WITHOUT F EAR OR FAVOUR

Nepal’s largest selling English daily Vol XXVIII No. 315 | 8 pages | Rs.5 O O Printed simultaneously in Kathmandu, Biratnagar, Bharatpur and Nepalgunj 26.4 C -3.6 C Tuesday, January 12, 2021 | 28-09-2077 Dipayal Jumla Why the Congress is hemming and hawing, failing to make a firm stance The party that had been licking its wounds after the 2017 electoral defeat is suddenly licking its lips at the thought of returning to power whichever way the situation unfolds.

ANIL GIRI events by suddenly dissolving the KATHMANDU, JAN 11 House–and declaring snap polls for April 30 and May 10–and thrown the On Sunday afternoon, senior leaders country into uncertainty. of the Nepali Congress held an almost After the dissolution of the House, four-hour-long meeting at the resi- Oli’s Nepal Communist Party has split dence Sashanka Koirala, the party in two–with the other faction led by general secretary, at Maharajgunj, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav and discussed at length the contempo- Kumar Nepal taking to the streets, rary political situation in the country, calling the move unconstitutional. what role the party should play, most Janata Samajbadi Party, which was importantly, why there is confusion the third largest force in Parliament, and contradiction within the party too has announced a series of protest over KP Sharma Oli government’s programmes. decision to dissolve the House. The Congress party on December 26 At least two Nepali Congress lead- held demonstrations in all 165 constit- ers who were present in the meeting uencies. It held another round of pro- said that senior leaders, including test in all 330 provincial constituen- Ram Chandra Poudel, Prakashman cies on Saturday. POST PHOTO: SANTOSH SINGH Singh and Koirala, expressed their The party, however, rejected the pro- Sugarcane farmers take their crop to a sugar mill on bullock carts at Guashala, Mahottari. Sugar mills across the country buy sugarcane from farmers on credit but do not pay them on time. concerns over the growing unease in posal for a joint agitation with other In December hundreds of farmers came to the capital demanding payment for past years’ harvests and the signed a four-point agreement with the government after 16 days of protests that all the party for not taking a firm posi- parties. outstanding dues would be cleared by January 17. tion on Oli’s December 20 House disso- Congress leaders say a lack of clari- lution move and the party’s dilemma ty on the part of party President Sher over whether or not to go for massive Bahadur Deuba is creating a lot of protests. confusion. The discussion revolved around, “At Sunday’s meeting, we also among other contemporary issues, reviewed Deuba’s role and his The winter is going to be hot and dry, met office says whether the party should make the Saturday’s speech in Budhanilkantha House reinstatement its bottom line, where he appeared to be favouring according to a Central Working midterm polls proposed by Oli,” the In the past few days, some places in the country recorded rise in average temperatures by as much as 8 degrees Celsius. Committee member, who spoke on con- Central Working Committee member dition of anonymity. of the party told the Post. Winter Climate Outlook of meteorology office predicts up to 50 percent chance of less than normal rainfall this winter. Oli has set in motion a series of >> Continued on page 2

CHANDAN KUMAR MANDAL Nepal is calculated as the average region,” said Kadel. “With no rain, the KATHMANDU, JAN 11 recorded between 1981 and 2010 for weather could not clean up the air and any given time. it remained hazy. As a result, the pol- Westerly disturbance during in early While Nepalgunj and Dhangadi lution level went up massively, trap- and middle of last week led to a few have recorded a rise of more than 8 ping the pollutants and the tempera- days of cold weather in the western degrees Celsius and Bhairahawa and ture. In short, lack of rain due to parts of the country with snow in the Janakpur has seen 6 degrees Celsius weaker westerly disturbance also led high mountains and the temperatures rise compared to the average in the to temperature rise.” plummeting in Kathmandu Valley and last several days. Last Monday evening, Kathmandu the Tarai. It is not just the temperature that Valley was the most polluted city in the Since then the temperature has has been unusual, but it has been dry world, overtaking cities like New Delhi been increasing steadily. too so far this winter. and Mexico City, according to IQAir, a It may seem unusual but for meteor- “There has not been rainfall in the Swiss group, which records real-time ologists it has not come as a surprise. last four months during the post-mon- air pollution across the world. The weather of late has been in line soon, which began in October, except “Had there been the rain on time, it with the Winter Climate Outlook of for a few places in Sudurpaschim and could have washed out the atmosphere the Department of Hydrology and Karnali Province,” said Kadel. “Apart and pollutants would come down and Meteorology for this winter (December from some rain in the far-western there would not be a rise in tempera- 2020-February 2021) with prediction region, which also caused snowfall in ture” said Kadel. Last winter season, the country had witnessed higher than the normal rainfall across the country. In contrast, the department’s win- ter climate outlook predicted that northern areas of Sudurpaschim Province and northwestern areas of Karnali Province have 40-50 percent probability of receiving less than the normal rainfall this winter. Similarly, other areas of the coun- try have nearly 40 percent probability of receiving less than the normal rain- fall during the same period, December to February. In the case of temperature, the out- look predicts a 50-60 percent probabil- ity of increase in average temperature this winter in Province 1, Province 2, Bagmati Province, the majority of Sudurpaschim Province, northern Gandaki Province and central and northern areas of Karnali Province. As for the rest of the country, there is a 40 percent probability of it wit- nessing a spike in average tempera- ture this winter. “Using different meteorological models, we make predictions with var- ied probability. The higher the proba- POST PHOTO: SANJOG MANANDHAR bility, the stronger the chances of The lack of rainfall has meant that pollutants in the air does not get cleaned. weather prediction turning true,” said Kadel. that the rainfall would be less than the northern regions, there was no Such weather prediction allows the normal and the average temperatures rainfall in the mid-hills and eastern general public to plan their activities, would see a surge in this period. part of the country this winter.” according to her. “We have seen that the maximum The department’s outlook predicts a “Initially, people experienced an temperature at many stations has continuation of a warm and dry win- early drop in minimum temperature gone up significantly since last week,” ter. and felt winter chill earlier this year. said Indira Kadel, a senior meteorolo- Kadel, who is also the chief of the Now, people are complaining of the gist with the department. “At many Climate Analysis Section of the hot temperature which was also con- stations, mainly in Tarai districts, the department, gives two possible rea- tributed by the pollution level,” said average temperature has gone up by sons behind lower rainfall and Kadel. as much as 8 to 9 degrees Celsius.” increasing temperature. It is not just the Nepal’s meteorolo- The average temperature and aver- First, there is a less westerly distur- gists that have predicted a warm and age rainfall of any weather station in bance, which carries cold wind dry winter in the country but also responsible for rainfall during South Asian ones. the winter season. Second, the The 18th session of the South Asian increased level of pollution in Climate Outlook Forum, a consortium the country has surged the mer- of meteorologists and hydrological cury level up. experts from South Asia, held virtual- The less westerly disturbance ly on November 23, had predicted a is a result of La Niña, a weather “below normal” winter rainfall and pattern that occurs in the Pacific “above normal” temperature for the Ocean, according to meteorolo- country. gists. Winter rainfall, which occurs “As there was less impact of because of the westerly disturbance, westerly disturbance, there contributes nearly 3.5 percent of the could not be adequate rainfall country’s annual rainfall. and snowfall in the mountain >> Continued on page 2

C M Y K TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 | 02 NATIONAL Mahakali Hospital fails to run PCR lab Bhimdatta Municipality purchased a PCR machine six months ago but it is yet to come into operation due to delays in procurement of testing kits and other equipment.

