COVID-19 won't obstruct Census 2021: Dr. Regmi

 The Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), a statistical agency under the National Planning Commission, is conducting the 12^th Census from 9 May 2021. It has already concluded training for the facilitators, supervisors and surveyors and is mobilising more than 50,000 human resources in the campaign that happens every 10 years. This time, the CBS is employing information technology and reaching the ward offices for cross verification of the data. Against this backdrop, Modnath Dhakal of The Rising Nepal talked to Dr. Hem Raj Regmi, Deputy Director General of the CBS. Excerpts:

 

Could you tell us the importance of census for Nepal?

Census provides a national statistical base for various development work and demographic planning. The state needs statistics to monitor various provisions made in the Constitution and other laws. Periodic plans and elections need precise demographic statistics for better planning and their execution. Electoral constituencies are designed on the basis of the latest census while various programmes and facilities to various marginalised and deprived communities are also planned and announced as per its results. Likewise, the percentage of proportional representative system in the election of the House of Representatives is also defined on the basis of the last census. Various commissions formed to work for the development of certain ethnicities like Tharu Commission and Muslim Commission need the statistics for their work area.

This census is also important in a sense that it is the first census after the implementation of the new Constitution that transformed the country into a democratic republic. Now we have seven provinces and 753 local bodies. The census will create discrete demographic data of the local units. It will create social statistics like migration, disability, cultures and religions, economic data, access to public services, and absentee population.

 

Where has the preparation of the Census 2021 reached?

Census is divided in three activities: pre-census, census and post-census. We have completed all pre-census activities. The data collection work will begin in May. Estimation of budget, human resources and logistics, their development and management, and preparation of questionnaire are the pre-census activities. We have created the questionnaire and discussed it with various social groups at various locations and arranged all other logistics. Stationaries and other items required during the census are already dispatched to the most of the districts. There are 87 census offices across the countries. Human resources are arranged from other government offices and are deployed in the field and census offices. Trainings for the main trainers and the district census officers are completed. Trainings are being conducted at the central, provincial and local level.

We are appointing 339 local census officers soon and providing training to them. About 8,000 supervisors and 39,000 surveyors are being hired. All the hiring is being done online. We have received four-time higher applications than we need. Altogether 55,000 human resource would be mobilised in the census. The census would cost about Rs. 4 billion, Rs. 1 billion less than the earlier estimation.

The government changed the allowance provisions for the staffers who are deployed for the census from other government offices and brought it down to 50 per cent from the earlier 100 per cent. It helped save about Rs. 1 billion. The field works would cost about Rs. 2.5 billion. Remaining would go to office management, monitoring and evaluation.

 

How do you assess the preparations for the human resources and technical preparations?

I already said that we are hiring people via online system. The CBS is also using technology in data collection although it is limited. We need about 50,000 tablets to make the census completely digital but there would be challenge for the post-census management of the equipment. Although the CBS continuously conducts various kinds of censuses and surveys, they are not as large as the census and do not need the resources as par it. We have managed only 2,500 tablets. But in other surveys, Computer Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) method is used. Tablets are used in the Kathmandu Valley while to get the data from the Nepalis working in the missions abroad would be collected via e-mail.  

 

What is special about this census against the previous editions? Will it be special in terms of application of technology and data management?

Most of the elements of the census would be the continuation of the previous activities. But we have added some new questions and adopted technology. Questions on the access of service and facilities, poverty, birth registration, social condition of children aged below 16 years, details of third sexes and gender minorities, livestock and arable land, access to bank account and maternal mortality are included in this census. Likewise, the houses built with the help of government grant is also being collected this time.

 

The COVID-19 pandemic had prompted a sudden growth in the application of technology in every field including business, education and human relations. What types of statistics will this census generate about the expansion, reach and use of information technology?

We are asking questions on the access to telephone, radio, television and other information technological aspects. About 17 questions are related only to communication and information technology.

 

Experts have been predicting that the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic will hit the nation soon. Will not it affect the census work?

We had scheduled pilot testing of the census questionnaire in March 2020 but the COVID-19 pandemic affected it. It was organised later in July. Although there are concerns about the increasing caseload and advent of the second wave of the pandemic, the government is less likely to announce lockdown. Even if there is lockdown, the census wouldn't be affected much since only one surveyor would reach a family and the interview can be conducted outside the home in an open space by maintaining social distancing. We are providing health safety equipment like sanitizer, face shield and masks to the surveyors who are mobilised in the field. Unless there is a complete shutdown, the census won't be affected much.

 

Despite the growing literacy and application of technology, people seem less aware about the registration of vital information. The government and concerned agencies would have got timely and reliable information for development and other activities had there been a culture of timely vital registration. What is CBS doing in this regard?

