ICYMI: Here are our top stories from Thursday, January 2
Here are some of the stories from The Kathmandu Post ( January 2, 2020) Students at the Khagendra Nawajiwan Special Education Secondary School in Jorpati, Kathmandu help their classmate with her wheelchair. Post File Photo
Here are some of the top stories from The Kathmandu Post (January 2, 2020).
As the government pushes ahead with IT Bill, rights watchdog expresses concern
The National Human Rights Commission has expressed concern over the decision of a parliamentary committee to approve the Information Technology Bill on the grounds that the legislation could curtail the freedom of expression and allow state agencies to surveil personal data.
The controversial bill was registered in the federal parliament in February last year but was not moved ahead following widespread criticism. It was pending at the parliamentary Development and Information Committee for over six months as parties were unable to reach an agreement on the bill. However, on Sunday, the committee approved the bill with a majority vote, which now will be presented to the House for endorsement.
Transit Protocol with China to come into effect from February, but there are obstacles ahead
Ten months after signing the Protocol on Implementing the Agreement on Transit and Transportation between Nepal and China, Beijing has officially notified Kathmandu that it has completed all domestic legal procedures. This means that the protocol will come into effect from February 1.
Nepal and China signed the transit protocol in Beijing on April 29, during the visit of President Bidya Devi Bhandari.
For students with disabilities, there are few places to turn to for an education
Prakash Basnet of Solukhumbu was one of the thousands of young people who came to Kathmandu four years ago for their studies. But Basnet, who is now 19, had very different reasons for choosing Kathmandu. At the age of 15, he lost the use of his legs after falling off a tree and since his school was not disabled-friendly, he came to the capital city, where he was certain there would be schools for people like him.
“But neither the schools nor the roads are disabled-friendly here,” Basnet told the Post earlier this week at his hostel in Jorpati.
Migrant workers can now seek and apply for foreign jobs online
In a significant move aimed to protect Nepali migrant workers from possible exploitation, the government has introduced an online application system that will regulate the hiring of workers.
Beginning Wednesday, the attestation of the workers’ demand letters to the issuance of final permit before departure will be conducted online. The government’s move is aimed at providing easy service to workers and making the sector more transparent.
Nepal still has a long way to go to lower infant and maternal deaths
Two thousand and thirty-six newborn babies and 208 new mothers died due to childbirth-related complications in state-run health facilities across the country in the last fiscal year 2018-19.
Although the government has launched several programmes to reduce infant and maternal deaths in the country, newborn babies and mothers continue to die in big numbers.
9.7°C Kathmandu
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