BHAWANI BHATTA said they would release the amount by KANCHANPUR, JAN 11 holding executive meetings but they have yet to do so.” Six months ago, Bhimdatta According to the hospital adminis- Municipality in Kanchanpur had pur- tration, the health institution has chased a PCR machine to conduct PCR already spent Rs5.3 million for the testing in the district. The machine purchase of various equipment to was handed over to the Mahakali operate a PCR lab. Hospital three months ago. However, “But none of the equipment has it remains unused till now and has arrived yet,” said Joshi. “The PCR lab been gathering dust at the hospital’s will be operated within a week or two. veranda. We have already appointed human In mid-July 2020, the municipality resources for that purpose.” had spent Rs3.8 million to In Kanchanpur, Covid-19 cases purchase a PCR machine to conduct have been surging by the day. Most Covid-19 tests. of the cases are being reported “We purchased the machine and from Dodhara Chandani, handed it over to the hospital a Bhimdatta, Bedkot and Suklaphanta. long time ago. An agreement was The virus has already spread at reached to operate the machine the community level because of in coordination with all local low number of PCR tests, suspect units of the district and the health workers. provincial government,” said Himal According to the data of Chand, spokesperson of Bhimdatta the Provincial Health Directorate, Municipality. 1,719 individuals have tested POST PHOTO: ELITE JOSHI But the municipality has yet to put positive for Covid-19 in Kanchanpur Police try to stop a rally organised by pro-monarchy supporters at Singhadurbar, Kathmandu on Monday. Scuffle broke out at the scene as police tried to prevent the rally the machine to use. According to so far. Currently, there are 215 active participants from offering tribute to the statue of King Prithvi Narayan Shah on the occasion of 299th Prithvi Jayanti. Chand, the other local units of the cases. district have to purchase the neces- Mahakali Hospital has been collect- sary equipment as per the plan to be ing 30 to 40 swab samples on a daily able to conduct PCR tests. basis. These swabs have to be sent “The machine can test 96 swab sam- to Dhangadhi for PCR testing. It takes ples at a time,” said Chand. at least two to three days to receive A few months ago, all local units in test reports. Why the Congress is hemming and hawing ... the district had promised to help in According to health workers, the the operation of a PCR lab by provid- risk can be minimised only after >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 But many say Deuba has refrained case, he could make his way to Sheetal form an alliance for the election pur- ing Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 million. expanding PCR test numbers by “Now everyone–the media, civil from saying so publicly, which has Niwas, as the Dahal-Nepal faction pose if polls do happen?,” said “But none of the local governments operating the lab in Mahakali society, the party’s well-wishers and been evident in his public statements. would move on impeachment against Sitauala. “Our top leadership, espe- helped in the procurement of Hospital. the public– is asking what our There is no point in making conjec- President Bidya Devi Bhandari. cially both Deuba and Poudel, must testing kits and other equipment “The hospital will soon start operat- position is.” tures, according to Lekhak. According to a Congress leader, for consider that situation as well and needed to operate a lab,” said ing the PCR lab. The lab could not be The faction led by Poudel in the “The House is not going to be rein- Poudel that’s a far better prospect in focus on the party rather than their Krishnadatta Joshi, chairman of operated on time due to delay in the Congress, however, has been demand- stated just because Poudel wishes so. his fag end of his political career. personal prospects.” Mahakali Hospital Development procurement process,” said Dr Hari ing that the party must launch stern Nor are elections going to be held as “Actually, for Poudel there is not A section of intellectuals and civil Committee. Shrestha, the medical superintendent agitation to demand that the House per Deuba’s wish,” said Lekhak. much to gain if the elections happen,” society leaders has argued that the “The chiefs of the local units had of the hospital. must be restored and that Deuba “While the House reinstatement is said the leader who spoke on condi- Nepali Congress should step up to should stop favouring Oli’s election something the court is going to decide. tion of anonymity because he feared protect democracy and constitutional- calls. And whether the elections will be held retribution from the leadership. “The ism and stand for a free and Party insiders say Deuba has main- on the dates declared by Oli will odds, however, seem to be stacked in open society and rule of law rather tained but one position–that the Nepal depend on multiple factors.” Deuba’s favour.” than looking at short-term prospects Communist Party has not [officially] Since both outcomes are not in the Deuba is buoyed by the confidence that seem to be suddenly on the hori- split yet. And Deuba has been reluc- party’s control, according to Lekhak, that the Nepali Congress could emerge zon due to Oli’s extraconstituitonal tant to call Oli’s move “unconstitu- it would be wrong to say there are dif- as the single largest party if elections moves. tional”, saying that the matter is with ferences between Deuba and Poudel. happen, as the Nepali Communist “The Congress seems to be sudden- the court, according to them. The Nepali Congress in 2017 elec- Party has been cleaved in two. ly happy at the prospect of returning Within the Congress party, no lead- tions faced a spectacular defeat. Never “In that case, Deuba’s road to to power,” said Daman Nath ers, however, seems to have found a in its history had the Nepali Congress Baluwatar will be smooth and Dhungana, a former House Speaker counter-argument for Deuba, as he been in such a shambles. Even three easy,” said the leader. “It’s but and civil society member. “At a time appears to be right on both–that it’s years later, the party was still licking natural for Deuba to stay mum or when constitutionalism has been the Election Commission which will its wounds. But after Oli’s sudden make minimum comments against attacked and democracy has been put decide whether the party indeed has House dissolution and declaration of Oli’s House dissolution move and take at risk, the Congress should rise to the split and it’s the Supreme Court that polls, the leadership is licking their a middle path while speaking some- occasion and hold the government to will pass a verdict whether Oli’s move lips at the thought of making a come- thing–like wait for the Supreme Court account.” is constitutional or not. back, and more than anyone else, decision.” According to Dhungana, who lost Deuba faces allegations from within Deuba seems to be finding his pros- But there are some in the Congress the 2017 House of Representatives his own party members that he has pects to be better. party, who are concerned about the elections on the Congress ticket from been the biggest ally to Oli, providing While addressing the party’s mass party’s wavering position on the cur- Bhaktapur, the Nepali Congress and his tacit support for the latter’s moves, meeting at Budhanilkantha on rent situation. its leaders must not forget the party’s including on the ordinance on the Saturday, Deuba said if the Supreme “Our leadership still has a myopic roots and fundamental values and Constitutional Council Act to the Court upholds the House dissolution attitude. There is little foresight in stop running behind power. House dissolution. move, the party must be ready to face how the party president is behaving,” Nepali Congress spokesperson Leaders from the Deuba camp, how- elections. said Krishna Prasad Sitaula, a Central Bishwo Prakash Sharma said the ever, rebuff such allegations as base- Some leaders in the party say both Working Committee member. “I am party leadership should devise both less. According to them, there is no Deuba and Poudel factions are guided extremely worried about the situation short- and long-term strategies and contradiction in the part y. by their personal interests and if elections do not happen on the act accordingly as the situation “I do not see any confusion when it future political opportunities, making declared dates.” evolves. comes to stances of Deuba and it difficult for the party to make a According to Sitaula, as Deuba him- “It will be wrong to say Deuba is Poudel,” said Ramesh Lekhak, a common stance. self has been admitting that the Nepal right and Poudel is wrong or vice Central Working Committee member, Deuba appears confident that he Communist Party has not officially versa,” said Sharma. “The party who is considered close to Deuba. would get a chance to lead the govern- split, who knows how its leaders is weighing all options and both “The party has already concluded that ment, backed by Oli, in the event of devise their strategy. leaders at the top should think in POST PHOTO: BHAWANI BHATTA Oli’s move of dissolving the House is House restoration. Insiders say Poudel “What if both the communist fac- the larger interest of democracy and The PCR machine was purchased for Rs3.8 million to conduct Covid-19 tests. unconstitutional and undemocratic.” too is somewhat convinced that in that tions come together again or even constitution.” The winter is going Reconstruction of quake-damaged Around 95 percent to be hot and dry ... >> CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 school buildings near completion quarantine facilities The monsoon rainfall starts in the east and comes from the Bay of Bengal ANISH TIWARI the office of the district project imple- Development and Coordination Unit Despite making a small proportion SINDHUPALCHOK, JAN 11 mentation unit, as many as 212 school in Sindhupalchok, the newly con- closed in Karnali of the country’s total rainfall, winter buildings have been reconstructed structed school buildings come with precipitation is considered valuable The reconstruction of school build- with the support of non-governmental drinking water facilities and toilets. More than 40,000 beds have been removed from for winter crops, especially in high ings that were ravaged by the Gorkha organisations while the remaining “Although 90 percent of school mountains where snow provides earthquake and its powerful after- buildings were rebuilt with the help buildings damaged by the quake have various quanrantine centres throughout the province, much-needed moisture to the crops for shocks in 2015 is the final phase in of government authorities. been erected now. There are com- a more extended period of time. Sindhupalchok, the district worst hit “The lockdown enforced amid fears plaints from some schools regarding according to the Karnali Provincial Health Directorate. According to Madhukar Upadhya, a by the disaster. of Covid-19 affected the reconstruc- shortages of classrooms,” said climate change expert and watershed Around 90 percent of school build- tion work for some months. But the Krishna Subedi, chief at the District CHANDANI KATHAYAT 1,906 quarantine beds are now in management practitioner, winter rain ings that were damaged by the quake work has picked up pace now,” said Education Development and BIRENDRANAGAR, JAN 11 operation at 76 different places of has always been valuable for the coun- have been reconstructed as of now Khadka. “We could not disburse the Coordination Unit. seven districts. try’s farmers and highlanders. with the support of government final tranche of the reconstruction aid The District Education Development Health authorities and local units in “The arrival of people from India authorities and various non-govern- to some schools where works were and Coordination Unit plans to several districts of Karnali Province and other countries is almost nil now- mental organisations. According to halted due to Covid-19 fears. We will address the issue by coordinating with have closed more than 95 percent of adays. The flow of Covid-19 patients Winter precipitation the district project implementation release the budget soon.” three municipalities and nine rural quarantine facilities. A total of 40,050 has also decreased in the hospitals. unit of the National Reconstruction A total of 3,620 classrooms of municipalities in the district. quarantine beds were removed in var- The quarantine facilities set up to is considered Authority, 445 buildings of a total of 445 community schools in the “We will launch special campaigns ious places of the province in the past control the spread of the virus are of 447 community schools were destroyed district were damaged by the 2015 to provide quality education in urban two days alone, according to the no use since the returnees also prefer valuable for farmers by the earthquake. earthquakes. centres as well as remote villages of Karnali Provincial Health Directorate. to stay in home isolation,” said “The reconstruction of 42 school According to the District Education the district,” said Subedi. Keeping in view the huge number Acharya. He claimed that the removal and highlanders. buildings is now almost complete of people returning homes from India of quarantine facilities would not while works on 10 school buildings and other countries amid Covid-19 affect the fight against Covid-19. have been halted due to a lack of suit- outbreak, the provincial and the There are a total of 146 active cases “Wheat is primarily a winter crop. able land,” said Yam Bahadur Khadka, local governments had set up quaran- in Karnali Province at present. Among It can not grow without water. When chief at the district project implemen- tine facilities at 891 places in 10 dis- them, 115 are staying in home there are not adequate irrigation tation unit (education). “Discussions tricts of Karnali with a capacity of isolation. According to Acharya, the options on the ground, winter rain are underway with the authorities 41,956 beds. province at present has isolation facil- comes as the saviour for farmers,” concerned to manage suitable land However, the province decided ities at 21 places with the capacity of Upadhya told the Post. “Besides, there plots and initiate the rebuilding of the to reduce the number of quarantine 1,038 beds. are different grasses in this season for school buildings soon.” beds two months ago, as it continues “The flow of Covid-19 patients in which rain is required.” According to Khadka, the recon- to see a sharp decline in the number the isolation facilities is also declin- “There is an old aphorism that says struction of other damaged school of people returning home from ing,” he said. timely winter rain means enough for buildings has already been completed. overseas. The government has now The provincial government claims the rest of the year,” he said. Various NGOs and INGOs have pro- prioritised home quarantine and that it has now prioritised developing Precipitation in winter also depos- vided assistance for the rebuilding of home isolation. infrastructures for the effective treat- its snow in the mountains. the damaged school buildings, espe- “There are only a few quarantine ment of virus patients and controlling “Winter rain is the source of depos- cially in the remote villages in the facilities in Rukum (West), Dailekh, the spread of the disease. Acharya iting snow on the mountains,” district. Stakeholders expect the qual- Kalikot, Jumla, Humla, Mugu said the province has given emphasis said Upadhya. “While the monsoon ity of education to improve with the and Dolpa now. And there is no one to expand the capacity of ICU rain is washed down and snow melts, availability of well-facilitated physi- PHOTO COURTESY: RAMCHANDRA BASNET staying in the facilities,” said Shyam beds, ventilators and oxygen plants, snowfall in winter restores snow on cal infrastructures in rural villages. The finished buildings will have all necessary infrastructure to provide a better learning Acharya, the focal person at the direc- among other health infrastructures in the peaks.” According to the data available at environment for children, authorities say. torate. According to him, a total of the province.

C M Y K 03 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 NATIONAL Seroprevalence study data yet to be made public Officials want yet another study, but that too hasn’t begun. ARJUN POUDEL KATHMANDU, JAN 11