There are various sources of statistics and among them administration records are the most reliable. We call it management information system. If the administrative records are up to date, there wouldn't be the need of many census and surveys. Vital registration is one of the important parts of administrative records. Had there been proper registration of birth, migration, death and marriage, the census could have been conducted without questions on these topics. If the line ministries like the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development and Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security could provide latest and reliable statistics, why should the CBS be asking the questions on land and employment to the families in the census. Developing countries have a weak performance in this regards. Better vital registration drastically reduces the questions in the census. We are asking 79 questions during this census while the USA asks only 10 questions and India asks 30 questions. Denmark had stopped conducting census as all the records are continuously updated via administrative records.

The CBS is also using community questionnaire in this survey which would be asked to the ward chairmen and officials to collect data and verify the information and check the consistency collected by the main questionnaire. This time, development information of major urban centres would also be collected. Likewise, information on the status of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and per capita indicators would also be gathered. However, there is no alternative to making the vital registration more efficient and up to date.

 

What types of census or survey is the CBS taking up this year?

We had started Nepal Living Standard Survey which is halted due to the pandemic. This year, Industrial Census is being conducted which will be completed by March next year. The CBS will reach about 15,000 industrial establishments to collect detailed data about them. Immediately after the census, agricultural census will be taken. About 350,000 farmers' families would be contacted for it. A baseline survey for happiness is also in pipeline. Other regular programmes and small surveys will be continued.

 

You have recently rebased the national accounts and said that it would provide more accurate and reliable statistics. What is the basis of this claim?

Economic statistics are complex. They are difficult to collect as well because individuals and institutions do not give the true statistics. It has become an international norm. Therefore, we have to resort to the proxy methods like asking the expenditure instead of income. Official records like the salary, bank statement, remittances are also used in such surveys. Even after that, we can't be 100 per cent sure about the economic data. Therefore, this sector of study need continuous reform. The rebasing of the national accounts is one of such reforms. This change is made in the gap of five or 10 years. To make our statistics internationally comparable we must adopt the latest methods of data calculation. Our base year was almost 20 years old so we had to change it anyway.

So far as the reliability of the statistics is concerned, the indices might be up or down after rebasing. In our case, most of the sectors, like trade and information technology witnessed the growth. All the statistics that we publish from this year on, would be based on the new base year. Another rebasing would be made in 2025. The preparations for it would begin in 2023.

 

There are concerns that the government generated-statistics are poor in quality and less reliable, and many economists buy this notion. What does the CBS have to say about this?

The CBS is not the sole agency of the government statistics. It doesn't claim that all the statistics generated by the government across the country and across the sectors are accurate. The surveys and censuses conducted by the CBS are given the reliability score and confidence level. No study has reliability score below 95 per cent and if it has score less than that, we don't publish it. However, the sampling based surveys could have a bit higher errors. For the financial statistics remittance, we are dependent on the Nepal Rastra Bank, trade statistics are obtained from the Department of Customs, agricultural data are borrowed from the MoALD and education data from the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.

Likewise, electricity and telecom related data are obtained from the Nepal Electricity Authority and Nepal Telecom respectively. Therefore, we cannot guarantee 100 per cent purity in the reports created on the basis of these statistics. But it is also true that the macroeconomic data are not 100 per cent correct nowhere in the world. Our statistical reports are of international standard, we have this confidence.

 

A few years back, CBS had said that it would develop itself as a data clearing agency. But no progress is seen in this direction. What impeded this?

The CBS doesn't have the capacity to handle the entire statistical system. When we have to rely on various other agencies for the data about trade, finance, agriculture, energy, information technology, the quality of such statistics is our concern as well. We are the consumer of those statistics for the Gross Domestic Product. The clearance system for survey is proposed to maintain quality in such data. While official data is produced after technical discussion with the CBS, many other agencies do it on their own. Apart from the studies for academic purposes, all surveys covering national or provincial scope should be conducted with the knowledge of CBS. The new Statistics Act will facilitate us in this regard as it has a provision to have a secretary-level chief statistical officer to lead the organisation.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 March 2021. 

AksMe to hold Virtual job fair

Kathmandu, Mar. 30

AskMe Management has announced the second edition of Virtual job fair 2021 from March 31 to April 2.

The first edition of the fair was organised for the first time in Nepal in 2020 in which more than 40 employers has participated.

"AskMe is trying to bridge job seekers and employers when it is needed the most. The job market has been in pretty much stale state because of pandemic. Job seekers are in dire need of job,' the company said in a statement.

It claimed that it is coming up with more than 200 jobs in cart.

Archana Kunwar, Managing Director of the company, said that both job seekers and employers would benefit from the campaign.

We are not just taking it as regular business but we feel really good to bridge job seekers to employers when they need it the most. And hopefully, this will give some positivity to overall job market, she said.

Along with virtual job fair the company is also launching askmelearning.com where people can hone different skills as per their requirement. According to Kunwar, more than 35 employers are setting up their virtual kiosks in the fair.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 31 March 2021. 

