Ratopati English
भाद्र २०७८

CM Pokharel for proper implementation of Constitution

POKHARA, September 19: Chief Minister of Gandaki Krishnachandra Nepali Pokhrel has said that good governance cannot be maintained without proper implementation of the Constitution. Expressing good wishes on the occasion of the Constitution Day today, he said that political stability could be maintained through constitutional rule. "For political stability, the government, political parties, civil society and all the people need to increase their belonging and faith in the Constitution and increase ownership towards it," he said.

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सम्बन्धित सामग्री

SC halts govt’s decision to remove NEA board members

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has directed the government to halt the implementation of its decision to remove Bhakta Bahadur Pun and Kapil Acharya from their positions as Board of Directors of the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). On Thursday, SC Justice Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued an interim order preventing the government from enforcing the dismissal […]

Khabarhub English 1 महिना पहिले

UML leader stresses implementation of BRI projects

Ananda Pokharel says the Chinese initiative presents both opportunities and challenges for Nepal.

The Kathmandu Post फाल्गुन २०८०

SC blocks suspension of Health Insurance Board’s Executive Director Dr Basaula

KATHMANDU: The Supreme Court (SC) has issued an order preventing the suspension of Executive Director of Health Insurance Baoard Dr. Damodar Basaula. A joint bench comprising Justices Hari Prasad Phyual and Sunil Kumar Pokharel issued the directive, preventing the implementation of the suspension order previously issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and Council […]

Khabarhub English मंसिर २०८०

Spread rate of Rastra Bank shrinks as Bank profits decrease

Prayas Shrestha Kathmandu - The banks and finance companies in which Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) is said to reduce the goods by 0.4 percent, their spread rate will only be implemented from the next financial year. The integrated directive, 2078 which the central bank had issued to banks and financial institutions of categories A, B, and C have been revised on Wednesday. According to the revised integrated directive by the central bank, the average interest rate difference (spread rate) set by the monetary policy will only be implemented from Asar 2080. The bank reviewed the monetary policy of the fiscal year 2079-80 and stated that the spread rate of commercial banks will be reduced by 0.4 percent from the previous spread of 4.4 percent to 4 percent, while the average interest rate difference between development banks and finance companies will be maintained to 4.6 percent from 5 percent. But NRB states that this policy will be postponed this year and will be implemented from the next year on. Rather, NRB states that it will only reduce the spread rate up to 0.2 percent, backing away from its decision to cut the spread by 0.4 percent. The integrated directive, 2078 which NRB has revised, states that the banks and finance companies should maintain an average interest rate gap of 4.2 percent and 4.8 percent respectively from Chaitra 2079 onwards.   Why did Nepal Rastra Bank back away from its own decision? To reduce the impact of the recently increased interest rate on production, NRB adopted a policy to reduce the spread rate by reviewing the monetary policy. Due to the high-interest rates, the industrial businessmen protested against the bank saying that it was impossible to do business and the movement is still ongoing. When the pressure of the businessmen started affecting NRB directly-indirectly, the bank decided to address the demand by reducing the spread rate through monetary policy, thus backing away from its own decision. "Monetary policy will take aim, and implementation will happen only after the circular." Even though the quarterly review was said to reduce the spread rate by 0.4 percent, as it is not appropriate to reduce it immediately based on the needs, the policy of gradually reducing the spread rate has been adopted,' Narayan Prasad Pokharel, the co-spokesperson of NRB, told Ratopati. After the review of the monetary policy, the circular of NRB said that it will reduce the spread rate by 0.2 percent after the middle of Chaitra 2079, and by 0.4 percent only after the middle of Asar 2080, rather than reduce the spread rate by 0.4 percent directly.   The concern of Bank's profit It seems that NRB, which has made a policy of reducing the spread rate to control the interest rate of loans, has acted due to the banks' profit concerns. The interest rate of the loan also decreases, upon the decrease of the spread rate. It is seen that the banks are putting pressure on NRB to not reduce the spread rate after the profit shrinks. Currently, the interest rate of deposits of commercial banks is 12.13 percent. If the spread rate is maintained at 4.4 percent, the interest rate of loans will reach 16.53 percent. But when the spread rate decreases by 0.4 percent, the interest rate of the loan will reach only 16.13 percent and the profit will decrease making the banks suspicious. However, the interest rate of the loan is also affected by the base rate of the banks and the premium charge. The problem of the interest rate is now, but why did NRB postpone the implementation of the spread rate policy of 4 percent to the next financial year? To the question, the co-spokesperson of NRB, Pokharel said, "It is impossible to cure every disease at once." Even if there is a severe disease, treatment must be done gradually. Thus, NRB adopted a policy of reducing the spread rate by 0.2 percent after Chaitra and by another 0.2 percent after Asar. This decision has been taken by keeping in mind that if the spread rate is reduced by 0.4 percent at once, there will be huge pressure on the banks. But since the liquidity in the financial market is getting easier in recent times, the interest rate is seen to decrease automatically, so there is no need to grab the reins of the spread rate according to Pokharel. NRB has stated that the inter-banking interest rate of 8.5 percent has dropped down to 7 percent.

