एक दशक अघि एसएलसी उत्तीर्ण गरेपछि अध्ययन र जागिरको सपना बोकेर ओखलढुङ्गा कुन्तादेवीबाट राजधानी छिरेका मनोज दाहालले बिमा अभिकर्ताको तालिम लिए । पैसा कमाउने र आˆनो पढाइ खर्च चलाउनका लागि हौसिएर यो व्यवसायमा लागेका उनको सपना दुई महिना पनि टिक्न सकेन । केही साथीभाइ र आफन्तको बिमा गराएका उनले यो पेसामा टिक्न नसकेका कारण वैकल्पिक पेसा रोज्न बाध्य भएँ, उनी भन्छन्- त्यो पेसामा टिक्न कठिन रहेछ ।
दाहालजस्तै बिमा अभिकर्ता भएपछि रातारात कमाइन्छ भन्ने भ्रम बोकेर यो पेसामा छिर्नेको लर्को निकै लामो छ । बिमा अभिकर्ता भएपछि केही गर्न नसकेर वा समयदिन नसकेर निस्त्रिmय बन्नेहरूको सङ्ख्या पनि उत्तिकै ठूलो छ । अभिकर्ताको तालिम लियो अनि बिमा गराउनका लागि एक-दुई महिना ग्राहक खोज्दै हिँड्यो अनि पलायन भयो, अहिले धेरे अभिकर्ताको यथार्थ हो । बिमा समितिको तथ्याङ्क अनुसार बिमा अभिकर्ताका लागि हालसम्म एक लाखभन्दा बढीले इज्जत लिइसकेका छन् । त्यसमध्ये करिब ३२ हजार अभिकर्ताहरू मात्र अहिले क्रियाशील छन् । सामान्य योग्यता अर्थात् एसएलसी उत्तीर्ण भएपछि अभिकर्ता हुन पाइने प्रावधान छ । छिर्न जति सजिलो छ काम गर्न उत्तिकै अˆठ्यारो भएका कारण यसैलाई दीर्घकालीन पेसा/व्यवसायको रूपमा अगाडि बढाउन नसकेको अभिकर्ताहरू बताउँछन् । अभिकर्तामार्फत व्यवसायले उच्चतम सफलता प्राप्त गर्ने हुँदाहुँदै पनि इज्जत लिएर निष्त्रिmय भएर बसेका अभिकर्तालाई कम्पनीहरूले सक्रिय बनाउन सकेका छैनन् ।
समग्र बिमा व्यवसायको विकास र विस्तारलाई बलियो बनाउनका लागि उल्लेखनीय भूमिका निर्वाह गरिरहेका यस्ता अभिकर्ताहरूलाई नै उनीहरू आवद्ध कम्पनी तथा संस्थाले बिमा गराउँदैनन् ।
बिमा गराएबापत अभिकर्ताले बिमाको प्रकृति अनुसार पाँचदेखि २५ प्रतिशतसम्म कमिसन पाउँछन् । 'खाउँ भने दिनभरको शिकार, नखाउँ भने कान्छा बाको अनुहार' भन्ने उखान जस्तै यही कमिसनमा पनि राज्यले १५ प्रतिशत अगि्रम कर लिने गरेका कारण यसतर्फको आकर्षण घटेको अभिकर्ताहरू बताउँछन् । वैदेशिक रोजगार व्यवसायबाट प्राप्त भएको आम्दानीको पाँच प्रतिशत मात्र कर लिने व्यवस्था गरेकोमा बिमा अभिकर्ताका लागि भने १५ प्रतिशत अगि्रम कर लिने गरेका कारण समस्या आएको उनीहरूको भनाइ छ । कमिसनको आम्दानीमा अडिएको अभिकर्ताको पेसालाई जोगाउन बिमा क्षेत्रमै अनेक सुधारको खाँचो भएको जानकारहरू बताउँछन् । एक तथ्याङ्क अनुसार जीवन बिमा गर्ने नेपालीको सङ्ख्या कुल जनसङ्ख्याको करिब पाँच प्रतिशत रहेको छ । यसमा अधिकांश सहरबजारको जनसङ्ख्या रहेको छ । बिमा कम्पनीको सङ्ख्या थपिँदै जाँदा यसमा आवद्ध रहेको बिमा अभिकर्ताहरू भने अलपत्र अवस्थामा छ । मुलुकमा अहिले जीवन बिमा गर्ने आठ, निर्जीवन बिमा गर्ने १६ र जीवन तथा निर्जीवन बिमा गर्ने राष्ट्रिय बिमा संस्थानसमेत २५ वटा कम्पनी छन् । नेपालमा वि.सं.२००४ सालदेखि सुरु भएको बिमा व्यवसाय अझै सुदृढ हुन सकेको छैन । कम्पनीले जीवन बिमा गराउन ग्राहकहरूलाई अभिकर्ताद्वारा गराउन सुझाव दिन्छन् सिधै बिमा गराउँदा अभिकर्ताबाट पाउन सक्ने सुविधाबाट वञ्चित हुने बताउँछन् तर यसका लागि कम्पनीहरूले अभिकर्तालाई त्यस्तै किसिमको हैसियत प्रदान गर्नसमेत कन्जुस्याइर्ं गरिरहेको देखिन्छ । अभिकर्ता कार्यरत रहेको कम्पनीमा अभिकर्ताको बारेमा बुझ्न खोज्दा समेत कुनै जानकारी नपाइने परम्परा कायमै छ ।
नेपालको बिमा उद्योगलाई आधुनिकीकरण दिशामा लैजाने उद्देश्यका साथ समितिले काम गरिरहेको बिमा समितिका अध्यक्ष प्रा.डा. फत्तबहादुर केसी बताउनुहुन्छ । बिमा उद्योग फस्टाए त्यसको लाभ सरोकार निकाय सबैले पाउने भएकाले यसमा अभिकर्तालाई पनि कसरी समेटेर लैजान सकिन्छ त्यसका लागि समिति त्यसतर्फ क्रियाशील रहेको उहाँको भनाइ छ । सामाजिक सुरक्षाका साथै अर्थतन्त्रको विकासमा बिमा व्यवसाय जोडिएको हुँदा सीमित स्वार्थभन्दा पनि बृहत्तर हितका लागि काम गर्नु अहिलेको आवश्यकता भएको उहाँको मत छ ।
