Author: space4knews

The Nepal Electricity Authority’s Board of Directors has decided to offer employment to eight additional members of the Jenji movement martyrs’ families. This decision was made at a meeting chaired by Energy Minister Birajbhakta Shrestha. The Authority had already initiated the process to provide employment to 27 family members of the martyrs. Kathmandu, 26 Chaitra.

The decision to extend employment opportunities to more members of the families of those who lost their lives in the Jenji movement was made during the Nepal Electricity Authority Board of Directors meeting, chaired by Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation Minister Birajbhakta Shrestha. The Jenji movement took place on Bhadra 23 and 24 of the previous year.

According to point number 11 of the 2082 Relief Procedures for those injured in the Jenji movement and the regulations outlined in the Nepal Gazette (Volume 75, Supplement 32, Kartik 17, 2082), the Secretariat of the Energy Minister confirmed the decision to provide employment to eight additional members from the families of martyrs. The Authority had previously advanced the process to employ 27 martyrs’ family members.

The additional eight family members to be employed are Rosita Shrestha from Bansthali, Ambika Bishwakarma from Udayapur, Sumitra Mahat from Sindhupalchok, Sheetal Paudel, Mosam Kulung from Sankhuwasabha, Parvati Adhikari from Sarlahi, Hemanti Bist from Bajhang, and Manju Paudel from Lamjung.

On Wednesday alone, the government’s Hello Government system received a total of 1,224 complaints, including 859 phone calls and 292 complaints submitted through the online portal. The majority of grievances have been related to police administration and transaction fraud, while complaints regarding foreign employment and school fees have also been recorded. The Prime Minister’s Office has started incorporating complaints lodged through social media into the system and has deployed staff across three shifts to ensure 24-hour operation.

Kathmandu, 26 Chaitra – The Hello Government platform collected 1,224 complaints and grievances from the public on Wednesday. According to data available by 5 PM, the number of complaints continues to rise. Established to hear the concerns of the people, Hello Government is actively gathering complaints. Although previous administrations had adopted a similar approach, it has now been made more efficient and effective.

Breaking down the complaints received via phone calls and the online portal, 859 calls were logged on Wednesday, while 292 complaints submitted through the portal were forwarded to the relevant agencies. The Hello Government team, led by Krishi Thapa, stated that the complaints are being escalated to appropriate authorities as efforts continue to resolve the issues.

Beyond complaints, citizens are also providing suggestions through the Hello Government platform. To make the system more people-centric and effective, efforts are underway to incorporate social media complaints as well. According to Surendra Bajgain, Press Coordinator at the Prime Minister’s Office, staff are working around the clock in three shifts to ensure social media complaints are handled promptly and without delay.

The National Private and Boarding Schools’ Organization Nepal (National PABSON) has warned that the government’s implementation of a two-day public holiday will have long-term effects on the academic calendar at the school level. The government decided on Chaitra 22 to designate Saturdays and Sundays as public holidays and to commence the academic session from Baisakh 15.

In a statement released today, National PABSON President Geeta Rana Kshetri and General Secretary Pratap Bahadur Thapa stated, “The additional holidays will make it challenging to complete the prescribed curriculum on time. The Nepalese government and cabinet have made this decision to reduce petroleum consumption and conserve foreign currency reserves.”

National PABSON also highlighted that it will be difficult for daily-wage-dependent parents to manage childcare during the two-day break, which could have social and economic repercussions. Despite these challenges, National PABSON has requested that new admissions start from Baisakh 2 and teaching commence accordingly. The education regulations require at least 220 instructional days within one academic session.

Youth have initiated a digital opposition to track the 100-day commitments made by the Rashtriya Swatantra Party-led government. This digital opposition will monitor the government’s 100-point agenda based on facts and evidence. Key focuses include tracking MPs’ attendance, legislative bills, and encouraging citizen participation. Kathmandu, 26 Chaitra. Under the slogan ‘Government Hundred Promises in Hundred Days!’, youth have established this platform with the objective of scrutinizing every promise made by the RSP-led government.

