PILOT PENS TO BE MANUFACTRED IN NEPAL Kathmandu, 6 July: Japanese Pilot pens are being manufactured soon in Nepal at lower cost. ”We re planning to start manufacturing the pens soon in Nepal in the near future as labour cost is low here and import duty won’t be slapped which will reduce the cost of pens,” said Masahito Horiuchi, representative of the company, at a launch programme of the pen Thursday. nnnn l HEALTHY RECEIVING LIFELONG HANDICAPPED ALLOWANCE Kathmandu, 6 July: In what may be termed as the government's attempt to misuse state funds, the Peace and Reconstruction Ministry has recommended hale and hearty persons of Achham for lifetime pension on account of their "disability", Shivaraj Khatri writes in The Himalayan Times from Achham.. It is learnt that most persons identified by the ministry from Achham as rendered disabled during the decade-long Maoist insurgency have no trace of serious physical injury or disability. Interestingly, 26 of those listed as special cases of disability and recommended for lifetime attendants, are actually in the pink of their health. They include a VDC secretary and a Maoist cadre. In its letter to the administration, the ministry has listed 36 persons of Achham as cases of cent per cent disability, ensuring Rs 6,200 monthly allowance and an attendant for each of them. Only 10 of them are injured Maoist fighters, rest are healthy. As per the directory for rehabilitation of the injured and the disabled prepared by the ministry, moderately injured persons (with more than 51 per cent injuries) are to get sustenance allowance, while those seriously injured with major damage to body parts (76 to 100 per cent injuries or disability) are entitled to an attendant, along with allowance. People unable to move on their own are to be treated as special cases. But according to Achham Peace Committee Secretary Jorasingh Bista, no one on the list sent to the district has serious disability. Achham Acting Chief District Officer Chhabilal Nepali told THT that persons who come to claim pension feign disability. One of the persons identified with serious disability, is Pulletola VDC secretary Dharmaraj Rawal. He and his son, Akkal, have been recommended for lifetime pension and an attendant each to look after them. Akkal, in fact, is active in politics in the district and is a Unified CPN-Maoist Seti Mahakali State Committee member. Though he was once sent to jail during insurgency, he is in good health. He said someone to defame him and his father had recommended their names for lifetime pension. He said they would not claim government facilities. nnnn