बिमा उद्योगका मेरुदण्ड बनेका अभिकर्ताको मिहिनेतको मूल्य कम्पनीले ख्याल गर्नुपर्ने पेसागत बिमा अभिकर्ता सङ्घका अध्यक्ष कपिलदेव ओलीको भनाइ छ । बिमाको शिक्षा र चेतना वृद्धितर्फ कम्पनी तथा संस्थाहरू क्रियाशील हुनुपर्ने भन्दै उहाँले बिमा समितिले पनि यो विषयलाई अझ व्यापक बनाउनुपर्ने आवश्यकता औंल्याउनुभयो ।
सङ्घका अध्यक्ष ओलीका अनुसार बिमा व्यवसायमा जस्तोसुकै संस्थाले पनि संस्थागत अभिकर्ताको काम गर्न पाउने भएकाले थप चुनौती बढेको छ । बिमाकै क्षेत्रमा काम गर्ने संस्थालाई मात्र अभिकर्ताको काम गर्न दिनुपर्छ भन्ने उहाँले माग गर्नुहुन्छ । बिमा समितिको गत चैतसम्मको तथ्याङ्क अनुसार ३८ वटा ओभरसिज, बैंक, वित्तीय संस्था, सेभिङ एण्ड क्रेडिट को-अपरेटिभ लिमिटेड, सेक्युरिटिज कम्पनी, यातायात उद्ययमशीलता तथा मजदूर कल्याणकारी कोष, सहकारी संस्था लिमिटेड, फाइनान्स कम्पनी, ट्रेनिङ इन्ष्िटच्युट, यातायात व्यवसायी संघलगायतका कम्पनी तथा संस्थाहरूले संस्थागत अभिकर्ताको काम गर्दै आएका छन् । जीवन बिमामा कुनै एकजनालाई बिमा गराएपछि अभिकर्ताले १० वर्षसम्म मात्र कमिसन पाउँछन् । अध्यक्ष ओली त्यसलाई बढाउनुपर्ने माग गर्नुहुन्छ । अहिले पनि धेरै बीमितलाई बिमा गर्नुको उद्देश्य समेत प्रस्ट भएको देखिँदैन । बिमा गराउने अभिकर्तामा पनि बीमितका आवश्यकता बुझेर उनीहरूलाई सन्तुष्ट गरी बिमा गराउने चलन पनि कमै देखिएको छ ।
बचत, लगानी, वित्तीय योजना, कर छूटका सुविधा, अत्यधिक खर्च गर्ने बानीलाई नियन्त्रण र जीवनमा आइपर्ने वित्तीय समस्या समाधान गर्ने उपायका रूपमा बिमालाई जनतामाझ बुझाउनु जरुरी भएको जानकारहरू बताउँछन् । अधिकांश बिमा अभिकर्ताले बिमा गरिएमा मरेपछि आˆना आफन्तले पैसा पाउँछ भन्ने गरेका हुन्छन् ।
बिमामा व्यवहारिक शिक्षा हालसम्म कुनै नियमन निकाय, संस्था तथा बिमा अभिकर्ताले दिन सकेका छैनन् । बिमा गराएर एकपटक पि्रमियम लिनु ठूलो कुरा होइन । बिमा अभिकर्ताका रूपमा एसएलसी मात्र पास भएको जनशक्तिले नपुग्ने अध्यक्ष ओली बताउनुहुन्छ । बिमा एक जोखिमसँग सम्बन्धित विषय भएकोले यो कहिले, कहाँ, कसरी र कतिबेला हुन्छ भन्ने कुरा अनिश्चित हुन्छ । जीवन बिमाअन्तर्गत आइपर्ने सम्भावित जोखिमहरूका कारण अर्थिक क्षति भएमा कम्पनीले वहन गर्ने गर्छ । यसरी जीवन बिमा गर्दा व्यक्तिको जोखिम कम्पनीले बहन गर्ने भएकोले यसलाई एक जोखिम हस्तान्तरण गर्ने प्रक्रियाको रूपमा लिन सकिन्छ । जीवन बिमा भनेको बीमक र बिमित बीच गरिने एक किसिमको करारपत्र हो भन्ने कुरालाई बिमा अभिकर्ताहरूले बुझाउन जरुरी हुन्छ जुन पर्याप्त मात्रामा हुन नसकेको बताइन्छ ।
अनेक कारणले हुन सक्छ, बिमाको महìव र यसका फाइदा बुझाएरभन्दा नियमित दबाब र करकाप गरेर बिमा गराउने प्रचलन बढी छ । बिमा अभिकर्ताको आचारसंहितामा करकापलाई दण्डनीय मानिएको छ तर त्यसको कार्यान्वयन हुन सकेको छैन । बिमा शिक्षामा जोड दिई अभिकर्ताको सीप, क्षमता र योग्यता बढाउनुपर्ने स्वयं अभिकर्ताहरू सहमत छन् । बिमा समितिका अध्यक्ष प्रा.डा. केसी भन्नुहुन्छ- अभिकर्ताहरूको क्षमता अभिवृद्धिमा समिति लागिरहेको छ । अभिकर्ताहरू यो व्यवसायका सद्भावना दूत नै हुन् । उनीहज्ञको हितमा नलाग्ने भन्ने हुन्न ।' मुलुकको कुल ग्राहस्र्थ उत्पादनमा अहिले बिमा क्षेत्रको साढे दुई प्रतिशत योगदान रहेको छ ।
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=50135&cat_id=19
Sunday, May 15, 2011
बिमा समिति ४२औँ वर्षमा
