पाँचौं राष्ट्रिय विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि सम्मेलनको उद्घाटन मन्तव्य

नेपाल विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि प्रतिष्ठान (नास्ट) का सहकुलपति एवं विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि मन्त्री गणेश शाह पांचौं राष्ट्रिय विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि सम्मेलनका क्रममा नास्टका कुलपति एवं प्रधानमन्त्री पुष्पकमल दाहाल (दायां) का साथ ।

 

पाँचौं राष्ट्रिय विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि सम्मेलन २०६५ कात्तिक २५ देखि सुरु भयो । सो सम्मेलनको उदघाटन प्रधानमन्त्री तथा नेपाल विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानका कुलपति पुष्पकमल दाहालले गर्नुभएको थियो । सो कार्यक्रममा नेपाल विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानका सहकुलपति एवं विभागीय मन्त्री गणेश शाहले समेत सम्मेलनको सफलताको कामना गर्नुभएको थियो ।

सो कार्यक्रममा मन्त्री शाहले दिनुभएको मन्तव्य

सर्वप्रथम नेपाल विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि प्रज्ञा प्रतिष्ठानवाट आयोजित यस पाँचौं राष्ट्रिय विज्ञान तथा प्रविधि सम्मेलनको समुदघाटन कार्यक्रममा कैही शब्द बोल्न मौका दिनु भएकोमा आयोजकलाई हार्दिक धन्यवाद दिन चाहन्छु ।एका र बल्भिएका छन् । उनीहरुलाई यी समस्याबाट मुक्त गर्दै अनुसन्धान, अध्यापन र आविष्कार गर्ने कार्यहरुमा निस्पिmक्रीसँग लाग्ने वातावरण बनायौं भने उनीहरु राष्ट्रमा विज्ञान र प्रविधिको विकास गर्न सक्षम र समर्थ हुनेछन् भन्ने मलाई विश्वास छ । साथै म वैज्ञानिक साथीहरुलाई व्यक्तिवादी सोचलाई त्यागेर राष्ट्र निमार्णको कामलाई महत्व दिन आग्रह पनि गर्न चाहन्छु ।

सम्माननीय प्रधानमन्त्रीज्यू कार्य व्यस्तताका बावजूद सम्मेलन समुदघाटन कार्यक्रममा पाल्नु भई हामी सबैलाई हौसला बढाई दिनु भएकोमा नास्टको सहकुलपतिको हैसियतका साथै मन्त्रालयको तर्फबाट हार्दिक आभार व्यक्त गर्दछु ।

आज मलाई सबभन्दा खुशीको क्षण लागेको छ । देशभरका १ हजार २ सयभन्दा बढी वैज्ञानिक तथा प्राविधिज्ञहरु माझ आफ्ना केही कुरा राख्ने र विज्ञान तथा प्रविधिको विकासका लागि उहाँहरुको विचार सुन्ने र अन्तक्रिर्या गर्ने मौका मलाई प्राप्त भएको छ ।

विज्ञान र प्रविधि बिना चाहे कृषि जलश्रोत, संचार, रक्षा क्षेत्र होस् वा कुनै पनि भौतिक संरचना विकासको कुरा होस् साथै गरीबी न्यूनिकरणको विषय नै किन नहोस् कुनै क्षेत्रको पनि विकास संभव छैन । अर्को कुरा हामीले विज्ञान र प्रविधिको विकास गर्ने हो भने विदेशी निर्भरतालाई त्यागी आफ्नै क्षमताको विकास गर्नुपर्दछ । हामीले विदेशबाट प्रविधि आयात गर्ने र सेवा करारमा लिने बानीलाई छाडेर देश भित्रै वैज्ञानिक र प्राविधिक क्षमताको विकास गर्नुपर्दछ । क्षमताको विकास भनेको गुणस्तरीय विज्ञान शिक्षा, क्षमतावान वैज्ञानिक र प्राविधिक जनशक्तिको विकास, अनुसन्धानको सुविधा र व्यवस्था, नयाँनयाँ प्रविधिको विकास र त्यसको उपयोग, विभिन्न सेवा क्षेत्र र निर्माण कार्यमा प्रयोग हुने उपकरण र यन्त्रहरुको निर्माण, तिनीहरुको विक्री र निर्यात, अनुसन्धानबाट प्राप्त ज्ञानको ब्यवसायिकरण हो । तर यो सामथ्र्य विकास गर्नलाई शुरुमा राष्ट्रले ठूलो लगानी गर्नुपर्दछ भन्ने कुरामा हामी प्रष्ट हुनुपर्दछ । विज्ञान र प्रविधिमा गरेको लगानीले तुरुन्त प्रतिफल दिने पनि होइन । त्यसको लागि केही समय पर्खने धैर्य हामीमा अवश्य पनि हुनुपर्दछ । यो कुरा बुझ्न ढिलो भइसक्यो भन्ने पनि मलाई लागेको छ ।

