Kathmandu, September 19

The government has decided to recommend President Bidhya Devi Bhandari to grant amnesty to 282 jailbirds doing time in prisons across the country.

Speaking at a press conference organised in Singha Durbar today to disclose the 26-point decisions of the Cabinet meetings convened on September 12 and 17, Minister of Communications and Information Technology Gokul Prasad Baskota, who is also the government spokesperson, said the Council of Ministers had also decided to honour veteran ophthalmologist Dr Sanduk Ruit with the Prime Minister National Talent Award. The award carries a purse of Rs 500,000 and a citation.

National Talent Grant Assistance will be awarded to Radi Miya and Bikalpa Dhungana. The grant assistance is Rs 250,000. As per the Cabinet decision, the government will provide one million rupees for South Asian Women Development Forum for its fifth International Women Entrepreneurs’ Conference.

A nine-member talks team headed by Joint Secretary Nawara Dhakal for the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies has been formed for the third meeting relating to review of Nepal-India Trade Treaty-2009.

The government has also decided to provide Euro 66,885 for the stall management of Nepali industrialists and entrepreneurs, who will be taking part in a trade exhibition scheduled for October 9-10, in Netherlands and in BIOFACH-2020, set to be held in Germany in February 14-17. The stalls will showcase and promote Nepali herbs and agricultural products in the international arena, Minister Baskota said.

The government announced its decision of creating temporary positions for 49 gazetted officers for the current fiscal 2019-20, to implement projects and programmes under the Ministry of Land Management, Cooperatives and Poverty Alleviation. The government has also decided to promote lieutenant colonels (technical) Banira Thapa and Amul Karki to the post of colonel. On the occasion of the Constitution Day, the government will allow the entry of people to Hanumandhoka Durbar Museum, Patan Museum and National Arts Gallery free of charge.

The government has approved the Local Infrastructure Development Partnership Programme (Operation Procedures)-2019, and the 13th South Asian Games Organisation and Management Procedures. The government has also decided to table the Policy Research Academy Bill, the Yogmaya Ayurveda University Bill, the Animal Health and Veterinary Council Bill, the Railway Bill and the National Science Technology and Innovation Policy in the House of Representatives.Toyam Raya has been promoted and transferred to the Office of the Chief Minister and Council of Ministers of Province 3 in Hetauda as the principal secretary.

The government decided to promote and transfer Shivahari Sharma to the National Reconstruction Authority as secretary.