काठमाडौँ, वैशाख ३१ गते । मुलुकको बिमा क्षेत्रको नियमनकारी निकाय बिमा समिति आजबाट ४२औँ वर्षमा प्रवेश गरेको छ । वि.स.ं २०२५ सालमा बिमा समिति ऐन आएपछि २०२६ साल जेठ १ गते पहिलोपटक बसेको बिमा समितिको बैठकलाई बिमा समितिको जन्म मानेर स्थापना दिवस मनाइन्छ । बिमा समितिको वाषिर्कोत्सव अवसरमा विभिन्न महानुभावहरूले शुभकामना सन्देश दिनुभएको छ । त्यस अवसरमा दिनुभएको शुभकामनामा उपप्रधानमन्त्री तथा अर्थमन्त्री भरतमोहन अधिकारीले बिमासँग सम्बद्ध सबैलाई बधाई तथा शुभकामना व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ ।
अर्थमन्त्री अधिकारीले बिमा व्यवसायलाई स्वस्थ, गुणस्तरीय, प्रतिस्पर्धी, विश्वसनीय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्तरको सेवा प्रदान गर्न सक्ने बनाउन समितिले प्रभावकारी भूमिका निर्वाह गर्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ ।
त्यसै अवसरमा अर्थसचिव कृष्णहरि बास्कोटाले सीमित स्रोत हुँदाहुँदै पनि बिमा क्षेत्रलाई व्यवस्थित, नियमित, विकसित र प्रभावकारी बनाउन समितिले निर्वाह गरिरहेको भूमिकाको सराहना गर्नुभएको छ । बिमा समितिका अध्यक्ष प्रा.डा. फत्तबहादुर केसीले बिमा व्यवसायको उत्थानको निम्ति समिति प्रतिबद्ध रहेको प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ । यसैअवसरमा गोरखापत्र दैनिकले आठ पृष्ठको बिमा विशेष समेत प्रकाशित गरेको छ ।
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=50136&cat_id=19
अर्थमन्त्री अधिकारीले बिमा व्यवसायलाई स्वस्थ, गुणस्तरीय, प्रतिस्पर्धी, विश्वसनीय र अन्तर्राष्ट्रिय स्तरको सेवा प्रदान गर्न सक्ने बनाउन समितिले प्रभावकारी भूमिका निर्वाह गर्ने विश्वास व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ ।
त्यसै अवसरमा अर्थसचिव कृष्णहरि बास्कोटाले सीमित स्रोत हुँदाहुँदै पनि बिमा क्षेत्रलाई व्यवस्थित, नियमित, विकसित र प्रभावकारी बनाउन समितिले निर्वाह गरिरहेको भूमिकाको सराहना गर्नुभएको छ । बिमा समितिका अध्यक्ष प्रा.डा. फत्तबहादुर केसीले बिमा व्यवसायको उत्थानको निम्ति समिति प्रतिबद्ध रहेको प्रतिबद्धता व्यक्त गर्नुभएको छ । यसैअवसरमा गोरखापत्र दैनिकले आठ पृष्ठको बिमा विशेष समेत प्रकाशित गरेको छ ।
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=50136&cat_id=19
सचिवहरुको जिम्मेवारी हेरफेर
काठमाडौँ, वैशाख ३१ (नागरिक)- नेपाल सरकारले विभिन्न मन्त्रालयका सचिवहरुको जिम्मेवारी हेरफेर गरेको छ। मन्त्रिपरिषदको शुक्रबार सम्पन्न बैठकको निर्णय अनुसार सचिवहरुको जिम्मेवारी हेरफेर गरिएको हो।
सूचि अनुसार रामेश्वर खनालको राजीनामापछि रिक्त अर्थ सचिव पदमा कृष्णहरि बाँस्कोटालाई लगिएको छ।
हेरफेरको विवरण निम्नानुसार रहेको छ :
१. अर्थ मन्त्रालय कृष्णहरि बाँस्कोटा
२. गृह मन्त्रालय लीलामणी पौडेल
३. रक्षा मन्त्रालय नवीन घिमिरे
४. परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालय डा. मदनकुमार भट्टराई
५. प्रधानमन्त्रीको कार्यालय डा. गोविन्द कुसुम/पुरुषोत्तम ओझा
६. वन मन्त्रालय छविराज पन्त
७. स्थानीय विकास मन्त्रालय सुशील घिमिरे
८. शिक्षा मन्त्रालय शंकर पाण्डे
९. सामान्य प्रशासन मन्त्रालय प्रतापकुमार पाठक
१०. सूचना तथा सञ्चार मन्त्रालय श्रीधर गौतम
११. भौतिक योजना तथा पुन निर्माण मन्त्रालय पूर्ण कडरिया
१२. पर्यटन मन्त्रालय गणेशराज जोशी
१३. शान्ति मन्त्रालय ध्रुव शर्मा
१४. भूमिसुधार मन्त्रालय केशव भट्टराई
१५. उद्योग मन्त्रालय शंकर कोइराला
१६. कानुन मन्त्रालय माधव पौडेल
१७. स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसंख्या मन्त्रालय सुधा शर्मा/प्रवीण मिश्र
१८. महिला तथा बालबालिका मन्त्रालय आनन्द पोखरेल
१९. युवा तथा खेलकुद मन्त्रालय श्रीराम पन्त
२०. उर्जा मन्त्रालय बालानन्द शर्मा
२१. श्रम मन्त्रालय दिनेशहरि अधिकारी
२२. कृषि मन्त्रालय नाथुराम चौधरी
२३. वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालय सुशीलजङ्ग राणा
२४. वातावरण मन्त्रालय कृष्ण ज्ञवाली
२५. संस्कृति मन्त्रालय मोदराज डोटेल/प्रमोद कार्की