Finally, Melamchi water flows into thirsty vessels

Kathmandu, Mar. 28

The water from the Melamchi River in Sindhupalchok district finally fell into the water pots of Kathmanduites on Sunday afternoon.

Approximately after 19 years since the beginning of the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP), water flowed from about 512 taps in the Anamnagar area at 2:00 PM.

"The water is distributed in Mahankal, Minbhawan and Anamnagar of Kathmandu and Khumaltar of Lalitpur area through the Kathmandu Upatakya Khanepani Limited (KUKL)'s distribution network in the first phase," said Tiresh Prasad Khatri, Executive Director of the Melamchi Water Supply Development Board.

About 45 million litres of water was sent to the reservoirs in the Kathmandu Valley on the first day. The amount of water to be distributed would be increased to 60 million litres a day on Monday and 85 million litres on Tuesday, said Khatri.

The project had started to fill the reservoirs since Sunday morning. From Tuesday, all reservoirs of KUKL will be filled up with Melamchi water.

Currently, the project is operating one of the two Water Treatment Plants at Sundarijal. Each plant has 8.5 million litres capacity.

According to Khatri, the next plant is ready for the testing, and the developer is in the process to demonstrate its testing. The ponds at the plant will be filled up for seven days before sending water from it to the bulk distribution system that takes it to 10 reservoirs at different locations in the Valley.

"Testing, flushing and cleaning of the plant might need about two weeks. However, the works could be affected due to the absence of electricity, hence another 8.5 million litres water would be distributed within three weeks maximum," said Khatri.

Before sending water to the households, the newly installed pipelines should be flushed and cleaned. The project stated that it might take about seven months to take water to every corner of the distribution.

However, water from the Melamchi River would only be distributed through the supply network of the KUKL which means the areas that have separate water supply projects would not be benefitted now.

The remaining networks could be connected with the KUKL's central network only when water from Yangri and Larke rivers is brought to the Valley.

The second phase of the MWSP, which is yet to begin, would bring another 340 million litres water a day, 170 MLD from each river, to Kathmandu.

The first phase of the MWSP was supposed to be completed in 2008 but it went through multiple deadline extension and cost overrun. It was affected by the bureaucratic process, Maoist rebellion, 2015 earthquake, Indian blockade and, recently, fleeing of the Italian contractor company CMC.

Melamchi is the first national pride project to be completed. Some construction at the head works still remains although water reached the valley.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 March 2021. 

Pakistan Embassy and NPFCA hold health camp

Kathmandu, Mar. 28

The Embassy of Pakistan in collaboration with Nepal-Pakistan Friendship and Cultural Association (NPFCA) organized a Free Medical Camp at St. Paul’s School, Godawari-12, Thecho, Lalitpur the other day.

The Camp was jointly inaugurated by Ambassador Syed Haider Shah, Deputy Mayor of Godawari Municipality, Mona Adhikari and Secretary General, Nepal-Pakistan Friendship & Cultural Association (NPFCA), Dr. Manju Ratna Sakya.

During the inauguration ceremony, Ambassador Shah handed over a gift of computer equipment to the Deputy Mayor of Godawari Municipality for St. Paul’s School, said the embassy in a statement.

In the Camp, Nepali doctors and para-medical staff graduated from various medical intuitions of Pakistan provided free medical advice, treatment and three months medicines to more than 500 men, women and children.

Patients were apprised about preventive measures against COVID-19 and they were provided with free face masks and hand sanitizers.

In his remarks, Deputy Mayor Adhikari praised Government of Pakistan and NPFCA for generously helping humanity. She also thanked the Embassy for donating computer equipment to the School.

Ambassador Shah said that the Free Medical Camp is a reflection of people-to-people relations between Pakistan and Nepal.

He also assured of Pakistan’s continued support for such medical camps in future as well.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 March 2021. 

Panchakanya, Aji to forge strategic partnership

Kathmandu, Mar. 28

Panchakanya Foundation, a CSR unit of Panchakanya Group, and Aji’s, a social enterprise that empowers elders to live healthy and happy lives by providing a platform to showcase their skills and knowledge, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding recently to bring extraordinary stories and experience of elders to larger audiences.

The stories would be published in podcasts.

"The partnership is part of the solution to bridge cultural gap between generations. It also aims to feature more stories and legacy of the elderly community in Nepal," said Panchakanya in a statement on Sunday.

Each episode will feature an elderly person’s extraordinary life story and personal journey that can inspire the younger generation.

Podcasts are recorded in Nepali, Newari, and English.

The stories will be available at 'Aji’s Podcast' on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, Google Podcast, TuneIn, and Stitcher.

Pubished in The Rising Nepal daily on 29 March 2021. 

KUKL to send Malamchi water to households from today

Kathmandu, Mar. 27

The Kathamndu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) is sending the water from the Melamchi River to households in the Kathmandu Valley from Sunday.

