Women scribes awarded

Kathmandu: On the occasion of the 95th International Women’s Day, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Civil Aviation, Buddhi Raj Bajracharya, gave away the Women’s Empowerment award to journalists Achhari Poudel of Nepalgunj and Pratima Bibhas of Dharan for their contribution in bringing women’s issues to the fore. He also gave away awards to the contestants of an inter-campus debate, which was organised on Sunday. The award is instituted by the Ministry of Women, Children and Social Welfare (MoWCS). Stating that our values and superstitions prevalent in the society were the reasons behind the backwardness of women, he said, “Education plays a crucial role in uplifting the status of women.” — HNS

Soldier’s body flown in

KATHMANDU: Shyam Bahadur Katuwal, a Royal Nepalese Army (RNA) personnel of Shree Bhawani Baks Battalion deployed in peacekeeping duty in Haiti at the call of the UN, had died on February 26, according to the RNA’s Public Relations Directorate. His body was brought here on Tuesday. — RSS

Progress on education

KATHMANDU: Minister of Women, Children and Social Welfare, Durga Shrestha, said that Nepal has made progress in increasing female life expectancy as well as in improving female literacy and primary and secondary-level school completion rates. As Nepali women’’s representation in the civil service of the country lags far behind that of men, the tenth plan has set a target of placing 20 per cent women at the decision-making level through the introduction of affirmative actions, she said. Minister Shrestha, who is leading the Nepali delegation to the 49th session of the commission on the status of women being held in New York from February 28 to march 11, was addressing the plenary of the session on Monday. — RSS

Elocution contest held

LALITPUR: The District Public Health Office, the Women’s Development Office and the United Nations Population Fund field office organised an elocution contest and a Dohari contest on Tuesday. The CDO, Sthaneshwar Devkota, said as equal participation was necessary for the development of society, public opinion was also needed in favour of women through the implementation of rules on gender equality. — RSS