२६. विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि मन्त्रालय डा. रामहरि अर्याल
२७. सिंचाई मन्त्रालय ताना गौतम
२८. लोकसेवा आयोग श्यामप्रसाद मैनाली
२९. निर्वाचन आयोग किशोर थापा
३०. जल तथा उर्जा आयोग शीतलबाबु रेग्मी
३१. राष्ट्रिय सतर्कता केन्द्र यज्ञ गौतम
३२. कानुन आयोग मोहन बञ्जाडे
३३. ट्रष्टको कार्यालय बृन्दा हाडा
३४. सूचना आयोग उमाकान्त झा
३५. राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग युवराज भुषाल
३६. अतिरिक्त (प्रम कार्यालय काज) सोमलाल सुवेदी
क्षेत्रीय प्रशासकः
१. पूर्वाञ्चल धरणीधर खतिवडा
२. मध्यमाञ्चल हरेराम कोइराला (कामु)
३. पश्चिमाञ्चल हरिप्रसाद नेपाल
४. मध्यपश्चिमाञ्चल धनराज रताला (कामु)
५. सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल जयमुकुन्द खनाल
सूचि अनुसार रामेश्वर खनालको राजीनामापछि रिक्त अर्थ सचिव पदमा कृष्णहरि बाँस्कोटालाई लगिएको छ।
हेरफेरको विवरण निम्नानुसार रहेको छ :
१. अर्थ मन्त्रालय कृष्णहरि बाँस्कोटा
२. गृह मन्त्रालय लीलामणी पौडेल
३. रक्षा मन्त्रालय नवीन घिमिरे
४. परराष्ट्र मन्त्रालय डा. मदनकुमार भट्टराई
५. प्रधानमन्त्रीको कार्यालय डा. गोविन्द कुसुम/पुरुषोत्तम ओझा
६. वन मन्त्रालय छविराज पन्त
७. स्थानीय विकास मन्त्रालय सुशील घिमिरे
८. शिक्षा मन्त्रालय शंकर पाण्डे
९. सामान्य प्रशासन मन्त्रालय प्रतापकुमार पाठक
१०. सूचना तथा सञ्चार मन्त्रालय श्रीधर गौतम
११. भौतिक योजना तथा पुन निर्माण मन्त्रालय पूर्ण कडरिया
१२. पर्यटन मन्त्रालय गणेशराज जोशी
१३. शान्ति मन्त्रालय ध्रुव शर्मा
१४. भूमिसुधार मन्त्रालय केशव भट्टराई
१५. उद्योग मन्त्रालय शंकर कोइराला
१६. कानुन मन्त्रालय माधव पौडेल
१७. स्वास्थ्य तथा जनसंख्या मन्त्रालय सुधा शर्मा/प्रवीण मिश्र
१८. महिला तथा बालबालिका मन्त्रालय आनन्द पोखरेल
१९. युवा तथा खेलकुद मन्त्रालय श्रीराम पन्त
२०. उर्जा मन्त्रालय बालानन्द शर्मा
२१. श्रम मन्त्रालय दिनेशहरि अधिकारी
२२. कृषि मन्त्रालय नाथुराम चौधरी
२३. वाणिज्य तथा आपूर्ति मन्त्रालय सुशीलजङ्ग राणा
२४. वातावरण मन्त्रालय कृष्ण ज्ञवाली
२५. संस्कृति मन्त्रालय मोदराज डोटेल/प्रमोद कार्की
२६. विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि मन्त्रालय डा. रामहरि अर्याल
२७. सिंचाई मन्त्रालय ताना गौतम
२८. लोकसेवा आयोग श्यामप्रसाद मैनाली
२९. निर्वाचन आयोग किशोर थापा
३०. जल तथा उर्जा आयोग शीतलबाबु रेग्मी
३१. राष्ट्रिय सतर्कता केन्द्र यज्ञ गौतम
३२. कानुन आयोग मोहन बञ्जाडे
३३. ट्रष्टको कार्यालय बृन्दा हाडा
३४. सूचना आयोग उमाकान्त झा
३५. राष्ट्रिय योजना आयोग युवराज भुषाल
३६. अतिरिक्त (प्रम कार्यालय काज) सोमलाल सुवेदी
क्षेत्रीय प्रशासकः
१. पूर्वाञ्चल धरणीधर खतिवडा
२. मध्यमाञ्चल हरेराम कोइराला (कामु)
३. पश्चिमाञ्चल हरिप्रसाद नेपाल
४. मध्यपश्चिमाञ्चल धनराज रताला (कामु)
५. सुदुर पश्चिमाञ्चल जयमुकुन्द खनाल
Thursday, May 12, 2011
Insurance sector needs new rules
Kathmandu, May 9
Prof. Dr. Fatta Bahadur K.C., Chairman of Insurance Board, informed on Monday that the new insurance policy that was in the offing would address various issues related to this sector.
"The new policy will have a provision of allowing cooperatives to run insurance business," he said.
Despite legal restrictions, more than 400 cooperatives in the country are running insurance business.
Speaking at an interaction organized by the National Cooperatives Federation (NCF) in its premises, Prof. K.C. said that the new policy would help increase the reach and benefits of insurance far and wide.
