Goodweave distributes iron sheets

Nepal Goodweave Foundation has distributed iron sheets, two bundles to each family, to the workers of carpet exporting industries in Sindhupalchowk.

Foundation’s vice-president Ram Kala Khadka informed that the organization was planning to build permanent house for 95 families of carpet workers.

She also said that carpet weaving training for 300 male and female was in the offing. “The training will help in developing skills in the youth and they will have more employment opportunities in the country.”

The Foundation said that it rescued about 2500 children from carpet factories and helped them to attend school. We have distributed relief materials in Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Kavre, Sindhupalchowk, Dolakha, Nuwakot and other quake affected districts, reads press statement issued by the Foundation. 

Travel advisories discouraging tourists to visit Nepal

Walther Lucker, a German author and mountaineer, has suggested Nepal to reach out to major tourist source countries in Europe in order to get its name removed from travel advisories.

“Travel advisories deter tourists from coming to Nepal. Nepal’s prime tourist source countries like France still have travel advisory on Nepal which has long been discouraging French people to visit Nepal,” Lucker said.

According to wikipedia, a travel advisory, also called travel warning or travel alert, is an official warning statement issued by a government agency to provide information about the relative safety of traveling to or visiting any specific destination.

Walther Lucker

Most of the Europeran, American and other developed countries issue travel advisories to alert their citizens about the problems and hassle in the destination countries which they might face while traveling.

For instance, Canada’s travel advisory alerts its citizens to exercise a high degree of caution while traveling to Nepal. “There is no nationwide advisory in effect for Nepal. However, you should exercise a high degree of caution due to the fragile political and security situation,” reads the Canadian advisory.

Also a journalist and photographer, Lucker said that European people were very sensitive in case of natural disasters and terrorism. “Therefore, Nepal should launch a campaign for the international market to send the message that the country has come back to normalcy. Such publicity will help to improve the image of the quake-ravaged country.”

He advised the government to expedite the reconstruction of heritages destroyed in the earthquake last year. “It should never be forgotten that the heritage sites create and foster businesses. Failure to rebuild them in time will have negative repercussion on local business and tourist turnover.”

He said that if Nepal failed to set the damaged structures in time, tourists might look for alternative destination and the country may never get them back. He asked to rebuild the Durbar Square and Swyambhunath at the earliest and circulate the message in the international market.

“Kathmandu is in pathetic state in terms of rebuilding unlike the mountains where people have taken the responsibility and rebuilt the trekking route and local hotels and other facilities,” the author of ‘Seven Second Summits’ said.

Lucker, who has visited Nepal over 20 times, suggested not to build roads in the Annapurna and Khumbu Region in order to attract trekkers and nature lovers.

He expressed happiness that the country had modern medical facilities and rescue system in the mountains.

Born in 1957 in Frankfurt, Gernamy, Lucker has written and photographed for various magazines, newspapers and websites and co-authored four books.

He has been supporting various schools and communities in the mountains. 

Budget, starting point of economic progress

'Policy audit' is needed: Thapa

Kathmandu, May 17: Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Poudel Tuesday said that the upcoming budget would be starting point for the economic progress of the nation.

Speaking at Pre-Budget Discussion programme organized by the Society of Economic Journalists of Nepal, Minister Poudel stated that he was against distributive budget. “The new budget for the Fiscal Year 2016/17 will aim at creating employment and economic progress.”

He informed that he was receiving suggestions for employment generation, economic progress, and agriculture and energy sector development.

Gagan Thapa, chairman of Legislature-Parliament’s Agriculture and Water Resources Committee, urged the Finance Minister to create a calendar to implement the projects as it would take months to authorize the budget expenditure even though the government brought out the budget in time.

“There should be ‘policy audit’ in March and projects which are not implemented even after ten months of budget announcement should be scrapped,” he suggested.

According to Thapa, many laws were creating obstacles in development works. Therfore, bills like Electricity Act, Public Procurement Act, and Land Acquisition Act should be submitted to the Legislature-Parliament.

“National pride project Budhi Gandaki Hydropower Project’s progress is very slow. On the other hand, work on about 18 kilometres of Mid-Hill Highway which will be submerged by the project is on the full swing. Government should be careful of such spending,” he said.

Federation of Nepalese Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s president Pashupati Murarka pointed out that the industry sector in the country was severely affected by the energy crisis therefore upcoming budget should focus on energy development. “The government should try to eradicate the blackout within two years.”

Saying that the business community was not asking any facilities and special favour from the government, Murarka urged the Finance Minister to remove the non-tariff barriers of trade.

He also urged to formulate ‘exit policy’ for the businesses.

Economist Prof. Dr. Bishwambhar Pyakuryal suggested structural changes in the budget implementation and effective coordination among the government, National Planning Commission (NPC) and Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB).

“The agriculture should get top priority in the upcoming budget. In order to achieve 6 per cent economic growth in the next fiscal, about 10 per cent of the total budget should be allocated to the agriculture sector,” he said.

