Kathmandu, November 29, 2008

National Land Rights Forum Nepal today withdrew its sit-in and other protest programmes today, as the government agreed to form a Land Reform Commission within two weeks. Minister for Information and Communication Krishna Bahadur Mahara and Bal Dev Ram, Chairperson, National Land Rights Forum, signed a four-point agreement here today. NLRFN had been staging a sit-in at Tundikhel for the last two weeks. The government agreed to address all the demands put forth by the forum, ensure their representation in the land reform commission and form district-level land reform commissions in several districts. The government has pledged to implement the policy of overall land reform and repeal landlord-oriented old laws. The government has also agreed to frame a new people oriented land laws and direct the land owners not to displace the tenants unless new land reform process is complete. The land reform commission will make an effort to distribute necessary arable land to genuine tenants, landless people, fix just land-ceiling, seize land plots that exceed the ceiling and distribute them among the tillers. Complete abolition of Kamlari, Balighare, Haruwa Charua, Birta, Khali, Doli, Bethbegari and Ukhada-like feudal practices and rehabilitation of the emancipated people, including the ex-Kamaiyas, will also come under the purview of the land reform commission. “These come under the jurisdiction of the land reform commission, not the government,” Mahara told this daily.

MoF pegs away but scant to show

Kathmandu, November 29, 2008

The Finance Ministry has tried to live up to its commitments spelled out in the budget. The ministry unleashed a deluge of working manuals and directives, like Small Farmers’ Loan Waiver Manual, Controlling Government Expenditure Directives and Working Manual for the Finance Ministry for smooth functioning of customs and revenue collection. The finance ministry was successful in collecting targeted revenue, as it has exceeded its target by 105.44 per cent to Rs 32.98 billion by November 15 as against its target of Rs 31.28 billion. The ministry, to encourage customs officials, has also raised their pay and perks. It’s an indication that the ministry has taken the task of revenue collection seriously as it was rapped for setting an ambitious revenue target in the budget for the fiscal year 2008-09. But the ministry is still engaged in preparing manuals and time is running out as the budget itself was presented two months later than its usual schedule. While the ministry has only six months to implement its plans and programmes, not a single development work — promised in the budget — has been started. Contrary to popular belief, the ministry has been successful in convincing donors.