Kathmandu, September 1, 2006

Taking work and studies together is a tough job and tougher for children. But when this is the only way one can fulfil the desire to keep studies going, this balance has to go on.

Take an example of Thakur Dhital, 16, a tenthgrader, who sells newspapers on the streets. With a three-year experience of working as a hawker, Dhital can easily identify his buyers and says he makes up to Rs 80 a day.

These days, he says, he earns less because he is preparing for the SLC examination. His day begins with attending morning classes in the Bal Byabasik High School, Shipal. After school he collects newspapers from Charumati Stationary and moves around his territory  Maharajgunj, TU Teaching Hospital and Bansbari.

The money he earns not only meets his study expenditure but also helps keep his family. Dhital says selling newspapers by exaggerating the headlines, prompting readers to buy them, excites him. Children in the business manage to handle both the work and studies.

“Most of the child hawkers opt to work in the daytime to sell evening dailies and weekly tabloids because they do not have to invest everyday,” said Niranjan Verma, 15, another hawker, who, unlike others, works in the morning and distributes broadsheet dailies.

He distributes national dailies to fifty subscribers at Gaushala, Mitrachowk, Old Baneshwore, Tilganga.

Golden jubilee of Nepal-Nippon ties

Prime Minister Girija Prasad Koirala, in a message on the 50th anniversary of the establishment of Nepal-Japan diplomatic relations, said the government is bound to follow the mandate of the people.

“We have defined a road map for the country’s political future leading to elections to a constituent assembly to formulate a new constitution for our nation,” the message read by Dr Ram Saran Mahat, the Minister for Finance, at a function, said.

Stating that Nepal has sought the support of the UN in the peace process to bring an end to the decade long armed conflict, the message said: “This will lay the foundation for permanent peace, stability and a truly representative, inclusive and plural democracy reflecting the hopes and aspirations of our countrymen.”

“Expectations from the new government are high and we are determined to address these issues with priority and urgency,” the PM said. Junichiro Koizumi, the Japanese Prime Minister, had also sent a message to be read out on the occasion.

The beginning of the 50th anniversary celebrations was announced today after a commemorative postal stamp was presented to the guests.

Meanwhile, Japanese embassy officials today misbehaved with reporters who had gone to the embassy premises to cover the function.