No trumpets for Sinha after Magsaysay

What does the Labour Ministry do when an activist, who does not agree with its point of view, wins an international award? It holds a rather...

What does the Labour Ministry do when an activist, who does not agree with its point of view, wins an international award? It holds a rather reluctant felicitation.

At the ceremony to felicitate Magsaysay Award winner Shanta Sinha by Union Labour Minister Sahib Singh Verma, a large section of the media, especially the TV crews, was conspicuous by its absence. The picture, however, was a little clear later when Ministry officials said they were wary of a public spat sometime ago.

Sinha said the award is a vindication of their belief. ‘‘Even the poorest of poor want to send their children to school. In our work, we never had to give them economic incentives to get them to send their children to school,’’ she said.

For the government keen on poverty eradication programmes than a change in its stance on child labour issues, her views on child labour have not found acceptance. So Sinha, who was handed a memento and a shawl, was given a subtle message. ‘‘If parents have a loan to pay, their children will be made to work. One has to create an atmosphere to be able to send the children to school,” said Minister Verma.

Nepal Army chief steps in, ex-Chief Justice agrees to be interim head

World5 hr ago

General Ashok Raj Sigdel successfully convinced former Chief Justice Sushila Karki to become the interim Chief Executive after violent protests led to the fall of the K P Sharma Oli government. He held talks with various groups and proposed an interim government to restore peace. Karki, with the support of the Nepal Army, will work towards delivering a new Constitution.

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