MORE THAN 700,000 DEVOTEES PRAY AT PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE

PM, PRESIDENT EXTEND ARMY DAY GREETINGS
Kathmandu, 21 Feb.: President Dr Ram Baran Yadav has extended best wishes to the Nepali Army on the occasion of the Army Day on Monday. RSS reports.

In a message given on the occasion of the Army Day-2012 on Monday, President Yadav wished that the army would remain the source of inspiration of people for the highest standard of discipline, honesty, and unfettered patriotism it has demonstrated in course of carrying out its duty.

President Yadav said the NA has been faithfully carrying out its responsibilities like conservation of natural resources, protection of key public infrastructures and installations, carrying out development projects and disaster management and other responsibilities assigned to it by the State.

President Yadav hailed the NA for its international-standard professionalism and contribution to the World Peace as per the directive of the United Nations Organization (UNO).

Similarly, Prime Minister Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, in his message expressed best wishes, saying the Nepalese Army carries a gallantry and dignified history and was active in national security, sovereignty, integrity, and independence of the country. The PM said the Nepalese Army has been making an important contribution to the development of the country and to disaster mitigation and rescue and relief activities in addition to national security.

He said the peace keeping duty carried out by the NA as the national army of Nepal under the umbrella of the United Nations by going to different conflict-ravaged countries of the world is worthy of appreciation in the international level as well.

Similarly, in his message to the NA, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Bijay Kumar Gachchhadar said the role of NA is commendable for national unity, territorial integrity, national security, and peace and prosperity.

Likewise, in his message on the occasion, Chief of the Army Staff Chhatraman Singh Gurung expressed the determination that the Nepalese Army will institutionally remain dedicated to protection and promotion of the national unity, and the welfare of the people in the country.
nnnn

700,000 PLUS DEVOTEES OFFER PRAYERS AT PASHUPATINATH TEMPLE
Kathmandu, 21 Feb.:More than 700,000 devotees paid homage to Lord Pashupatinath on the occasion of Shivaratri festival on Monday, RSS reports.

The number of devotees coming to observe the festival and pay obeisance to Lord Pashupatinath increased this year as the day fell on Monday.

Last year, a total of around 500,000 people had observed the festival at the Pashupatinath temple premises and the number this year is expected to reach around 800,000 by mid-night today.

Some 6,000 security personnel and 4,000 volunteers have been mobilized to manage the queue of devotees thronging the temple, and for their security and medical assistance.

The pressure of devotees this year increased as Shivaratri festival fell on Monday, with pilgrims coming from all over Nepal and India, said Treasurer of the Trust, Narottam Baidhya.

The Mahashivaratri festival has fallen on Monday this year after a span of 59 years, making it more special for the devotees.
nnnn
PM FOR EDUCATION OVERHAUL
Kathmandu, 21 Feb.: Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Pokhara University, Dr Baburam Bhattarai has said the present education policy was in need of an overhaul to make it scientific and pro-people, RSS reports from Pokhara..

At a programme organised to mark the Ninth Convocation Ceremony of Pokhara University here on Monday, Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai said there was need of education that would make us competitive, industrious, and patriotic.

As the government was striving for the conclusion of peace process, the country would obviously require skilled and qualified human resources in the days to come, he said, adding that the government was committed to creating conducive environment for the university graduates to work inside the country.

Dr Bhattarai on the occasion urged one and all to give up negative mindset, which he said, would bring no progress to the country.

Prime Minister Dr Bhattarai urged the students completing university education to utilize their skills and knowledge in the interest of the country.

Similarly, he said the government would fully support the University policy to reach its constituent programmes in the remote areas.

As many as 1,378 students completing bachelor and masters' degrees under various streams before January 2012 participated in the convocation.

Students securing highest position in various faculties were provided Chancellor Award on the occasion.

The programme was also addressed by Education Minister Dinanath Sharma, University Vice-Chancellor Professor Khagendra Prasad Bhattarai and a Professor from the Saint Cloud State University of the US.