At the programme, cooperatives activists urged the government to expand the purview of insurance industry allowing the cooperatives sector to carry out insurance job in the country amending the existing insurance policy to benefit the poor, marginalized and rural farmers.
They blamed the government for its apathy towards micro insurance promotion in the country.
They also demanded that the government amend the existing laws, policies, rules restricting the cooperatives from running the insurance business.
NCF Chairman Keshav Badal said that as the cooperatives organisations’ reach was far and wide, it would be appropriate to allow them to run insurance business to expand the purview of the insurance industry in the country.
"Cooperatives have right to run any business, except those that are against their principle. If the members of a cooperative organization agree to share risks among themselves, others will not have to face any problem," he said.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=49881&cat_id=27
Prof. Dr. Fatta Bahadur K.C., Chairman of Insurance Board, informed on Monday that the new insurance policy that was in the offing would address various issues related to this sector.
"The new policy will have a provision of allowing cooperatives to run insurance business," he said.
Despite legal restrictions, more than 400 cooperatives in the country are running insurance business.
Speaking at an interaction organized by the National Cooperatives Federation (NCF) in its premises, Prof. K.C. said that the new policy would help increase the reach and benefits of insurance far and wide.
At the programme, cooperatives activists urged the government to expand the purview of insurance industry allowing the cooperatives sector to carry out insurance job in the country amending the existing insurance policy to benefit the poor, marginalized and rural farmers.
They blamed the government for its apathy towards micro insurance promotion in the country.
They also demanded that the government amend the existing laws, policies, rules restricting the cooperatives from running the insurance business.
NCF Chairman Keshav Badal said that as the cooperatives organisations’ reach was far and wide, it would be appropriate to allow them to run insurance business to expand the purview of the insurance industry in the country.
"Cooperatives have right to run any business, except those that are against their principle. If the members of a cooperative organization agree to share risks among themselves, others will not have to face any problem," he said.
http://www.gorkhapatra.org.np/gopa.detail.php?article_id=49881&cat_id=27
Parties should work for people‚ says ex-King Gyanendra
RSS
"The constitution promulgated after the peace process conclusion can be stronger"
KATHMANDU: Former King Gyanendra Shah said the political parties should work as per the public's desire.
Talking to reporters briefly after attending Rudrachandi Akhanda Mahaygna, former King Shah said the political parties have the responsibilities to bring prosperity that they should honour the public desire.
Earlier to this, Former King Shah met the patron of Ashram Kalibaba worshipping at 11 Hawankunda constructed for the Mahayagna.