When the Ministry of Health and Population directed him not to disclose the findings of the coronavirus seroprevalence study carried out in September, Dr Basudev Pandey, director at Epidemiology and Disease Control Division, remembered an incident from 2001. Pandey, who was pursuing his postdoctoral fellowship in the US back then, come across a student who collected data as per his needs and manipulated them to suit himself. “I remembered the student when officials directed us not to disclose the findings of the seroprevalence study,” Dr Pandey, told the Post. “We had presented them (the officials) the real findings, but they could not accept it, and want- ed another study.” Back in 2001, a professor at the university found out what the student was up to and issued a warning. But there’s no one to do that in the case of the seroprevalence study in Nepal, he said. “We did not know that our officials needed data to support their claim that everything is POST PHOTO: KESHAV THAPA under control,” he added. Workers at the reconstruction site of the Shilu Mahadev temple in Bhaktapur on Monday. The temple was damaged by the 2015 earthquake. Report from the nationwide study, which is yet to be made public, reportedly showed that around 13 percent of the country’s population was infected with Covid-19 until September. The study, conducted with technical and financial support from the World Health BRIEFING Organization, reportedly found the highest Rising social security allowance costs prevalence of the infection in Province 2(23 percent), followed by Bagmati Province (17 per- Dahal-Nepal group ‘suspends’ cent) and Province 1 (13 percent). Numbers for Chief Minister Rai other provinces still remain a mystery. MORANG: The Dahal-Nepal group of Officials at the Health Ministry decided not cast doubt on sustainability of scheme to disclose the data as seroprevalence surveys the ruling Nepal Communist Party has “suspended” Sherdhan Rai, chief conducted in various countries have reported minister of Province 1, and seven Number of beneficiaries doubles in 10 years, could cover 30 percent of population if all entitled are included. figures of less than 10 percent. other provincial assembly members “Officials had demanded yet another large- from the party for three months. PRITHVI MAN SHRESTHA earn less than that specified by the government been shrinking and the federal government and scale seroprevalence study, but it has not start- Bhim Prasad Acharya, parliamentary KATHMANDU, JAN 11 by publishing a notice in the Nepal Gazette) and most of the provincial governments were forced ed one and half months after the decision,” an party leader of the Dahal-Nepal fac- helpless single women who are living upon get- to bring down the size of the budget for the cur- official at the Epidemiology and Disease Control tion, issued the suspension letters to The number of people receiving cash transfers as ting legal separation are yet to be included in the rent fiscal year compared to the last fiscal year. Division, told the Post, asking not to be named. Rai, Hikmat Kumar Karki, Ram social security allowances has nearly doubled in list of beneficiaries despite legal provision. “Social security is one of the factors that has “When the government itself works to conceal Bahadur Magar, Ambir Babu Gurung, the last decade, thereby increasing pressure on “Once the remaining groups of people entitled increased the long-term liability for the state,” the facts and cover up findings, what can health Buddhi Kumar Rajbhandari, the state coffers. to get social security benefits as per the law are said Former Finance Secretary Shanta Raj workers do?” Indramani Parajuli, Ambika Thapa This, according to officials and experts, is a also listed as beneficiaries, the government will Subedi. “The government liability to pensioners At present, no one knows about the extent of and Bimal Karki banning them from cause of concern, as such a trend would be unsus- have to provide social security allowances for and domestic and foreign creditors has also the spread of coronavirus in the country, where participating in any activities of the tainable for the country’s economy that is already around 28-30 percent of the total population,” grown massively in recent years, further increas- 1,927 people have already died due to the disease parliamentary party. The group said struggling to pick up pace following the Covid-19 said Basnet. ing the liability of the state.” and 265,268 have been infected. it has also informed the provincial pandemic. Besides cash transfers, the government also In order to reduce the cost of social security, If the claim of the Health Ministry is to be assembly secretariat about the According to the Department of National ID spends on health insurance for citizens, pensions, the government made an attempt to discontinue believed, infection rates have declined by sever- decision. and Civil Registration, the government agency social security provisions by issuing a social al folds in the last few weeks. All businesses, responsible for coordinating the transfer of cash security regulation in March this year. which were closed or suspended to prevent the for beneficiaries of social security allowances, Under the regulation, single women below 60 spread of the infection, have now resumed and Reconstruction of health the number of beneficiaries reached 3.06 million years of age, people with partial disability and safety measures such as social distancing and during the last fiscal year compared to 1.56 mil- people who are receiving remuneration, pension, use of face masks are not being followed in pub- posts still uncertain lion in 2010-11. retirement facility and incentives from the gov- lic places. RAMECHHAP: The reconstruction of 19 The number of beneficiaries of social security ernment and foreign government services such Public health experts as well as officials health posts damaged by the earth- entitled to get cash transferred to their accounts as ex-Indian and British Army personnel were no working for agencies under the Health Ministry quake still remains uncertain even is around 10 percent of the country’s total popula- longer entitled to the social security allowance. doubt that the infection rate has declined as five years after the disaster struck. tion. Nepal’s estimated population as of But after protests from the affected people as claimed by officials. According to the district project Wednesday is 30.2 million, according to the well as political storms created by the regulation, “We have been considering data obtained implementation unit of the National Central Bureau of Statistics. the government was forced to roll back the regu- from healthy people seeking testing to go abroad Reconstruction Authority, the Indian “If the number doubles every 10 years, it will lation, promising that the existing beneficiaries and coming up with the conclusion that infec- government pledged to provide assis- be a huge challenge for the country’s economy,” will continue to get social security benefits. The tion rates have declined,” said an official at the tance for the reconstruction of the states the department’s annual report for 2019-20. government also introduced an ordinance to division. “The people who are getting infected quake-ravaged health institutions in In addition to the growth in the number of bene- ensure their benefits would not be snatched away. are not getting tested,” the official said. Ramechhap district. Work has been ficiaries, the amount to be provided to each bene- Former auditor general Bhanu Acharya, how- “Public safety is at risk when the government affected as India is yet to provide the ficiary has also been increased over the years. ever, said that the social security scheme must be spends all its energy trying to save itself assistance, said the unit. “The amount spent on social security benefits tied with the state’s capability to bear long-term instead of the public. That’s what’s happening is increasing by Rs3 to 4 billion every year,” said liability. “It is not a question of whether social right now. ” Jitendra Basnet, director general at the civil reg- security allowances should be provided but Experts say that infection rates can’t go down New houses for flood survivors istration department. During the last fiscal year, POST FILE PHOTO whether the state is capable of sustaining the unless some measures are adopted to drive BIRENDRANAGAR: A total of 519 fami- the government spent Rs 66.16 billion in cash The number of beneficiaries of social security entitled to growing cost of it,” he told the Post. them down. Such measures are nowhere to be lies affected by floods in Surkhet have transfers, according to the department. get cash transferred to their accounts is around There is a tendency of increasing the social seen in the country. With the government halt- received new houses six-and-a-half With the government expanding the scope of 10 percent of the country’s total population. security allowances for political purposes. For ing free testing, contact tracing has also been years after the disaster. The houses beneficiaries over the years, it contributed to a example, the ruling Nepal Communist Party had stopped. were constructed with the help from massive rise in the number of beneficiaries. retirement benefits, financial assistance for natu- promised to increase the social security allow- “When the government works to save money the Karnali provincial government. The social security scheme was launched in ral disaster victims and scholarships for targeted ances for senior citizens from Rs2,000 to Rs5,000 instead of people’s lives, the people suffer,” Dr 1994-95 by the government led by Prime Minister groups, among others. per month in their election manifesto. Tulsi Ram Bhandari, director at School of Manmohan Adhikari. The scheme, which started According to experts, growing expenditure in Experts say that only increasing the liability Health and Allied Sciences, under the Pokhara Tiger found dead by providing Rs 100 per month to the elderly peo- social security amid faltering economic growth without economic growth and increasing the rev- University, told the Post. “It seems that the CHITWAN: A male tiger was found dead ple, was gradually expanded to include single has raised concerns over its sustainability. The enue would make the scheme unsustainable. authorities concerned have given up on all in Chaturmukhi Community Forest, women and the differently abled in 1996-97. average economic growth in the last one decade “The government should increase internal rev- responsibilities to contain the spread of the Kalika Municipality Ward No. 1, Members of tribes on the verge of extinction stood at just 4.6 percent despite over six percent enue, bring the entire social security system infection.” which falls in the Chitwan- and disabled persons were also added to the list in annual growth since the fiscal 2016-17 for three under a single umbrella to control leakage and According to Binjwala Shrestha, assistant Barandabhar forest area, on Monday. 2008-09. Dalit children made it to the list in 2010-11 consecutive years, according to the Finance avoid duplication in allowance,” said Subedi. professor at the Institute of Medicine, data Bal Krishna Khanal, assistant forest while widows were added in 2011-12. Ministry. “The situation where we have to take foreign obtained from a seroprevalence study can officer at the Division Forest Office, Dalits from the Karnali region were added to Due to the impact of the coronavirus, the econ- loans for social security allowance must be provide a fair picture of the infection rate in Bharatpur, said, “The tiger might the list in 2016-17 and children from 15 districts omy is projected to have grown by just 2.7 percent avoided.” communities, which helps authorities con- have died a day or two ago.” Samples with low human development status were made against the target of 8.5 percent in the last fiscal During the period between 2012 and 2016, cerned locate hotspots and take various of the dead tiger’s body parts have beneficiaries of cash transfers in 2018-19. The year, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics. Nepal’s spending on social protection stood at 1.7 necessary measures to contain the spread of been collected for a post mortem. “We number of such districts has gone up to 26 this The World Bank projected in its latest report percent of its gross domestic product, which is infections. can only ascertain the cause of the fiscal year. released on Wednesday that Nepal’s economy higher than the average one percent in South “People should save themselves from being death after an investigation,” said The government still needs to include a num- would grow by just 0.6 percent in the current fis- Asia and the global average of 1.6 percent, accord- infected as authorities concerned have given up Baburam Lamichhane, chief at the ber of groups on the list of beneficiaries as per cal year, followed by 2.5 percent in the next fiscal ing to the World Bank. During this period, Nepal on their responsibilities. We should think of National Trust for Nature the new Social Security Act—2018. year 2021-22. spent just 1.17 percent of its GDP in the health our small children and elderly parents and keep Conservation, Sauraha. For example, indigent people (persons who The revenue collection of the government has sector. following safety measures,” said Shrestha. Conservationists worried about dwindling number of common cranes The number of migratory common cranes coming to the country has been decreasing of late due to shrinking paddy fields and wetlands, conservationists say.

RAMESH KUMAR PAUDEL thologist, large flocks of the bird species used said Bidari. CHITWAN, JAN 11 to be seen in the districts near the Koshi and In Dibyanagar, the local residents are gradu- Karnali rivers, including Saptari, Siraha, ally switching to vegetable farming, poultry Conservationists are worried about the conser- Kailali and Bardiya, among others. farming and fish farming. As a result, the vast vation of common cranes, a bird species local- “Only a handful of this bird species can be paddy fields in the area are shrinking along ly known as karyang kurung, that migrate to spotted in these places nowadays,” said Baral. with the wetland. Nepal every year in winter. According to the The number of common cranes coming to “The karyang kurung will not come to Bird Education Society, an organisation work- the country has been decreasing of late due to Dibyanagar in the future if we fail to create a ing for bird conservation, the number of com- shrinking paddy fields and wetlands. suitable environment for them. We have start- mon cranes migrating to the country is dwin- “We had counted 152 common cranes in the ed talking to the villagers and aware them dling in recent years. Dibyanagar area five years ago. The number about the importance of the migratory bird “Dibyanagar in the western part of Chitwan was around 80 last year,” said Bashu Bidari, and its conservation,” said Chaudhary. “We is the main habitat of the bird species. They another ornithologist working for the conser- can conserve the common cranes in Dibyanagar make their way from as far away as Mongolia vation of birds in the country. He urged the by conserving a few bighas of paddy fields. The by flying thousands of kilometres,” said government authorities, people’s representa- area can turn into a tourist destination for bird Ramesh Chaudhary, the chairman of the socie- tives and the local residents to work hand in watchers.” ty. According to him, Dibyanagar’s vast paddy hand to conserve the bird species. Nepal, a haven for birding, hosts 887 bird fields and wetland are what attract the migra- The common cranes migrate towards the species, including the Spiny babbler (Turdoides tory birds to the place. south from Mongolia and other countries every nipalensis) which is found only in Nepal. Common cranes usually arrive in the area in year, reaching as far as Gujarat and Rajasthan Various species of birds from as far away as the month of November and stay till February in India to avoid the extreme cold. Siberia migrate to several places in the coun- every year. PHOTO COURTESY : CHUDA MANI CHAUDHARY “Government authorities in India manage try every year. However, the loss of habitat due “They arrive after the paddy harvest season. Cranes flying over Dibyanagar, one of the major habitats of the birds, in western Chitwan. their fields and plant crops to conserve to human encroachment, haphazard extraction They glean the leftover grains in the fields and the migratory common cranes. But in Nepal, of riverbed materials, excessive fishing and stay on the banks of the Narayani river,” said However, the decreasing number of conservationists. neither the government nor local residents bird hunting threatens the survival of bird Chaudhary. common cranes in the country has worried According to Hemsagar Baral, a senior orni- pay attention to conserve the bird species,” species in the country.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 | 04 OPINION EDITORIAL Social insecurity Do a good jab Nepali authorities must be firm in making their choices clear.