अहिले हामी नयाँ नेपाल निर्माणका लागि अगाडि बढिरहेका छौं । यो नारालाई साकार पार्न हाम्रो जस्तो विकासोन्मुख देशका लागि विज्ञान प्रविधिको महत्वपूर्ण भूमिका हुने कुरा निर्विवाद छ । यो सम्मेलन यस्तो बेलामा आयोजना हुन गएको छ जुन सम्मेलनबाट प्राप्त हुने सुझाव र निचोडका आधारमा तदनुरुपका कार्यक्रम सञ्चालन गरी युवा, दलित तथा उप्तीडित वर्गहरु समेतलाई आवद्ध गर्दै नयाँ नेपाल निर्माणको परिकल्पनामा सघाउ पुर्‍याउन जरुरी देखिएको छ । यस अवसरमा यो सम्मेलन ‘नयाँ नेपाल, विज्ञान तथा प्रविधिको नेपाल’ भन्ने नारालाई घनीभूत पार्न सफल रहन सकोस् भन्ने शुभकामना दिन चाहन्छु ।

संयुक्त राष्ट्र संघीय शैक्षिक तथा वैज्ञानिक संगठन (यूनेस्को) ले नोभेम्बर १० तारिखलाईWorld Science Day को रुपमा मनाउने घोषणा गरिसकेको छ । नास्टबाट आयोजित यस सम्मेलन सोही दिनबाट शुरु हुनुले निसन्देह सम्मेलनको महत्व अझ उजागर भएको मैले महसूस गरेको छु । राष्ट्रले वैज्ञानिकहरुको सम्मान गर्न सिक्नुपर्दछ । आज नेपाली वैज्ञानिक र अनुसन्धानकर्ताहरुको हालत हेर्‍यौं भने उनीहरु जीवन निर्वाह र सामाजिक प्रतिष्ठासँग जोडिएका सवालहरुमा नै अल्भि

NRN Day celebrated in Janakpur

 

 

 

Tthe NRN Day 2008 was organized in Janakpur .The event was being organized in Janakpur meant great significance to the locals and created much excitement. Despite being a city of historical renown, Janakpur has been on a steady decline and this event restored some of the pride back to the city.

Furthermore, this was the first NRN convention to be organized outside Kathmandu.

The main road running through Janakpur was cordoned off for hours as President Yadav arrived to inaugurate the program. The program itself had started on Sunday but the inauguration was scheduled for Monday. President Yadav duly delivered his staple message about the need for national unity while celebrating the diversity of the country.He expressed commitment to drafting the constitution on time and urged the NRNs to contribute positively to the peace process. Investments by NRNs will bring prosperity and economic development, he said.

The joint inaugural session included speeches by Minister for Works and Transport Bijay Kumar Gacchedhar, NRN advisor Kul Chandra Gautam, and FNCCI chairperson Kush Kumar Joshi, among others. 

The theme of this year’s NRN convention was “NRN in Local Transformation”. Following the joint inaugural session, two separate technical sessions were held.