"The constitution promulgated after the peace process conclusion can be stronger"
KATHMANDU: Former King Gyanendra Shah said the political parties should work as per the public's desire.
Talking to reporters briefly after attending Rudrachandi Akhanda Mahaygna, former King Shah said the political parties have the responsibilities to bring prosperity that they should honour the public desire.
Earlier to this, Former King Shah met the patron of Ashram Kalibaba worshipping at 11 Hawankunda constructed for the Mahayagna.
Lawmaker duo´s passport to disgrace
HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY
KATHMANDU: The two lawmakers who had ‘sold’ their diplomatic passports are now paying the price for the deed.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today filed corruption cases against Gayatri Shah and Bishwanatha Prasad Yadav — representing Nepali Janta Dal and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, respectively — at the Special Court seeking jail sentence up to 15 years. With the CIAA chargesheet filed, both Shah and Yadav automatically lost their Constituent Assembly membership as per Section 33 of Corruption Prevention Act, 2002.
CIAA has also filed corruption cases against seven others, including Chief Immigration Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport Shyam Babu Bhandari, Section Officer Bhuminanda Bhandari, Senior Investigation Officer Devi Dutta Khatri, Computer Officer Indra Kumar Sunuwar, Santosh Raj Uprety, who is said to be running a passport forgery racket, and Gayatri’s father Haricharan Shah for working as their accomplices.
The CIAA has charged the CA members with selling their diplomatic passports for Rs 16 million with the help of the accomplices and demanded 10 years in jail for the crime as per Section 3(1) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 2002, while additional two-year jail sentence has been sought for tampering the red passports as per Section 11 of the Act. Accusing the lawmakers of misusing their honourable positions they held by getting involved in the offence, CIAA has also demanded additional jail sentence of three years, Rs 16 million fine and confiscation of property equalling to the same amount.
CIAA has prosecuted Shah and Yadav based on its investigation which had found that the duo had sold their passports for Rs 16 million with the help of a mediator named Santosh Uprety. The chargesheet claimed that Shah and Yadav had received the money from Prithivi Chhantyal, Manoj Karki and Ashish Sherpa and that Sita Shah had paid Rs 2 lakhs to Gayatri’s father Haricharan.
Citing the chargesheet, SC Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand said the lawmakers had tampered the passports with the help of immigration officials and affixed photos of Chhantyal and Sita on them. Those who bought the red passports, however, have not been made the defendants by CIAA.
Surendra Mahato, a lawyer hired by the CA members, however, claimed that the CIAA prosecution even after Kathmandu District Court released his clients on bail based on the police prosecution in forgery case ‘proved that the state was driven by bias and was complicating the case’.
ABUSE OF AUTHORITY
KATHMANDU: The two lawmakers who had ‘sold’ their diplomatic passports are now paying the price for the deed.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority today filed corruption cases against Gayatri Shah and Bishwanatha Prasad Yadav — representing Nepali Janta Dal and Madhesi Janaadhikar Forum-Nepal, respectively — at the Special Court seeking jail sentence up to 15 years. With the CIAA chargesheet filed, both Shah and Yadav automatically lost their Constituent Assembly membership as per Section 33 of Corruption Prevention Act, 2002.
CIAA has also filed corruption cases against seven others, including Chief Immigration Officer at Tribhuvan International Airport Shyam Babu Bhandari, Section Officer Bhuminanda Bhandari, Senior Investigation Officer Devi Dutta Khatri, Computer Officer Indra Kumar Sunuwar, Santosh Raj Uprety, who is said to be running a passport forgery racket, and Gayatri’s father Haricharan Shah for working as their accomplices.
The CIAA has charged the CA members with selling their diplomatic passports for Rs 16 million with the help of the accomplices and demanded 10 years in jail for the crime as per Section 3(1) of the Corruption Prevention Act, 2002, while additional two-year jail sentence has been sought for tampering the red passports as per Section 11 of the Act. Accusing the lawmakers of misusing their honourable positions they held by getting involved in the offence, CIAA has also demanded additional jail sentence of three years, Rs 16 million fine and confiscation of property equalling to the same amount.
CIAA has prosecuted Shah and Yadav based on its investigation which had found that the duo had sold their passports for Rs 16 million with the help of a mediator named Santosh Uprety. The chargesheet claimed that Shah and Yadav had received the money from Prithivi Chhantyal, Manoj Karki and Ashish Sherpa and that Sita Shah had paid Rs 2 lakhs to Gayatri’s father Haricharan.
Citing the chargesheet, SC Registrar Dhir Bahadur Chand said the lawmakers had tampered the passports with the help of immigration officials and affixed photos of Chhantyal and Sita on them. Those who bought the red passports, however, have not been made the defendants by CIAA.
Surendra Mahato, a lawyer hired by the CA members, however, claimed that the CIAA prosecution even after Kathmandu District Court released his clients on bail based on the police prosecution in forgery case ‘proved that the state was driven by bias and was complicating the case’.