After purifying at the Sundarijal-based Water Treatment Plant, water was sent to the bulk distribution system from Friday.

However, the household distribution system has two structures -- old pipelines and new ones -- laid by the Melamchi Water Supply Project (MWSP).

While it would take a couple of days to clean the new pipelines, some amount of water will be channeled to the households through the KUKL’s existing distribution system.

After testing, cleaning and connecting to the household supply channel, water distribution will be started in the newly laid pipelines.

All the water won’t be sent to the pipelines right from Sunday, said Rajendra Prasad Pant, Senior Divisional Engineer and Spokesperson at the MWSP.

According to him, only about 40 million litres a day would be distributed in the first phase, then the quantity of water would be increased to 60 million MLD and 80 million MLD.

The MWSP would make arrangements for the supply of the required water at the Sundarijal-based Water Treatment Plant upon the request from the KUKL.

Water from Melamchi had arrived in the Valley on March 6. The MWSP had begun filling the tunnel with water from 22 February. Earlier, the project had started sending water to the tunnel in July 2020 but as two of its gates crashed due to the force of water and killed two employees, the project took time to upgrade safety measures in the tunnel.

The national pride project has been completed more than 12 years after its initial deadline. It was supposed to be completed in 2008. The first phase of the project would bring about 170 MLD into the Valley from Melamchi River and in the second and third phase additional 340 MLD from Yangri and Larke rivers would be channeled to Kathmandu from the same tunnel.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 28 March 2021. 

NC leader Joshi passes away

Kathmandu, Mar. 26

Nepali Congress leader Nabindra Raj Joshi passed away at the age of 56. He was undergoing a treatment of brain hemorrhage at Norvic Hospital in the capital.

He died at 8:24 PM at the hospital on Friday evening.

NC President Sher Bahadur Deuba said in a tweet that he was deeply hurt by the death of Joshi who was an efficient organiser and the party had lost a leader of integrity.

He has expressed condolences to the family of the late Joshi.

Joshi was the former Minister for Industry, Commerce and Supplies and spokesperson of NC.

He had become the Deputy Mayor of the Capital city Kathmandu at the age of 27.  He had started his political career from Nepal Student Union, a student wing of the NC.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 March 2021. 

Half of information complaints are about local bodies

Kathmandu, Mar. 26

More than half of the complaints received by the National Information Commission are related to the local levels.

It received 1,013 complaints in the fiscal year 2019/20, of which 52.4 per cent are related to the local governments, the NIC mentioned in its annual report of the last fiscal submitted to Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli on Friday.

According to the information body, 9.3 per cent compliants were about education, health and sports, 5.5 per cent about economic sectors and 5.5 per cent about law, justice and administration.

The commission said that it had addressed and resolved all the complaints.

In an effort to empower people with information and protect their right to information, the NIC had issued a 16-point direction to the federal, provincial and local governments to regularly publish the expenditures they made to control the coronavirus pandemic.

In February 2020, it had directed the secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population to run awareness generating campaign on coronavirus safety and protection, and maintain individual privacy while publishing the details of the people affected or died of COVID-19.

Likewise, it had issued an order to the secretary of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development to inform the farmers about the location, time and process for obtaining fertilisers, seeds, pesticides and medicines during the lockdown last year.

The report includes direction issued by the commission to various agencies to publish or give information which the latter denied to publish. As per the Right to Information Act, 2007, any Nepali citizen can ask for the information, other than the classified by the law, from any government and public institution. If the organisations denied giving it, people can appeal to the NIC and the latter issues directions to the respective agencies to give the demanded information.

The commission had conducted a web-based monitor of 120 agencies of which only 91 had designated information officer and only 30 agencies published the information on their own.

It has recommended to establish a separate information unit in the offices that have 50 employees or annual budget above Rs. 200 million.

"To facilitate people demanding information from the agencies inside the Singha Durbar, there should be a Right to Information Desk to register the complaints and provide the information sought," read the report.

The commission also suggested  formulating a law to protect the whistleblower who could play an important role in controlling corruption.

The NIC said in a statement that the report also includes the policy and implementation steps to be taken in the days to come.

Chief Information Commissioner Mahendra Man Gurung handed over the report to the Prime Minister.

 Commissioners Kamala Oli Thapa and Ratna Prasad Mainali, and Secretary of the NIC Dr. Mukunda Prasad Poudel were present on the occasion.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 27 March 2021. 

Revenue leakage won't be tolerated: FM Paudel

Kathmandu, Mar. 25

Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel has said that the government would use all its instruments and forces to check revenue leakage and punish those involved in revenue misappropriation.

"We cannot tolerate revenue leakage. We come with force to check it with a focus on business promotion and protection," he said in a meeting of the Revenue Leakage Control Committee organised at the Ministry of Finance on Thursday.

