Kathmandu, March 1:

Fighting corruption and maintaining donor contribution are the major challenges for Nepal to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that target to halve extreme poverty and hunger, promote gender equality, halt the spread of HIV/AIDs and achieve primary education for all by 2015 among others, said Dr Mohan Man Sainju, vice-chairman of the Poverty Alleviation Fund at an intercity meeting on MDGs here today.

The meeting was jointly organised by the Rotary Club of Rajdhani and the Rotary Club of Nagarjun.

Prof Bishwa Keshar Maskey, president of the Rotary Club of Rajdhani,said, “The intercity meeting is a collective effort of Rotary Clubs to contribute to achieve the MDGs by widening their operational strategy, working modality and areas of cooperation,” he added.

Swapan Mukherjee, district governor of the RI District 3290, inaugurated the meeting. Representatives from various Rotary Clubs in the Valley presented their papers on different aspects of the MDGs such as poverty alleviation, sustainable development, water and sanitation, literacy and HIV/AIDS.