The fight against the Covid-19 pandemic has entered a new phase with several countries in the world already beginning the inoculation process against the novel coronavirus. Nepal has been a bit late to the party; nevertheless, it has begun talks with various institutions and governments for procuring vac- cines to inoculate 12 million people initially, although no deal has been signed with any institution or country yet. Nepal hopes to procure a significant chunk of the vaccines from India since it will be the best option in terms of logistics. But the more important question is whether the vaccines to be pro- cured from India will be among the best. After all, the quality of the vaccines and their efficacy matter the most. The Serum Institute of India is producing Covishield, the vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca. Covishield, which has 70 percent efficacy, is the most affordable as well as suitable for Nepal as per our existing storage capaci- ty. This is why Nepali health experts have vouched for Covishield. However, officials at the Ministry of Health and Population worry India may coax Nepal into using Covaxin rather than Covishield that it prefers. Last week, Covaxin, being developed by Hyderabad-based Bharat Biotech, received emergency approval in a controlled clinical trial mode, but it ran into controversy right from the beginning due to lack of efficacy data from Phase-III trials. The death of a 45-year-old volunteer from Bhopal nine days after taking a Covaxin jab raised fresh questions over the vaccine, SHUTTERSTOCK although Bharat Biotech has said the death was not related to it is launched, but through feedback In 2000, when I was working at the lock in money for 30 years before they the vaccine or placebo. The doubts about Covaxin’s efficacy got Nepal’s social security and amendments, policies that benefit Soaltee Hotel and was part of a team can get the money out. In today’s work- citizens are made palatable. However, that was trying to negotiate with labour ing culture, who thinks of being in one further traction when a top Indian virologist, Gagandeep Kang, schemes do not work in this case, both the intended target unions on the issue of service job for 30 years? The workers also know said she would not take the vaccine unless its efficacy data was for the intended segments—the employer and employ- charges in hotels, I was trying to very well that money collected by the made available. ee—have suffered. explain to the public why the service government will never reach them, like charge was such a bad idea. Little in the case of the National Level The indigenously produced vaccine had been approved, the beneficiaries. Impediment to rules did I know that the employers were Welfare Fund. virologist claimed, by flouting the Indian vaccine regulator’s When we are pitching for investments keen for this also, as they saw an oppor- with foreign investors, they ask for the tunity to make some extra money. In Time for action guideline that requires 50 percent efficacy on humans for emer- SUJEEV SHAKYA overall labour and work landscape; the most cases where sales revenue records The discourse on social security is gency approval, whereas the company is just running the guidelines on the Social Security Fund were not maintained in a transparent more important now than it has ever Phase-III trials and the efficacy data will take weeks, if not THE OTHER (SSF) then become a red flag to poten- manner, it gave proprietors the been, as people and economies reel VIEW tial investors. The Nepali cartel-driven opportunity to rake in the entire 10 under the impact of the pandemic. For months, to come. The concern raised by Nepali health experts private sector always finds ways to get percent by paying off some of the key employees, it is becoming crucial to and authorities about a vaccine that is the least favoured in the around such regulations. When I asked labour folks. In the case of SSF also, the have social security to survive through a business person in Birgunj very private sector bodies continued to difficult times, as most employers find manufacturing country itself is, therefore, not without some much involved with business associa- emphasise on the necessity of making it easier to lay off people than help merit. Even if Indian authorities attempt to push Covaxin for One of the vivid images that keep pop- tion politics on how the sectoral the fund work. For businesses, this is them. For firms, they are under pres- Nepal as against its preferred option of Covishield, Nepali ping up in my mind, from a time before associations agree to such half an additional cost on top of the high sure to weed out costs as revenues have the political crisis began, is the par- baked rules, his answer was clear. He taxes that one pays in the country dropped or disappeared. If the Nepali authorities must be firm in making their choices clear. The ticular picture of Prime Minister KP said that you can only do good and high wages when compared with private sector organisations had been least Nepal must do is to independently verify the efficacy of Oli that was splashed across billboards business in Nepal if you can beat the productivity. long term thinkers, they would have the vaccines before procuring them. in cities, cover jackets in leading news- system. ‘I have my workers come across Nepal’s history of labour post-1990 worked with the government to create papers, advertisements in televisions from India to work in my factory, so the has been a contentious one, with shut- social security schemes that would Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali’s visit to India later this and on social media. This was the issue of SSF does not apply to me’, he downs and strikes forming a part of the actually benefit all. week must bring much-needed clarity on Nepal’s plans on pro- launch of the Social Security Fund in said. action backed by political forces. When The pandemic has shown us that late 2018. The International Labour While it is fair to blame Nepal’s weak we used to negotiate with the workers human relations go beyond contracts curing the vaccines from India. It is also an opportunity for Organisation hailed it as a ‘historical economic progress on the problems in the companies I was engaged earlier and obligations. If a person has worked both Nepal and India to begin mending ties through coopera- step towards achieving decent work for created by labour through unions and with, we did not meet with our own with you for 20 years, you have to fend tion in the inoculation drive. The Nepali side must present all’. This day was also decided to be other political bodies, the Nepali pri- staff but with external political lead- for them during difficult times by dip- marked as Social Security Day in vate sector is equally to be blamed. ers. There was a pseudo-militant atti- ping into your own resources; many itself strongly when it comes to dealing with India in the pro- Nepal, but a year later in 2019, this day There is an Employers’ Council at the tude among the representatives that Nepalis have done exactly that. Social curement process and must go for the vaccines with a mini- was forgotten. Like many religious, Federation of Nepalese Chambers of turned for the worst during the decade security schemes have to provide actu- cultural and project-based events in Commerce & Industries (FNCCI), but long insurgency. Nepali labour does not al security for the beneficiaries, and mum risk factor. However, it is prudent for Nepal to continue Nepal, it was a one-time affair that fiz- the website has been inactive since want payments based on productivity not just photo-ops for megalomaniacs. holding simultaneous talks with other institutions in various zled out. The concept was full of flaws; August 2017. Presumably, the donor and, in negotiations, the aim has been Hopefully, development partners countries to zero in on the best option available in terms of but like many other regulations in funding for the project that looked at to get the maximum by doing the mini- involved in the work around social Nepal, we do not believe in corrective this Employers’ Council must be mum. The current SSF, however, hits security in Nepal also introspect on immunogenicity, safety and efficacy. action. Surely, nothing is perfect when depleted. them hard, too, as employees have to what is important. Vaccine diplomacy and Nepal

We first, you second population on a priority basis since Leaders are busy The vaccine manufacturing countries the two countries share an open bor- need millions of doses for their own der, and it would be too risky to have negotiating when they populations, and they will use the rest uninoculated people wandering to secure their own interests. The around. However, Nepal cannot afford should be focusing on United States secretary of health, for to wait passively. instance, recently said that any US The shortcoming on the part of the public health issues. vaccines would become available to government is that it did not exten- the rest of the world only after their sively work out all the possibilities by domestic demand had been met. India trying to negotiate with multiple vac- BIKRAM TIMILSINA and China have repeatedly said that cine manufacturing countries. In they are committed to providing vac- addition, the recent split in the ruling cines from the time they become ready Nepal Communist Party has kept the for use. India alone manufactures leaders and ministers busy in negotia- about 60 percent of the global vaccine tions when they should be focusing on needs, and is hoping to inoculate public health issues. about 300 million people by July next year. Show some compassion In the contemporary world, the notion India and China are apparently con- While the vaccines produced in the that knowledge belongs to humanity ducting vaccine diplomacy in South Western world are likely to be less has significantly faltered. Instead, sci- Asia. After China offered its vaccines affordable, those produced in China entific innovations such as Covid-19 to Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal and and India are much cheaper. China vaccines have been a part of a coun- Bangladesh last month, India also has stated that its vaccines are afforda- try’s soft power, not only in the form pushed forward its vaccine diplomacy ble for developing countries and can of vaccine diplomacy as a charm in the neighbourhood. India’s foreign be stored at higher temperatures (2-8 offensive, but also as vaccine national- secretary stated in Kathmandu in degrees Celsius), unlike Pfizer’s vac- ism, which has now been perceived as November that India’s closest neigh- cines that need to be stored at minus a global threat. Thus, small countries bours like Nepal would get the first 70 degrees Celsius. It is thus feasible like Nepal need to pursue proactive priority for Indian vaccines. However, for Nepal to focus on India and China diplomacy to ensure that their vac- Nepal’s relations with India have for the major part of its vaccine cines needs are fulfilled on time. frayed due to border disputes, and it is requirement. In addition, it should Covid-19 has been taken as the most uncertain if this is going to affect the deal with the related authorities to challenging crisis since World War II, vaccine deal. It is possible that India ensure vaccines through the COVAX and it has also been perceived as the will make a good gesture by providing initiative. If it looks that the vaccines death of the liberal world order. some vaccines. India will also need to from these sources will not be enough, Though the developed countries do this to not let China fill the gap, as some portions should also be bought have the capacity to respond to its in the context of the unofficial 2015 from Western manufacturers. severe impact, developing nations border blockade against Nepal. It would be compassionate of the like Nepal do not have adequate In this scenario, the Nepal govern- manufacturing countries to listen to resources to fight the pandemic and ment should also come up with some French biologist Louis Pasteur who its repercussions. proactive initiatives to gain India’s SHUTTERSTOCK said that scientific inventions should There are some substantial initia- trust. Some attempts seem to have While the Nepal government has China. It is distressing to see that from other sources, such as China and not belong to a particular country but tives such as COVAX that manages a been made. Newly appointed Health repeatedly stated that it is making Nepal has not made any agreement of global initiatives like COVAX. to the whole of humanity. It will help global collaboration to guarantee Minister Hridayesh Tripathi, for much effort to ensure that Nepalis are this kind. For a country that is located them to depart, at least slightly, from impartial and equitable access of example, met with the Indian ambas- inoculated at the earliest possible Nepal should obviously try to get as between India and China, it would not their absolute use of pandemic diplo- Covid-19 vaccines for each country in sador to Nepal to discuss the purchase date, there are no results to demon- many doses as possible from India be too hard for Nepal to ensure sub- macy and be more humanitarian the world. It is certainly a great initia- of vaccines. Foreign Minister Pradeep strate that. Bangladesh, for example, through multi-level engagements. stantial quantities if diplomatic while distributing vaccines around tive but not adequate. It will be able to Gyawali has also stated that India has has made an agreement with the However, looking only at India will not efforts are used proactively. As coun- the world, including to small and provide only enough vaccines for vul- given assurances about Nepal’s being Serum Institute of India to get 30 mil- be prudent since its vaccines have tries are competing in the region developing countries like Nepal. nerable groups by the first half of in the priority list. It has been report- lion doses. Sri Lanka is now fully pre- global demand and it has extensive with the tool of pandemic diplomacy, 2021. Thus, Nepal’s priority at this ed that Minister Gyawali is likely to pared to sign a deal to get vaccines interests around the world, which it small nations should also try to use Timilsina is a PhD candidate at the stage has to be to look for multiple ink a pact on medical cooperation through COVAX. Similarly, Pakistan will try to fulfil through its vaccine both powers to their benefit. School of Government and options to guarantee enough vaccines including Covid-19 vaccines during has decided to purchase 1.2 million diplomacy. Nepal should thus make Additionally, India would be interest- International Relations, Griffith at the earliest possible. his upcoming visit to India. doses of Sinopharm vaccines from efforts to secure millions of doses ed in vaccinating the Nepali University, Australia.

C M Y K 05 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 MONEY

FOREX

US Dollar 117.72 Pursue a country-wise trade promotion plan, study says Euro 143.16

Pound Sterling 158.86 According to the Department of Customs, exports made up only 7.5 percent of the country’s total trade in the last fiscal year.

Japanese Yen 11.31 KRISHANA PRASAIN to provide technical assistance to Chinese Yuan 18.18 KATHMANDU, JAN 11 enhance the lab capacity of Nepal and training to Nepali personnel, said Qatari Riyal 32.33 A task force formed to plan Nepal’s Thapaliya. “This is important for Australian Dollar 90.82 response to the changing dynamics of the promotion of agricultural prod- global commerce and utilise the free ucts, herbs, handicraft goods, pashmi- Malaysian Ringit 29.05 trade privileges given to the least na shawl, woollen carpet, readymade developed countries has recommend- garment.” Saudi Arab Riyal 31.38 ed adopting a country-wise trade pro- Carpets are one of the major goods Exchange rates fixed by Nepal Rastra Bank motion strategy and sorting out obsta- exported to the United States, making cles through bilateral talks. up almost half of Nepal’s total Shares In the last fiscal year, Nepal export- exports to the country. In 2019, Nepal ed goods valued at Rs97.70 billion was the fourth largest exporter Nepse 2,239.42pts 0.17% while its imports came to Rs1.19 tril- of carpets to the US, according to the lion. The Department of Customs said Export Rank Position of International HIGHEST GAINERS exports made up a mere 7.5 percent of Trade Centre. ACLBSL NABBC UFL CORBL PLI IGI 9.99% 9.93% 9.74% 9.73% 7.66% 7.3% Nepal’s total trade in the last fiscal Exports to the US can be increased year ended mid-July. if high quality handmade carpets are MODERATE GAINERS Despite the huge potential, Nepal’s produced in traditional styles, the gov- CBL SDLBSL PIC SAPDBL SIC SBI 6.5% 6.01% 5.72% 5.37% 5.32% 4.82% export performance has been eroding ernment panel said. Almost all of the due to lack of infrastructure, technol- readymade garments produced in MODERATE LOSERS SMB JSLBB MBL RADHI SLBSL ALBSL ogy, skilled manpower, quality and Nepal are exported to international -2.5% -2.65% -2.78% -3.01% -3.1% -3.33% standards, and market promotion. markets. They are Nepal’s second