Ratopati English मंसिर २०७९

Govt to enforce time-card for vehicles

The government has decided to implement a time-card provision in all long- and short-route public vehicles targeting the upcoming festival season to discourage and prevent possible road accidents. A meeting of the committee formed on September 23 under the coordination of Joint Secretary and Spokesperson for the Home Ministry Fanindra Mani Pokharel on Saturday made 14-different decisions, including the implementation of time card in public vehicles. The government had formed a six-member body led by Pokharel to prevent road accidents and manage traffic during the festivals.

The Rising Nepal भाद्र २०७९

Country pursuing constitution implementation: UML leader Pokharel

CPN (UML) senior vice chairperson Ishwor Pokharel has said the country was pursuing the implementation of the constitution.

The Rising Nepal आषाढ २०७९

Calling for actionable measures to ensure safety of journalists in South Asia

KATHMANDU, June 1: UNESCO, in collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission, Nepal, and the Federation of Nepali Journalists organized a two-day regional consultation to assess the safety of journalists in South Asia on May 31 and June 1, 2022, in Kathmandu. The event was a part of a global series of consultations by UNESCO to mark the 10th anniversary of the United Nations Plan of Action on Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (UNPA). The consultation included journalists, media experts, media rights activists, human rights defenders, and government officials from Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, India, the Maldives, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. “The UN Plan of Action has achieved a number of milestones over the last decade, but clearly more still needs to be done. This regional consultation provides an opportunity for all of us to strategize our collective future action in order to implement it more effectively over the next decade. We will need to build upon the success stories and the lessons learned as well as explore new and better ways of implementing the Plan in the region,” said Michael Croft, UNESCO Representative to Nepal. The two-day event aimed at assessing the progress the South Asia region has made in adopting the UNPA and strategizing how it could be implemented more effectively, building upon the success stories and the lessons learned from the region. “Journalists have played important roles in informing citizens and also making public officials accountable during difficult times such as the devastating earthquake of 2015 in Nepal and during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are some reasons why all democratic states must work to ensure a safe and enabling environment for journalists to do their work. This is possible when those who attack media and journalists are brought to justice,” said Gyanendra Bahadur Karki, Minister for Communication and Information Technology, Nepal. Talking about the progress Nepal has made in implementing the UNPA, the minister added that a safety mechanism has been formed for the journalists within the Nepal National Human Rights Commission. “The Commission has prepared the guideline for the protection of the freedom of expression. Based on the guideline, a journalists’ safety mechanism has been formed,” said Top Bahadur Magar, Chairperson of the National Human Rights Commission. When operational, the mechanism, led by the member of the Commission will have a rapid response team to take the action on threats. “We can only act as a pressure group. But the actionable measures can only be achieved in coordination with the commission for the human rights and agencies such as UNESCO. Dialogues, such as these, are important steps in that direction,” said Bipul Pokharel, Chairperson of the Federation of Nepali Journalists in Nepal. Sangita Khadka, Chairperson of the Minimum Wage Fixation Committee highlighted the issues of professional safety of the journalists in terms of media sustainability. The first day of the event focused on the human rights aspect of journalists’ safety and included presentations from Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka assessing the status of UNPA implementation in the respective countries. A session hosted by International Media Support (IMS) discussed best practices and lessons from the regional countries. Three focused group discussions were organized on day two of the event. The groups discussed journalists’ safety under three thematic areas: -Constitutional and legal environment - Journalists are at the forefront of the news, and -The digital battle. A photo exhibition portraying journalists in action was also displayed on the sidelines of the event by The Federation of Nepali Journalists. The outcomes of the regional consultation will inform a ministerial conference in Vienna, Austria, this November convened by the Austrian Minister of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with UNESCO and the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights (OHCHR), back-to-back with the International Day to End Impunity on 2 November. The United Nations Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity (UNPA) was adopted in 2012 to create a free and safe environment for journalists and media workers everywhere. The Plan of Action advocates, among other things, for the establishment of mechanisms to assist in the formulation and implementation of national legislation that enhances the safety of journalists, freedom of expression, and access to information, in compliance with international rules and principles.