Former vice chairman of the NPC and governor of NRB, Dipendra Bahadur Kshetry warned the Finance Minister not to increase the budget allocated to the parliamentarians.

He suggested developing the agriculture sector so as it could compete with the Indian agro-products.

Kumar Pandey, general secretary of Independent Power Producers’ Association of Nepal (IPPAN) said that the custom tax of raw materials was higher than the finished goods. He urged the government to reduce the tax on raw materials.

Lawmaker Udaya Shamsher Rana, Nepal Bankers’ Association vice-chairman Anil Shah, Confederation of Nepalese Industries vice-president Satish More, Nepal Chamber of Commerce general secretary Kamlesh Kumar Agrawal and tourism entrepreneur Bharat Basnet stated suggestions of their respective field. 

Microfinance Summit concluded with 16-point declaration

The first National Microfinance Members’ Summit Monday concluded by adopting a 16-point declaration.

The declaration announced to include the ultra-poor in the microfinance campaign and develop action plan to realize this goal.

“The microfinance will extend their services to the remote and rural areas, and formulate strategies to inspire the members to be micro-entrepreneurs by providing training for skill development and creative works,” read the declaration.

The summit declared to stop the practice of mobilizing loans without evaluating the customers’ necessity and capacity to repay. It announced to set appropriate and sustainable interest rate that would not create burden on the side of customers.

As the number of microfinance banks was more than sufficient for the country, request would be put to stop licensing microfinance institutions except financial intermediary non-governmental organizations (FINGOs) which are currently in operation, read the declaration.

The declaration has announced to expand health insurance programme all over the country, and initiate a separate company for the micro-insurance programme.

Legislature-Parliament’s Development Committee Chairman Rabindra Adhikari stated that microfinance services should be promoted as it was promoting entrepreneurship as well as helping in reduction of poverty and empowerment of women.

“There are very few economic opportunities for the poor. Therefore, the government should study business potential for the micro-entrepreneurs, promote their products and help in financing,” said Adhikari.

Shiva Raj Shrestha, deputy governor of the Nepal Rastra Bank, said that the microfinance would be more effective if there was skill development training for their members.

Damodar Bhandari, State Minister for Ministry of Finance said that the declaration of the summit would be an important learning for the government. “The government would try to address the demands that the summit has put forth,” he said.

Shankar Man Shrestha, chairman of the Organizing Committee, said that Nepalese microfinance has become a model for other countries.

The conference was organized by the principal Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and co-ordination of the Centre for Self-Help Development (CSD).

Forty-one microfinance banks, 25 non-government organizations and about 100 cooperatives are offering microfinance service across the country. They altogether are catering service to 1.8 million families.

uggested discouraging the practice of obtaining loans from more than one microfinance institutions.

About 22 female microfinance members shared their experience with the microfinance services.

The conference is being organized by the principal Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and co-ordination of the Centre for Self-Help Development (CSD).

Forty-one microfinance banks, 25 non-government organizations and about 100 cooperatives are offering microfinance service across the country. They altogether are catering service to 1.8 million families.

According to the latest data, about Rs. 300 billion loan was mobilized by the microfinance institutions and the repayment rate was 99 per cent. 

Govt focused on alleviating poverty: PM

Kathmandu, May 15: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli Sunday said that the government was focused on alleviating poverty through modernization and commercialization of agriculture, and entrepreneurship promotion.

Inaugurating the first National Microfinance Member’s Summit in the capital, PM Oli said, “This is the government of poor and is committed to reducing poverty by 2030 as per our international commitment. Specially, the government is working to make significant changes in the agriculture sector within two years.”

He lamented that even though the country was rich in natural resources, it was still least developed and said that endeavours were underway to change the pathetic situation and lead the country towards the path of development.

Reiterating the government’s prime agenda were the implementation of the new constitution, post-quake reconstruction and economic progress, the Prime Minister claimed that the government’s policies and programmes for the Fiscal Year 2016/17 was the reflection of its pledge to the development.

PM Oli praised the microfinance institutions for their role in promoting entrepreneurship, generating employment and bringing people out of poverty. “Microfinance companies are helping people to achieve financial progress even with the mobilisation of small amount of money.”

But, you should be very much careful that the money should go to the right place and right hands, the PM warned. He reminded the microfinance companies that their campaign was for social transformation, not profit-oriented.

Nepal Rastra Bank governor Dr. Chiranjivi Nepal, directed the microfinance companies to extend their services to the rural and remote areas. “When you are more focused on the urban areas, it creates aberrations. Therefore, go to the villages, you will find creative hands and entrepreneurial minds.”

He informed that the central bank had directed to establish Consumer Protection Fund in order to reduce the risk in the microfinance sector.

“The NRB is mulling to launch a mapping of the country. Once the mapping is completed, we will decide the areas for the microfinance to go,” Dr. Nepal stated.