The background of this digital opposition states, ‘We voted with the hope of changing the country. But democracy does not end at the ballot box; it inspires renewed awareness and questions. The government has made a 100-day pledge; now, we have created the digital opposition to observe this from an opponent’s perspective and to raise awareness.’ The website shows a countdown based on the government’s prescribed timeline in days, hours, minutes, and seconds. Upon accessing the site, users can skip a welcome message to see more detailed information.

These youths, aiming to hold the government accountable through technology, wish to keep their identities anonymous. They intend to pose factual questions from behind the scenes. According to one of the organizers, ‘The power of technology does not require promoting any single individual. We will issue warnings wherever possible, but none of us seeks political office. We will question and alert the government impartially, without bias.’

Even though parliamentary opposition is weak, their goal is to empower the public’s voice through technology. They point out that with the ruling party’s overwhelming numerical strength, the opposition’s role is limited, increasing the risk of weakening government accountability. Digital opposition has been established to enhance the citizen’s watchdog role effectively within democracy.

The most significant feature of the digital opposition is its ‘100 Promises Tracker.’ This tool publicly displays, based on evidence and facts, whether the commitments made by the ruling parties are implemented in practice and not just on paper. It will track the government’s 100-point agenda and provide an objective evaluation of performance.

Information for each Member of Parliament will be available on the platform. Citizens can easily understand their representatives’ roles in parliament, attendance records, and instances when they raised public concerns. To access this data, users must create an ID and login on the website. Additionally, a ‘Bill Tracker’ will systematically study the drafting to decision-making process of bills submitted to parliament. This aims to use digital vigilance to prevent policy corruption and the enactment of laws against public interest.

The digital opposition’s countdown timer displays the remaining time for the government to complete its promised performance. This platform will not only allow citizens to observe but also enable direct participation to raise awareness. Through ‘Citizen Public Opinion,’ it promises to facilitate direct involvement in governance processes. Public opinion on matters of national importance will be collected and submitted to government and parliament.

Another platform, ‘Pratipaksh.com,’ is also operational to track government promises and expose facts if commitments fail. Operating under the slogan ‘Voice of the People, Accountability of Power,’ it aims to raise government awareness via digital monitoring. It includes commitments, implemented actions, and failures, functioning as a promise tracker for the government.

Emphasizing that a strong opposition is necessary alongside a strong government, these youths are cultivating a new culture of government accountability through digital opposition.

In Gokarneshwor Municipality-5, near Naya Basti Club, Kathmandu, police have detained a group accused of assaulting two individuals with knives and beating them on the street. The team dispatched from Bauddha Police Post apprehended the group today, and further investigations into the incident are ongoing. Dated Chaitra 26, Kathmandu.

The police arrested those involved in the stabbing and assault near Naya Basti Club in Gokarneshwor Municipality-5, Kathmandu. The Bauddha Police Post confirmed the detention of the individuals suspected of attacking two people with knives and physically assaulting them. The police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident. Chaitra 26, 2079.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, police released former Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli and Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak from custody. However, legal experts indicate that the possibility of their re-arrest remains. Authorities stated that the investigation against both leaders is ongoing and that they were freed on the condition of cooperating with the inquiry and appearing when summoned.

“They have been released on bail with the responsibility to cooperate in the investigation and be available when required,” said Pawan Kumar Bhattarai, spokesperson for the Kathmandu District Police Office.

The Supreme Court had ordered that although they had been held in custody for the use of force during the Janajati Je Jan Andolan (Gen G Movement), and subsequent arrest, they should not be detained further while investigation time is extended. “Despite being detained illegally for 13 days on baseless criminal charges driven by prejudice and revenge, I have been released due to lack of evidence,” Oli wrote on social media. After arrest, Oli was admitted to a hospital and has stated he will stay there for a few more days.