He directed the concerned authorities and agencies to be proactive so that the accused were punished and urged that the innocent should not be troubled. You must act consciously so that the innocent remain untroubled, he said.

Minister Paudel directed the departments and security agencies to coordinate and collaborate for controlling revenue leakage and asked to enhance the monitoring at the local and central level.

"You must keep problem-solving at the centre of your responsibility. There is a need to troubleshoot the weaknesses in the system and increase the use of technology," he said.

Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana pointed to the need of information exchange among the ministry, department and security agencies.

Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini said policy and systematic reforms were undertaken to control the leakage. He said the ministry was conscious as there were chances of higher leakage with the increase in the economic activities.

Home Secretary Maheshwor Neupane said that the guilty would be punished as per the law.

IGPs of Nepal Police and Armed Police Force Shailesh Thapa and Shailendra Khanal said that the security agencies would move ahead together with the concerned agencies in controlling the leakage of revenue.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 March 2021. 

NEA awards three GIS construction to GE

Kathmandu, Mar. 25

The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has awarded the contract to upgrade three Gas-Insulated Substations (GIS) located in Khimti, Barhabise and Lapsiphedi to GE Renewable Energy’s Grid Solutions business.

These substations will deliver uninterrupted hydro energy to the households outside the Kathmandu Valley which do not have access to the national grid.

The three GIS substations that GE will upgrade from 220 kV to 400 kV are a critical part of Nepal‘s South Asia Subregional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Power Transmission and Distribution Project.

This project will also enable Nepal to trade excess power with neighboring countries. The project is being spearheaded by NEA with funding from the Asian Development Bank and Nepal’s government, said the GE in a statement.

“The project is a crucial step towards meeting our vision of providing sustainable, reliable and affordable power to all in Nepal. Extending the access to electricity of all Nepali households and potential commercial establishments is our fundamental objective and we are happy to partner with GE on this mission,” said Hitendra Dev Shakya, Managing Director of NEA.

Pitamber Shivnani, President and CEO, GE’s Grid Solutions, South Asia, said, “We are proud to partner with NEA to upgrade Nepal’s transmission infrastructure. Our substations use the most advanced grid technology whose benefits include smarter transmission, greater load control and real time monitoring. These substations will help to ensure a consistent and reliable supply of electricity for the people in Nepal.”

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 March 2021. 

GIBL launches Dollar Card

Kathmandu, Mar. 25

Global IME Bank Limited has launched 'Global E-com Dollar Card' on Thursday.

The card is brought out as per the provision made by the Nepal Rastra Bank on issuing pre-paid card in foreign currency. It can be used to pay the bill in foreign currency while buying goods and services through online channels.

The bank said that the card can be used to pay the bill while buying goods online or paying for the services like Netflix recharge, educational fee payment, and promotion of businesses through various social networks like YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and WhatsApp.

Customers can obtain this facility by opening a bank account at the GIBL, and submitting their citizenship and PAN card and paying Rs. 500 service charge.

The bank said in a statement that it would continue to launch programmes and products to benefit and facilitate the customers.

GIBL has 270 branches in 76 districts, 242 ATMs, 256 branchless banking, 47 extension and revenue collection counters and three representative offices in foreign countries.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 March 2021. 

IFC and NEPSE to partner for gender equality

Kathmandu, Mar. 25

International Finance Corporation (IFC) has forged partnership with the Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) to ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality’ with an aim to raise awareness for gender equality.

The annual global event highlights how women’s participation in the economy can spur sustainable private sector development. 

The World Bank organisation has joined hands with the NEPSE for the first time.  

"The event comes at a critical moment, as the economic and social consequences of COVID-19 continue to disproportionally impact women — who make up 39 per cent of global employment but account for 54 per cent of the overall job losses due to the pandemic," said the IFC in a statement on Thursday.

Chairman of NEPSE Dr. Laxman Neupane said the organization was excited to take part in the call to action for gender equality together with more than 100 stock exchanges around the world through the ‘Ring the Bell for Gender Equality event’.

"Fostering greater participation of women in our workforce, economy, and capital market is not just the right thing to do – it also makes strong economic sense," he said.

Accelerating the pace of gender parity could lead to important economic, environmental, social, and governance gains in emerging and frontier markets. Despite some progress, women remain underrepresented in business leadership with only 17 per cent holding board seats globally, said the IFC.

 "As economies around the world struggle to recover from a global pandemic, increased participation of women can help accelerate the recovery process—making it more inclusive,” said Pradeep Man Vaidya, President of United Nations Global Compact Network Nepal.

In Nepal, women representation on corporate boards is extremely low. A recent IFC study in the country’s power sector shows that out of 132 board members from 20 companies, only 12 (9 per cent) are women. Despite Nepal’s Companies Act 2066 BS requiring at least one or more female shareholders, only three out of 10 public companies have women on their boards.