Meanwhile, the Prime Minister inaugurated a building of the Kalika Higher Secondary at Ram Bazaar, Pokhara today.
nnnn

PYUTHAN JEEP ACCIDENT TOLL INCREASES TO FIVE

Kathmandu, 21 Feb.: Death toll in Monday’s Pyuthan jeep accident increased to five.
Two more passengers died while undergoing treatment at hospital and15were injured.
Three passengers died on the spot.
Nnnn

NEPAL PLAYS AUSTRALIA

Kathmandu, 21 Feb.: Nepal plays Australia in the ICC U-19 World Cup
campaign in Townsville in Queensland 13 August

Nepal will then meet Ireland 15 August in the Group A match before rounding
up the group stage against England the following day.
The International Cricket Council announced a draw in Brisbane Monday.
Nepal will play warm-up matches against Papua New Guinea
and New Zealand before the tournament.
Nepal is seeded 12th in the tournament playing in the fifth U-19 World Cup.
Nnnn

YETI HIMALAYAN SHERPA ENTERS SEMI-FINAL

Kathmandu, 21 Feb. Yeti Himalayan Sherpa Monday beat Workers Martyrs Club
(WMMC) 2-0 in the Magic Moments Moments Gold Cup tournament in Simana
to enter the semi-final.
Kunjan Gurung scored the winning goals.
Sherpas will now take on Sahara Club of Pokhara in the semi-finals Thursday.
nnnn
TIBET RESTRICTION FOR NEPALIS IN EAST
Kathmandu, 21 Feb.: The Chinese administration has banned Nepalis from entering Tibet from Taplejung border. Tashi Sherpa of Olangchungola said today that Chinese police had recently informed them not to come Tibet for four months. He also said that the reason behind the prohibition in the entry to Tibet has not been cited. The Himalayan Times reports from Taplejng.

Locals of northern part of Taplejung suspect that China might have blocked the border for Nepalis as March 20 was the day when Dalai Lama had left Tibet and that there maybe some anti-Tibet activities aimed for the day. Nepal Police of Olangchungola said that they have not been formally informed about the closure of the border.

This is not the first time, when the Chinese government had imposed an embargo on Nepalis. Earlier, around this time the Nepalis have been informed not to enter Tibet for four months.

Locals of Northern Taplejung Olangchungola, Yangma, Papung, Tokpegola, Ghunsa, Phale and other places said they were saddened by the decision of the Chinese government to block the border when the way to Tibet was recently opened after the snowfall had halted the passage of the road.

People of these places buy all the household materials from Tibet by selling animal husbandry products there. But they are problems due to the halt in the border sometimes in the name of security.
nnnn


GOVT. TO LAUNCH POLICE SERVICE COMMISSION

Kathmandu, 21 Feb : The government has initiated the process of forming a Police Service Commission in a bid to address anomalies seen in recruitment, promotions, transfers and retirement in the Nepal Police, Kosh Raj Koirala writes in Republica..

A proposed Police Act 2068 BS drafted by the Home Ministry and subsequently sent to the Ministry of Law and Justice for review has a provision to form the much-anticipated Police Service Commission, which government officials say will address the shortcomings seen in the existing Nepal Police Act 2012 BS.

The government´s initiative comes after the parliamentary State Affairs Committee (SAC) some two months ago directed the Home Ministry to immediately bring in a new Police Act with clear-cut provisions concerning recruitment, promotions and retirement of personnel.

SAC had directed the ministry to come up with a provision for forming an independent Police Service Commission under such an Act as provisions in police regulations were frequently amended through the cabinet to meet the personal interests of the incumbent home minister.

Officials at the Home Ministry said the proposed Act aims at making promotions of police officers ´objective´ and ´transparent´ and clearly setting out a 30-year service limit in the Act itself so that there won´t be any foul play on the part of retiring police officers to extend their service term.

The existing Police Act has given the home ministry discretionary authority to extend service terms for a maximum two years after a senior police officer has served for 30 years. The discretionary provision has been ´abused´ many times in the past, causing many deserving police officers to retire early.

A senior official at the Home Ministry said promotions in the Nepal Police have never been transparent and predictable. “While even a police official repeatedly facing departmental action has obtained regular promotions, there are cases of police officials who never faced such action failing to obtain any promotion at all,” said an official asking for anonymity.

