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  • More than 300 Youths participated in Poetry Contest

    More than 300 Youths participated in Poetry Contest

    The final event of the Poetry Writing Contest organized by Daya Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid-town in collaboration with UNICEF Nepal was held on 27 November 2020 at 5 PM via Zoom.

    The main highlight of the 2-hour program was the announcement of 10 winners of the contest followed by a panel discussion on “Emotional/Mental Well-Being& Literary Avenues/Platforms for Youth Voices”.

    The event was a success with participation from 300+ youths and many dignitaries from several institutions. Aarya Bajrachayra from Rupy’s International School, Shivila Gc from Kathmandu University School of Management, Rachita Uprety from Silver Mountain School Of Hotel Management, Rubi Bhandari from Softwarica College, and Shreeya Shrestha from Rato Bangala Schoolare the winners from English category and Abinash Gajurel, a graduate, Chadani Acharya from Medhavi College, Bigyan Subedi from IOM, T.U., Smriti Adhikari from Tribhuvan University School of Management, and Sushila Rai from Diktel Multiple Campus are the winners from Nepali category who have won NRs. 10,000/- each as prize money. Following the announcement of winners, panelists Man Bahadur Mukhia (Literary figure), Tania Dhakwa (Chief of Communications at UNICEF Nepal), Dr. Sagun Ballav Panta (Psychiatrist at Teaching Hospital), and Dr. Rojina Manandhar (Psychologist/Clinical Hypnotherapist) shared their take on Emotional and Mental Health, and the importance of literature in expressing oneself.

    The theme of this contest was “Emotional/Mental Well-being and Cultural Identity” to address the growing mental health issues especially among youths and the importance of culture in establishing one’s own identity. The contest was open to youths from age group 15 to 30 year old. The participants were encouraged to submit their original writing in Nepali or English on topics like “Emotional/Mental Well-Being”, “Cultural Identity” and “Cultural Identity supporting Emotional/Mental Well-Being” or any topic of choice in line with these three titles by November 15, 2020. The submissions were anonymously reviewed by experienced and qualified literary experts who were: A) English Category: James C Hopkins, Lisa Choegyal, and Tania Dhakwaa B) Nepali Category: Anupam Pokhrel, Man Bahadur Mukhiya, and Dr. Ram Prasad Dahal The two sponsoring organizations were represented by Rajesh B Pradhan, President Daya Foundation and by Keepa M Handa, Executive Member, Health. Ltn. Gen. KNS Thapa, President RC Kathmandu Midtown.

    Chief Guest of Honor, District Governor Rajib Pokharel along with the sponsoring organizations shared positive notes regarding this type of initiative and collaborative effort for youth welfare at national level.

    Representing the organizing team, Moderator and MC Neeva Mathema Pradhan is Executive Member and Founder of Daya Foundation a non-profit organization that provides financial, technical and volunteer assistance to various projects in the areas of Education, Health and Culture. The poetry contest is part of Daya Foundation’s initiative to promote Culture. Past President, Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid-town, Neeva M Pradhan also oversees “Young Professional Vocational/Skills Training” whose objective is to help develop youth skills and equip them with various toolsto apply in the practical field. UNICEF Nepal, headed by Tania Dhakhwa, Chief of Communications Unicef, collaborated with Daya Foundation and RC Kathmandu Mid-Town to raise awareness on Mental Health and the rise in depressive illnesses and suicide cases among youth in recent months. All of these institutions promoted and live streamed the event in their respective Facebook pages.

    The poetry contest will be ongoing every quarter and the dates and time frame will be posted in social media. It was agreed by all participating institutions that this type of safe platform for youth voices is much needed in current times and should be encouraged and promoted. This collaborative effort could help alleviate the ongoing crisis and bring a positive note in our community with a sense of belongingness.

     

  • Chitra Bahadur KC returns home after recovery from Covid-19

    Chitra Bahadur KC returns home after recovery from Covid-19

    Kathmandu: Rastriya Janamorcha Chairman Chitra Bahadur KC has returned home after achieving recovery from Covid-19.

    The octogenarian leader, admitted to Mediciti Hospital in Lalitpur on November 10 after suffering from pneumonia and coronavirus infection, got discharged from the hospital on Tuesday evening.

    Issuing a press release today, Chair KC thanked doctors and health workers involved in his treatment, as well as well-wishers.

    He also thanked the government for bearing all the expenses required for his treatment.

  • President issues ordinance to clear the decks for import of Covid-19 vaccines

    President issues ordinance to clear the decks for import of Covid-19 vaccines

    Kathmandu: President Bidya Devi Bhandari has issued an ordinance enabling the government to import vaccines against the coronavirus infection as soon as they are available in the international market.

    Bhandari issued an ordinance to amend the Drugs Act so as to clear the decks for the import of the vaccines.

    Just a few days ago, health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal had revealed that the government was issuing an ordinance to import the vaccines.

    The constitution has it that whenever the federal parliament is prorogued, the president can issue an ordinance in recommendation of the government to enact any law whenever necessary. Such an ordinance has to be endorsed by the parliament within six months.