Ratopati English बैशाख २०७९

Four years of federalism: 14 chief ministers, 124 ministers

KATHMANDU: Nepal has been practicing three-tier governments exclusively since 2017 following the implementation of the Constitution of Nepal-2015 through the local level, provincial and federal level elections held in 2017.  There are as many as 753 local governments, seven provincial governments and a federal government as per the constitution.  These governments are expected to exercise their powers as mentioned in the constitution. However, a number of questions have been raised time and again over their structure and performances.  The provincial governments have been blamed for frequently reshuffling ministers, even the chief ministers, promoting corruption and imposing economic burdens.  Amid these allegations, Ratopati has attempted to analyze the data regarding the change in provincial governments, number of chief ministers and ministers in the past four years.  As the data shows, the seven provinces have so far witnessed 14 chief ministers and a total of 124 ministers since February 11, 2018 the date when CPN-UML’s Dormani Poudel was appointed chief minister of Bagmati Province.  In an attempt to maintain power-sharing and safeguard the governments, the new chief ministers have been engaged in splitting ministers and adding more economic burden.  Let’s take an example of Gandaki Province where the first Chief Minister Prithvi Subba Gurung had an eight-member Cabinet while his successor expanded it to 12-member.  Lumbini’s former CM Shankar Pokharel’s 12-member Cabinet was expanded to 16-member strong by new CM Kul Prasad KC.  With the change in the federal government, the number of provincial chiefs has been recorded at 24. Province 1 got three province chiefs and Province 2 four. Similarly, Bagmati has so far got three governors while Gandaki and Lumbini witnessed four chief ministers each. Likewise, three governors have so far been changed in Karnali and four in Sudur Paschim provinces.  Province 1: Three CMs, 16 ministers  Province 1 has witnessed four chief ministers and 16 ministers in the past four years.  UML’s Sherdhan Rai was the first to lead the province, followed by Bhim Acharya of the same party. Rai resigned in August 2021 ending his 3.5-year tenure, giving a way out for his fellow party leader Acharya to succeed him. Acharya, however, stepped down as the chief minister ahead of voting on his confidence motion. CPN (Unified Socialist)’s the parliamentary party leader in the province, Rajendra Rai succeeded him.  The Sherdhan Rai Cabinet used to have eight ministers. Acharya could not induct more than eight Cabinet members.  New CM Rai introduced five ministers in his Cabinet including one minister of state. Rai is reportedly preparing to add ten ministers soon.  Dr Govinda Bahadur, who was appointed governor of Province 1 in 2017, was succeeded by Somnath Adhikari and Parshuram Khapung.  Province 2: 1 CM, 9 ministers Though Province 2 has had the same chief minister since the very beginning, CM Lalbabu Raut has expanded the size of Cabinet from seven to nine to include Nepali Congress (NC) and CPN (Maoist Center) in the government. He is also preparing to induct two ministers from CPN (US).  Social Development and Physical Infrastructure Development ministers were split to create the Women, Children and Sports Ministry and Drinking Water and Energy Development Ministry.  Similarly, another new ministry --- Commerce, Supply and Science has also been formed, splitting the Economic Affairs and Planning Ministry.  Earlier CM Raut, in an attempt to remain in power, sacked three ministers including two ministers of state --- Jitendra Sonal, Dimple Jha and Abhiram Sharma---  close to the Janata Samajbadi Party (JSP) Chairman Mahantha Thakur.  The province has so far got four province chiefs including Ratneshwar Lal Kayastha, Tilak Pariyar, Rajesh Ahiraj and Hari Shankar Mishra.  Bagmati: Three CMs, 24 ministers  Bagmati, too, has seen changes in the provincial government. Dormani Poudel, the first chief minister of the province, was succeeded by his party’s Ashta Laxmi Shakya. Shakya, who recorded her name as the first women CM, resigned after she was sure to lose a confidence motion. CPN (US) leader Rajendra Pandey was sworn in as the chief minister of the province, who recently won a trust motion as well.  The province has so far got 24 ministers during various Cabinet reshuffles and changes in governments. Ten ministers were introduced in the Poudel-led Cabinet, 11 in the Shakya government and three in the Pandey government. CM Pandey is preparing to expand his Cabinet.  As many as three governors have served Bagamti Province including Anuradha Koirala [appointed by the Deuba-led Cabinet in 2017], Bishnu Prasai [by Oli government] and Yadav Chandra Sharma [by incumbent Deuba government].  Gandaki: Two CMs, 19 ministers  Gandaki Province has so far got UML’s Prithvi Subba Gurung and Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokharel as its chief ministers. Gurung, who almost remained in power for around three and a half years, appointed eight ministers in the province. But, the current CM Nepali has a Cabinet that comprises 12 ministers. Of them, only Rajeev Gurung, who was appointed the Minister for Youths and Sports in the previous government-led by Gurung, is currently having his second inning. Later, after the Nepali Congress appointed Pokharel as the CM of the Province, he inducted five ministers from the NC, four from the CPN (Maoist Center), one from JSP while Rajeev Gurung was appointed as an independent candidate. Likewise, on January 17, 2018, the then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba had appointed Babu Ram Kuwar as the chief of Gandaki Province, who was later dismissed by the KP Sharma Oli-led government and appointed Amik Sherchan in the post. Earlier in May, Sita Kumari Poudel was appointed the chief of the province. Currently, Prithvi Man Gurung has been appointed as the chief of Gandaki Province following the formation of a coalition government led by the Nepali Congress. Lumbini Province: Two CMs, 28 ministers UML parliamentary party leader in Lumbini Province was appointed the first chief minister of the province after 2017 elections. During his tenure, he had inducted a total of 12 ministers.  Maoist’s Kul Prasad KC succeeded Pokharel. He is currently leading the 16-member jumbo Cabinet.  With this, the province has so far got 28 ministers.  The Deuba-led government in 2017 named Umakant Jha as the province chief who was later replaced by Dharma Nath Yadav during PM Oli’s tenure. Yadav, however, was dismissed and was succeeded by Amik Sherchan in August, earlier this year.  Karnali Province: 2 CMs, 12 ministers  Karnali, too, witnessed the change in chief minister. Maoist leader Mahendra Bahadur, who took the helm of the Karnali government for more than three and a half years, resigned earlier in October as per the power sharing agreement between the ruling alliance. NC’s Jeevan Bahadur Shahi has taken over the command of the province.  As many as 12 ministers were appointed during former CM Shahi’s tenure. Nanda Singh Budha was the one to be appointed as the minister twice.  Similarly, the province has so far got three province chiefs including Durga Keshar Khanal, Govinda Prasad Kalauni and Tilak Pariyar.  Sudur Paschim : 1 CM, 16 ministers  Sudur Paschim is one of the two provinces which has not yet witnessed government change. Trilochan Bhatta, Maoist Center PP leader, has been taking charge of the provincial government since 2018. His 11-member cabinet includes two repeated ministers and five new ministers during the reshuffles.  The federal government has so far sent four governors to the province including Mohan Raj Malla, the first in the province. Malla was replaced by Sharmila Pathak who was later succeeded by Ganga Prasad Yadav. Yadav, too, was replaced by Dev Raj Joshi recently.

