ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Wednesday, December 4
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (December 4, 2019). Nepal's Santoshi Shrestha (left) finishes 10,000 metres ahead of India's Kavita Yadav by ten milliseconds, at the South Asian Games in Kathmandu. Keshav Thapa /TKP
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (December 4, 2019)
Rendered without work, Poverty Alleviation Fund is now seeking money to run climate change-related programmes
The Poverty Alleviation Fund, which the government had earlier decided to scrap, is seeking a new role in the environment sector by applying for funds under “Green Climate Fund” from the Finance Ministry.
After the community organisations promoted by the Fund were handed over to local governments in 2017, the agency formed to reduce extreme poverty through targeted programmes has been rendered jobless. There are around 32,000 such organisations mobilising over Rs 19 billion.
Tourists are flocking in but hardly spending money
It’s a balmy Friday afternoon, but Kabindra Shrestha, a cashier at North Face Money Exchange in Thamel is glum. Five hours into the opening, he says he’s been able to exchange foreign currency worth only $1,360.
“The business is down by almost 50 percent since last year,” said Shrestha.
Shrestha’s experience has two possible causes—either tourist arrivals are down or a majority are not carrying enough cash. Since data shows a steady rise in the number of tourists visiting the country, travel and tourism operators say a major concern for them is whether tourists are spending enough
Free education limited to slogans for students of community schools in Bajhang
Patki Dhami, a resident of Bamaur, a remote village in Bangul Municipality in Bajhang, struggles to pay her son’s school fees. Her son attends Bhumeshwori Basic School, and his annual school fee is Rs 3,500.
“The school management committee asks for timely payments. But I’m a daily wage worker and can hardly make ends meet for my family. Sometimes I have to take a loan to pay for my son’s education,” she said.
Government says no renewal of licenses of private hospitals that don’t follow rules reserving 10 percent beds for poor patients
The Curative Service Division under the Department of Health Services has warned private hospitals and nursing homes that their licences won’t be renewed if they continued ignoring the rules to provide 10 percent beds and other services for free to the poor and needy patients.
Rural municipalities, municipalities, sub-metropolitan cities, metropolitan cities, local health facilities and district public health offices are authorised to define poor people and issue them recommendation letters for free medical treatment.
Santoshi Shrestha becomes first Nepali woman to win gold in athletics
Santoshi Shrestha’s dramatic win in the 10,000-metre race at the South Asian Games was quite literally a photo finish. Shrestha, who set a new record in Nepali athletics by securing a middle distance gold for the first time, won by a millisecond, edging out India’ Kavita Yadav.
“I wasn’t thinking of the medal. I was focused on running my best,” said Shrestha, a public health researcher who only started pursuing athletics professionally two years ago. The 10,000-metre race on Tuesday was her international debut. “I was frightened because other runners were experienced while I was making my debut. I thought they’d kick in at the last moment.”
30.12°C Kathmandu
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