Day: April 27, 2024

Kathmandu: The central execution committee of Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) is meeting at 4:00 pm today. Publicity department chief of the party, Purna Basnet, informed Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) that the meeting would discuss election directive on party's national general convention representatives. The meeting is being held at party central office, Balkumari, Lalitpur. Earlier, the party meeting had proposed to elect general convention representatives from party's committees, sister organizations and professional organizations. It is estimated that one 1,000 general convention representatives would be elected from among the members of the party in line with directive. The party is holding the general convention in Janakpur city from coming June 10 to 12. Source: National News Agency RSS

Nine youths reportedly enrolled in the Russian military have lost contact with their families, leaving their loved ones in distress. According to relatives, the youths opted to join the Russian military as they did not see better career opportunities at home. A mother in Byas municipality said she spends her days in tears over her son, who has not been in touch with the family for the past four months. Initially, her son reassured her not to worry about his situation, but despite her attempts to remain calm, she finds herself restless. "I have sleepless nights these days worrying about my son", said the woman preferring to be unnamed. These families have already approached the Migrant Resource Centre under the Safer Migration Programme (SaMI), seeking its help to get back their offspring safely. According to Centre's consultant Goma Tiwari, among those reported to have joined the Russian security force, three are from Byas municipality, one from Devghat rural Municipality, three from Bhanu municipality, one from Shuklagandaki, and one from Myagde rural municipality. As the Centre said, it has sent official documents to the Department of Consular Services, Ministry of Foreign Affairs with a request for searching for them. It is believed that youths paid Rs 500 to 600 thousand each to middlepersons to get a visit visa for Russia and join the military force. Centre's district coordinator Luna Rana said there may be more people from Tanahu getting enrolled in the Russian force at a time it has been prohibited by the government. "So there may be a few complaints." District Administration Office, Tanahu said each one visiting the Office for a passport is being oriented on the destinations prohibited by the State from visiting, and risk factors and consequences in case of an unlawful trip. We have proceeded with diplomatic initiations to bring Nepalis back from Russia safely. Still, we continue to urge one and all not to entertain any plan to visit those countries banned by the State, he added. Source: Natio nal News Agency RSS

Mundum, the lore, is internalized by the Kirat community as the philosophy of life. The myths concerning the Salpa Silichung related to the culture and civilization of the Kirat Rai people have been scripted and published in the form of a book. The 'Salpa Silichung-Silichho' a book about the Mundum's myths and lore was released amidst a programme here Friday. It is published by the International Committee of Salpa Silichung Concerned Conservation and Promotion Center. Prof Dr Tanka Neupane, Pro Dr Somnath Khatiwada, Chancellor of Nepal Academy of Fine Arts, Naradmani Hartamchhali; associate professor Dr Janak Rai, Kirat Rai Yayokha Chair Jeevan Hatacho Rai and Rastriya Samachar Samiti (RSS) General Manager Siddharaj Rai jointly launched the book. Nepal Academy Chancellor Bhupal Rai attended the programme as the Chief Guest. Commenting on the book, TU associate professor Dr Rai said the book highlighted how the Kirat community is using the Mundum lore in their life. The study of the Mundumi myth of Salpa Silichung is that whenever the Kirat ancestors reached Salpa Silichung, the then society was matriarchal, he said. Pro Dr Khatiwada said oral history has been incorporated into the curriculum of various universities in the world, contrary to the practice in Nepal which endorses written history in university courses. As he said, the Kirat civilization and culture are largely associated with the narrative history. The book is expected to be a milestone in terms of scripting the Kirat history, according to him. A researcher on Kirat culture, Pro Dr Neupane, said the country is never of any specific class or community. "Nepal is a home to multiple castes and communities and the Kirat religion and culture should be further promoted. The book suggests that myths concerning the Kirat community value unity within diversity," he said, adding that the Kirat community contributed significantly to the building of the present Nepal and there is no doubt that myths of Salpa Silichung are the people's history of the time . Khuwalung, Tuwachung and Silichung are the symbols of indigenous Kirati community, said Divas Rai, Vice-Chairperson of the Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities. Bhupal Rai, Chief Guest of the event, lauded that the book containing myths of the Kirati community is a ''scholarly outrage''. He argued that only myths would remain in the communities that are cornered by the State over various period of time. Rajen Rai, Salpa Silichung Concern, Conservation and Promotion Centre's International Committee's Chairperson shared that they also installed the statute of Sumnima Paruhang as well as Nachung/Naakso (Dhami) at Salpasilichho rural municipality besides collecting lore and publishing the book. He pledged to deliver more on the conservation of Kirati's history and the collection and publication of more Kirati myths. The 227-page book has two parts-myths and analysis. There are altogether 21 myths in the book edited by Bhogiraj Chamling, Dr Taramani Rai, Chandra Kumar Hatuwali and Shalikram Rai. Th e book launch was followed by a musical programme based on Kirati music. Salpa Pokhari is situated at 3,750 meters above sea level while Silichung at 4,155 meters at Salpasilichung rural municipality of Bhojpur district. The rural municipality borders Sankhuwasabha, Solukhumbu, and Khotang districts. Source: National News Agency RSS