However, a government lawyer involved in the investigation, wishing to remain anonymous, confirmed that the inquiry is ongoing and that sufficient evidence has yet to be gathered. Police have confirmed that the case remains open, and no final decision has yet been taken on whether additional charges will be filed. “Since the investigation is ongoing, we cannot determine how long it will take,” Bhattarai explained.

According to former Attorney General Sushil Pant, once the Supreme Court has directed no further arrests during the investigation period, the likelihood of them remaining in custody until the investigation concludes is low. “However, this does not mean they cannot be arrested during the investigation,” Pant clarified. “If the case proceeds, they can be placed back in judicial custody until statements are completed unless a bail order is granted.”

President Ramchandra Paudel, following the recommendation of the Council of Ministers, has decided to conclude the sessions of both houses of the Federal Parliament from midnight of Chaitra 27. This decision was based on the Council of Ministers’ recommendation dated Chaitra 24, according to the President’s Office. The move to conclude the session has been made in accordance with Article 93, Clause 2 of the Constitution of Nepal.

The sessions of both houses of the Federal Parliament will officially end starting tomorrow. Following the Council of Ministers’ recommendation on Chaitra 24, President Paudel has formally closed the sessions. The decision to conclude the session will take effect at 12 midnight on Friday, as confirmed by the President’s Office.

President Paudel is scheduled to address the joint meeting of the Federal Parliament tomorrow. This meeting marks the first session of the Federal Parliament following the recent elections, and it is customary for the President to deliver the opening address.

Madan Bhujel, Secretary of the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives, and Poverty Alleviation, emphasized the need for the federal, provincial, and local governments to establish separate funds to reimburse savings lost by cooperative victims. He stated that while a fund has been set up at the central level to start refunding small cooperative savers, provincial and local bodies should similarly create funds from their respective budgets.

Secretary Bhujel pointed out the severity of issues in the cooperative sector, noting that the federal government alone cannot resolve the problem. He clarified, “We have already initiated a fund at the center to refund cooperative savings. If our modality proves effective, provinces and local levels must adopt it as well.” He also shared that the federal government plans to allocate additional funds to this refund mechanism in the upcoming fiscal year’s budget.

Highlighting that procedures have been formulated to distribute refunds to cooperative victims, Secretary Bhujel mentioned that provincial and local governments may develop similar guidelines. Stressing that cooperative challenges are a national concern, he urged for it to be given special priority. During the meeting, Secretary Bhujel also announced that services related to land registry and surveying would be initiated from local levels starting next year.

The Nepali Communist Party has decided to support Ruby Kumari Thakur from the Labor Culture Party for the position of Deputy Speaker. Candidates for the Deputy Speaker post include Ruby Kumari Thakur and Saraswati Lama from the Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP). With RPP backing Ruby Kumari, her election as Deputy Speaker is assured. Kathmandu, 26 Chaitra.

For the Deputy Speaker post, Ruby Kumari Thakur and Saraswati Lama of the RPP have filed their candidacies. Both nominations were submitted within the designated timeframe from 11 AM to 2 PM. The election for Deputy Speaker will be held tomorrow, Friday. The ruling party RPP has extended its support to Ruby Kumari Thakur of the Labor Culture Party.

A provision exists for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker to be elected from different parties and genders. DP Aryal from RPP has already been elected as Speaker. There are six parties in the House of Representatives, including RPP. Out of the 275 members, RPP holds 182 MPs, Nepali Congress 38, CPN-UML 25, Nepali Communist Party 17, Labor Culture Party 7, and Rastriya Prajatantra Party (RPP) 5 MPs. With RPP’s support, it is certain that Ruby Kumari Thakur of the Labor Culture Party will be elected Deputy Speaker. The decision to support the Labor Culture Party’s candidate was communicated by Nepali Communist Party MP Yubaraj Dulal.