- Friday, 24 March 2023
Nepali workers in top priority in Korea: HRD VP
Kim Sung-Jae is the Vice President of Human Resource Development Service of Korea. Kim looks after Foreign Workforce and Global Employment. A PhD in Business Administration from Ulsan University, he has taken this responsibility since 2021. Born in 1964, he worked as Director General at the Foreign Workforce Bureau from 2019-21. The Republic of Kor
INTERVIEW: Freedom of Expression should be utilized in national interest: Communications Minister Sharma
Prime Minister Prachanda has given her the responsibility of an important ministry, which also serves as the spokesperson of the government
Inauguration of Pokhara Regional Int'l Airport tomorrow
Kaski, Dec 31: The Pokhara Regional International Airport is being inaugurated tomorrow- on Sunday. Its inauguration coincides with the English New Year, 2023. Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' is scheduled to inaugurate the airport, and all preparations for the same have been over, said Pokhara Metropolitan City at a press conference here today. The metropolis has been tasked with looking after the arrangements for the people's participation, publicity and celebration of the event. Welcome gates have been constructed at various places in the tourist city, of Pokhara. "The inauguration of the airport is like a festival for Pokhara. The long-awaited project has been finally over with the support and assistance of the local people. We will make the event grand. We have urged them to observe the moment by illuminating the houses in the evening," said Mayor Dhanraj Acharya. Earlier, a rally of people clad in their original clothing and tableaux will be taken out through Amersingh Chaur in Pokhara. The airport envisioner Shankar Raj Pathak, also the then chief of the Gandaki Zone will be taken on a chariot in honour and given a civic felicitation, said Mayor Acharya. Another engineer who envisioned the project Padam Bahadur Khatri will however be unable to be present on the occasion as he is outside the country. So, he will be given a civic felicitation upon his return, according to Mayor. Bikram Gautam, Director of the Office of the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal, the Pokhara International Airport, expressed the hope that the airport would open the door to prosperity not only for Pokhara but for the entire nation. Various airlines have shown their interest in operating flights from the airport, he added. It will take a while to operate international flights from the airport, he said, adding that it aims to operate the airport 18 hours a day. "The operation time depends on the pressure of business. We are hopeful that it will be run up to 18 hours a day from February 2023." Although Buddha Air, a privately owned airline in Nepal, underwent all the processes to operate an international flight to Varanasi in neighbouring India, it was halted after the Indian side did not grant permission, said Gautam. The airport was constructed at a cost of Rs 22 billion in concessional loans and grants from the Exim Bank of China. For the project, 3,100 ropani of land were acquired first time in 2032 BS. The project was resumed and completed after a halt of some four decades due to various reasons.
New govt should work to bring economy on track: Dhakal
Chandra Prasad Dhakal is Senior Vice-President and president elect of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). Also chairman of the IME Group, Dhakal will assume the post of the top leadership in the business body following its general assembly slated for April next year. Now, the economic status of the country is not that healthy with liquidity crisis, high bank interest rates, decreasing demand and external sector pressur
We will be the decisive for a majority in the parliament: CK Raut
Our seats play a decisive role in having a majority in the parliament to form a government. There is a situation where a government in provinces cannot form without the support of the party. The situation of our party being absent from the government is that of a deadlock. Our responsibility is to give a way out. We will do it.
Election would be successful through cooperation, collaboration and inter-relations: CEC Thapaliya
I urge all the electorates to take part in the voting and the political parties and candidates to maintain the patience they have been adopting so far, so as to present to the world community that the election is possible in a peaceful manner through mutual cooperation, coordination and goodwill of all and that it can truly be conducted in a free, fair, impartial credible and peaceful manner with this.
Nepal will be among world's top ranking nations for conducting elections: CEC Thapaliya
The elections to the House of Representatives (HoR) and Provincial Assemblies are now two weeks away. The twin elections are due on November 20. The EC has expedited the final preparations to hold the election in a free and fair
Why today’s girls are so anxious and depressed
Once they are on social media, the focus on appearance hits girls especially. They are more likely to be “liked” or “disliked” based on their looks, and sexualized, than boys. They learn that the more clothes you take off, the more “likes” they get and that their bodies are going to get evaluated.
Campaigning period will be shortened to reduce overspending in polls: CEC
The government has set the date of the House of Representatives (HoR) and Provincial Assembly elections for November 20 and the Election Commission of Nepal (EC) has expedited the preparations to hold the election in a free and fair manner. The EC has endorsed the election schedule. In this context, Arpana Adhikari of Rising Nepal talked to Chief Election Commissioner, Dinesh Kumar Thapaliya. Excerpts:
Growth target achievable amid tightening credit flow
If we further increase imports, we will have further pressure on the foreign currency reserves. So, this fiscal year is not the right time to target higher economic growth.
