All major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Monday have given the top priority to the failure of government to table and endorse a bill introduced to replace the Medical Education Ordinance owing to the protest of main opposition Nepali Congress. In a parallel development of events, medical education reform activist Dr Govinda KC is staging an indefinite hunger strike in Jumla of Karnali, and it has also received significant attention.
The monsoon system is reportedly active in all parts of the country and it is likely to trigger landslides and floods, according to newspaper reports. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government to provide compensation to families of some children who were found to be killed due to vaccination; and this issue has also received significant coverage on the front pages today.
Important
Congress blocks govt from tabling Medical Education Bill
The government was planning to propose suspension of some parliamentary rules to endorse the National Medical Education Ordinance Replacement Bill from House of Representatives on Sunday. However, the main opposition Nepali Congress opposed to both contents of the bill and the process it was brought, warning of obstructing the House meeting. Therefore, the government later withdrew the bill, according to newspaper reports.
Republica says the party is opposing the bill alleging that it seeks to benefit only the ruling Nepal Communist Party leaders and cadres who have huge investments in the medical education sector.
Meanwhile, Minister for Education, Science and Technology Giriraj Mani Pokharel has called on the main opposition party to help the government endorse the government, Gorkhapatra writes.
Floods likely in many parts of the country
The Flood Forecasting Section of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has forecast fairly widespread rainfall in most parts of the country for three days beginning Monday; consequently floods are expected in some places, according to a four-column story in The Himalayan Times.
Districts including Gorkha, Dhaing, Lamjung, Kaski, Kathmandu, Lalitpur, Bhaktapur, Nuwakot, Dolakha among others are expected to witness heavy rainfall today, and there might be flash floods in small rivers there, according to the Section.
The Kathmandu Post says that Koshi, Narayani and Mahakali rivers are said to witness floods below the danger level, but Narayani and its rivulets could swell significantly on Monday.
Meanwhile, India has constructed a dam in Gandak River and it has increased the risk of inundation in border areas of Nawalparai in Nepal, according to Rajdhani.
Supreme Court orders for compensation to families of ‘vaccine victims’
Four children in Doti district of far-western Nepal died after getting vaccinated against measles six years ago. Responding to a writ filed in connecting with the case, a division bench of Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government to provide compensation to families of the victims within next three months, concluding that innocent children died due to the irresponsible act of the state, according to Gorkhapatra anchor story.
A family will get Rs 1 million.
Meanwhile, the Court has also urged the government to implement vaccination programmes after sufficient pretesting, according to Annapurna Post.
Ignored
Examination Controller recalled to Ministry after SEE result errors
Following technical errors in publication of results of the Secondary Education Examination, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology has recalled Examination Controller Ambika Prasad Regmi to the Ministry, reports Naya Patrika.
The decision was made after a probe panel formed to investigate into the issue submitted its report to Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel.
Textile smuggling rampant
Karobar reports that textile smuggling has been rampant in Nepal of late as domestic industry only supplies 10 per cent of total demand.
Of total amount of clothes to be brought to Nepal from foreign countries, half are illegally imported evading tax and it incurs a loss of around Rs 20 billion to the state, according to the report.
Ramechhap school has three teachers for three students
A primary school in Manthali, the headquarters of Ramechhap district, has just three students and three teachers in three classes, Kantipur writes in its anchor story.
Panchakanya Basic School located in Nabughat, Manthali-6, has one student each in grades I, II and III. The school, however, does not have any problem for physical infrastructure and furniture, according to the report.
Interesting
Armed Police Force adopts new structure
Nepal Samacharpatra reports that the paramilitary Armed Police Force has adopted a new structure in line with the country’s new federal setup. Now onwards, the APF will have its structures in all seven provinces.
The force has also fixed the number of units and human resources required for each province.
NCP has land, buildings worth Rs 3 billion
The lead story in Annapurna Post reports that the ruling Nepal Communist Party has land and buildings worth over Rs 3 billion in various parts of the country. In Kathmandu Valley, the party has five buildings. Moreover, it also has a posh land in New Delhi of India, according to the report.
Nepali Congress prepares for mass training programme
In a bid to improve the party organisation, the main opposition party Nepali Congress s planning to launch a mass training programme for its cadres across the country, according to Rajdhani anchor story. The party has concluded that its loss in last year’s elections was evident of the party’s weakened organisation, therefore it is launching a nationwide campaign to revive the the party from the grassroots level, according to the report.
