UPDATE PREFRENCES OF 1,936 MAOIST PLA FIGHTERS RECORDED

UPDATE PREFERENCES OF 1,936 AIST FORMER MAOISTS RECORDED

Kathmandu 20 Nov.: Preferences of 1,936 more former Maoist fighters were recorded at seven cantonments day two Sunday of work by 210 surveyors, secretariat of a special committee for integration, resettlement and supervision said
Surveyors recorded preferences for integration in Nepal Army, resettlement in society or voluntary retirement.
Completion of the process in the next nine days is likely to be delayed.
Difficulties were encountered by surveyors in conducting work were encountered Sunday as well.
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UML CHAIRMAN KHANAL ACCISES RULING PARTIES OF BACKTRACKING ON EXPERT PANEL FORMATION SUPPORTED BY HIS PARTY
Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: Chairman of the CPN-UML Jhala Nath Khanal has said the UCPN-Maoist and Madhes-based parties backtracked from the decision of forming experts' panel for state restructuring in order to safeguard the present alliance, RSS reports.
Khanal said the UML was in favor of forming a state restructuring commission on the constitutional ground but agreed to form experts' panel due to the proposal of the UCPN -Maoist and Madhes-based parties.
Addressing the UML's national advisory council in the capital on Sunday, Khanal expressed confidence that the issue of forming a commission on state restructuring would be finalised by Monday, as the discussion over the issue was underway.
On the occasion, he said UML's contribution was crucial to bring the Maoist party to this stage of peace process.
The meeting was chaired by council's coordinator Siddhilal Singh and it is expected to collect suggestions for the UML's upcoming central committee meeting.
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AMID PROTESTS, MINISTER TRIPATH SAYS CSC MEANINGLESS
Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: Minister for Physical Planniand Works, Hridayesh Tripathi has said although his party was not against the formation of State Restructuring Commission (SRC), it had to be protested against as the commission was now meaningless, RSS reports.
At an interaction organised at Reporters' Club in Kathmandu on Sunday, Minister Tripathi further said the protest was natural because of delay in formation of the commission and reservation on its power and jurisdiction.
However, the protest has ended after our concerns were addressed, he said, making it clear that the government withdrew the constitution amendment bill on a political consensus.
Talking about the ongoing widening of roads in Kathmandu valley, Minister Tripathi said the expanded roadways would be blacktopped within a month as a bidding process on this was under preparation.
The blacktopping would begin after the electricity poles are pulled out.
Moreover, Minister Tripathi said he disclosed his property details for transparency.
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PARLIAMENTARY COMMTTEE SEEKS REPORT ON CEMENT INDUSTRIES

Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: The parliamentary committee on natural resources has directed the Ministry of Irrigation, Agriculture and Cooperatives to submit a report along with suggestions about the impact the cement industries in Dang and Rupanadehi districts have had on irrigation and agricultural production, RSS reports.

A meeting today of the Natural Resources Committee of the Legislature-Parliament issued directives to the Ministry to this end.

The Ministry has been asked to submit the report within the next 15 days.

The meeting was presided over by Committee Chairperson Shanta Chaudhary.
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MINISTER PLEDGES TO INCORPORATE CHILD DEVELOPMENT EDUCATION IN PROPOSED CONSTITUTION
Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: Minister for Education Dinanath Sharma has pledged to incorporate the issues of early childhood development (ECD) education in the new constitution, RSS reports from Lalitpur. .

Opening the ECD Mahotsav (festival) organised by the Department of Education on the occasion of the International Child Rights Day in the Capital on Sunday, Minister Sharma said children's right to ECD education was their fundamental right and the government was committed to ensure it in the new constitution.

It is the collective responsibility of all guardians, teachers and the government to be aware of the EDC education, stressed the Education Minister.

Also speaking on the occasion, Lawmaker Sita Kumari Poudel and Director General at the Department, Mahashram Sharma stressed the need to incorporate the issues of ECD education in the constitution.

The Festival is organised with the coordination of the Seto Gurans National Child Development Service.
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MAOIST STUDENTS PADLOCK THIMI CAMPUS

Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: Regular activities at Sano Thimi Campus, Bhaktapur has come to a halt due to the lockout for indefinite period by the All Nepal National Independent Student Union-Revolutionary (ANNISU-R), RSS reports.
The ANNISU-R padlocked the offices in the campus since the past week by putting forth 10-point demand.



The Union has accused the Campus Chief, Jagat Krishna Pokhrel of halting scholarship distribution to students and indulging in irregularities among others.

Vice-chairman of ANNISU-R Bhaktapur district committee and in-charge of the campus, Subas Dhakal said the students padlocked the office of the campus chief and administration after the campus chief ignored their demands.

The students have also accused the campus chief of depositing campus' Rs. 20 million in a fixed bank account and taking benefit from the amount and also appointing teachers on a contract basis by accepting bribe.

However, Campus Chief Pokhrel claimed that all charges against him were baseless and most of the demands of the students have already been addressed.
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THIEF THRASHED, KILLED
Kathmandu, 20 Nov.: A looter, who was fleeing after robbing a house at Malati village of Bisunpurwa-8 of Bara district, died on the spot on Saturday night due to the thrashing by villagers, according to the District Police Office, Kalaiya, RSS reports from Kalaiya.

The group comprising of six looters had looted a house of Shiva Roka Sahani of the same place. One of the looters died due to the thrashing.

The identity of the deceased looter is yet to be ascertained.
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