Damak, Aug. 30: The farmers in Jhapa district paid Rs 130 million in insurance premium of their livestock in the last fiscal year. The Dist...
Damak, Aug. 30: The farmers in Jhapa district paid Rs 130 million in insurance premium of their livestock in the last fiscal year.
The District Livestock Office said that a total of 2,955 cattle including 2,002 cows were insured during the period in the district. Likewise, animals being insured include buffaloes, goats, swine and others. The premium collected from the insurance of animals comes highest from the cows with slightly more than Rs 5.3 million.
The Office said that more farmers are attracted to livestock insurance after the government started to provide grants in crop and livestock insurance scheme.
Likewise, the farmers were provided with Rs 1.7 million plus in compensation in the district during the period after the animals insured in fiscal year 2070/71 BS died.
The government is providing up to 75 per cent grant in livestock insurance to reduce the economic burden of farmers in case of animals’ death and to encourage the farmers in animal husbandry. RSS
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Women of Kewat community attracted to mushroom farming
Banke (Khajura), Aug. 30: The women of Kewat community have been making good income from mushroom farming in Banke district in the recent days.
The women from Kewat community, the ethnic community enlisted as the marginalised one, have earned a decent life besides managing money for their children’s education from the mushroom farming. The women of the community have also formed a group of their own for the commercial mushroom farming after getting the skill-oriented trainings and technical assistance from the District Agriculture Development Office and other organisations.
Kalawati Kewat, a member of Parbat Women’s Microenterprise Group, said that commercial mushroom farming has become a strong support for reducing their economic burden as well as making some savings too.
The farmers do not have to worry for the lack of market to supply the mushroom as Nepalgunj has become the good market to sale their products.
Likewise, the District Agriculture Development Office is likely to invest nearly Rs 20 million in the current fiscal year to lure the unemployed youth towards agriculture. As part of the same, a total of 48 youth were selected for mushroom farming and preparations are underway to provide Rs 1.6 million for them for the business ventures. RSS
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Three VDCs declared fully-inoculated in Mustang
Mustang, Aug. 30: The District Health Office, Mustang, has declared three VDCs as the fully-immunised area in the district. Kunjo, Tukuche and Marpha were announced the fully-inoculated VDCs amidst a programme on Saturday after all the children of upto 23 months age were given all vaccines. All vaccines against 10 different diseases should be given for the declaration of fully-immunised area.
Vaccine Supervisor at Office, Badri Acharya, said that all 27 children in Tukuche, 20 in Kunjo and 36 in Marpha VDCs were immunised before organising the event. RSS
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Call to reveal the whereabouts of enforced disappearances
Kathmandu, Aug. 30: The International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearance is being marked today by organising different programmes in the country.
But, the victims’ fate and whereabouts is still unknown and unaccounted for even after the long period of the signing of the comprehensive peace accord (CPA).
The relatives of enforced disappeared persons are still hoping to get in touch with their loves ones but no headway in the mission adds to agonies to the victims’ families.
Lawmaker Rupa Maharjan, whose husband Suchindra Maharajan was disappeared from the security forces during the insurgency, said she was hopeful that the recently-formed Commission of Enquiry on Enforced Disappearances would find out the truth about those enforced persons. She, however, was doubtful about the action to the convicts.
Likewise, Chairman of Society of Families of Enforced Disappeared, Nepal, Yekraj Bhandari also shared the same story saying that it was a sorry state of affairs. “The condition of families of those enforced disappearances is pathetic. The state should protect their family members. It should ensure employment, education and health care,” Bhandari added.
According to the National Human Rights Commission, a total of 842 people were disappeared from the state side while 152 from the then rebel Maoist party. However, the statistics of the Society claims that altogether 1,095 people were subject to enforced disappeared from the security forces.
Commission of Inquiry into Enforced Disappearances has been formed but it has not started the job so far.
Secretary at the Commission Mahesh Sharma Poudel said that works relating to arrangement of infrastructure, preparations of code of conduct and fulfillment of the human resources were completed so far. “But, the Commission is not working as expected due to earthquake,” he admitted.
The conflict in Nepal claimed the lives of more than 13,200 people and displaced over 100,000. During this decade-long civil war, serious human rights violations were carried out both by state security forces and Maoist rebels.
Meanwhile, on the same occasion, the UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has also urged all member states to ratify or accede to the International Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance without delay, and has called on the states parties to the Convention to implement it saying that it was the time for an end to all enforced disappearances. RSS
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Gaijatra in Bhaktapur
Bhaktapur, Aug. 30: The traditional festival of Gaijatra or the 'cow festival' that continues for a week in Bhaktapur district has started last night from Talejusthan after making Tahamacha and encircling the major part of Bhaktapur Durbar Square.
The Gaijatra has started from early morning today after the demise of 234 from Newar community in Bhaktapur. During this time-honored tradition, people of all ages in the guise of cows and lunatics go around the city, wearing odd costumes to commemorate those who died during the past year.
The bereaved families offer fruits, bread, beaten rice, curd and money to those participating in the procession including the cows. As the saying goes, the festival derives its name from the religious belief that the deceased, during their journey to heaven, crosses a legendary river by grabbing the tail of a cow.
The Gaijatra observed in Bhaktapur is considered more special, entertaining and satiric compared to other cities. RSS
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Two aftershocks
Kathmandu, Aug. 30: Two fresh aftershocks jolted Dolakha and Dhading districts this morning.
According to the National Seismological Centre, an aftershock of 4.3 ML was recorded with its epicentre near Nilkantha Municipality in Dhading district at 3:09 am while next one of 4.1 ML occurred near Jugu of Dolakha district at 8:26 am.
Altogether 386 aftershocks above 4 on the Richter scale were recorded after April 25 'Gorkha Earthquake', the Centre said. RSS