The first technical session, titled “Economic Development and Local Transformation”, was chaired by Minister of Science and Technology Ganesh Shah. Minister Shah said there was a dire need for a scientific revolution in Nepal. He urged NRNs to contribute to the process with their knowledge and skills that they have acquired through their international experience.The session also included some scholarly presentations by experts. Dr. Bishwamber Pyuakurel highlighted the role of NRNs in minimizing the restraints on economic development in the current context. Similarly, Dr. Bhogendra Jha spoke specifically of the development of Janakpur and the role that NRNs could play in bringing about positive transformation to the town. Ratan Jha, also the chairperson of Association of Nepali Taraians in America (ANTA), said that it was necessary for the diaspora and Nepali residents to share and transfer knowledge and skills, which could be put to good use to transform the country. Usha Sharma emphasized the role of women and the importance of their participation in local transformation.

The second session, chaired by Minister of Local Development Ram Chandra Jha, was titled “Non Resident Nepalis and Local Transformation”. 

Perhaps the most significant happenings at the program were the various charitable acts done by the NRNs themselves. President Yadav posthumously facilitated Ram Swaroop and Ram Sagar Sah, founders of the RR Campus. Canada resident Aditya Jha pledged to donate 100 laptops to Sarswati Secondary School, whose alumuni include President Yadav himself. An ambulance was provided to a local youth club. Another NRN, Ram Sah pledged to construct an auditorium with a 800 person capacity behind Janaki Mandir, a much needed facility.

Daulat Jha

Srijana Community Library

Srijana Community Library

This library was established in October 2005 with the help of local people and Rural Education and Development (READ). The library was established with the prime motive of providing educational materials and create awareness among the local people. Although the building was established with the financial help from the READ, the regular operation of the library is through the local community support.

The Library has been a good example for people expecting development in Nepal and I hope more such knowledge centers should be established in Nepal. In the present Internet world, the library is lacking the e-library infrastructure and its proposition. The library is looking for support in this regard.

For further information contact

Mr. Rajendra Chaudhary, Mob: 9842826985

Or The Ministry for Environment, Science

Bio Diesel (Jatropha) Plantation at Lahan

Jatropha curcas

 Jatropha curcas, Barbados nut or Physic nut is a perennial poisonous shrub (normally up to 5 m high) belonging to the Euphorbiaceae or spurge family. It is an uncultivated non-food wild-species. The plant, originating in Central America, whereas it has been spread to other tropical and subtropical countries as well and is mainly grown in Asia and in Africa, where it is known as Pourghère. It is used as a living fence to protect gardens and fields from animals. It is resistant to a high degree of aridity (it can be planted even in the desert) and as such does not compete with food crops. The seeds contain 30% oil that can be processed to produce a high-quality biodiesel fuel, usable in a standard diesel engine.        

 

 Facts about Jatropha

Jatropha is seen by many to be the perfect biodiesel crop. It can be grown in very poor soils actually generating top soil as it goes, is drought and pest resilient, and it has seeds with up to 40% oil content.

 

Here are some facts and figures about Jatropha relating to its growth as an oil product:-

·        Jatropha grows well on low fertility soils however increased yields can be obtained using a fertilizer containing small amounts of magnesium, sulphur, and calcium.

·        Jatropha can be intercropped with many cash crops such as coffee, sugar, fruits and vegetables with the Jatropha offering both fertilizer and protection against livestock.

·        Jatropha needs at least 600mm of rain annually to thrive however it can survive three years of drought by dropping its leaves.

·        Jatropha is excellent at preventing soil erosion, and the leaves it drops act as a wonderful soil enriching mulch.

·        Jatropha prefers alkaline soils.

·        The cost of 1kg of jatropha seeds in India is 6 Rupees.

·        Each jatropha seedling should be given a 2m x 2m area to grow into.

·        20% of seedlings planted will not survive.

·        Jatropha seedlings yield seeds in the first year after plantation.

·        After the first five years, the typical annual yield of a jatropha tree is 3.5kg of beans.  Jatropha trees are productive for up to 30-40 years.

·        2,200 trees can be planted per hectare (approx 1,000 per acre).