He urged the microfinance companies to offer skill development and entrepreneurship training to those whom they mobilize loans.

Shankar Man Shrestha, chairman of the Summit organizing committee, said that the conference said that the conference would be a sharing ground of varied microfinance members and would strive towards finding ways to better serve the ultra-poor and marginalized sections of the country.

Dr. Binod Atreya, executive director of Micro-Finance Promotion and Supervision Department at the NRB, said the capital increment plan for the microfinance companies was on cards.

The first ever two-day national level Microfinance Member’s Summit has brought over 600 participants, of which 500 are women microfinance members from 75 districts.

The participants told their stories that began with poverty and social exclusion and ended with prosperity of their families. They suggested discouraging the practice of obtaining loans from more than one microfinance institutions.

About 22 female microfinance members shared their experience with the microfinance services.

The conference is being organized by the principal Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) and co-ordination of the Centre for Self-Help Development (CSD).

Forty-one microfinance banks, 25 non-government organizations and about 100 cooperatives are offering microfinance service across the country. They altogether are catering service to 1.8 million families.

According to the latest data, about Rs. 300 billion loan was mobilized by the microfinance institutions and the repayment rate was 99 per cent. 

Rs. 11 bn sent to districts for house reconstruction

Kathmandu, May 15: The Central Project Implementation Unit (CPIU) under the Ministry of Federal Affairs and Local Development (MoFALD) has disbursed about Rs. 11.11 billion to various District Development Committees for the reconstruction of the houses damaged by the devastating earthquake in April and May last year.

The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) had allocated Rs. 12.41 billion to the Unit for housing reconstruction grant.

The Unit at the MoFALD sent Rs. 2.22 billion to Dolakha, Rs. 1.96 billion to Kavre, Rs. 1.49 billion to Nuwakot and Rs. 1.76 billion to Sindhupalchowk.  

Likewise, Dhading received Rs. 113.3 million, Rasuwa Rs. 261.5 million, Gorkha Rs. 214.5 million, and Okhaldhunga received Rs. 74.9 million.

Similarly, Rs. 75 million was sent to Sindhuli and Rs. 370 millon to Makwanpur.

Issuing a press release, the NRA said that the Nepal Bankers Association, Development Bankers Association and Finance Companies Association in coordination with the Nepal Rastra Bank and Ministry of Finance had decided to divide areas in every district to distribute the grant through banks and finance companies.

According to sub-regional office of the NRA in Dolakha, housing grant agreement was underway in 10 VDCs of Dolakha, 41 of Ramechhap, and 24 of Okhaldhunga.

Meanwhile, the NRA has issued fresh directives for volunteer mobilization.

The Reconstruction body has issued the directives for the mobilization of volunteers in constructing temporary houses and grant distribution for constructing private house for two weeks period, from 20^th May to 3^rd June.

The volunteers will facilitate in housing grant agreement between the VDC secretary/municipality executive officer and house owner, construction of temporary houses before the monsoon for those living under the tents and assist people in house reconstruction.

The directives said that the interested volunteers must be registered to the District Disaster Relief Committee before 18^th May and should attend orientation classes. They should physically fit.

“The volunteers should manage their transportation and lodging/fooding themselves,” read the directives. 

'Yo Kunai Baas Ho Ek' to be staged till Tuesday

The play penned by Prof. Dr. Abhi Subedi, ‘Yo Kunai Baas Ho Ek’, that is being staged at the Theatre Mall at Kathmadu Mall will continue till Tuesday.

Ghanashyam Shrestha has directed the poetic solo-performed drama.

Actor Sushma Koirala has brilliantly presented the play created on the theme of the characters created by playwright Bal Krishna Sama.

Dr. Subedi has dedicated the play to late Sama and named it after Sama’s House.

The protagonist recalls the plays by Sama and characters from it, and analyses them. Koirala has beautifully performed on-stage with dialogue and discussion with the unseen characters which has made every scene a different story.

Art Director of the Theatre Mall, Kedar Shrestha, said that Koirala had amazed the audience with her solo-performance in Dr. Subedi’s another play ‘Bimbaka Sapana’, earlier.

Combination of stage setup, light system and melodious classical background music has made ‘Yo Kunai Baas Ho Ek’ more attractive.

The play is a story of conflict inside the character on stage as she enters to the world of play from her real life. She meets female character from the play ‘Amar Singh’, and enters into the world of women of the ruling class like Rajendra Laxmi and presents an image of ‘Kot Parva’.

In the end, she comes back to the real world.

The play has some beautiful dances. Chorus character Ana Deuja and Rabina Shrestha have shown utmost patience as the picture character in the palace by remaining motionless for almost all the time during the play.

The beautiful stage is created by Ram Sharan Regmi, Suresh Karki and Dambar Bahadur Bhandari while Nabin Maharjan, Prabesh Maharjan and Sanjay Shrestha composed the live background score.

The play is being staged on 5:30 PM every evening.