DETAILED EXPENDITURE OF MINISTERS DURING DISTRICT VISITS Kathmandu, 29 April: The Ministers have spent Rs. 13.2 million during their district visits in the first eight months of current fiscal year 2068-69 BS, reveals the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers (OPMCM), RSS reports. Minister for Local Development Top Bahadur Rayamajhi has spent highest amount in district visits compared to other Ministers, a report made public by the OPMCM disclosed. He had received Rs. 802,580 for district visit up to Falgun 4, 2068 BS (February 16, 2012 AD) this fiscal year. The Ministers have been receiving daily subsistence allowance, hotel accommodation and visit allowance while going for district visit, the OPMCM said. Some 46 Ministers of the present government have set out to visit to districts. According to the OPMCM, Deputy Prime Minister Bijaya Kumar Gachchhadar has taken Rs. 328000, former Minister Jaya Prakash Prasad Gupta Rs 100,000, Minister Hridayesh Tripathi Rs 90,000, Minister Posta Bahadur Bogati Rs. 77,000, Minister Rajendra Mahato Rs. 388,000 and Minister Barshaman Pun Rs. 177,000. Among other recipients are Minister Dinanath Sharma (Rs. 336000), Mahendra Prasad Yadav (Rs. 155,000), Lokendra Bista Magar (Rs. 272,000), Gopal Kiranti (Rs. 461,000), Bhim Prasad Gautam (Rs. 116,000) Anil Kumar Jha (Rs. 564,000), said the OPMCM. Also receiving money for the district visit are Minister Brijesh Kumar Gupta (Rs. 450,000), Hemraj Tated (Rs. 47,000), Kamala Rokka (140,000), Raj Lal Yadav (Rs. 317,000), Muhhamud Wakil Musalman (Rs. 67,000), Dan Bahadur Chaudhary (Rs. 387,000), Kalpana Dhamala (Rs. 155,000) and Satya Pahadi (Rs. 388,000). Former Ministers Nandan Kumar Dutta and Sarita Giri are said to have received Rs. 500,000 and Rs. 63,000, respectively, for the district visit purpose. Similarly, State Ministers including Khobhari Roy (Rs. 259,000), Ram Bachan Yadav (Rs. 175,000), Saroj Kumar Yadav (Rs. 79,000), Dilip Maharjan (Rs. 283,000)and Bishnu Prasad Chaudhary (Rs. 115,000) have received amount for the same. According to the OPMCM, other State Ministers receiving this facility are Surya Man Dong (Rs. 32,000), Leela Bhandari (Rs. 319,000), Gopi Achhami (Rs. 400,000), Ghanashyam Yadav (Rs. 418,000), Jwala Kumari Saha (Rs. 87,000), Sushma Sharma )Rs/ 44,000), Hariraj Khewa (Rs. 445,000), Sunita Kumari Mahato (Rs. 84,000 and Bhim Raj Chaudhary Rajbamshi (Rs. 252,000). Among other State Ministers getting state money for district visit are Laxman Mahato, Durga Devi Mahato,Kashidevi Jha, Iswordayal Mishra, Arbinda Saha, Ramani Ram, Surita Kumari Saha and Om Prakash Yadav. Members of the then Prime Minister Jhalanath Khanal-led government received altogether Rs. 2.48 million as field visit expenses, according to the OPMCM. nnnn PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE DISCUSSES NEW UNIVERSITIES Kathmandu, 29 April: The International Relations and Human Rights Committee of the Legislature-Parliament has decided to summon the bodies concerned in its upcoming meeting to discuss on the issues relating to the university establishment process and permission to that end, RSS reports. A meeting of the Committee took place at the Singha Durbar on Sunday ended with this conclusion. The Parliamentary Committee has decided to hold discussions with the bodies concerned on the issues, following the rising demand for the establishment of new universities. Talking to media persons after the meeting, Committee Chairperson Padma Lal Bishwakarma said the meeting has decided to call the Education Minister, the Education Secretary and the Chairman of the University Grant Commission to take information about the efforts going on for giving approval for the establishment of the five new universities including the Nepalgunj and Birgunj University. At the meeting, Committee members Narayan man Bijukchhe, Binda Pandey, Mohammed Siddiki and Kumar Rai stressed on the need of holding further discussions on the concept of open universities brought out by the government. The Committee members present at the meeting stressed on the need of ensuring quality education within the country so as to save millions of rupees being spent by the Nepali students abroad for further education. Nnnn GENERAL CONVENTION OF NEPAL RED CROSS OCIETY BEGINS IN BANEPA Kathmandu, 29 April: The 41st general convention of the Nepal Red Cross Society has begun in Banepa on Sunday, RSS reports from Banepa. Inaugurating the general convention, Chairman of the Red Cross Society Sanjeev Thapa said that the general convention is started to review the previous works of the Red Cross and prepare future policy. He said Red Cross will remain involved to serve people from available resources and means. Thapa said that problems of climate change, disasters, malnutrition and hunger have been increasing and the convention will chart out policies to work actively to that end. Similarly, representative of Red Cross Red Crescent Society Victoria Benan said that the Red Cross should work as per the need of the hour in the changed context. On the occasion, local leaders of different political parties and government officials appraised the activities of the Red Cross Society. A total of 300 representatives of the Red Cross Society were present in the general convention. The jamboree of the Red Cross workers will last for two days Nnnn TEACHERS WITHDRAW STRIKE Kathmandu, 29 April: The teachers associated with the Community Teachers' Union Nepal fully cooperated in the Plus Two Examination held on Sunday. The teachers agreed to call back the strike after talks with the government, RSS reports. The representatives of the Higher Secondary School Board (HSEB) Examination Controller, Durga Prasad Aryal, Member-Secretary, Bhim Gurung, and the Union held talks regarding the teachers' demands at Hotel Dwarika's on Saturday night. According to Member-Secretary Gurung, the representative of the Teachers' Union agreed to call back their strike to obstruct examination with the talk held last night. nnnn