi-Marin diversion and postal highway would not only bring a sweeping change in Tarai but also across the country. Other infrastructures like Madan Bhandari Highway and Pushpalal Highway were also gaining pace, he said.
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Roka held in connection with smuggling of 61-kg gold
Kathmandu, June 20: The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has arrested Amala Roka in connection with the smuggling of 61-kg of gold. She had been absconding since the initiation of investigation into the case.
Accused of involvement in the smuggling, Roka was held from Kathmandu on Friday, according to Superintendent of Police at CIB, Yubraj Khadka. “Roka was connected with smuggling of 61-kg of gold. We’re issuing a press release on it soon,” he shared with RSS.
The Inland Revenue Department had confiscated the precious yellow metal from the TIA premises after it was getting supplied outside, clearing customs.
Roka is learnt to be the wife of Belgium national Dawa Chhiring, who was also involved in the smuggling. The Vienna Hotel at Thamel, Kathmandu was registered in Roka’s name.
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Vibrant civic space stressed for functional democracy
Kathmandu, June 20: Protection and promotion of civic space for functional democracy has been underlined at a programme here Friday. The speakers at the programme expressed worry over undue politicization in State institutions, which they argued, could jeopardize democratic norms and values.
The speakers comprising human rights activist, legal experts, journalists, and academia attending the ‘multi-stakeholder dialogue on civic space’ voiced urgency of keeping intact institutional neutrality and integrity so that democratic governance would be bolstered that keeps people in centre.
Shrinking civic space negatively impacts citizens’ voices in addition to the unobstructed exercise of freedom of expression, and of assembly, along with other rights, they insisted.
Senior journalist Hari Bahadur Thapa viewed, “It is unfortunate that state institutions are increasingly driven by political interests, particularly in the appointment of key officials. This trend is steadily eroding public trust in these institutions and undermining their credibility.”
Sharing his three decades plus experience in parliamentary journalism, Thapa expressed concern over significant decline in the ‘practice of question and answer’ in recent times. He argued that this decline is diminishing citizens’ voices and shrinking civic space. “The culture of question and answer is a vital tool to amplify citizens’ voices and to hold those in governance accountable,” he said, wondering, “Even the lawmakers are not questioning ministers.”
Human rights activist and advocate Mohana Ansari shared with the mass that civil society in Nepal emerged from a unique need and a rights-based approach. She stressed that state bodies established to promote human rights should not be under government control, but work independently. “Irrespective of having better civic space compared to other South Asian countries, there are numerous fronts to improve for openness and creativity,” she reminded.
She argued our support systems, including constitutional bodies and the media, have limited access to citizens.
Similarly, advocate Om Prakash Aryal stated that an excessive focus on political organizations has eroded societal values. “Political interests have come to dominate state institutions,” he said, warning against a politically compromised system. Creativity is must to retain values in the age of digital disruption, according to him.
He further viewed once the intellectuals are shadowed, the viral trend rules the roost. So, speaking for truth should not cease, Aryal underlined.
The event organized by the NGO Federation, the Save the Children, and the Association of International NGO in Nepal highlighted the urgency of institutional reforms to ensure impartiality, accountability, and the protection of civil liberties.
Dr Prakash Chandra Bhattarai observed that civic space today faces new and growing challenges. He viewed academia has struggled to remain politically neutral. “Collaboration among civil society actors is imperative to nurture democratic values and system,” he added.
Other participants, however, urged the civil society itself to gain public trust.
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Govt committed to protecting intellectual property: Minister Pandey
Kathmandu, June 20: Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Badri Prasad Pandey, has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to enacting laws aimed at protecting intellectual property in Nepal.
Speaking at an interaction on ‘Status, Challenges, and Opportunities of Intellectual Property Rights’ held at Singha Durbar Friday, Minister Pandey said the government was working to replace the outdated laws with new ones that reflect present-day realities. He went on to say that Nepal’s traditional culinary knowledge and indigenous products such as Ilam tea, Bhaktapur’s Juju Dhau (yogurt), Marsi rice of Jumla, and the beans of Humla are vital elements of national identity and must be recognized and protected as intellectual property.