  • Poetry Contest – on Emotional/Mental Well-Being and Cultural Identity

    Poetry Contest – on Emotional/Mental Well-Being and Cultural Identity

    DHANGADHI: Focusing on youth talent and given the current pandemic situation, three organizations have collaborated to bring a poetry writing contest to encourage youths. Daya Foundation and Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid-town in collaboration with UNICEF Nepal have organized this poetry contest. The winners and finalists will be announced on November 27 at 05:00PM at the live webinar. UNICEF will have few of the poetries recited during their November 20, World Children’s Day Festival.

    In their recent study, UNICEF revealed that there was 40 percent increase in youth depressive illnesses and suicide rates, especially among females, since COVID. We hope this kind of initiative will provide a platform and encourage youths to share their feelings and emotions and give hope. The top 10 finalists will also present their poems live at a webinar on November 27.

    The theme of this contest is “Emotional/Mental Well-being and Cultural Identity” to address the growing mental and emotional health issues especially among youths and the importance of culture in helping to define one’s own identity. The contest is open to youths from age group 15 to 30-year-old.

    The participants are encouraged to submit their original writing in Nepali or English on topics related to “Emotional/Mental Well-Being”, “Cultural Identity” and “Cultural Identity supporting Emotional/Mental Well-Being” or any topic of choice in line with these three by November 15, 2020. 5 winners from each language category will be awarded NRs. 10,000/- each. The panel of judges consists of experienced and qualified literary experts:

    1) English Category: Poet and writer, James C Hopkins, Lisa Choegyal, Past President Rotary Club Kathmandu Midtown and Tania Dhakhwa, Chief of Communication, UNICEF.

    2) Nepali Category: Anoopam Pokhrel, Faculty and poet, Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, Man Bahadur Mukhiya, Poet and Faculty Xavier Academy, and Ram Prasad Dahal, Faculty Kathmandu Engineering College.

    The judges will unanimously select 5 winners from their respective category and the winners will present their poetry in a live webinar.

    This collaborative effort was initiated by Neeva M. Pradhan, Founding Member and past President, Daya Foundation which is a non-profit organization that provides financial, technical and volunteer assistance to different projects in the areas of Education, Health and Culture. This contest is part of Daya Foundation’s initiative to promote Culture. Daya Foundation President Rajesh B Pradhan encourages such collaborative effort for the foundation. As the Immediate Past President Rotary Club of Kathmandu Mid-town, Neeva Pradhan coordinates the “Young Professional Vocational/Skills Training”. The objective is to help develop youth skills and equips them with various tools to be applicable in the practical field. Rotary Club President, Ltn. Gen. KNS Thapa is encouraged to see such partnership to benefit the youth groups including the Rotaracts and Interacts. UNICEF Nepal is collaborating with the above two institutions to raise awareness in Mental Health during the month of November in celebration of World Children’s Day.

    Further details of the contest and the organizers can be found in their respective Facebook pages. Other partnering institutions are Xavier Academy, Kathmandu Engineering College, Silver Mountain School of Hotel Management, Team NEPO, Kathmandu University, Rotary clubs, Rotaract and Interact Clubs, Rupy’s International School and few other schools, colleges and organizations that have encouraged their youths to participate in this initiative.

  • Laxmi Puja being observed throughout the country today

    Laxmi Puja being observed throughout the country today

    Laxmi Puja is being celebrated across the country today, to mark the third day of Yamapanchak of the Tihar festival. Tihar is the second biggest festival of the Nepali Hindus.

    According to the Nepal Calendar Fixation Committee, Kukur Tihar, the festival of dogs and Gai Tihar (Laxmi Puja) fall on the third day of Yamapanchak this year.

    Kukur Tihar is observed in the morning and Laxmi, goddess of wealth, being worshipped in the evening today for prosperity in personal life as well as business.

    Hindu people clean their houses, rooms, windows and premises early in the morning with cow dung and red clay and light lamps to welcome Goddess Laxmi in the evening today. People celebrate with much enthusiasm by lighting their houses, singing, dancing and merry-making.

    Dog, which is an animal well known for being trustworthy sentry as well as faithful companion of humans since ancient times, is being worshipped by offering delicious food today.

    The tihar festival this year is being observed with caution in the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic.

  • Sudurpaschim government overwhelmed with unemployment benefit applications

    Sudurpaschim government overwhelmed with unemployment benefit applications

    DHANGADI: The Agriculture and Livestock Special Program being implemented in the Sudurpaschim province has received more than the expected number of applications.

    The province government has brought this program targeting the COVID-19 affected people. The Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, which is implementing the program, is in dilemma how to address the sheer number of applicants.

    It is said nearly 82 thousand people presented letters of intent in response to a notice calling for applications from people affected by COVID-19 and those returning from abroad. The program is aimed at making foreign-returnees who have lost their job due to COVID-19 self-employed.

    The Ministry had issued a notice two months back calling for submitting letter of intent from those interested in the program.

    Ministry’s senior agriculture extension officer Gokul Prasad Bohara said that it would be difficult to address all the applicants considering the size of the budget allocated for the program and the overwhelming number of those who have presented their letter of intent for the program.