The official said the proposed Act aims at addressing these anomalies to make promotions and transfers transparent and predictable. “Currently, there is no effective reward and punishment system in the Nepal Police. Often, even the IGP and the home secretary are not aware who is being promoted and transferred through unwarranted political interference,” the official further said.

In a recent case in point, the home secretary and the IGP publicly expressed ignorance when two DIGs--Nawa Raj Dhakal and Bhishma Prasain--were promoted to AIG by Home Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar a few months ago.

Though the existing laws authorize the IGP to decide on transfers of police officers up to the rank of SP, almost all successive home ministers have been taking such decisions on their own, at times leaving even the IGP and home secretary uninformed.

The new Police Act, among other things, makes provisions for a Metropolitan Police force, paving the way for giving the metropolitan police introduced some five years ago quasi-judicial powers.
Nnnn



________________________________________


INFORMAL AGRO TRADE WITH INDIA ESTIMATED AT RS 65B
Kathmmandu, 21 Feb: Nepal´s informal trade of agricultural commodities with India stands at around Rs 65 billion -- more than 21 percent of total formal trade, thanks to porous border and hosts of trade barriers imposed on agro-trade, an independent study commissioned by the government revealed, Prabhakar Ghimere writes in Repblica.

Nepal Council for Development Research (NCDR) had recently conducted a study on informal trade of selected agro-products through five major customs points along Nepal-India border - Kakarbhitta, Biratnagar, Birgunj, Bhairahawa and Nepalgunj - on behalf of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives (MoAC).

The report, which has yet to be made public, estimates that informal farm imports from India is worth over Rs 54.75 billion a year.

“Such imports through Birgunj customs accounts for 60 percent of total informal import of farm products,” the report shows. Biratnagar and Nepalgunj customs come second and third in the list with share of 14 percent and 11 percent respectively. Such trade at Kakarbhitta and Bhairahawa customs stands at 9 and 6 percent of total informal trade of agro-products respectively.

According to the report, informal import of farm products through Birgunj and Biratnagar customs was worth Rs 32.65 billion and Rs 7.46 billion respectively. Similarly, agricultural products worth Rs 5.07 billion, Rs 5.91 billion and Rs 3.63 billion were estimated to have been imported through informal channels via Kakarbhitta, Nepalgunj and Bhairahawa customs respectively.

Paddy is the major agriculture item imported through informal channels from India. According to the report, its share in total informal agriculture imports from India stands at around 27 percent. Similarly, rice (21 percent), sugar (12 percent), edible oil (8 percent), and lentil, fish, poultry, powdered milk and oilseeds (3-4 percent) are the other agriculture products imported from India through informal channels.

The report states that Nepal exports farm products worth Rs 9.86 billion a year to India through informal channels. The figure is nearly 25 percent of Nepal´s total formal exports to India. Informal exports through Biratnagar customs account for half of Nepal´s informal exports of farm products to the southern neighbor, followed by Biratnagar (around 30 percent). Nepalgunj, Kakarbhitta and Bhairahawa customs come third, fourth and fifth in the list.

According to the report, the respondents that include informal traders, government officials, carriers and knowledgeable persons were asked about informal trade of around three dozen farm products.

“Betel nuts top the list of farm products traded through informal channels. It accounts for 47-52 percent of Nepal´s total farm exports to India,” says the report. Similarly, hides and skins (18-21 percent), apple (11-12 percent) and garlic (11-12 percent) are the other major products exported to India through informal channels. Informal trade of ginger, orange, big cardamom, onions, turmeric, pig, poultry, powdered milk and jute products is also on the rise.

“It was also confirmed during the study that some agricultural commodities exported informally from Nepal to India are goods of third country origin, notably betel nuts, apple and garlic,” states the report.

Huge difference in external tariffs for third country goods between Nepal and India, Indian policy to bar flow of some agro produces through formal channel, additional duties and non-tariff barriers are some of the factors that have spurred informal trade of farm products between the two countries, according to the report.
nnnn



________________________________________