- Saturday, 30 August 2025
Patan (Lalitpur), Aug 18: Nepali Congress President and former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba has said that attempts are being made to mislead the society by spreading false narratives that the old parties could not do anything.
At an interaction and Teej greetings exchange program organized by the party’s well-wisher organizations Coordination Department at the central office, Sanepa, today, he said that it is necessary to overcome such narratives.
President Deuba said that all the sister and well-wisher organizations of the party should be made active and dynamic, and stability should be ensured by establishing broad unity within the party to win a majority in the upcoming elections.
Describing Teej as a special festival for Nepali women, he was of the view that this festival is of special importance in terms of daughters coming to their parents’ home and making family relations cordial.
General Secretary Gagan Kumar Thapa emphasized that sister organizations that accept the party’s best interests and democratic values and norms as well as well-wishers should also hold conventions on time and become dynamic.
Central member and head of the women’s department, Pushpa Bhusal, said that there is a growing concern that the constitution and structures built under the leadership of the Nepali Congress have become weak, and that the party should focus on strengthening its agenda. She emphasized that laws that promote polygamy should not be introduced to promote inequality among women, drawing the attention of the party leadership.
Abdul Satar, head of the department, said that the party’s well-wishers play a role in restoring the lost votes to strengthen the party.
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16 Student Associations urges govt. to issue student-friendly Education Act
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Sixteen different organisations have demanded the government to issue student-friendly School Education Act immediately.
Submitting a memorandum to President of Health, Education and Information Technology Committee under the House of Representatives, Ammar Bahadur Thapa, on Monday, they blamed the government of ignoring student’s issues on the bill even after expressing frequent commitment of issuing the School Education Act.
The student organisations also asked to make school teachers’ appointment process inclusive and to appoint teachers through fully open competition.
They requested the government to forward the bill only after all-side talks and discussion with mandatory participation of student organisations.
Nepal Student Union, All Nepal National Free Student Union, All Nepal National Independent Student Union (Revolutionary), Socialist Student Union, among others have signed the memorandum.
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Ministry of Health approves guidelines to implement Swarnaprashan
Kathmandu, Aug 18: The Ministry of Health and Population has endorsed Guidelines to effectively and systematically implement the Swarnaprashan programme that is based on the classical Ayurvedic texts.
The guideline approved with a ministerial-level decision is aimed at ensuring safe, hygienic and effective administration of the Swarnaprashan drops among the children.
Another major objective of the guideline is to preserve this ancient vaccination technique of Ayurvedic oral immunization and ensure its compliance with the modern safety and quality standards.
The Swarnaprashan drops consisting of various herbal drugs, ghee, honey and Swarna Bhasma (involving purified gold) in various combinations is intended to enhance immunity, intellect and strength in children.
The Swarnaprashan drops are administered on every month on the auspicious Pushya Nakshyatra (one of the 27 lunar constellations in Vedic astrology) according to the lunar calendar from designated health institutions under the direct supervision of Ayurvedic doctors and health works in specified doses.
Children between six months to five years are beneficiaries of the Swarnaprashan program. However, children suffering from fever, indigestion, diarrohea, cold and cough will not be included in the programme.
The programme launched from this fiscal year as a national programme is expected to promote maternal and child health thereby ensuring holistic development for infants and new mother.
The Ministry is preparing to gradually implement this programme in Ayurvedic institutions in all local levels across the country by next year, the Ministry said.
The programme will serve as a guideline for 21 Ayurvedic health centres, Ayurvedic Hospitals and Ayurvedic Teaching Hospitals throughout the country.
In the first phase, the programme will be implemented in various Provincial Ayurvedic Hospitals at Lakhanpur of Jhapa district, in Parsa district, at Pokhara, at Bijauri in Dang district and at Dhangadi of Kailali district.
In Bagmati Province, the programme will be enforced in Tribhuvan University Ayurvedic Teaching Hospital at Kirtipur, Ayurvedic Hospital at Nardevi and Ayurvedic Panchakarma and Yoga Service Centre at Budhanilakantha.
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Maximum diplomatic initiatives for release of Bipin, FM Dr Rana
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Foreign Affairs Dr Arzu Rana Deuba has said that the government is continuing diplomatic initiatives for the release of Bipin Joshi, who is under the control of the Hamas group.
Taking to the social media today, she said that after being appointed as the Foreign Minister she has been working on the matter on behalf of the government by keeping it in a priority. “From the UN General Assembly to international forums, various bilateral and multilateral meetings and meetings that I have attended, I have made a special request to everyone for the release of Bipin. This effort is ongoing,” Minister Dr Rana has said.
She also referred to the call on Qatari Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Dr Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi and request made for Bipin’s release in the first phase of hostage release. Khulaifi is the chief negotiator and mediator in the peace talks.
Minister Dr Rana said that the government is making every possible effort to prioritize this issue and expressed special gratitude to the Israeli government, Israeli citizens, Nepalis living there and the world community who are working hard for the release of Bipin.
She has also shared that Bipin’s mother and sister have reached Israel in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and with the support of the Israeli government, to appeal for Bipin’s release.
