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KATHMANDU: President Ramchandra Paudel has urged all to move ahead being united by resolving the existing problems of the country.

At a tea reception organized at Sheetal Niwas today on the occasion of Maghi festival, President Paudel said good governance, development and peace are aspiration of Nepali people.

The main objective of our constitution and federal democratic republic governance system is also to establish good governance, development and peace in the country, he argued.

The President expressed the belief that several festivals celebrated by various communities would contribute to unite and strengthen national unity by enhancing mutual love, brotherhood and harmony among all the Nepalis.

Vice President Ram Sahay Prasad Yadav, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, Speaker Dev Raj Ghimire, National Assembly Chair Narayan Prasad Dahal, former Presidents Dr Ram Baran Yadav and Bidya Devi Bhandari, former Prime Ministers, Deputy Prime Ministers, ministers and parliamentarians were present on the occasion.

 A total of 17,691 adolescent girls in Bhaktapur are expected to get the HPV vaccine against cervical cancer.

According to Shantiram Khatiwada, Chief of the District Public Health Office Bhaktapur, girls aged 10 to 14 in the district will be vaccinated under the HPV vaccination nationwide campaign that will commence on February 4.

Of four municipalities in the district, 4, 162 girls in the Suryabinayak, 6, 742 in the Bhaktapur, 4, 203 in Madhyapur Thimi and 2, 584 in the Chagunarayan will be vaccinated against the cervical cancer.

Of them, 16, 628 from grade six to 10 will be picked from schools and 1,063 who are out of schools will also be covered in the vaccination drive.

He said that the vaccine typically causes no side effects.

However, in the rare event of any issues, the Bhaktapur Hospital, Khwopa Hospital, Surya Binayak Municipal Hospital, Changunarayan Municipal Hospital and Nepal Korea Friendship Municipality Hospital are prepared to respond.

The government will be launching the campaign targeting 1,688,900 girls across the country, coinciding with the World Cancer Day on February 4.

It will conclude on February 18. Studies show that the HPV vaccine can prevent up to 90-95 per cent cervical cancer cases.

Cervical cancer is the most common type of cancer in women in Nepal, followed by breast cancer. 

Business of traditional sweet, Chaku, made from jaggery molasses is now experiencing the bitter taste of a shortage of workers which in years might widen the gap between demand and supply. Rohit Shrestha (19) is the fourth generation within his lineage to continue the business of Chaku (molasses) in the ancient town of Tokha in the outskirts of Kathmandu but things are going to change from his generation onwards. “I am the fourth generation who has been working on this family business of Chaku (molasses) making. I started assisting in the factory from an early age. I recently have completed my intermediate level (+2) and haven’t enrolled in the Bachelor’s level (Graduation). I want to go to foreign country after completion of my studies, where as of now am planning to continue promoting the molasses,” Shrestha told ANI while taking a break from his work at the factory.

The rising trend of flying abroad in search of better opportunities and education has been rising in the country. The majority of those flying abroad are youths and earning age groups queuing up at the airport ready to take off leaving the elderly behind.

The aroma of boiling stacks of sugar lumps filling the air around the Tokha is fading out in Tokha which is popular for first-class molasses which has high demand in the market. However, the making of molasses is seasonal and the industry only works full-fledged for just two months in a year with production made sparsely based on the demands.

Tokha, an ancient settlement inside Kathmandu Valley, is believed to have been in existence from the Malla Period, long before the unification of Nepal by Prithivi Narayan Shah and currently has around 15 molasses-making home-based industries.

The word ‘Tokha’ has an appendage from a Newa word ‘Tyokha’ meaning sweet and molasses were the main product of this place which has continued over the centuries. The Newa community of Kathmandu valley consumes a high volume of Chaku (molasses)—confectionery made from concentrated sugarcane juice, jaggery, ghee and nuts which holds significance on Maghe Sakranti—the first day of the 10th month as per the Lunar calendar.

This process involves melting jaggery, stirring it continuously and then cooling it in clay pots. It is then whipped, slapped, and stretched until it turns dark brown. The confectionery is then weighed, topped with nuts, and packaged. The whole process takes two to three hours.

Shrestha’s factory which used to employ about 20 people last year now is hosting 11 struggling to keep afloat the business. The current number also includes his family members who are now assisting in the factory work to continue the business. The situation in coming years can be dire for the small-scale industries that exist in this ancient town within the valley provided the steep rise in immigration culture that is brewing among the youths and active population group. With this, the sweet business of molasses is now experiencing the bitter taste of a shortage of workers which in years might widen the gap between demand and supply.

“Every year the demand for the Chaku (molasses) is continuing to rise but the shortage of the staff to work in the factory is resulting in the downfall of the supply. Many of the youths are now vying from foreign countries (the Gulf, Australia, Europe and the US) which has resulted in a shortage of staff to work in the factory which has cut the supply in terms of demands,” Buddha Shrestha, the Vice-Chair of the Tokha Traditional Chaku (Molasses) Conservation Society told ANI.

Annapurna Media Network (AMN) has launched its annual subscription campaign, “Jasle Padchha, Awasya Parchha”, from Monday.

Readers renewing their subscription or becoming new annual subscribers to Annapurna Post and The Annapurna Express will receive guaranteed gifts upon subscribing.

The annual subscription fee for both newspapers is set at Rs 3,400 each. “Subscribers will receive gifts immediately upon subscribing,” said Krishna Bhakta Shrestha, Head of the Sales and Circulation Department at AMN.

According to Shrestha, annual subscribers will receive a voucher worth Rs 1,500 for Wonderland, where they can enjoy thrilling games, as well as a movie voucher from INI Cinemas.

Alternatively, subscribers can opt for scratch cards offering cash discounts ranging from Rs 500 to Rs 3,400, along with INI Cinemas movie vouchers and tickets for Annapurna Cable Car.

The campaign also offers exciting weekly and monthly prizes. Weekly lucky draw winners will receive OPPO mobile phones and Rs 5,000 vouchers for Tranquility Spa.

Monthly winners will be rewarded with washing machines and Rs 5,000 Tranquility Spa vouchers. The campaign, which is valid nationwide, will run for four months.