"I have been encouraged by 18 power sector companies joining IFC's Powered by Women Initiative to address some of these gender disparities," said Babacar S. Faye, IFC Resident Representative in Nepal. "But clearly, much more needs to be done to increase the participation of women on corporate boards in Nepal. Our research with stock exchanges in South Asia has shown that companies with higher gender diversity on their boards experience better financial returns.”

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 26 March 2021. 

Serve people, PM tells local leaders

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that the local representatives should be the engineers of social awareness, development and servant of people.

“People have sent the representatives to play the role in their favour in their own right. Therefore, let’s consider ourselves public servant, not officials,” he said while addressing the 28^th Anniversary programme of the Municipal Association of Nepal (MuAN) in the Capital on Wednesday.

According to PM Oli, he felt the importance and rationality of the local level when the representatives at the municipalities came out to serve the people risking their lives during the coronavirus pandemic.

The rights of the local bodies in the constitution were included after extensive discussions and they were not the issues of conflict, but coordination, he said.

PM Oli stated that the local governments would be in a position to fully use their rights with capacity building. “When empowered, the local bodies can prove their mettle in local development and welfare of the people. Whom should we empower, if not the local governments?” he maintained.

According to the PM, the federal and local governments are not the rivals and they will mature as they exercise their rights and duties. In the local levels, ward chair to deputy mayor all have their own grievances but you need not be worried, this is the way to learn, he said.

However, he said that the local levels should not try to act like the federal government and involve themselves in every affair. Even the provinces should have no illusion in this regard, he stated.

“It is not practical to send 70 per cent budget to the local levels. What would you do with this amount? All development works would be carried out by the local levels but we allocate the budget in ways so that it is well-spent,” he said.

PM Oli urged the female representatives to work harder to move ahead of their male counterparts.

On the occasion, the PM launched a book published by the MuAN and awarded the best-performing municipalities – Kankai, Tilottama and Waling.

Meanwhile, MuAN and Nepal Infrastructure Bank Limited (Nifra) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (Mou) on construction, investment and operation of infrastructure projects in Public-Private-Partnership and private sector participation.

Executive Director of MuAN Kalanidhi Devkota and Chief Executive Officer of Nifra Ram Krishna Khatiwada signed the MoU in the presence of PM Oli.

As per the agreement, Nifra will provide support in identifying social and infrastructure projects at the municipalities, analyzing their financial and technical aspects, marketing of projects and offer financial, technical and other necessary support to the local bodies.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2021. 

Revenue collection stands at 98 per cent of target

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

The government has mobilised about 60 per cent revenue against the annual target of the current fiscal year 2020/21.

By the end of the first eight months of this year, about Rs. 603.9 billion revenue is collected which is 97.80 per cent compared to the target for the same period, the Ministry of Finance said in a statement on Wednesday.

The data were presented at the ministry-level Development Action Committee organised at the ministry.

Likewise, the total revenue collection by Wednesday, March 24 is Rs. 641 billion. The government had set target of Rs. 1011 billion revenue collection in this fiscal.

Meanwhile, Rs. 455 billion recurrent and Rs. 79.8 billion capital budget is spent in the eight months period which is 48.18 per cent and 22.44 per cent respectively.

Minister for Finance Bishnu Prasad Paudel said that the revenue target would be met even amidst the COVID-19 impacts on the economy. Maintaining that most of the economic sectors other than tourism have returned to normalcy, he directed the ministry and departments to work in a result-oriented manner.

Minister Paudel stressed on the need to make a culture to spend the budget in time, not to miss setting the priority and misappropriate the funds.

Revenue Secretary Ram Sharan Pudasaini said that as the economic activities were on the rise, there would be no excuse not meeting the revenue target.

Likewise, Finance Secretary Shishir Kumar Dhungana directed all concerned agencies to be active in mobilising the budget.

Vice-chairman of the National Planning Commission Prof. Dr. Pushpa Raj Kadel said that the Finance Ministry should pay special attention while planning the projects and suggested the ministry to play its role in facilitating the agencies in mobilising the budget.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2021. 

NBL holds entrepreneurship training to 390 people

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

Nepal Bank Limited (NBL) has organised a week-long training on entrepreneurship and financial literacy in Changunarayan Municipality of Bhaktapur.

About 390 participants were selected from more than 1,000 applications from 1-10 wards of the municipality. The participants were divided in 10 different groups and trained on generating ideas and starting businesses, said the bank in a statement.

NBL organised the training in collaboration with the National Youth Council.

The training aimed at promoting agricultural and livestock businesses, tourism enterprise and developing entrepreneurship, and making people self-employed in these areas.

The bank said that it would provide loan up to Rs. 300,000 without collateral as per the concessional loan procedures of the Nepal Rastra Bank and Mayor Entrepreneurship Development Programme of the municipality.