HIGHEST LOSERS The task force led by Devi Thapaliya, largest export to the US. MLBBL KKHC CZBIL CLBSL GUFL MPFL joint secretary at the Ministry of The US levies 14 percent customs -3.43% -3.54% -3.58% -3.64% -3.73% -5.95% Industry, Commerce and Supplies, has duty on readymade garments, and prepared a study report of potential POST FILE PHOTO it is important to request the US markets like India, China, Bangladesh, Despite the huge potential, Nepal’s export performance has been eroding due to lack of infrastructure, technology, skilled manpower, quality government to remove the duty, the and standards, and market promotion. PRICE PER TOLA Japan, the United States, the United report said. BULLION Arab Emirates, Turkey and the Products like felt have a huge poten- European Union. The panel has international markets and prices, is a huge potential for exporting such under the generalised system of pref- tial market in the US. The US imposes Fine Gold Rs 92,200 explained why Nepal’s exports are products that have high demand, the goods to Bangladesh if para-tariff erences. To increase shipments, 8 percent ad valorem tariff on felt falling in particular markets and what process that need to be followed to (border charges and fees) and non-cus- the Nepal government should estab- products, and this needs to be Silver Rs 1,230 needs to be done to boost shipments. export goods, and laws and regula- toms charges are removed. Green lish a relationship with the Turkish removed. According to Thapaliya, amend- tions related to export, according to vegetables and fruits produced in government to facilitate exports, the There is high demand for handmade SOURCE: FENEGOSIDA ments need to be made to a number of Thapaliya. Nepal like cabbage, cauliflower, toma- report said. goods in the US, and since no customs laws and policies. “But before that, Nepal will intensify bilateral talks to have a huge potential market in As Turkey provides zero customs duty is levied on them, Nepal can Nepal needs to increase domestic pro- with India for the maximum utilisa- Bangladeshi. facility on woollen carpets under the export goods like paintings, drawings GASOLINE WATCH duction. There are issues regarding tion of customs facilities to which it is Readymade garments, woollen car- generalised system of preferences, and pastels. There is also good demand the quality and standards of products entitled as a least developed country pets, pashmina, tobacco related prod- there is a huge potential for export. “It for copper and related products, and and lab capacity.” by signing a Mutual Recognition ucts and other readymade food items is important to increase production their exports can be increased and The certification standard for tea, Agreement, he said. are major items exported to the UAE. and markets for woollen carpets promoted. large cardamom, fresh ginger, sutho “Amending the transit protocols To encourage the private sector to and improve the quality,” according to There is huge potential for export- and powder is being done in Kolkata will enable Nepal’s railway to run to engage in commercial farming, con- the report. ing beer to the US market, the report or Patna in India, which are a long Kolkata. Similarly, a provision will be tract farming and implementation of To increase Nepali exports to Japan, said. Natural honey, dried mushroom, distance from Nepal. And there is also made to bring Indian private railway public-private partnership in the agri- a detailed work procedure should be tea and coffee also have good demand a mandatory test that has to be done in service to Nepal.” culture sector has been suggested. conducted by the ministry in coopera- in the US market. a food lab in Lucknow which takes 30 Bangladesh has been imposing cus- No customs duty is levied on the tion with the Japan International With regard to exporting to China, days and costs IRs3,000 for each sam- toms duty, regulatory duty, supple- export of cardamom to the UAE, but Cooperation Agency for market there is a problem with banking trans- ple, according to Nepali traders. mentary duty, value added tax, there are many non-tariff barriers. access, the report recommended. actions. Traders encounter difficul- Nepal is working to secure accredi- advance income tax, advance trade Negotiation should be held for pro- Nepal plans to request the Japan ties exporting goods through the tation of Nepali labs so that long- value added tax and other duty moting organic products, lab test External Trade Organisation for tech- Tatopani and Kerung border points standing hassles of getting goods test- charges on Nepali exports due to certification, labelling and branding nical support to increase trade. as per the Nepal-China trade agree- ed and certified at Indian labs will which they are not competitive in the and other non-customs obstacles in Japan provides duty-free, quota-free ment, the report said. Nepali goods end, they said. Bangladeshi market. the UAE. access to the least developed countries have limited access to the Chinese Regarding the production of export- Nepal applies customs duty and “The export of footwear, copper like Nepal. Exports to Japan can be market due to lack of promotion, the able goods, foreign investment will be VAT on goods imported from goods, jute bags and gold and silver increased as it provides zero customs study revealed. encouraged in industries that use Bangladesh, and it will conduct jewellery face minimum customs service for Nepali-made products, the For the export of Nepali goods to local raw materials to increase negotiations to remove extra charges, obstacles. Shipments can be increased report said. the countries of the European Union, exports, said Thapaliya. he said. by improving design, labelling and As Japan examines the certificates especially Germany, London and The ministry will soon operate a The task force said that Nepal packing,” said Thapaliya. and labelling of imported goods strict- France, a Mutual Recognition Trade Information Portal to provide exports large quantities of wheat and Yarn is a major export to Turkey as ly, a request will be made to the Agreement needs to be made, the easy access to information about vegetable by-products to India. There a result of the zero customs service Japanese Society for Quality Control report said. BIZLINE Smartphone shipments in The British College launches BHM course China fell 20.4 percent in 2020: Government data

REUTERS SHANGHAI, JAN 11 The figures reflect Domestic smartphone shipments in China in 2020 fell 20.4 percent from the the impact of the KATHMANDU: The British College previous year, government data coronavirus crisis launched their brand new BSc (Hons) released on Monday showed, as the Hospitality Business Management number of handsets delivered to con- on the supply chain course with a programme to mark the sumers dropped to 296 million from occasion. The programme will run in 372 million in 2019. and demand. partnership with Leeds Beckett The figures China Academy of University (UK) and the event was Information and Communications attended by Arun Lal Joshi, Associate (CAICT), a state-backed think tank, high-end, continued to grow market Dean of The British College along reflected both the impact of the share. with college coordinators, staff and coronavirus crisis on the supply In the latter half, Huawei sales faculty. The British College already chain and demand, and the ongoing slowed as trade restrictions imposed has an exemplary reputation for busi- trend for consumers keep their by Washington on the company took ness courses, so it is excited to now phones for longer before upgrading to effect, crimping its supply of critical be working with an incredible faculty a new model. components. Oppo, Vivo, and Xiaomi as it enters into the field of In 2019, shipments of smartphones have ramped up production in hopes Hospitality, reads the press release had declined 4 percent from the previ- of capturing that share. issued by the school. The 4 year pro- ous year, according to CAICT data. Apple, released its first 5G-enabled gramme allows students to progress Handset vendors had entered 2020 handsets in China last autumn. to further study within hospitality hoping the year would bring renewed Analysts remain bullish on the devic- business management or alternative- sales as consumers purchased new es’ reception as loyal iPhone owners ly enter straight into the world of phones compatible with China’s rapid- who once delayed upgrading now buy work. As part of the course, students ly-expanding 5G networks. new phones. will take part in field work with But, in the first half of the year, Phone makers shipped a total of industry partners and get the chance domestic brands Oppo, Vivo, 25.2 million smartphones to consum- to obtain some hands-on experience and Xiaomi Corp each saw steep ers in China in the month of December, with a 12 month internship with a top POST PHOTO: DIPENDRA ROKKA shipment declines while Huawei, marking a 12.8 percent year-on-year international company. A farmer sprays pesticides at her mustard field in Champi, Lalitpur. Farmers spray their fields thrice a year to prevent weed growth. the leading Chinese brand at the decline, according to CAICT. World shares down from record highs as Covid-19 cases top 90 million

REUTERS off Friday’s record high. Futures for to fall 0.1 percent, and Chinese blue ing. At the same time, the Federal With the Fed reluctant to purchase ticks early Monday. Mark Cabana at LONDON, JAN 11 the S&P 500 slipped 0.6 percent from chips fell 1 percent. Reserve is sounding content to put the more longer-dated bonds, 10-year BofA warned stimulus could further record highs, after gaining 1.8 percent Last week, Wall Street bankers onus on fiscal policy. Vice Chair Treasury yields jumped almost 20 pressure the dollar and cause Fed World shares slipped from record last week. EUROSTOXX 50 futures warned of toppy stock markets and a Richard Clarida said there would be basis points last week to 1.12 percent, tapering to begin later this year. highs on Monday as caution over ris- eased 0.1 percent and FTSE futures looming retreat after exuberance from no change soon to the $120 billion of the biggest weekly rise since June. “An early Fed taper creates upside ing coronavirus cases saw some prof- were flat. unprecedented economic stimulus debt the Fed is buying each month. Treasury futures lost another 3 risks to our year-end 1.5 percent it-taking from investors, while “There was an awful lot of opti- had led to “frothy” asset prices. 10-year Treasury target and supports Treasury yields remained close to mism about prospects for stimulus “I think there’s a perception per- our longer-term expectations for neu- 10-month highs, indicating expecta- with the Biden administration win- haps markets are getting slightly tral rates moving towards 3 percent,” tions for global reflation from antici- ning those two Georgia Senate seats,” ahead of themselves,” Hewson said. he said in a note to clients. pated US fiscal stimulus. said Michael Hewson, chief markets Mark Haefele, chief investment The poor payrolls report will height- Worldwide coronavirus cases sur- analyst at CMC Markets in London, officer, at UBS Global Wealth en interest in US data on inflation, passed 90 million on Monday, accord- noting Friday’s record highs. Management said in a note to clients retail sales and consumer sentiment. ing to Reuters tally. “Friday’s payrolls report was disap- that he doesn’t see valuations as a Earnings will also be in focus as JP European shares dipped in early pointing, underscoring the need for barrier for the equity rally to contin- Morgan, Citigroup and Wells Fargo trading, with rising coronavirus cases more significant fiscal response. But ue, “especially against the backdrop are among the first companies to across the continent and China drag- as we head into week two [of the new of continued policy stimulus and the release fourth-quarter results on Jan. ging down commodity stocks. year], I think some of that optimism rollout of vaccines.” Longer-term 15. The climb in yields in turn offered Germany’s DAX lost 0.75 percent, has been tempered a little bit with Treasury yields were at their highest some support to the dollar, which had Britain’s FTSE 100, Italy’s FTSE profit-taking.” since March after Friday’s weak jobs edged up to 90.338 against a basket MIB, and France’s CAC 40 fell about In Asia, MSCI’s broadest index of report fanned speculation of more US of currencies from last week’s low half a percent each, and Spain’s IBEX Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan fiscal stimulus now that the Democrats of 89.206. fell 0.1 percent. dipped 0.1 percent, having surged 5 have control of the government. The euro pulled back to $1.2185 from With Asian stock markets also percent last week to record highs. President-elect Joe Biden is due to a recent top of $1.2349, breaking sup- lower, MSCI’s All Country World Japan’s Nikkei was on holiday after announce plans for “trillions” in new REUTERS port around $1.2190. The dollar also index, which tracks stocks across 49 closing at a 30-year high on Friday. relief bills this week, much of which A man wearing a facial mask stands in front of an electronic board showing Nikkei and other gained to 104.18 yen from a trough of countries, was down 0.2 percent, just South Korea reversed an early jump will be paid for by increased borrow- countries stock index outside a brokerage in Tokyo, Japan. 102.57 hit last week.