An accused in the cabinet
The unyielding Maoist agenda to destroy the values of democracy and due process in Nepal seems to have achieved yet another success with the expansion of the Jhala Nath Khanal cabinet on May 4 in which the prime minister handed over the Home Ministry to the UCPN (Maoist) party and appointed as minister an ex-rebel leader accused of atrocity during the conflict.
Mr Khanal became prime minister on the basis of the ‘secret’ seven-point deal with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, which represented an outright betrayal of the peace process. He made the infamous deal in order to become prime minister, and now has honoured it in order to remain in Singha Durbar.
Mr Khanal promised to give the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Maoists despite the party having cheated incessantly on the peace process, refusing to demobilize its private army, keeping its Young Communist League at the ready, and declaring the agenda for ‘revolt’ and ‘state capture’. Krishna Bahadur Mahara was made home minister by Mr Khanal in disregard of the formal directives of his own CPN (UML) party, which he leads as chairman.
Mr Mahara is the Dahal loyalist caught red-handed last autumn in a phone tap while arranging NPR 500 million to purchase the prime ministerial elections for his chairman. The Maoists did not deny that expose, and yet there was no public outcry when Mr Mahara was made minister for information and communication by Mr Khanal in March. Mr Mahara is now elevated to home minister, which allows the Maoist party – with the peace process as yet incomplete – to command the entire home administration and its security agencies, including the police, armed constabulary and the intelligence bureau.
In Mr Mahara’s place as minister for information and communication we now have another loyalist of the chairman, Agni Sapkota. He stands accused of direct involvement in the gruesome murder of Arjun Bahadur Lama in June 2005 in Kavre District. That killing has long been identified by the national human rights community as one of the emblematic cases which must be investigated as part of the campaign to end impunity and bring lasting peace. Upon a writ petition by Purnimaya Lama, wife of the victim, the Supreme Court in March 2008 issued an order to the police to register the case according to the law. That was finally done, and Mr Sapkota became in effect a wanted man even though he continues to walk about with the impunity born of his party’s ferocious record.
Over the last year, the Australian and United States embassies refused visa applications by Mr Sapkota based on the allegations made. The United Nations human rights office, OHCHR, has now protested Mr Sapkota’s appointment as minister. The Accountability Watch Committee, the umbrella body of human rights groups and individuals, has demanded that the government rescind the appointment and respect court orders. There seems to be a prima facie case here for contempt of court proceedings against the Khanal government, given that Mr Sapkota is a fugitive from the law.
SAPKOTA’S APPOINTMENT
Mr Sapkota’s defence has been alternatively that he is innocent of the accusation, and that actions carried out under the party’s directives during the conflict years cannot be prosecuted. This argument is in line with the Maoist claim that the party was fighting a ‘just war’ against an exploitative national establishment, and that the cadre cannot be charged in the courts even when they are accused of grave abuse. This position goes against the international principles of human rights, which call for the investigation and prosecution of both state and non-state actors for excesses committed.
Sadly, no one can expect Prime Minister Khanal to be the guardian of rule of law when he willingly accepts into his cabinet a man who is accused of extreme human rights abuse.
The disregard for rule of law and due process apparent in the appointment of Mr Sapkota shows the confidence of Chairman Dahal that he can push his will, howsoever wanton, on the polity. It is part of the chairman’s step by step approach to destroy democratic institutions and processes, lowering the bar on the norms of civilized behavior. His hope is that the people will be as docile as Kathmandu’s civil society stalwarts, succumbing to the flattening force of the Maoist steamroller.
Whether or not the appointment of Mr Sapkota will be challenged on the platform of human rights and legality will be decisive for Nepal’s return to civilized society, and, incidentally, also for the evolution of the UCPN (Maoist) into a civilian party. The conflict-era victims of the insurgents as well as of the state will feel betrayed if justice is not sought from the perpetrators of brutality. There must be investigations and prosecutions, with or without a truth and reconciliation commission, against those in the Maoist ranks and in state security who are accused of excess.
BLIND ANGER
The Maoist strategy which helped in the party‘s rapid spread in the late 1990s was to make ‘an example’ of local leaders through public humiliation and brutalization, including torture and killings. A number of the commissars who directed these atrocities are today front rank leaders of the party, and their career progression requires that there be no respect for international human rights norms. This could be seen in Mr Sapkota’s attacks on OHCHR last week. Indeed, those citizens who demand the prosecution of accused perpetrators without fear or favor tend today to be the most in danger of Maoist blind anger.
Sadly, no one can expect Prime Minister Khanal to be the guardian of rule of law when he willingly accepts into his cabinet a man who is accused of extreme human rights abuse. The CPN (UML) chairman and prime minster has become the handmaiden of Chairman Dahal, working hard to fulfil the wishes of the Maoist party, whether it is trying to introduce the supplementary budget or acceding to the demand for Home Affairs.
There is one remaining promise made to Chairman Dahal, the unwritten part of the seven point deal, that Mr Khanal is now required to fulfil. The deal would have him hand over the prime ministership to Mr Dahal as the expiration of the term of the Constituent Assembly nears. The plan of the Maoist chairman would then be to take charge, so as to be on the saddle to organize the next elections after his party’s own image. With the Home Ministry already in the hand, he may not think that it will be difficult.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31179
Mr Khanal became prime minister on the basis of the ‘secret’ seven-point deal with Maoist Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal, which represented an outright betrayal of the peace process. He made the infamous deal in order to become prime minister, and now has honoured it in order to remain in Singha Durbar.