Our goal is to improve living standard: Thapa
Kedar Thapa, who began his political career as a leader of Nepal Student Union, during the time of partyless polity, is now mayor of Ilam Municipality. He was elected to the post from the ticket of the Nepali Congress in the May 13 local level election by defeating his friend and UML candidate Dhiren Chemjong. Earlier, Thapa had led Tarun Dal in Ilam. On Wednesday, Mayor Thapa shared the development plans of Ilam Municipality with Kokila Dhakal, Ilam correspondent of TRN. Excerpts: What do you see as the main needs of Ilam Municipality?Our most pressing need is to raise the living standard of the people. We need to think about how to deliver prosperity to our poor and disadvantaged denizens. We also need to improve our education. We need to reduce the gap between the public and private schools. Another thing we have to focus on is expanding access to health. We have to bring all the citizens under the health insurance scheme and ensure they get reliable health services when needed. The city also needs to work on constructing all-weather roads connecting its all wards.How do you plan to fulfil these needs?We plan to develop one community school each in wards 2, 3, 11 and 12 as model schools by reforming the curriculum. These model schools will provide improved scientific education. We will gauge the success of this programme in these four schools and then expand it to other educational institutions as well. There is a gap between the educational level of the core city and the village development committees added later to make the present-day Ilam Municipality. We plan to close this gap by improving the standard of schools in the later-added remote areas.What projects has the municipality prioritised?We plan to provide three-year scholarships to two community school students who achieve the best results in their Secondary Education Examination (SEE). This scholarship will be given for the students to study in the technical schools of the municipality. We have also prioritised the establishment of a medical college and an agriculture research centre. We have to manage land for the medical college. Our previous mayor began work for this and we are following up on the progress. Land has already been managed for the research centre. We also plan to purchase a roller to upgrade our roads. This year, immediately after our election, we had to focus on preparing the budget so we could not lobby for our projects at the federal and provincial levels. Nevertheless, we are in constant contact with them and are working to get the necessary budget allocated.How will you manage budget and resources to execute the municipality’s plans and projects?We have received budget for pre-approved projects, many of which, are almost complete. These projects include the stadium being constructed in ward 10, multi-storey parking being constructed in ward 7 and a few bridges. We have received nominal budget for several new projects as well but are still looking for more resources. However, we did not receive any money from the provincial government this year for the development of our tourism infrastructure. The provincial minister for tourism hails from Ilam but still, we did not get any budget. This is rather unfortunate. Minister Khinu Langwa Limbu seems to have snubbed her home district. At the federal level, we are working with the Nepal Tourism Board to get some budget.As per our previous pledges, we have reduced taxes and to make up for the lost revenue and increase the municipality’s overall income, we have formed a Revenue Consultation Committee. We are presently waiting for its recommendations.How is Ilam Municipality working to meet the spirit and vision of the new constitution?The local level will proceed according to the letter and spirit of the constitution. We always put the people at the centre of all our policies. We work to fulfil the needs of our citizens, not the interest of the elected representatives. We try to develop programmes with long-term benefits.How does the local government plan to utilise the infrastructure already constructed?We are discussing with airline companies for the operation of commercial flights to and from the Phalgunanda Sukilamba Airport. We are trying to utilise the open space at the district headquarters for sports. We are coordinating with the relevant authorities, including the federal government, to preserve the historic tea estates of Ilam and promote it as a national heritage. We are also pondering on how to utilise few other structures that the municipality has constructed.Have you succeeded in bringing Singhadurbar to Ilam? What have you done? What remains to be done?We are working to realise the dream of Singhadurbar in villages through infrastructure and social development. The municipality and its wards have received many rights and powers which should be utilised. We have not fully brought Singhadurbar to Ilam but we are on our way.How will Ilam Municipality be at the end of your five-year tenure?The residents of all the wards will be able to travel to the district headquarters easily. We want to revolutionise the electricity, education, agriculture, health, drinking water and infrastructure here. Most importantly, our goal is to improve people’s livelihoods.
I am here to serve the people of Lalitpur: Mayor
Chiri Babu Maharjan, who had won by less than 400 votes in the last local election, was re-elected as the mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City (LMC) this time around by a margin of more than 18,000. Serving his second and final term as the head of the metropolis, Maharjan has promised to complete the projects from his first tenure and continue to serve the interests of the people. The Rising Nepal’s Aashish Mishra talked with the mayor to learn about his plans for the next five years. Excerpts:
Riders demand cycle lanes, Govt. lacks policy
For the poorest urban sector, who often cannot afford private vehicles, walking and cycling can provide a form of transport while reducing the risk of heart disease, stroke, certain cancers, diabetes, and even death.