C M Y K TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 | 06 WORLD BRIEFING Covid-19 vaccine roll-out won’t achieve India returns Chinese soldier Top court chides India officials over impasse with farmers herd immunity in 2021, health experts say who crossed NEW DELHI: India’s Supreme Court on Monday criticised the government for failing to break a deadlock with farm- More than 90 million people are now reported to have been infected by the novel coronavirus globally. disputed border ers protesting against reforms of the agricultural sector. Tens of thou- ASSOCIATED PRESS sands of farmers have been camped NEW DELHI, JAN 11 on the outskirts of the capital, New China says WHO experts Delhi, for more than a month, and to visit from Thursday A Chinese soldier seized by India’s have promised to march during military in the remote Ladakh region, Republic Day celebrations on BEIJING: Ten World Health where the two countries are locked in January 26, against what they see as Organization scientists will visit a border standoff, was handed back to laws benefiting large private buyers China from Thursday to probe the China on Monday, the army said. at the expense of producers. Chief origins of Covid-19, authorities said India took the soldier into custody Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde said in Monday, more than a year after the last Friday, when China said one a hearing on Monday the drawn-out pandemic began and amid accusa- of its soldiers had gone missing confrontation was causing distress to tions Beijing has tried to thwart the “due to darkness and complicated farmers. “We are extremely disap- investigation. The long-awaited mis- terrain” along the disputed high-alti- pointed at the way government is sion is of great political significance tude border. handling all this,” Bobde said. “We at a time when the coronavirus pan- The soldier was returned to China don’t know what consultative process demic has devastated the world, at the Chushul-Moldo border meeting you followed before the laws. Many caused almost two million deaths, and point, the Indian military said in a states are up in rebellion.” He repeat- brought the global economy to a virtu- statement. ed a suggestion that the government al standstill. He was the second Chinese pause the legislation while farmers’ The WHO team “will conduct joint soldier to be detained by India since concerns are heard and said the court research cooperation on the origins of tensions escalated last year along the would pass orders if the two sides Covid-19 with Chinese scientists”, the disputed border. remained at an impasse. National Health Commission said in a statement that provided no further details. A last-minute delay to the mis- Indian and Chinese Malaysia’s Muhyiddin denies AP/RSS sion earlier earned China a rebuke cancer rumours Health workers vaccinate senior citizens at a Covid-19 vaccinate centre in Epsom, England on Monday. The centre is one of the seven mass from the head of the WHO. (AFP) soldiers often lose KUALA LUMPUR: The office of public vaccination centres that opened on Monday as the government continues to ramp up its vaccination programme. Malaysian Prime Minister their way in the Muhyiddin Yassin, who is grappling REUTERS immunity could not be achieved in the front of the queue for vaccine deliver- with discontent in his ruling coali- SYDNEY, JAN 11 India signs purchase near term. ies, prompting the WHO to warn there Himalayan region. tion, denied on Monday that he was “The Indonesian government is a “clear problem” that low- and undergoing treatment for cancer. The roll-out of coronavirus vaccines order with Serum thinks that vaccine is the best solution middle-income countries are not yet Muhyiddin was declared free of can- in many countries will not provide for controlling the pandemic, and they receiving supplies. The standoff between the Asian cer in June after being diagnosed herd immunity from the global MUMBAI/BENGALURU: Indian officials forget that surveillance like testing ... Irma Hidayana, the Indonesia-based giants began last May with a fierce with pancreatic cancer in 2018. His pandemic this year, several health has signed a purchase order with vac- communications, to educate public to co-founder of LaporCovid-19, an inde- brawl, and exploded into hand-to-hand premiership has been occupied with experts said on Monday, citing limited cine producer Serum Institute to pro- practice low risk behaviour, is also pendent coronavirus data initiative, combat with clubs, stones and fists on managing the coronavirus pandemic, access for poor countries, community cure AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine, important because the vaccine itself said public trust in vaccines could June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers with cases surging past 135,000 total trust problems and potential virus a source said on Monday, the first step needs time to cover most of the have an impact on the roll-out. dead. China is believed to also have infections including 551 deaths as of mutations. in one of the world’s largest vaccina- people who need it,” said Riono, who Fisher said the ability of the virus had casualties, but has not given any Sunday. “Rumours saying that the “We won’t get back to normal tion programmes against the novel was also speaking at the Reuters Next to mutate further was still unknown, details. prime minister requires treatment quickly,” Dale Fisher, chairman coronavirus, which emerged in conference. as was a possible amplification effect Both sides have sent reinforcements for cancer are not true and are ill of the World Health Organization’s December, 2019. More than 90 million people are from the vaccines. to the border, with troops settling in intentioned,” Muhyiddin’s office said (WHO) Outbreak Alert and Response Local television channel CNBC-TV reported to have been infected by State Bank of Pakistan Governor for the winter. In September, a few in a statement. Muhyiddin took office Network, told the Reuters Next 18 said the order was for 11 million the novel coronavirus globally and Reza Baqir acknowledged that the roll- shots were fired for the first time in in March and has remained in power conference. doses and the government would buy about 1.9 million have died from the out of vaccines in his country was a decades, breaking a longstanding with a slim parliamentary majority, “We know we need to get to herd the shots at 200 rupees per dose. The disease since it first emerged in China “logistical challenge”. agreement not to use firearms during but faces increasing pressure from immunity and we need that in a major- government has also signed a pur- in December 2019, according to a Pakistan, a country of about 220 border confrontations between sol- the United Malays National ity of countries, so we are not going to chase agreement with Indian firm Reuters tally. million people, has so far ordered 1.2 diers of the two countries. Organisation (UMNO) former ruling see that in 2021,” Fisher said. “There Bharat Biotech for its Covid-19 vac- Several countries including the million vaccine doses from China’s Indian and Chinese soldiers often party, the largest bloc in his ruling might be some countries that might cine, the news channel reported, cit- United States, Singapore, Britain and Sinopharm. lose their way in the Himalayan pact and whose leaders are unhappy achieve it but even then that will not ing unnamed sources. (REUTERS) a number of European Union coun- However, he said it was better region. playing second fiddle to the premier’s create ‘normal’ especially in terms of tries have already begun rolling out placed than a year ago, despite tack- In October, India detained a Chinese smaller Bersatu party. border controls.” vaccines such as those developed by ling a second wave of infections. soldier in Ladakh’s Demchok area and That was a best-case scenario, based able to effectively stop that disease Pfizer and its partner BioNTech, and “We are prepared for the challenges freed him after he was found to have on current knowledge of the vaccines from spreading. Pandu Riono, an epi- by Moderna Inc and AstraZeneca Plc/ that may come about. We are strayed across the de facto border. Schwarzenegger likens Capitol being rolled out, Fisher said. demiologist at the University of Oxford University. Indonesia and already in the middle of Covid with- In September, China released Herd immunity refers to a situation Indonesia, said a dangerous over-reli- India plan to start mass inoculations out any vaccine and once the vaccine five Indian hunters who went siege to Nazi violence where enough people in a population ance on the coming vaccines by later this week. comes, it will only makes this better,” missing from the eastern state of WASHINGTON: Hollywood actor and for- have immunity to an infection to be some governments meant herd Wealthier nations have been at the said Baqir. Arunachal Pradesh. mer California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has compared the storming of the US Capitol by sup- porters of President Donald Trump to Nazi violence against Jews in a deeply personal video posted on New top judge stresses Twitter. Schwarzenegger, a Republican Party member and critic of Trump, likened the siege at the Capitol Building last week to Hong Kong’s rule of law “Kristallnacht”, or the Night of Broken Glass, when Jewish-owned REUTERS “It is equally crucial to public and businesses and institutions were HONG KONG, JAN 11 business confidence—whether local destroyed by the Nazis in 1938 and or overseas—in our judicial system, as dozens were killed. “They did not Hong Kong’s new top judge stressed on well as to the international reputation just break down the doors of the Monday the importance of the city’s of Hong Kong.” That independence, building that housed American judicial independence and rule of law, he said, meant in part that the courts democracy. They trampled the describing them as crucial to business “must not be subject to improper very principles on which our country confidence and the international rep- extraneous pressure or influence.” was founded,” he said in the video utation of the global business hub. The law makes anything Beijing published on his official Twitter Andrew Cheung made his remarks regards as subversion, secession, ter- account on Sunday. (AGENCIES) hours after he was sworn in to replace rorism or colluding with foreign forc- Geoffrey Ma, 65, who is retiring after a es punishable by up to life in prison. decade as chief justice in the former It also allows the city’s chief execu- British colony. tive to decide which judges can hear Cheung, 59, takes office at a pivotal national security cases and allows for moment for the city’s judges—long suspects to be taken across the border seen as the pillars of support for its for trial in courts in mainland China, broad rights and freedoms—amid ris- where the ruling Communist Party ing political pressures and a new secu- ultimately controls the legal system. rity regime imposed by Beijing. The independence of Hong Kong’s The first prosecutions under the judiciary is outlined in the city’s Basic security law are now moving through Law, the mini-constitution that the courts while some pro-Beijing fig- enshrines its extensive autonomy and ures are demanding reviews of the freedoms following its handover from way sentences are meted out and judg- British colonial rule to Chinese sover- es appointed. “An independent judici- eignty in 1997. Cheung said those free- ary is essential to the rule of law of in doms—including of assembly, speech Hong Kong and the due administra- and due process—were “fundamental” AP/RSS tion of justice,” Cheung said. under the Basic Law. A cook is seen making a pizza through a window decorated with Christmas ornaments at a city pizzeria in Kyiv, Ukraine on Monday.

Divers closing in on black boxes from crashed jet

REUTERS pected to be the location of the remains had been found on Monday from the relatives of victims and JAKARTA, JAN 11 black boxes, a Navy spokesman, and that underwater visibility was other medical records to help with Fajar Tri Rohadi said. some 5-6 metres. identification, officials said. Indonesian navy divers scouring Bayu Wardoyo, a rescue diver, A police hospital receiving the “The quicker we can find the sea bed were closing in on data told Kompas TV more human remains had taken 40 DNA samples victims, the better,” search and res- recorders from a Sriwijaya Air jet cue operation director Rasman that plunged into the sea two days MS told an earlier briefing, adding ago with 62 people on board min- that the operation involved 2,600 utes after take off from Jakarta’s personnel, 53 ships and aerial main airport. surveillance. With little prospect now of Nurcahyo Utomo, an investiga- finding survivors, authorities tor at Indonesia’s National also said that there would be a Transportation Safety Committee focus on recovering the bodies (KNKT), told Reuters the jet may of victims. have been intact before it hit the The Boeing 737-500 jet was head- water, given the debris appeared to ed on a domestic flight to Pontianak have scattered in a relatively tight on Borneo island, about 740 km area underwater. from Jakarta, before it disappeared He said KNKT had yet to speak from radar screens four minutes to Sriwijaya Air’s management, after take-off and crashed into the but was collecting data on the Java sea. plane and the pilots. The incident is the first major Rescuers have so far found one air crash in Indonesia since 189 of the jet’s turbines, pieces of the passengers and crew were killed in plane’s tail, the rim of a wheel and 2018 when a Lion Air Boeing 737 an emergency chute, as well as MAX in 2018 also plunged into the clothing and personal belongings Java Sea soon after taking off from from passengers. Soekarno-Hatta International Flight SJ 182 had 12 crew and Airport. REUTERS 50 passengers on board, all Divers had further narrowed Indonesian Navy personnel use a remotely operated vehicle to look for the wreckage of Indonesians and including 10 down the search area strongly sus- the Sriwijaya Air Flight SJ 182 that crashed into the sea off the Jakarta coast. children.

