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OFF THE BLOCKS

- by Republica

Universal health coverage of all Nepalis is a brilliant idea. It appears realistic too. Since 2012, the government has been piloting the scheme in three districts—Ilam, Kailali and Baglung—to great success. The success of the pilot program is the reason it is being expanded to 25 districts this year, with the goal of covering all 75 districts within three years, as announced by Finance Minister Bishnu Paudel in his recent budget speech. As per the model, each family will have to pay a monthly premium of Rs 2,500 in return for which it will be eligible for treatment worth Rs 50,000 should one of the family members fall sick. Since the state has already heavily subsidized treatments of nine major health aliments—heart disease, kidney-related disease and cancer among them—it means that no Nepali will be deprived of healthcare. This will be the case since the government will also pay the premiums of the families living below the absolute poverty line, the elderly, the disabled and even those who were displaced by last year's earthquakes. This is terrific news. It, however, does not mean that the road to universal healthcare for all Nepalis will be free of challenges.

Justify it

Whether or not there was a 'gentleman's agreement' (and we suspect there was one) between CPN-UML and now CPN (Maoist Center) on government change, we don't see any rationale for Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli passing the baton to Maoist supremo Pushpa Kamal Dahal if Dahal, too, will head a coalition government. A change of government only makes sense if Dahal, or some other political leader, enjoys the support of the three major parties as well as the protesting Federal Alliance and can hence form a government of national unity. For it won't be possible to amend the new constitution to address the concerns of the protesting alliance without the support of either Congress (the largest party in parliament) or UML (the second largest). Which is why rather than getting into an argy-bargy over the gentleman's agreement, the major political forces must urgently work towards a government of national unity. The question of who gets to lead such a government—Oli, Dahal or Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba—will in that case be of academic interest.

Chaos, united

Trade unionism in Nepal The history of trade unions can be traced back to the heydays of the Industrial Revolution at the fag-end of the 18th century. As more and more people came to be employed in machine-driven organized industries—as compared to the earlier times when subsistence farming and small hand-driven cottage industries were the norm—they felt they needed an organization to collectively bargain on their behalf. Indeed, the trade unions thus formed were extremely effective in securing the rights of menial laborers from the unscrupulous robber barons who owned these factories at the time. In the over two-century-long evolution of trade unions since, their basic role—to collectively bargain for the rights of workers—has remained unchanged. But in third world countries like Nepal characterized by continued political instability, the trade unions, rather than speak up for the rights of workers, have come to be handmaidens of political parties. Acing as their proxies, trade unions in Nepal have become notorious for pushing competing political agendas.

Man arrested for pedophilia

- by Republica

RATNANAGAR (CHITWAN), June 6: The police here has arrested a man on the charge of pedophilia.  Police arrested 53-year-old Himlal Sunar of Narayani Municipality-10 in west Chitwan for his involvement in sexually abusing a 13-year-old boy from the locality.

All services except emergency closed at District Hospital, Baitadi, for indefinite period

- by Republica

BAITADI, June 6: All services except emergency have been closed at District Hospital, Baitadi, from today for an indefinite period.  Health workers closed all services except emergency for the indefinite period protesting against the smearing soot on the face of Chief at the District Health Office, Baitadi, Dr Gunraj Awasthi, misbehaving to him on Sunday.

CDP fails to function as per its guidelines

KATHMANDU, June 6: The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has pointed out that the budget allocated for the Constituency Development Programme (CDP) was being diverted to programmes other than those mentioned in the guidelines.  Government started providing Rs 10 million to each directly elected Member of Parliament (MP) for the CDP since 2071/072 BS. The amount was hiked to Rs 10.5 million in 2072/073.

PM Oli urges youths to find work at home rather than go abroad

PM Oli urges youths to find work at home rather than go abroad

- by Republica

KATHMANDU, June 6: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government has prioritised job creation at home.  Inaugurating the 23rd National Convention of the Federation of Nepal Cottage and Small Industries (FNCSI) and the 20th women entrepreneurs' conference here today, PM Oli asserted that the government's policies and programmes as well as the budget were centred on creating employment opportunities within the country itself.

Minister Paswan to be airlifted to India

- by Republica

KATHMANDU, June 6: Preparations are underway to airlift Minister for Population and Environment, Bishwendra Paswan to New Delhi, India for further treatment.

Land reform minister urges employees not to engage in any activities that defame country

ITAHARI, June 6: Minister for Land Reform and Management Ram Kumar Subba today said that technical manpower of the country working to protect the public property and people should refrain from doing anything wrong that defamed the country.  Inaugurating the eastern regional workshop organised by the district office of the Survey Department in Itahari in Sunsari, the minister informed that records of only 35 percent of the total land of the country were available.

Gurung's condition serious but stable

Gurung's condition serious but stable

- by Republica

KATHMANDU, June 5: Health condition of veteran musician Amber Gurung is critical but stable.  Gurung, has long been ailing from diabetes, high blood pressure and Parkinson's disease, is receiving treatment at Grande Hospital for the past few days.

Unequal societies

Unequal societies

- by Ngaire Woods

Many suspect that the rich are getting richer because they are not held to the same rules as everyone else

Top priority

Speaking on the occasion of the World Environment Day on Sunday, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli pointed out how it is tricky for an underdeveloped country like Nepal to strike a balance between development and environment conservation.

Madhes movement made businesses go bust

- by Mithilesh Yadav

MIRCHAIYA (SIRAHA), June 6: Majhau village is located close to Mirchaiya, an emerging business hub in Siraha district. Recently, the village was merged with Mirchaiya Municipality. Becoming part of a municipality has not changed the face of the erstwhile village.

7 appellate courts to become high courts

- by Ashok Dahal

Nine to be converted into high court benches KATHMANDU, June 6: The government has registered a bill at the Parliament Secretariat to replace the existing 16 appellate courts with seven high courts, in accordance with provisions of the new Constitution.