Newspapers published in Kathmandu on Friday have given priority to a host of political, social and economic issues on their front pages. The Supreme Court’s directive to the government to make it possible for migrant workers to vote from outside of Nepal, Prime Minister Oli’s impending visit to India, and the UML and Maoist Centre’s bid to enter into a merger are some of the issues that have made it to the front pages. Here’s a round-up of important, ignored and interesting reports in the press on Friday:
Important
Ensure out-of-country voting: SC tells govt
The Himalayan Times and The Kathmandu Post report that the Supreme Court has directed the government to make arrangements to ensure that migrant workers get to vote from the country they are based in. The Himalayan Times says a division bench of Justice Sapana Pradhan Malla and Purushottam Bhandari issued the order in response to a writ petition filed by Law and Policy Forum for Social Justice. According to The Kathmandu Post, the petitioners argued that migrant workers send billions of rupees home every year, but they are deprived of their right to vote. Republica says that there had been no progress on the issue after it was raised during the tenure of the first Constituent Assembly in 2008.
UML, Maoist Centre to announce merger on April 22
Kantipur reports that allies of the Left Alliance, the CPN UML and the Maoist Centre are preparing to announce their merger on April 22, the establishment day of Nepal Communist Party. Republica reports that of the two separate taskforces formed by the alliance, one has the task of finalising the organisational structure of the to-be-formed unified party, and the other is tasked with finalising ideological issues including an interim party statute.
Ignored
High prevelance of hypertension among Singha Durbar bureaucrats
Naya Patrika reports that most of the civil servants who come to the newly established health desk at Nepal’s administrative hub, Singha Durbar, have been diagnosed with primary hypertension. The papaer reports that most of the civil servants were found to be at risk of high blood pressure. The paper says that other ailments reported by the civil servants are: headaches and digestion problems.
Four thousand wards do not have offices
Four thousand wards across the country do not have their offices, Kantipur reports. The paper says that around 4,000 of the 6,743 wards in 77 districts do not have a building of their own. According to the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration, most of the offices are based in temporary locations.
Parked NAC plane hit by Boeing 767
Nagarik reports that an NAC Y12-E plane, parked outside of the hanger at the TIA, was hit by a Boeing 767 from behind. The NAC received the China-made plane two months ago, but hasn’t been able to fly it. The paper says that the incident took place around a week ago. It wasn’t clear to what extent the plane was damaged in the collision.
Interesting
Malaysian delegation in town to pitch for Ringroad Monorail
Nagarik reports that a Malaysian delegation has arrived in Kathmandu to hold talks with Nepali officials on the possibility of building a monorail system on Kathmandu’s Ringroad. The pare says that the Malaysian rail company has already established Kathmandu Monorail Pvt Ltd. The delegation is to meet officials of the Investment Board of Nepal on Friday. The paper says that the 28 km long track is estimated to cost around Rs 80 billion.
