Most of Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Tuesday have given the top priority to the contribution-based social security scheme the government is launching today. The government has claimed it will be the beginning of new era in terms of rights of the labourers. Meanwhile, the government’s Social Security Fund has provided a jacket advertisements to all daily broadsheets published from Kathmandu today.
Gorkhapatra and Republica have published reports about the Finance Ministry rejecting a proposal of the Federal Parliament Secretariat to buy new vehicles for legislative officials. Likewise, the warning of fresh fast-unto-death by medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has also been featured on the front page of major newspapers today.
There are some other issues from political, sociocultural and financial spheres that have been featured on the front page of major newspapers today.
Important
What is new social security fund all about?
Kantipur says the new scheme has four major components: medical security, disability security, old age security, dependent family security. Meanwhile, The Himalayan Times reports in its lead story that employees have to contribute 11 per cent of their basic pay whereas the employers have to contribute 20 per cent.
The scheme will add a burden of Rs 163 billion to the state fund, according to Nagarik.
Finance Ministry restricts Parliament from buying new vehicles
The Ministry of Finance has turned down a request of the Federal Parliament Secretariat to buy 23 new vehicles for legislative officials, according to Gorkhapatra and Republica.
The Secretariat had demanded that it be provided with Rs 200 million for the purchase of 23 vehicles, some computers and furniture, but the Ministry released only Rs 30 million, Gorkhapatra informs.
Provinces prepare to recruit staff
Kantipur and The Himalayan Times report that Province 2 Assembly has passed a new bill to let the provincial government to recruit its employees on contract till permanent staffers are in place in various offices.
Meanwhile, the Sudurpashchim provincial government has also launched similar preparations, according to a brief story in Naya Patrika. The government there has formed a task force to formulate a procedure for the recruitment.
Dr Govinda KC’s fresh ultimatum
Nepal Samacharpatra, Rajdhani, Kantipur, Naya Patrika and Republica report that medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC has issued a three week ultimatum to the government to find out the murderer of Nirmala Pant and implement earlier agreements signed with him.
Dr KC says he will stage a hunger strike from December 15 if the government fails to meet the ultimatum.
Ignored
Auditor General to look into INGOs’ accounts
The Office of the Auditor General has begun looking into the property and financial transactions of international non-government organisations in Nepal, Karobar reports in its lead story.
The Office says it has already summoned related documents from various agencies including Ministry of Finance, Social Welfare Council and district administration offices, according to the report.
Lawmakers demand fast track work halted
Republica reports in a four column story that some lawmakers have demanded that the ongoing works for the construction of Kathmandu-Tarai fast track be halted till the detailed project report is ready.
Speakers of a meeting of the State Affairs Committee in Parliament yesterday, the lawmakers said the project should be halted as locals in Khokana and Pharsidol areas of Lalitpur have launched a protest, according to the report.
Janakpur railway technology is one of the oldest in the world
The government looks quite excited about resuming a railway in Janakpur within next few months, but the technology it is adopting for the project is one of the oldest of the world, Naya Patrika reports in a brief story, adding the railway’s speed will be restricted to 35 km per 90 minutes.
Many army positions are vacant for months
The Kathmandu Post reports in a three column story that a key position in Nepal Army are vacant for last few months as Chief of Army Staff Purna Chandra Thapa failed to take a decision on time.
The report informs that the position of the chief of general staff is vacant since the promotion of Thapa to the top post on September 9.
According to Army Regulations, there should be two lieutenant generals, but only one, Hemant Kunwar, is on duty. Major General Anuj Bahadur Basnet is the only contender to fill the vancancy, but Thapa is reluctant to promote him, the report claims.
Interesting
Nepali teen dancing for 6 days hours with Guinness hope
A Nepali teenage girl has been dancing with a hope of establishing herself as a Guinness Book of World Records holder, Rajdhani reports in its lead story. The 17-year-old Bandana Nepal has started the dance from 7 am on Friday, November 23, and she has to continue it till 12 noon on Wednesday, to contest for the record, according to the report.