C M Y K 07 | TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 SPORTS | MEDLEY Roma dent Former national goalkeeper Pulsar Sports Award to Inter Milan’s title push Lok Bahadur Shahi no more mark NSJF silver jubilee SPORTS BUREAU and Action Sports HD. AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE The 65-year-old was a member of the gold medal winning team during the first SAF KATHMANDU, JAN 11 The function will also be streamed MILAN, JAN 11 live on the Youtube channel and games in 1984 and is considered one of the best in his position the country has produced. Nepal Sports Journalists Forum Facebook page of NSJF as well as Inter Milan’s title push took a knock (NSJF) is organising the 17th edition other digital platforms. on Sunday as a 2-2 draw at rivals Roma PRAJWAL OLI of NSJF Pulsar Sports Award on The Sports Award has 10 award cat- allowed AC Milan to finish the week- KATHMANDU, JAN 11 Tuesday. egories this year. end with a three-point lead at the top The event, which will also mark the Players and coaches have been nom- of the Serie A table. Former national team goalkeeper Lok silver jubilee of NSJF, is taking place inated in different categories on the Champions Juventus also benefited Bahadur Shahi died on Sunday at the Karate Hall in Satdobato, basis of their performance at national from the stalemate, powering up to evening at his hometown Chaurata in Lalitpur. and international sports meets fourth with a 3-1 win over 10-man Dailekh. This year’s award function was throughout the past Nepali calendar Sassuolo. Inter are three points behind According to All Nepal Football delayed by nearly four months due to year (2076 BS). AC Milan, who beat Torino 2-0 on Association (ANFA) President Karma the Covid-19 pandemic. Swimmer Gaurika Singh, karateka Saturday, with Roma a further three Tsering Sherpa, Shahi died due to The umbrella organisation Manday Kaji Shrestha, volley- points behind in third. Juventus are multiple organ failure. The 65-year-old of sports journalists, NSJF ball’s Aruna Shahi, basketball’s just a point behind Roma after claim- was the member of the nation team was established on 10 Sadina Shrestha and footballer ing a third consecutive win for the that won gold in 1984 in the first SAF September, 1995. Sabitra Bhandari have been first time this season. Games held in Kathmandu. Although it start- nominated for the peoples’ Lorenzo Pellegrini gave Roma the Considered as one of the best goal- ed honouring choice award. lead after a quarter of an hour in the keepers Nepal has ever had, he repre- a thletes The winner of the Stadio Olimpico. Inter fought back sented the national side from 1979 to and peoples’ choice with Milan Skriniar heading in the 1989 and also played in international sport- award will be equaliser 11 minutes after the break tournaments from 1982 to 1989. His sper- decided with Achraf Hakimi adding a second playing career lasted for 14 years from PHOTO VIA SHAHI’S FACEBOOK PAGE sons since through seven minutes later with a superb 1976 to 1989. Lok Bahadur Shahi represented Nepali national football team from 1979 to 1989. its establish- eSewa curling effort. But with the clock tick- Apart from playing, Shahi was also ment year, the award votes, ing, Inter could not resist the Roman involved in football administration as relations with Shahi, claims him to be person who dedicated his whole life to ceremony was not regu- Facebook likes pressure with defender Mancini get- the general secretary of ANFA from the first person to bring private sec- sports.” lar until 2003. and points allocated ting his head to a Gonzalo Villar cross 1995 to 2002. He also served as general tor’s investment in football. Shahi, survived by two daughters, a The awards ceremony became by NSJF members and four minutes from time. secretary at the Nepal Boxing “Shahi lured private investment in son and a wife was cremated in an annual event, and the country’s chief coaches of sports asso- In Turin, it was a bruising clash for Association for two terms from 2003 to Nepali football for the first time in Dailekh on Monday. most prestigious sports ceremony ciations. the reigning champions, who are chas- 2011 and was the founding president 1992 when he was a key person in ANFA President Sherpa said that from 2003. NSJF have nominated five players ing their 10th title in a row, as they lost of Nepal Ice Hockey Association. organising the Wai Wai Cup. The fol- the football fraternity was greatly According to NSJF, they faced a each in the male, female, youth and forward Paulo Dybala and Weston Shahi was one of the key members lowing year he was successful in run- shocked by the demise of Shahi. “His tough time this year due to the corona- coach of the year award categories McKennie to injury in the first half. of the then Mahendra Police club ning the TAAN Cup,” said Mishra. death is a great loss to Nepali foot- virus pandemic. “But we did not have and the winners will be announced at Midfielder McKennie pulled up after (now Nepal Police Club) during 1980s While there was no league and other ball,” said Sherpa. other options than to hold the event as the ceremony. 18 minutes with a muscle problem and when the team was the best in the domestic football in the country from Former ANFA President Ganesh Nepal hosted the biggest sports event There are no nominations in the was replaced by Welsh international country. He also played for ‘A’ division 1989 to 1995 due to infighting at ANFA, Thapa who played alongside Thapa, – the 13th South Asian Games--in the para athlete, special, lifetime achieve- Ramsey. Dybala was substituted three outfit Friends Club. Shahi gave a new life to Nepali foot- on a Facebook post said: “I am deeply last Nepali calendar year,” said ment and team of the year categories minutes before the break for a knock “Shahi was one of the key members ball. He formed Nepal Sports saddened by the untimely death of Devendra Subedi, the president of and the Asian Sports Journalists to his left knee. Juve are already with- of the team that founded the RNAC Development Association and collect- my friend Shahi whom I worked close- NSJF. “It gives us great pleasure to Award this time. The winners will be out Alex Sandro, Juan Cuadrado and football team during the 1980s,” recalls ed almost all national football in the ly with at ANFA and played with him declare that we have completed all the revealed directly during the award Matthijs de Ligt who tested positive Sanjiv Mishra, football analyst and body. in the national team. Nepali sports preparations for the event despite the ceremony. for coronavirus. There was also a the director of the football league that “He formed a football team and took has lost a good manager. His contribu- challenges.” The winners of peoples’ choice, scare for forward Federico Chiesa, ANFA runs. them to compete in prestigious tour- tions both as a player and manager This year’s ceremony will be held male, female and coach will be reward- who was left screaming in pain and Recalling him as a competent man- naments in India and Bhutan like will be remembered. I express heart- “semi-virtually” and it will be telecast ed with Pulsar motorbikes while the clutching his left ankle following a ager, soft spoken and an impressive DCM Cup, Rovers Cup, CM Cup and felt condolences to the bereaved fami- live on four channels – NTV Plus, winners of other categories will be Pedro Obiang tackle which saw the personality, Mishra, who had close others,” said Mishra. “In fact, he is a ly and pray for his eternal peace.” Janata Televisions, Image Channel given Rs 50,000 each and gift hampers. Sassuolo midfielder see red before the break. Defender Danilo put Juventus ahead in the 50th minute. But seven minutes later Sassuolo pulled level with Gregoire Defrel brilliantly fin- Defiant India stand firm to force draw in tense Sydney Test ishing off a Hamed Junior Traore through ball. Ramsey gave Juventus ASSOCIATED PRESS old ball—and Josh Hazlewood bowled and Australia captain Tim Paine put glimmer of hope for victory. He was and Lyon on their home ground, but the advantage again eight minutes SYDNEY, JAN 11 Pujara eight overs later to make the down a catch behind the stumps. dropped on 3 and 56 but was unper- fielding errors proved costly. from time when he tapped in a total 272-5, the hosts had the edge India’s stand-in captain Ajinkya turbed, blazing 12 boundaries and “It’s a tough one to swallow. Nathan Gianluca Frabotta cross to claim his A battered and bruised India lineup going into the last session. But Rahane said his squad’s approach was three sixes in 118-ball knock. Going tried everything, the quicks were awe- first goal of the campaign. Cristiano survived the full fifth day to force a Hanuma Vihari, hampered by a ham- more about being resilient than focus- into the last hour of play, India had some. Just didn’t hold our catches— Ronaldo completed the scoring deep draw in the third cricket Test against string strain he picked up early while ing on runs. Ravindra Jadeja had a five wickets in hand and Australia’s myself in particular,” said Paine who into injury time, rifling in his 15th Australia and leave the series hinging running through for a single, and fractured thumb and two pace bowlers bowling attack was frustrated and rag- dropped three catches. “Our bowlers league goal this term. on the final Test in Brisbane. Ravichandran Ashwin stonewalled were playing their first or second Test ged. No more wickets fell. tried their absolute hearts out. I’m Napoli bounced backed from their India resumed Monday at 98-2, need- together for 258 deliveries in a 62-run matches. “Our talk this morning was Australia had the upper hand in the bitterly disappointed. I pride myself shock midweek home to defeat to ing a further 309 to win at the Sydney stand after India switched plans and about showing character—fight to the match after winning the toss, posting on my wicketkeeping and I haven’t Spezia with a last-gasp 2-1 win at Cricket Ground, and finished 73 runs pushed for a draw rather than risk end and not to think about results, so 338 and taking a first-innings lead by had too many worse days than that.” Udinese to sit sixth. Napoli captain short on 334-5 despite having only chasing an unlikely win. really happy the way we fought,” he bowling India out for 244. Australia The series is tied 1-1 after lopsided Lorenzo Insigne converted a penalty eight fit batters. The India lineup was Ashwin, who was given out but suc- said. “Special mention to Vihari and extended the lead to 406 before declar- wins—Australia by eight wickets in in the 15th minute following Kevin pushing for victory while an injured cessfully overturned the caught-be- Ashwin. In the end the way they bat- ing at 312-6 in their second innings, Adelaide, India by eight wickets in Bonifazi’s foul on Hirving Lozano. Rishabh Pant (97) and Cheteshwar hind decision, was hit on the body by ted, showing that character, was really giving India four sessions to either Melbourne—before the finale at the Kevin Lasagna pulled Udinese level in Pujara (77) combined in a 148-run a short ball and survived a dropped good to see.” pursue a near record fourth-innings Gabba starting Friday. Australia hav- the 27th minute, with the hosts miss- stand that put all the pressure back on catch but finished unbeaten on 39 He also had praise for how Pant, chase or settle for the draw. Paine said en’t lost a Test at the Gabba since 1988. ing chances to kill off the game before Australia. from 128 balls. Vihari faced 161 balls who was promoted to bat at No 5 he’d been confident of an Australian India, despite a series of injuries and Tiemoue Bakayoko headed in his late When Nathan Lyon removed Pant for his unbeaten 23, getting a late despite his sore elbow, took on the victory, given a bowling attack featur- players unavailable, are aiming to end winner. in the 80th over—the last over with the reprieve when he edged Mitchell Starc Australian bowlers, giving India a ing Pat Cummins, Hazlewood, Starc that streak. HOROSCOPE ARIES (March 21-April 19) **** CANCER (June 22-July 22) *** LIBRA (September 23-October 22) *** CAPRICORN (December 22-January 19) **** This is a time to relish your personal freedom. Even Try to stay close to home right now. There could be Your work life and your private life have been out of It’s a good idea for you to have some conversation if you are in a relationship, you need to foster your something threatening your bliss there. Stick with balance for a while now. The people who are getting starters ready or there could be a lot of awkward independence every once and awhile. Do something the relatives or roommates you think you know so less attention have been fine with it. You need to be silences. In order to initiate some good conversation by yourself, something that no one else enjoys as well and get to know them even better. You don’t have prepared for them to start saying something about with people you don’t know very well, avoid touchy much as you do. to work too hard at accomplishing this. how they need more commitment from you. topics like politics, religion, or money.

TAURUS (April 20-May 20) *** LEO (July 23-August 22) *** SCORPIO (October 23-November 21) *** AQUARIUS (January 20-February 18) *** Someone’s flattering attention has increased to a That foggy-headed feeling you’ve been having is Why settle on just one plan for the entire day? You are probably going to feel a bit overwhelmed, but point where you might be starting to feel suffocated. about to get cleared up. The sun is coming out today There’s no reason to commit yourself to doing one that’s okay. Just don’t panic and make a decision If their demands on your time are starting to really in the form of a new person who makes you happy. thing in the morning, when as the day moves for- because you think that someone’s losing patience annoy you, let them know that you need some alone This is definitely an exciting development that is ward so many other things will pop up as cool possi- with you. If you do, you’ll only end up going back on time next time they ask to hang out. leaving you feeling good! bilities. Keep it loose today, as loose as you can. it a few days later when you learn something new.

GEMINI (May 21-June 21) **** VIRGO (August 23-September 22) **** SAGITTARIUS (November 22-December 21) *** PISCES (February 19-March 20) *** Even if you’re not looking for a new romance, one This is not a good time to throw your money around, Your sense of fairness will be out in full force today, No one else sees things quite the way you see them could come along today. Of course, this love you feel so avoid making any impulse buys. Even if you and you’ll want to speak up when you see some injus- right now. You have an eye for what’s true and what might not be for a person. No, what tugs at your heart recently came into some money, you’d be better off tice. No matter who is in the wrong, you will feel is a bunch of baloney. This new “take no prisoners” today might be a cute puppy, a fantastic new song, or holding on to it. If it feels like it’s burning a hole in compelled to call them on the carpet and give them a attitude of yours is starting to turn heads and get even a movie. your pocket, just let it keep burning away. piece of your mind. people talking. CROSSWORD SUDOKU

YESTERDAY’S SOLUTION

C M Y K TUESDAY, JANUARY 12, 2021 | 08 CULTURE & LIFESTYLE (C.R.P.D.) - 3/052/053 How a few YouTubers are making farming easy From tutorials of harvesting cash and food crops to videos of preparing food for cattle, a few Nepali farmers and agricultural experts are using social media to disseminate information related to farming and agriculture.