“Intellectual property in Nepal is multi-dimensional, and it is necessary to protect it,” the Minister added.
Secretary at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies, Krishna Bahadur Raut, said a new Industrial Property Bill had already been registered in Parliament to replace the decades-old Patent, Design and Trademark Act, 2022 BS. He shared with the participants that to date, only 89 patents and 64,000 trademarks were registered in Nepal.
Other speakers at the event included Hari Prasad Mainali, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation; Suresh Adhikari, Chairperson of the Music Royalty Collection Nepal; and Devendra Lamichhane, Director General of the Nepal Chamber of Commerce. They highlighted the urgent need to strengthen patent protection and intellectual property rights, warning that the misuse of intellectual property constitutes a violation of human rights.
Chairperson of the Intellectual Property Protection Society, Bisu Kumar KC, pointed out widespread confusion surrounding IP protection in Nepal, adding that that many people were unaware of how to register a patent.
On the occasion, a journal dedicated to intellectual property issues was also launched.
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Doti jeep accident: Three die, five receive injuries
Doti, June 20: Three persons died, while five others got injuries in a jeep accident in the district on Friday.
A jeep (Su Pra 1001 Ja 1395) heading to Mauwa from Dipayal bazaar met accident at Khiradhara Dhaulamati along Dipayal Sayal road section on Friday morning. It had skidded 250 metres down from the road.
Police Inspector from the District Police Office, Ram Chandra Joshi, said those losing lives in the accident were Devi BK, 41, from Sayal rural municipality-4, jeep driver Suresh Karki, 27, from Adharsha rural municipality-7, Kali Katuwal, 35 , from Sayal rural municipality-6 from Doti. Police added that victim Kali Katwwal was an expectant mother.
Similarly, those injured in the incident were Anita BK, 14; Syanu BK, 16; Kailash Bista, 22; Dipak Bista, 14; and Sabita Katuwal, 10, from Adarsha rural municipality. Four among them were in serious condition. They have been receiving treatment at District Hospital.
The police guessed that the accident occurred after the vehicle lost control in a bending. Further investigation into the incident is underway.
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Authorities ban vehicular movement on BP Highway during night for 15 days
Kavrepalanchowk, June 20: Vehicular movement on the BP Highway is to be closed from 12:30 am to 5:00 am regularly for the next 15 days, bearing in mind the potential travel risk from monsoon.
An inter-district coordination committee meeting of district committee officials from Kavrepalanchowk, Sindhuli and Ramechhap on Friday took a decision to this effect. The decision comes into effect from 12:30 am Saturday.
Kavre Chief District Officer Umesh Dhakal said the decision to cut off the operation hours for vehicles is aimed to minimize the travel risk during the monsoon. Vehicles from the Kathmandu route will be stopped at Kavrebhanjyang of Kavrepalancwhok and vehicles en route to Kathmandu will be stopped at Khurkot at night.
It may be noted that an eight-kilometer section of the BP Highway from Chaukidanda of Kavrepalanchok to Barkhekhola of Sindhuli was swept away by the unseasonal rains in late September last year. The roadway was temporarily restored. Thousands of vehicles ply along the Highway, the shortest route to connect the federal capital to eastern Nepal each day.
As stated by the Road Division, Bhaktapur, the floods and landslides from the rains resulted in significant damages to various segments of the 160-km highway, especially from Khurkot to Nepal Thok (34 km) and the from Nepal Thok to Dhulikhel (50 km), totaling 84 kilometers.
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Lawmakers call for immediately bringing civil service bill to a process
Kathmandu, June 20: In today’s meeting of the House of Representatives (HoR), lawmakers have called for immediately bringing the Federal Civil Service Bill to the process.
Taking part in deliberations on budgetary appropriation for different ministries, lawmaker Lekhnath Dahal questioned as to why the Civil Service Bill that was already included in the agenda was put on hold.