NBL has signed entrepreneurship development agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) with various local bodies but the training of this kind was organised for the first time, said Prakash Adhikari, spokesperson of the bank.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2021. 

Book building to attract real sector firms to stock market

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

The Securities Board of Nepal (SEBON) has said that it had implemented book building method to attract more real sector companies to create diversity at the stock market that is vastly dominated by bank and financial institutions (BFIs).

“The domination of a single sector in the share market has sometimes created challenges to maintain the pace and balance of the market at times. Even a small policy twist by the Nepal Rastra Bank and Insurance Board would make a huge impact on the market,” Executive Director of the SEBON, Niraj Giri, said in an interaction with journalists organised by Nepalese Association of Financial Journalists (NAFIJ).

Book building is a process to determine the price of a unit of a share of a company by an underwriter. The SEBON enforced directives for book building in Nepal since last year.

This is a new method in securities market in Nepal which was applied as the country failed to attract real sector companies in the stock market even after years of efforts.

According to Giri, the aim of the method is to get the real value of the respective company from the market and motivate good companies to enter the stock market.

However, the capital market regulator is yet to decide on the range of opening price for book building. But it would ensure that the cartels would be checked in determining the price. “All the documents of the concerned institutions would be scrutinised by SEBON. Securities market is built on the good and healthy information so transparency and good practice should be maintained,” said Giri.

A company with credit rating above average, net worth one-and-a-half times higher than the paid up capital, and profit earning in the last three fiscal years can issue Initial Public Offering (IPO) through the book building method.

To save public investors from risks, the bylaws have a provision to sell 40 per cent of the shares to institutional investors. They cannot sell their securities within six months from the procurement.

Likewise, public investors can buy the shares of the respective company at 10 per cent lower than the ‘cut off price’ set for the institutional investors.

Shivam Cements Limited had issued its IPO at a premium price a couple of years ago. Currently, Sarbottam Cement is in the process to issue IPO as per the book building method.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2021. 

Worldlink takes Wi-Fi to Shey-Phoksundo

Kathmandu, Mar. 24

Worldlink Communications Limited has launched free Wi-Fi service at Shey-Phoksundo, the lake situated at 3,660 metres altitude.

The company launched the service at the lake situated on the lap of Kanjirowa Peak in the Himalayas in Dolpa district of Karnali Province on Sunday, March 21.

Chief Minister of Karnali Mahendra Bahadur Shahi and Worldlink’s Chairman Dileep Agrawal jointly inaugurated the service at a ceremony organised by the lake, said the company in a statement on Wednesday.

CM Shahi said that Karnali had a huge potential in tourism but it has failed to promote its natural and cultural beauty and products to the world market. “A good promotion of our tourism destinations would change the fate of people as well as the province,” he said.

He said that use of technology could be a medium to promote tourism in the province as well as to connect people in the remotest part in the country.

“I would appreciate Worldlink’s effort to provide free Wi-Fi to the visitors. It will surely benefit the visitors as they can update their whereabouts and connect to their family and relatives,” he said.

Earlier, a couple of years ago, Worldlink had launched free Wi-Fi service at Rara Lake in Mugu district on the occasion of Rara Festival.

Likewise, Agrawal said that communication and technology were the vital parts for the tourists. “There is no alternative to quality information technology. It is as important as the food, clothes and shelter. It can be a medium for the students and other people in the locality to obtain and enhance knowledge,” he said.

He also said that internet is crucial for people in the remote area as it can help to connect with the medical services and doctors in the cities and obtain quality health facility.

According to him, if the government developed information technology infrastructure like optical fiber, Worldlink is ready to expand its services to Dolpa. Worldlink has established 11 towers to take internet service to Shey-Phoksundo.

Chair of Shey-Phoksundo Rural Municipality Ward No. 8 Nima Lama, representative of Shey-Phoksundo National Park Chandra Bahadur Gharti and company’s CEO Keshav Nepal and Director Manoj Agrawal were present at the programme.

Shey-Phoksundo is the deepest lake in Nepal and is renowned for its pristine waters and beauty.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 25 March 2021. 

Agrawal joins UML

Kathmandu, Mar. 23

Businessman Rajesh Kumar Agrawal has joined the ruling CPN (UML). Prime Minister and UML Chair KP Sharma Oli inducted him into the party at a programme organised at the Prime Minister official residence in Baluwatar on Tuesday.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Oli expressed his confidence that Agrawal would play an important role in the party.

Agrawal,49, a resident of Bhairahawa of Rupandehi district, is the General Manager of Arghakhanchi Cement and Shree Steel.

He is the working committee member of the Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FNCCI). He claimed that the was not associated with any political party in the past and was motivated to join the UML due to PM Oli’s leadership and effort to make the country prosperous.

“Business community should join hands with the PM in the development drive. So I have joined the party,” he said.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 March 2021. 