Mr Khanal promised to give the Ministry of Home Affairs to the Maoists despite the party having cheated incessantly on the peace process, refusing to demobilize its private army, keeping its Young Communist League at the ready, and declaring the agenda for ‘revolt’ and ‘state capture’. Krishna Bahadur Mahara was made home minister by Mr Khanal in disregard of the formal directives of his own CPN (UML) party, which he leads as chairman.
Mr Mahara is the Dahal loyalist caught red-handed last autumn in a phone tap while arranging NPR 500 million to purchase the prime ministerial elections for his chairman. The Maoists did not deny that expose, and yet there was no public outcry when Mr Mahara was made minister for information and communication by Mr Khanal in March. Mr Mahara is now elevated to home minister, which allows the Maoist party – with the peace process as yet incomplete – to command the entire home administration and its security agencies, including the police, armed constabulary and the intelligence bureau.
In Mr Mahara’s place as minister for information and communication we now have another loyalist of the chairman, Agni Sapkota. He stands accused of direct involvement in the gruesome murder of Arjun Bahadur Lama in June 2005 in Kavre District. That killing has long been identified by the national human rights community as one of the emblematic cases which must be investigated as part of the campaign to end impunity and bring lasting peace. Upon a writ petition by Purnimaya Lama, wife of the victim, the Supreme Court in March 2008 issued an order to the police to register the case according to the law. That was finally done, and Mr Sapkota became in effect a wanted man even though he continues to walk about with the impunity born of his party’s ferocious record.
Over the last year, the Australian and United States embassies refused visa applications by Mr Sapkota based on the allegations made. The United Nations human rights office, OHCHR, has now protested Mr Sapkota’s appointment as minister. The Accountability Watch Committee, the umbrella body of human rights groups and individuals, has demanded that the government rescind the appointment and respect court orders. There seems to be a prima facie case here for contempt of court proceedings against the Khanal government, given that Mr Sapkota is a fugitive from the law.
SAPKOTA’S APPOINTMENT
Mr Sapkota’s defence has been alternatively that he is innocent of the accusation, and that actions carried out under the party’s directives during the conflict years cannot be prosecuted. This argument is in line with the Maoist claim that the party was fighting a ‘just war’ against an exploitative national establishment, and that the cadre cannot be charged in the courts even when they are accused of grave abuse. This position goes against the international principles of human rights, which call for the investigation and prosecution of both state and non-state actors for excesses committed.
Sadly, no one can expect Prime Minister Khanal to be the guardian of rule of law when he willingly accepts into his cabinet a man who is accused of extreme human rights abuse.
The disregard for rule of law and due process apparent in the appointment of Mr Sapkota shows the confidence of Chairman Dahal that he can push his will, howsoever wanton, on the polity. It is part of the chairman’s step by step approach to destroy democratic institutions and processes, lowering the bar on the norms of civilized behavior. His hope is that the people will be as docile as Kathmandu’s civil society stalwarts, succumbing to the flattening force of the Maoist steamroller.
Whether or not the appointment of Mr Sapkota will be challenged on the platform of human rights and legality will be decisive for Nepal’s return to civilized society, and, incidentally, also for the evolution of the UCPN (Maoist) into a civilian party. The conflict-era victims of the insurgents as well as of the state will feel betrayed if justice is not sought from the perpetrators of brutality. There must be investigations and prosecutions, with or without a truth and reconciliation commission, against those in the Maoist ranks and in state security who are accused of excess.
BLIND ANGER
The Maoist strategy which helped in the party‘s rapid spread in the late 1990s was to make ‘an example’ of local leaders through public humiliation and brutalization, including torture and killings. A number of the commissars who directed these atrocities are today front rank leaders of the party, and their career progression requires that there be no respect for international human rights norms. This could be seen in Mr Sapkota’s attacks on OHCHR last week. Indeed, those citizens who demand the prosecution of accused perpetrators without fear or favor tend today to be the most in danger of Maoist blind anger.
Sadly, no one can expect Prime Minister Khanal to be the guardian of rule of law when he willingly accepts into his cabinet a man who is accused of extreme human rights abuse. The CPN (UML) chairman and prime minster has become the handmaiden of Chairman Dahal, working hard to fulfil the wishes of the Maoist party, whether it is trying to introduce the supplementary budget or acceding to the demand for Home Affairs.
There is one remaining promise made to Chairman Dahal, the unwritten part of the seven point deal, that Mr Khanal is now required to fulfil. The deal would have him hand over the prime ministership to Mr Dahal as the expiration of the term of the Constituent Assembly nears. The plan of the Maoist chairman would then be to take charge, so as to be on the saddle to organize the next elections after his party’s own image. With the Home Ministry already in the hand, he may not think that it will be difficult.
http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details&news_id=31179
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