KATHMANDU, April 7: Minister for Industry, Nabindra Raj Joshi has declared that the state-owned Udayapur Cement Factory and Hetauda Cement Factory will set aside Re 1 to Rs 2 from every sack of cement they sell and the amount thus collected will be used for the welfare of children.

“This amount can easily accumulate to Rs 10 million, which will then be utilized for the welfare of children,” said the minister at a meeting of the Ministry of Industry on Friday, adding that the decision will be announced by a meeting of the Industry Board.

In the meeting, Minister Joshi also urged the private business firms to fulfill their corporate social responsibility (CSR) towards children.

Minister Joshi said that children should not be sleeping on empty stomach and deprived of education. Joshi said so while reacting to a news report published in Republica - “The never ending miseries of Musahars” on April 1. The article which brought to light that Musahars are forced to sleep on empty stomach and drink muddy water, grabbed the government's attention, said Joshi.

The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF), International Labour Organization (ILO), and representatives of industrial sectors attended the meeting. Secretary at the Ministry, Shankar Prasad Koirala also said the corporate houses should fulfill their responsibility and protect child rights.

 
• udayapur cement factory
 
• children's welfare fund
 
• nabindra raj joshi