Pak Embassy hoists flag on National Day

Kathmandu, Mar. 23

Pakistan Embassy in Kathmandu has organised a Flag Hoisting Ceremony on the eve of the National Day of Pakistan on Tuesday.

Ambassador of Pakistan to Nepal Syed Haider Shah hoisted the national flag on the embassy premises amidst a programme, the embassy said in a statement. 

Speaking on the occasion, Shah recalled the determination and resolution of Muslims in 1940 to create a separate homeland for themselves and future generations. He pointed to the need for reaffirming the commitment to make Pakistan the homeland that forefather had dreamed about.

Message from the president and prime minister of Pakistan were read out on the occasion.

“While commemorating this day, we need to adhere to the principles of unity, faith and discipline given by Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Our vision is to transform Pakistan into a truly democratic welfare state, on the model of Riyasat-e-Madina,” PM Imran Khan has written in his message.

According to the embassy, in line with the measures and decisions taken by the Nepal government the ceremony was organised at a very limited scale.

Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 24 March 2021. 

Nepal, Bangladesh to sign various agreements, MoUs during Prez visit

Kathmandu, Mar. 21

President Bidya Devi Bhandari is leaving for Dhaka, Bangladesh for a two-day state visit from 22 to 23 March.

She is paying the visit at the invitation of her Bangladeshi counterpart Mohammad Abdul Hamid. This is the first top-level visit from Nepal to Bangladesh in one-and-a-half decades.

President Bhandari will leave Kathmandu for Dhaka in a special chartered plane of Nepal Airlines Corporation. President Hamid will welcome her in Dhaka. She will be accompanied by Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, secretaries and senior officers of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), Office of the President and other relevant ministries, said the MoFA.

During her visit, the two countries will sign agreement on the amendment of transit mechanism. Bangladesh is likely to allow Nepal to use the Rohanpur-Singabad Railway route for transit.

Likewise, Memorandum of Understanding on sanitary and phytosanitary measures, bilateral tourism promotion and cultural exchanges will be signed.

Similarly, the two countries will discuss energy cooperation as well. Nepal is making preparations to export about 200 megawatt of electricity within four months, by the end of the current Fiscal Year 2020/21.

Bangladesh has said that it could import as much as 9000 MW electricity from Nepal while the Upper Karnali Hydroelectricity Project had also signed an agreement to export electricity to Bangladesh.

President Bhandari will attend the celebration of the birth centenary of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the Father of the Nation of Bangladesh, in Dhaka, the capital city. She is scheduled to deliver a statement on 'Nepal-Bangladesh Relations and Bangabandhu's Birth Centenary'.

The President is also scheduled to hold talks with her Bangladeshi counterpart Hamid at Bangabhaban and attend a State Banquet hosted by the latter in her honour.

During her stay in Dhaka, she will visit National Martyrs Memorial at Savar and Bangabandhu Museum at Dhanmondi. She will also visit the Embassy of Nepal in Dhaka and meet Nepali nationals in Bangladesh.

According to the MoFA, a cultural troupe will also be a part of the Nepali delegation which will show a cultural performance during the birth centenary celebration programme in Dhaka.

Earlier in November 2019, Bangladeshi President Hamid had paid a four-day goodwill visit to Nepal.

Then, he had pledged support and partnership to realise Nepal's national aspiration of 'Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali' and stressed on increasing the frequency of high-level exchanges between the two countries. Bangladesh also wants to develop partnership at global and regional platforms like the United Nations, South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and BIMSTEC.

Last year in February, during the visit of Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali, Nepal and Bangladesh had made agreements in bilateral trade and investment, infrastructure, waterways, agriculture and education.

The President is scheduled to return on 23 March, Tuesday.

In the first eight months of the current Fiscal Year 2020/21, Nepal imported goods worth Rs. 37.1 billion from Bangladesh and exported goods worth Rs. 407 million incurring a trade deficit of Rs. 33 billion. The bilateral trade with Bangladesh is witnessing deficit for the past many years.

Bangladesh was the 26^th largest trade partner of Nepal in the fiscal year 2018/19 with Rs. 4.24 billion import and Rs. 1.29 billion export.

 Trade between the two countries was promoted following the opening of the Kankadbhitta-Phulbari-Banglabandh transit route in 1997, and Nepal had trade surplus with Bangladesh till 2013/14. 

 Nepal and Bangladesh had singed a Trade and Payments Agreements and a Transit Agreement in 1976. The latter has allowed Nepal to use Khulna-Chalna and Chitagong ports and Biral, Banglabandh, Chilhati and Benapole points at the Bangladesh-India border. 

 Nepal exports green vegetables, animal feed and herbals to Bangladesh and imports garments and food items from Bangladesh. Bangladesh is one of the major destinations for medical education for Nepali students while Nepal is a destination for Bangladeshi tourists.

 Published in The Rising Nepal daily on 22 March 2021.