    The selected applicants would be provided with financial incentives in various installments.

    “We are going to select the applicants through on-site study and evaluation by taking into account all the aspects including the technical feasibility of the proposed enterprise. The number of applications might decrease after the proposals are selected strictly on the set standard,” Bohara said.

    According to him, the Agriculture Knowledge Center and Livestock expert Center in all the districts in the province have been given the authorization of the budget allocated for the program.

    Six million rupees has been earmarked towards agriculture and Rs 18 million towards livestock in Kailali district alone. Nearly 14 thousand applications have been received for the program in Kailali district. However, only 200 applications and proposals can be included in the program given the size of the allocated budget and the standards set for the program.

    Under the Agriculture program are included enterprises as vegetable, mushroom and fruit farming, and apiculture while under the Livestock Program are included enterprises as goat and sheep rearing, pig and cattle farming, fishery and poultry keeping.

    The Program aims to make nearly 9,000 families self-employed throughout the province. The province government has allotted Rs 150 for the Program in the current fiscal year. -Khabarhub

  • Free testing, treatment govt. priority: Minister Dhakal

    Free testing, treatment govt. priority: Minister Dhakal

    Kathmandu – The government has decided to conduct free test and treatment for coronavirus considering its responsibility. The free test and treatment would be provided at government hospital and laboratory. The meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday took this decision.

    Talking to the National News Agency (RSS), Minister for Health and Population, Bhanubhakta Dhakal made it clear that government never shirk from its duty to provide service to the people. He further said government, though decided to charge the well to do people for it earlier, reconsidered its decision in the wake of the Supreme Court order and citizen’s suggestions.

    According to him, more than 1.5 million people had so far undergone PCR test in Nepal and out of them, almost 200 thousand had tested positive for coronavirus. Currently, a total of 73 laboratories including private run ones are providing coronavirus testing from across the country. From these laboratories, as many as 15,000 tests are conducted. For anyone willing to conduct test on his/her own, he/she is charged Rs 2000. The Ministry has set up some 26,000 ICU and 900 ventilators for the prevention and treatment of COVID-19.

  • Biden takes Michigan; says “clear we will win”

    Biden takes Michigan; says “clear we will win”

    WASHINGTON: US Democratic challenger Joe Biden has said it is clear he is winning most of the states to take the US Presidency, despite outstanding some key results.

    “When the count is finished we believe we will be the winners,” he said in a speech minutes before projections showed him winning Michigan.

    So far, Biden has got 264 electoral colleges votes while his Republican contender Donald Trump has 214, according to Fox News.

    However, the final result will come down to key in the undeclared battleground states such as Georgia, Arizona, and Pennsylvania, BBC reported.

    So far, Republican Donald Trump is projected to win 23 states, including Ohio, Texas, and Florida.

    Trump has alleged fraud saying he will launch a Supreme Court challenge.

    Likewise, Biden’s campaign calls Trump’s statement “outrageous” saying that the counting will not stop.

    In a brief statement Wednesday afternoon, Biden said his campaign was on track to win 270 electoral votes but that he was not declaring victory until the count was completed in key states.

    “Here, the people rule. Power can’t be taken or asserted,” Biden said, in a speech in which he tried to create the aura of a winner, pledging to bring the country together and to work for national healing as president.

    Over 100 million people cast their ballots in early voting before the Election Day, setting the country on course for the highest turnout in a century.

    To be elected, a presidential candidate must win at least 270 votes in what is called the Electoral College.

    (With inputs from Agencies)

  • ‘Improved’ badge ready for parliament Members

    ‘Improved’ badge ready for parliament Members

    Kathmandu: The Federal Parliament Secretariat says it has improved the badge for federal lawmakers after it drew criticisms from stakeholders including the lawmakers themselves and the public.

    Earlier in August, the secretariat had unveiled the new badge for the lawmakers so as to reflect the change made in the national emblem as per the country’s new political map. However, it was heavily criticised for being more kitschy than artistic. Following that, the secretariat had returned the badges to its producer, urging it to replace them by the improved ones at no cost.

    The secretariat’s spokesperson Roj Nath Pandey says the new badges have been ready to use. House of Representatives Speaker Agni Prasad Sapkota and National Assembly Chairman Ganesh Prasad Timilsina have already begun using it, he says, adding other lawmakers can also visit the secretariat to collect their pieces.

  • 17 people died of the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in Nepal

    17 people died of the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours in Nepal

    KATHMANDU: A total of 17 people died of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours in Nepal.

    According to the Ministry of Health and Population, the coronavirus death toll has reached 904 as of Thursday afternoon with the new deaths.

    Meanwhile, Nepal’s COVID-19 tally has reached 164,718 as of Thursday afternoon after 2,634 persons tested positive for coronavirus in the last 24 hours. According to the Ministry of Health and Population, altogether 9,769 sample tests were conducted across the country in the past 24 hours.

    A total of 3,038 individuals got discharged from the hospitals in the past 24 hours while the number of people winning the battle against the virus reached 124,862 in the country. Nepal currently has 38,952 active cases. Likewise, 2,689 people are in quarantine facilities across the country at present.