Dekendra Thapa of Dailekh, who was killed by the Maoists during the insurgency, has been awarded with Birendra Sah Youth Journalism Prize posthumously by Press Chautari Nepal. Chautari organized a special function in Dailekh this week and handed over Rs. 7,500 worth award to Thapa’s wife Laxmi. Thapa was killed at a local school in Dwari VDC of Dailekh in 2004. Rajendra Aryal, chairperson of the Chautari, also announced that the organization would establish a prize in memory of late Thapa and construct his statue. [break]
112 forest users’ groups recognized
In recognition of saving the pristine forests, more than a hundred community forest users’ groups (CFUGs) have been given a total sum of US $ 95,000 for their role in preserving the forests that ultimately contributed in mitigating carbon dioxide emissions. They had been highly praised for their effective measures taken to conserve and manage the forest. These 112 CFUGs are in Chitwan, Dolakha and Gorkha districts. They have been receiving a similar amount for two years. Representatives of the Department of Forests under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation and the Asia Network for Sustainable Agriculture and Bio-resources (ANSAB) handed over US $ 43,156, US $ 25,659 and US $ 26,184 to representatives of the CFUGs from Dolakha, Chitwan and Gorkha respectively. These CFUGs benefited by increasing carbon stocks in their forests and reducing emissions in the atmosphere. The project to recognize the efforts of these CFUGs was launched in 2009 and is being implemented by ANSAB, International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and the Federation of Community Forest Users Nepal (FECOFUN) with the financial support of the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (NORAD). The project covers over 10,364 hectares of community-managed forests and over 98,196 forest-dependent people in the three districts.
Dekendra Thapa
Dhakal is new KUKL chief
The government has appointed Arjun Babu Dhakal as General Manager of Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepani Limited (KUKL) for four years. The decision was made as per the recommendation made by the Public Corporations Directive Board. KUKL is a government entity that provides drinking water to the residents of the Kathmandu Valley.
Aswini is Miss Thakali
Aswini Thakali, a 22-year-old from Archalbot in Kaski, walked away with this year’s title of Miss Thakali in a beauty pageant held in Pokhara this week. Thakali overcame the challenges of Sandhya Gauchan and Manila Hirachan, who came out second and third respectively, and dozen others to win the coveted title. Thakali is currently studying in the fourth year in public science in the Pokhara University.
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