·        Glycerol, a biproduct of biodiesel refinement, can be sold in India for around 40-50 Rs per kilogram.

·        One hectare of jatropha plantation yields 25,000 Rupees / year in India.

  Processing

 Seed extraction is made simple with the use of the Universal Nut Sheller, an appropriate technology designed by the Full Belly Project. Oil content varies from 28% to 30% and 94% extraction, one hectare of plantation will give 1.6t (metric tonne) of oil if the soil is average. The oily seeds are processed into oil, which may be directly used to fuel combustion engines or may be subjected to transesterification to produce biodiesel. Jatropha oil is not suitable for human consumption, as it induces strong vomiting and diarrhea. A colourant can also be derived from the seed. 

Jatropha in Nepal

Jatropha plants are found in several plants of Nepal. Although its formal plantation or cultivation was not done till date, due to its growing nature, it’s available in many parts. Traditionally it has been used for medication and fencing purpose.

The formal plantation of the Jatropha has been started in Lahan in the community forest along with the help of the local people. There are four processing plants proposed for extraction of the oil. The two plants would be started soon while the other two would be started a little later.

Jatropha would not only reduce the fuel crisis in Nepal but also assist in improving the environmental conditions and creating employment opportunity for locals. I expect necessary support and assistance from the concerned people in promoting this.

For further information contact:

Mr. Dinesh Yadav, Mob: +977-9842841653, Email: dsknepali@yahoo.com

Er. Krishna Kr. Shah, Mob: +977-9851063825, Email: krishna@most.gov.np,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                kks_82@yahoo.com  

 

Receiving Prime Minister at Airport

Receiving Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal at airport

Seminar on Role of Research in Hydro Power Development in KU, Dhulikhel

Inaguartion of the Event

The Seminar was organized in Kathmandu University on the topic ” Role of Research in Hydropower Development”. In the seminar, the Norwegian Delegates from SINTEF demonstrated their plan for their role in the research and assistance in the KU. The assistance of the Norwegian government and the other organizations were shown in the seminar.

 

Environment, Science and Technology

I wanted to share with everyone that I have been appointed as a Minister of Environment, Science and Technology in the current cabinet. I was sworn in yesterday at Shital Niwas by the Prime Minister. I am honored and humbled to have this opportunity during a historic time in our country.

I wanted to take this moment to thank my family, friends and comrades for your help and support.  In the next few months, I will be sharing my vision and ideas through this blog and use this channel as an open platform to share and exchange ideas on new Environmental and Technology initiatives.  We must work together towards strengthening and creating technology to uplift socio-economic development by building human and institutional capacity and bridging the gap of the “digital divide”.

I look forward to meeting and speaking with everyone soon.

Thank you,

Ganesh Shah
shahganesh@gmail.com

Sunil Babu Pant

We are honoured to send Pant as our representative to the constituent assembly. We hope it will improve and ensure the rights and lives of a people who are the most repressed in Nepal.

Photo AFP

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Dream for Higher Education is not easy

It is easy to pass School Leaving Certificate, known as Iron Gate for Nepalese students, in the first division but the way of higher education seems dark. This is the real fact for those students who are suffering the poverty in Nepal.

Chandra Dev Malli, a Dom (low cast people in Nepalese Society) has passed S.L.C. with 71 percent of marks, but now struggling to join higher education due to the poverty. He is from the Malangwa, a headquarter of Sarlahi District, and probably the first Dom citizen to pass the S.L.C. The tragic doesn’t end here, he is even unable to get his certificate due to the lack of just NRS. 1500. He has still due of NRS. 1110 in his school. He may be the first Dom citizen to pass S.L.C. in Nepal.

15 Dom families are there in Malangwa and almost 595 Dom peoples in the district. They generate money for their food and living by clearing Public Toile, Roads and by managing the dead body of animals.

“I have done my best for his school study by doing such a low level work like toilet and road clearing”, he said in the sad mood, “I have already taken a loan of Rs. 40,000, then how can I manage the money for his further study?” He requests to manage his son’s study for the higher education.