Both consumers and meat entrepreneurs here have been worried over unhygienic slaughterhouse at Manthali, headquarters of Ramechhap district. There are 20 meat shops at district headquarters. The shop runners are for having sanitary slaughterhouses, but to no avail. The Tamakoshi riverbank is a place where those owning meat shops butcher the livestock. The meat is laced with sand and soil. Once the animal is butchered, there is no facility to cold store the flesh to preserve freshness and quality. Similarly, as the riverbank is used as abattoir, it is posing growing risk to air service at Manthali airport. Likelihood of birds like crow and vulture hitting plane is on rise, thereby questioning air safety. The river is also polluted. It is now emanating foul smell. Meat entrepreneur, Pashupati Shahi, however, complained that they were forced to slay livestock on the riverbank because municipality did not pay heed to construct a slaughterhouse. "Last year, municipality had allocated Rs 300 thousand for the construction of slaughterhouse, but it was not implemented," he shared, adding that the local level was asking them in stead to find a proper place for butchering livestock. Although then Livestock Service Centre and Manthali municipality had set up a slaughterhouse at Hatechaur of Manthali-1 ten years back, it was not operated well. Meat entrepreneur Hajar Singh Tamang said they were in need of facilities so that hygiene could be maintained while butchering animals and freezing meat. "There is neither water nor a place to dispose waste. So, we are butchering animal on surface itself and selling the meat from the very place," he shared the plight. Meanwhile, mayor of Manthali municipality, Lava Shrestha, admitted that there was not hygienic abattoir. Although the local level had set up the abattoir, it was left unused. He, however, viewed a well-managed slaughterhouse could be made on cost-sharing with the meat entrepreneurs. Source: National News Agency RSS

The unseasonable vegetables kept for sale at Rani Talau Vegetable Market of Nepalgunj in Banke district have been found having high level of pesticides residue. Of all the unseasonal vegetables, the highest percent of pesticide's residue is found in rayo sag, a leafy vegetable, according to the Central Agricultural Lab, Nepalgunj. Lab technician at Nepalgunj, Govinda Chaudhary, shared that the pesticides residue was found in off-season vegetables during the regular sample testing. He informed that the residue of organophosphate was 45 per cent in rayo sag. The concentration of pesticide in food items at this scale is considered inedible. Other vegetables were found to have 35 per cent to 45 per cent of pesticide residue, added Chaudhary. According to him, such vegetables could become safe to consume if residue percentage comes down after quarantining them for four to five days and reexamined. The vegetables brought to market immediately after applying pesticides show high level of residue, he divulged. V egetables grown and brought from Hirmaniya and Babugaun and India had higher level of pesticide remains, as per the sample tests conducted in the lab. The Department of Food Technology Quality Control at custom point examines the vegetables and fruits coming from India and vegetable and fruits are retested in the local lab. The test is conducted often on a daily basis expect for public holidays, said Motisara Thapa Kshettri, Chairperson of the Agriculture Produces Market User Committee. Source: National News Agency RSS