ANKIT KHADGI “Now we are creating content targeting KATHMANDU the audience base of farmers who are searching for the kind information we or almost a year now, Aashish disseminate,” says Timilsina. “That’s Lamichhane has been spending why most of our latest videos are his days in the same manner. based on seasonal vegetables, whose Although his teaching job information the farmers are likely keeps him busy enough, he searching for.” takes time out from his tight Similarly, to appeal to a larger audi- Fschedule visiting nearby farms, helping ence, the YouTubers also pay attention to farmers and answering their phone que- the style and the language they use in ries. But what keeps him the busiest is their videos, they say. making videos for his YouTube channel, “In the present content, not every farm- where he educates his viewers about tech- er is highly educated. Due to this if we niques and gives them information relat- start speaking in a complex and technical ed to farming and agriculture. language, the objective of helping them “My intention of starting an agricul- out will be missed,” says Lamichhane. ture-based YouTube channel was to share “That’s why I always focus on making my knowledge so those farmers who need videos that are in the simple and soft lan- information can get help,” says guage, so the farmers can easily grasp Lamichhane. and remember the information. Similarly, Born in a family of farmers, I also try to incorporate the local languag- Lamichhane’s family had farms in es spoken in Tarai, Pahad and Himal, Kewalpur, Rupandehi, where they would explaining the terms, so more people can grow varieties of fruits and vegetables as understand it,” he adds. well as rear different animals. And According to YouTubers, while the because of this, he was equipped with pressure of getting more exposure does knowledge related to farming and agri- exist, they also have a genuine audience culture. base, whose constant support and sugges- However, he saw a dearth of informa- tions help them to grow as content crea- tion and knowledge about farming and tors, they say. agriculture, especially among the people SCREENGRAB VIA YOUTUBE “My channel does have a genuine living in cities. He realised they had little Screengrab of the videos uploaded by Aashish Lamichhane (left) and Rabin Paudel. and loyal audience who constantly pro- idea about how the food they eat are culti- vide their suggestions. Likewise, I also vated in farms, he says. Lamichhane has more than 140k sub- them,” says Paudel, 27. “There were times when our videos follow their suggestions as I mostly create “The city people, especially the chil- scribers and 13 million views on his vide- After returning to Nepal and setting up were getting enough views. In such videos on topics they refer to,” says dren, lacked knowledge regarding agri- os. his own farm, Paudel decided to resume moments we did have thoughts of discon- Paudel. culture and farming. That’s why I decided The use of YouTube platforms with a making videos related to farming. His tinuing our work, as we believed that very Regardless of the struggles they are to take matters into my own hands and motive of educating and disseminating first video was on tomato farming, which few people are watching our videos” says facing, YouTube has opened windows of educate my students about the basics of information and knowledge, however, was appreciated by farmers, eventually Sandip Timilisina, one of the founders of opportunity for the YouTubers. farming through videos,” says isn’t novel or unique. For years, many encouraging him to make more videos, Agri Nepal Update, an agro-based By monetising his videos, Lamichhane Lamichhane, who’s also a teacher, teach- professionals have been using YouTube says Paudel. YouTube channel. has been able to buy a DSLR camera, ing primary level students. through which they share their knowl- “When I shared the same information More than a year ago, Timilsina, along which he now uses to make his videos. Initially, he made a video in the English edge and expertise. and knowledge face to face, not everyone with his college friends, who were study- Meanwhile, Paudel is also trying to design language for his students where he had However, with technology and the showed the same interest. However, when ing agriculture, decided to start a online courses for farmers, as YouTube explained the whole process of mush- internet getting affordable and approach- I started using the medium of YouTube YouTube channel where they would share has shown him the possibilities of tap- room farming. However, he then switched able, there has been an explosive growth and other online platforms, more people information and knowledge regarding ping into the market of catering agro- to Nepali, and uploaded the video on in content creators on YouTube. Now it’s were curious to learn about farming and farming and agriculture. based information to farmers, he says. YouTube, which received appreciation not only people from urban areas who agriculture as the information I was shar- “We all were studying agriculture. So Similarly, Timilsina also has plans on from farmers, says Lamichhane. create content on YouTube—many con- ing was helpful to people, specifically to our intention behind starting a YouTube continuing to make videos that are target- “In the beginning, my intentions were tent creators are coming up from all back- those farmers who were searching for channel was to make videos that could ed to farmers, he says. simple: to make videos for my students, so grounds, from all over the world, who are information and knowledge,” says impart pertinent information to farmers, However, for YouTubers, their mission that they can learn something about using the platform to educate their peers. Paudel, who has 10k subscribers on his who were in need of knowledge, as well as isn’t only driven by the fact that their farming and agriculture. However, when Among such people in Nepal is Rabin YouTube channel. benefit us by giving a platform through videos are benefitting them socially and farmers started appreciating the informa- Paudel, a YouTuber and farmer from However, for YouTubers who make which we could learn as well,” says financially, they say. It’s equally adding tion I was disseminating through my vid- Syangja, who’s using his channel to help agricultural and farming-based content, Timilsina, who’s currently studying his value in the lives of their audience, the eos, I was motivated to make more,” says and educate other farmers. there are many challenges they have to Masters in agriculture. farmers, YouTubers believe. Lamichhane. He started his YouTube career in 2018. endure to create their content, they say. Along with his friends, through their “I receive phone calls from people all Then onwards, he regularly started “Previously, I had a technical channel, In recent times, Nepal has seen a mas- phones, they started making tutorial vid- over the country, asking for help. Some uploading such kinds of videos on his where I would teach and educate people sive growth in users on YouTube, and eos where they would teach people about have even shared that they have set up YouTube channel, where he would about various electronic gadgets,” says while this is a good sign, the mushroom- how one could grow crops like banana, small home-based businesses, after explain how one can start harvesting var- Paudel. ing of thousands of YouTube channels turmeric, and mushrooms. However, it watching my videos,” says Lamichhane. ious crops like mushrooms, lemon, avoca- However, he discontinued it when he has made competition tough. Likewise, was their video on tomato harvesting that “When I come to know about the value my dos and bananas, using the minimum went to Israel for employment. “When I agriculture-based contents are itself tar- received thousands of views instantly videos and I are adding to people’s lives, it available resources, as well as how one was in Israel, I did make a few vlogs about geted for a niche audience, due to which and that made them realise that there is makes me immensely happy and encour- can treat their sick cattle. how people were doing farming there and not all of their videos get the same an audience who prefers to watch the ages me to create more useful contents in Now, after more than a year, what Nepali farmers can learn from amount of views, they say. kind of videos they were producing. future.”

Theft leads to community giving in Miami Young Japanese celebrate Coming of Age Day under A Miami resident had been stocking up free community refrigerators to help those who had little to survive on—until one was stolen. It could have been a disaster. But it turned into a miracle. COVID’s shadow

Residents of a community where many can ISSEI KATO Yokohama Arena. barely afford rent pulled together, each giving a TOKYO “I’ve just met my old friends little until they ended up collecting quite a lot. after a long time. I’m having a Jones’ former high-school classmate Tamesha oung women in col- good time. After the ceremony, Glegg hadn’t been in touch with Jones for years, ourful traditional I’ll take photos with my friends but saw a post on social media and felt a tug on costumes, masks at the station, and then go her heart. She and her husband decided to and white stoles straight home.” replace the fridge—and then some. braved cold weath- Of Tokyo’s 23 wards, all but “I said, ‘Let’s just buy her two of them,’” said er in lines and sat one have cancelled or post- Glegg, an ICU nurse. “I just really love what Yseats apart from one another in poned the ceremonies, opting she’s doing. I really feel like it’s our spiritual Yokohama on Monday to mark instead to offer mayors’ con- duty to do those things.” Japan’s Coming of Age Day, gratulatory remarks online. The Rev. Michael Daily heard about the stolen even though the city is under a The government last week refrigerator on the news. He works at a commu- state of emergency. declared a state of emergency nity agency that helps local churches and knew The ceremonies, typically for the capital and three sur- that many parishioners were counting on those full of kimono-clad women and rounding prefectures. meals. smartly-dressed men, were can- Yokohama city, south of He used agency funds to buy Jones a fancy celled in many cities and par- Tokyo, went ahead with cele- double-door refrigerator and enlisted a con- ties were discouraged to stem a brations at Pacifico Yokohama struction worker to help build protective hous- rise in Covid-19 infections. North convention hall and ing so it can’t be stolen. A group of artists On the second Monday in Yokohama Arena event hall. designed T-shirts and donated the proceeds. January every year, people who “I decided to carry out today’s The Community Agency advertising firm have turned or are about to ceremonies as I strongly hoped scaled back on a fancy holiday party, donating turn 20 take part in ceremonies everyone takes part in celebrat- huge boxes of food and about $3,500 for the in local event halls or other ing this once-in-a-lifetime mile- refrigerator project. large-scale venues to celebrate stone,” said Mayor Fumiko All together, more than 330 people raised over the rite of passage to adult- Hayashi, in a message read $23,000 on a fundraising website. hood. out to attendees who had to Even after the pandemic upended her job, The occasion, which is abide with anti-infection meas- Joanne O’Brien still helped stock the refrigerator observed with a national holi- ures. occasionally. But she wanted to do more. Jones day, serves in effect as class Participants wore face introduced her to a single mom who feeds her reunions for some and repre- masks, had their temperature AP/RSS kids breakfast from one of the community refrig- sents one of the major checks and were asked just to Sherina Jones (left) works with volunteers organising food for distribution in the Liberty City neighbourhood of Miami. erators. O’Brien bought the family a Christmas child-rearing milestones for listen to the national anthem, tree, as well as desks for online schooling and parents. instead of singing it out loud. curtains and bedding for the home. “I came as I’ve got my kimo- Japan has seen coronavirus KELLI KENNEDY the sign on the fridge read. “The kids were jumping up and down when I no ready and am taking steps to cases total around 289,000, with FORT LAUDERDALE Jones gets up at 5:30 every morning to serve was finished with the tree,” O’Brien said. prevent infection. I’m not that 4,067 fatalities, according to hot breakfasts to residents in need. One home- The four-year-old told her with grave concern worried,” Mei Ohno, a college public broadcaster NHK. wo days before Thanksgiving, on the less man who was a frequent visitor later told that this was going to be a bad Christmas with student, told Reuters at —Reuters eve of a turkey giveaway for dozens her proudly that he’d gained 10 pounds (4.5 kilo- no presents, but O’Brien secretly purchased and of jobless residents in an impover- grams). collected toys, clothes and stockings with the ished Miami neighbourhood, With an online fundraising effort she named children’s names. Sherina Jones got word that one of Village Freedge, Jones expanded to three refrig- The community’s response to a toy drive in the free community refrigerators erators, which she placed in different neigh- December allowed Jones to give away dozens of Tshe’d been stocking was stolen. bourhoods of Miami. About half of her clients bicycles, dolls and other presents to 400 families. It could have been a holiday disaster. But it are homeless; others are day laborers who take Jones still operates three free community turned into a Christmas miracle. to-go lunches or single moms who can’t feed refrigerators. She uses the extra ones to store Jones had been helping to feed the poor in their kids. food and donations. She has volunteers, but Miami for months. Early on in the coronavirus When one of the refrigerators was stolen just mostly runs the charity with her mom and aunt. pandemic, she was forced to shut down her beau- before the Thanksgiving Day turkey giveaway, it She has one leftover holiday wish: a van to ty salon. By scrimping she managed to get by, was more than a theft. It felt like an act against transport food and warehouse space to store it but she knew that many in her mostly Black, a community in need. in. She has applied for nonprofit status and is low-income neighbourhood were still hurting. “I cried for three days,” Jones said. “I was transitioning to become a food bank. Worried that children were missing meals devastated that someone would do something to “People come by and stock the fridge during after Covid-19 closed schools, the 36-year-old hurt the community. You hurt the 80-something the evenings or buy a bulk of things and drop it REUTERS cancer survivor used her meager savings to buy people I feed a day.” off. I’m so appreciative,” she said. “We’ve all On the second Monday in January every year, people who have turned her first community refrigerator in August. Just when it seemed the Grinch-like act would come together to take care of each other.” or are about to turn 20 take part in ceremonies to celebrate the rite of “Take what you need, donate what you don’t,” ruin the holiday, something magical happened: —Associated Press passage to adulthood.

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