He stressed the need to take prompt efforts to fix the problems surfaced in plans/proejcts selection, implementation and Public Procurement Act.
Dahal also demanded an end to the tendency to appropriate budget in the electoral constituencies of accessible people.
Also speaking on the occasion, lawmaker Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat said though the Finance Minister earlier had pledged in the parliament that the federal government would not implement the project costing below Rs 30 million it was not reflected in the budget.
Anticipated results could not be attained with scattered budget, he said, adding that there was anarchy in the budgets of provinces and the federal government was not an exception in such practice.
Lawmaker Rajendra Kumar KC said the minister-focused and region-oriented budgets would not contribute to the prosperity of the country.
Likewise, parliamentarian Purna Bahadur Tamang said he would not air his view in the absence of the line Minister for Physical Infrastructure and Transport.
Earlier, Chief Whip of the CPN (Maoist Centre) Hitraj Pandey had expressed concern on the absence of the line minsters in deliberations over the appropriation bill.
Speaker Devraj Ghimire had adjourned the meeting for 15 minutes acting on the concerns of the lawmakers.
In the meeting resumed after the presence of Minister Dahal, lawmaker Tamang voiced complaint over the government’s apathy to the reconstruction of the BP Highway.
Also taking part in the deliberations, lawmakers, Prabhu Hajara, Ranendra Baraili, Tshering Lama Bhote and Kaluram Rai, among others, said the ministry-wise appropriation was not balanced and judicious.
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New By-law mooted to dispense justice to enforced disappeared persons’ families
Kathmandu, June 20: Chairperson of the Commission of Investigation on Enforced Disappeared Persons (CIEDP), Leela Devi Gadtaula had pledged to bring by-law to dispense justice to the conflict survivors without any delay.
At an interaction organized by the CIEDP on transitional justice with the survivors and stakeholders here today, she said necessary consultations would be carried out for preparing new by-law.
“The Act is available for us. Now is the time to prepare the new by-law being based on the Act”, she shared, adding, “The Commission would soon initiate its works by developing an annual action plan”.
On the occasion, Sharmila Tripathi, former Chief of Sudurapschim Province and member of the enforced disappeared persons’ families, demanded the Commission that was formed third time to disclose the truthful details of disappeared persons.
“Now is the time to act upon as we have come across much pain”, she said, adding, “The Commission is constituted. It calls us. We recount our painful narrative. It aggrandizes our pain”.
She urged the Commission to come up with concrete action rather than summoning us for sharing. “Though the conflict survivors managed the education of their offspring, it is hard to get jobs. So, it is high time to arrange separate reservation system and guarantee their employment opportunities”.
Also speaking on the occasion, Nep[al Bar Association Chairperson Bijaya Prasad Mishra underlined the need to concentrate efforts towards addressing the demands of survivors.
Civil society activist Shanta Raj Mulmi advised the Commission to work to genuinely address the demands of conflict survivors.
Human rights activist Subodh Pyakurel highlighted the Commission to work as per the mutual consensus beyond the rule and law.
Members of the enforced disappeared persons’ families have suggested to develop an annual work plan to perform its actions.
As many as 2,542 complaints of the disappeared persons’ families have been so far registered in the Commission
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Govt. working to address country and people’s needs’
Lamjung, June 20: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung has said the government has been performing to address the needs of the country and the people.
In his address to the annual review of the CPN (UML) Lamjung district committee held in Besisahar municipality-8 today, he said the incumbent government would realize the aspirations of the people by actions.
He claimed that the government is working in a way there would be no complaints on its performance. “People are evaluating the performance of the Prime Minister, Minsters, Chief Ministers and local governments’ heads. It is the public who audits the works of the governments”, Minister Gurung noted.
In order to make the party strong and attract the public to the party, the peoples’ representatives should perform well, he added.
“We should back track to the work style we adopted in and around 2048 BS. We need to return to the conducts of the then time. There is no option but to improve our conducts. People would support us only when we turn to be moral, honest and competent in governance”, Gurung asserted.
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