Ratopati English आश्विन २०७८

CM Pokharel for proper implementation of Constitution - Khabarhub

POKHARA: Chief Minister of Gandaki Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel has said that good governance cannot be maintained without proper implementation of the

Khabarhub English भाद्र २०७८

UML’s second-rung leaders making final attempts to save party unity

KATHMANDU, July 17: Second-rung leaders of the CPN-UML have resumed their talk in a bid to save the party unity.  The leaders are holding a meeting at the UML parliamentary party office in Singha Durbar to forge consensus and keep party unity intact. According to a source, most members of the 10-member task force, which the UML Standing Committee meeting dissolved on Friday, joined the meeting.   The task force comprised Bhim Rawal, Ghanashyam Bhusal, Surendra Pandey, Raghuji Pant and Gorkarna Bista from the senior leader Madhav Kumar Nepal side while Subash Chandra Nemang, Bishnu Poudel, Pradeep Gyawali, Shankar Pokharel and Bishnu Rimal represented Chairman KP Sharma Oli faction. UML secretaries Prithvi Subba Gurung, Yogesh Bhattarai and Bhim Acharya also joined Saturday’s meeting.  The leaders are reportedly holding consultations as party witnesses issues over the implementation of the 10-point deal finalized by the taskforce on July 12.

Ratopati English आषाढ २०७८

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