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Gurung community must come into state’s mainstream: Minister Gurung
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Minister for Communications and Information Technology, Prithvi Subba Gurung has stressed that the Gurung community should come into the mainstream of the state.
Saying out of indigenous nationalities, Gurung community is behind state’s decision making level, Minister Gurung laid emphasis that Gurung community itself should be aware about it.
At a programme organised to screening a documentary “Lipe Ma Phulne Laligurans Phool’ and award ceremony organised at collaboration of Musara Films Pvt Ltd and Nepal Tourism Board here on Monday, he argued that though Gurung and Magar communities had significant contribution in unification of Nepal, they could not reach the policy-making level of the state in a timely manner.
The Communications Minister expressed the view that Gurung community has failed to take advantage in civil service even after getting reserve quota as compared to other communities. “It’s necessary to make our young generation aware about identify and existence of the nation. Guardians should emphasis on the need of creating employment and building a future inside the country. Service and perks provided by the state should be fully utilized”, he opined.
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Role of media vital in strengthening democratic system: Former President Bhandari
Morang, Aug 18: Former President Bidya Devi Bhandari has acknowledged the crucial role of media in strengthening the democratic system.
Addressing the 21st anniversary of the Udghosh Dainik, a daily newspaper published from Biratnagar, here on Monday, former President Bhandari asserted that the local media had been reinforcing the democratic practices and thus opined that protection and empowerment of such media was a shared responsibility.
The former Head of the State suggested that the media should bring the problems, livelihood and challenges faced by marginalized communities to the fore besides taking a leading role in strengthening linguistic and cultural diversity.
“When the pen is used in favor of truth, fairness and the people, the society becomes aware, responsible and progressive. Hence, we should leverage the available resources to boost domestic production, provide quality education and employment to youths within the country to stop the exodus of youths to foreign shores,” argued Bhandari.
Also, speaking on the occasion, Koshi Province’s Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki, who is leading the coalition government formed with support from Nepali Congress, reminded that the collaboration between these two parties had significantly contributed both to the establishment and protection of democracy.
According to him, the collaboration not only ensured political stability but also delivered a remarkable 83 per cent increase in the export in the last fiscal year.
He proudly shared that the partnership between the two biggest parties in the federal parliament had led to an increase of Rs 120 billion in revenue in the last fiscal year thereby further revitalizing the national economy.
The CM also insisted that the media should neither back off to criticize the wrongdoings nor lag behind appreciating the good initiatives on the government. The criticism, he said, should be based on facts and evidences.
Likewise, Nagesh Koirala, Mayor of Biratnagar Metropolitan City and Bhim Parajuli, Province Assembly member univocally claimed that the development has gained a momentum in the country since the establishment of federal democratic republican system.
Udghos Dainik’s Chief Editor Mohan Bhandari and other speakers emphasized that everyone should contribute from their respective fields to further consolidate the federal democratic republican system.
On the occasion, former President Bhandari honoured media professionals including Baburam Bhandari and Maniram Dahal among others in recognition of their contribution to the media sector.
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Indian Foreign Secretary Misri returns home
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Foreign Secretary of India Vikram Misri returned home today after paying a two-day official visit to Nepal from August 17 to 18. He came to Nepal at the invitation of Foreign Secretary Amrit Bahadur Rai.
During the visit, the Foreign Secretary of India paid courtesy calls on the President, the Prime Minister and the Minister for Foreign Affairs.
The Foreign Secretary of India also handed over the formal invitation of the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi to Prime Minister K P Sharma Oli for an official visit to India at a mutually convenient date, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Earlier today, the Foreign Secretary of Nepal and the Foreign Secretary of India held extensive discussions on matters of physical connectivity, energy cooperation, digital connectivity and various aspects of development cooperation with a focus on maximizing possible deliverables for the upcoming visit of the Prime Minister of Nepal to India, it is stated in a press release issued at the end of the visit.
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Nepal abolishes rubella: WHO
Kathmandu, Aug 18: Nepal has been successful to eliminate rubella. Issuing a press release, World Health Organisation, Nepal, on Monday, made this announcement.
The organisation announced that Nepal made a remarkable achievement for a country making concerted efforts to protect its people from vaccine preventable disease.
Rubella, or German measles, is a highly contagious viral infection. It is particularly serious for pregnant women as infection can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth, or a range of lifelong and debilitating birth defects. But rubella is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.
“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, persistent efforts of the health care workers and volunteers, and unstinting support of engaged and informed communities, for a healthy start for babies and a future free of rubella disease,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-In-Charge WHO South-East Asia, while endorsing the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) for Nepal to be verified for eliminating rubella.
Nepal is the sixth country in South-East Asia to achieve rubella elimination. Nepal had introduced rubella-containing vaccine in its immunization programme in 2012 with a nationwide campaign for age group 9 months to 15 years. By 2024, Nepal achieved over 95% coverage for at least one dose of rubella vaccine.
Congratulating Nepal for eliminating rubella, Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal, said, “This public health achievement is the result of close collaboration between the government, dedicated health workers, partners and communities. The WHO is proud to have contributed to this journey and remains committed to supporting Nepal sustain this accomplishment,” reads the statement.
Nepal had set a target of eliminating measles and rubella by 2026 BS.
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