Nepal's population rises to 26‚494‚505

Added At: 2012-11-26 10:38 PM

Last Updated At: 2012-11-27 11:27 PM

KATHMANDU: Nepal’s population has risen to 26,494,505 over the past 10 years — an increase by 3,34,3081, according to a new census, with the annual growth rate of 1.35 per cent.

Women in the country outnumber men by almost 80 lakh, with female population counted at 13,645,463 (51.5 per cent) against male population of 12,849,041 (48.5 per cent), according to the census.

The census conducted from June 17 to June 27 last year also marked hundred years of population counting in Nepal and a preliminary report was published on September 27 last year.

The census data show that more than half of the population, about 55 per cent, is below 25 years of age.

The total number of households has increased to 5,427,302 from 4,253,220 in 2001. However, the average household size (average number of family members) has gone down to 4.88 from 5.44 in 2001.

One in every four households (25.42 per cent) reported that at least one member of their household is absent or is living out of country. The highest proportion (44.81 per cent) of absent population is youth aged between 15 and 24 years. Gulmi, Arghakhanchi and Pyuthan districts have the highest proportion of their population being absent (or staying abroad).

There are some remarkable strides the country has made over the decade in terms of literacy, people’s access to electricity, telephone/mobile phone, electronic items like radio, television and refrigerator, and cooking gas.

Overall literacy rate (for population aged five years and above) has increased to 65.9 per cent (from 54.1 per cent in 2001) with male and female literacy rates at 75.1 per cent and 57.4 per cent, respectively. The highest literacy rate is in Kathmandu (86.3 per cent) and lowest in Rautahat (41.7 per cent).

The sex ratio (number of males per 100 females) at the national level has come down to 94.2 from 99.8 in 2001 with highest sex ratio in Manang (127) and lowest in Gulmi (76).

While Tarai constitutes 50.27 per cent (13,318,705) of the total population, hill and mountain regions make up to 43 per cent (11,394,007) and 6.73 per cent (1,781,792), respectively.

Kathmandu has the highest number of population (1,744,240, an increase by 61.23 per cent from 2001) while Manang district has only 6,538 people residing there. The urban population too has increased to 17.7 per cent from 14.2 per cent in 2001.

The census data show that the biggest chunk of total population still get married between the age of 15 and 19 (48.9 per cent). The census shows 11.5 per cent of population is married under the age of 14. More households in Nepal use mobile phones than toilets, according to the census, with 64.63 per cent of families having penetration to cell phones and only 61.83 households having toilets of their own.

At a glance

• Population: 26,494,505

• Households: 5,427,302

• Average household size: 4.88

• Sex ratio (number of males per 100 females): 94.2

• Urban population: 17.7 per cent

• Highest population: Kathmandu (1,744,240)

• Lowest population: Manang (6,538)

Fascinating figures

• The biggest chunk of total population still get married between the age of 15 and 19 (48.9 per cent)

• Marriage under the age of 14 is still prevalent (11.5 per cent)

• More households in Nepal use mobile phones than toilets, with 64.63 per cent of families having penetration to cell phones and only 61.83 households having toilets of their own

• One in every four households (25.42 per cent) or at least one member of their household is absent or is living out of country

• The highest proportion (44.81 per cent) of absent population is youth aged between 15 and 24 years

No of castes/ethnic groups: 125

• Chhetri: 16.6 per cent (4,398,053)

• Brahman-Hill: 12.2 per cent (3,226,903)

• Magar: 7.1 per cent (1,887,733)

• Tharu: 6.6 per cent 1,737,470

• Tamang: 5.8 per cent (1,539,830)

• Newar: 5 per cent (1,321,933)

• Kami: 4.8 per cent (1,258,554)

• Musalman: 4.4 per cent (1,164,255)

• Yadav: 4 per cent ( 1,054,458)

• Rai: 2.3 per cent (620,004)

Number of religions followed: 10

• Hinduism: 81.3 per cent (21,551,492)

• Buddhism: 9 per cent (2,396,099)

• Islam: 4.4 per cent (1,162,370)

• Kirat: 3.1 per cent (807,169)

• Christianity : 1.4 per cent (375,699)

• Prakriti: 0.5 per cent (121,982)

• Bon: Followed by 13,006 people

• Jainism: Followed by 3,214 people

• Bahai: Followed by 1,283 people

• Sikhism: Followed by 609 people

Nepal Maoists to frame own Constitution

By Yubaraj Ghimire
Mon, May 17 05:59 AM


The Unified Communist Party of Nepal-Maoists (UCPN-M) on Sunday warned that it would promulgate its own Constitution on May 29, a day after the deadline set for the Consituent Assembly expires.

The decision was taken by the Politburo of the party chaired by its chief Prachanda. The UCPN-M believes it has the mandate of the people and will, therefore, exercise its right and responsibility by framing the Constitution.

The party had assigned the responsibility of preparing the draft of the Constitution to Baburam Bhattarai, its ideologue. It hopes to establish "people's democracy" with a multi-party system. However, not all existing political parties will be accepted as the legitimate under the new set up. "Feudals and agents of foreign forces will not be allowed to operate," a senior party official told Indian Express.

The Maoist move clearly shows that it is not going to support the initiative taken by the Nepali Congress and the Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist Leninist (CPN-UML) to extend the tenure of the Constituent Assembly unless Prime Minister Madhav Nepal resigns. "The Politburo was clear that the leadership of Madhav Nepal will not be acceptable and we will not cooperate in extending the House's tenure," K B Mahara, the party's spokesperson said.

The draft Constitution favours pursuing an independent foreign policy and scrapping of all inequal treaties that have been signed with various countries in the past.

Cine artist Biraj Bhatta dancing with other artists during the shooting of a Nepali Movie 'Chino' directed by Sovit Basnet at the Seti river bank in Pokhara on Tuesday.

UML-led govt formation still in limbo

KATHMANDU, May 12 - Negotiations between Nepali Congress, CPN-UML and United Madhesi Democratic Front (UMDF) hit a snag Tuesday night as the Front stuck to its guns: amend the Interim Constitution to address the eight-point agreement signed between the government and UMDF on 28 February 2008. Thus, the government formation process appears to drag on, mired in a politically fluid situation.
The prospects of a Congress-UML-led alliance continues to hang in a balance even though a UML-led government appeared completely feasible earlier in the day. At one point, the democratic alliance, widely touted as a multi-party coalition was optimistic it would garner 341 votes in Madhav Kumar Nepal's favour.
At the meeting with NC and UML on Tuesday, UMDF constituents -- Madhesi Janadhikar Forum (MJF), Tarai Madhes Loktantrik Party (TMLP) and Sadbhavana Party (SP) -- were reportedly ready to support the NC-UML-led alliance after the latter pledged to address the UMDF demands by incorporating them into the Common Minimum Programme of the coalition government.
Talking to journalists, TMLP leader Ram Kumar Sharma said, “We have received positive response from the NC and UML on our eight-point demand, so the UMDF is going to hold a joint meeting in the afternoon and decide to extend support to the new alliance.”
Immediately after the meeting, NC Acting President Sushil Koirala and UML Chairman Jhala Nath Khanal sent a paper to the UMDF expressing commitment to implement the eight-point agreement. “But issues related to the constitution will be decided through the Constituent Assembly,” the paper read. However, a meeting of UMDF leaders failed to take a final decision. Instead, they floated a precondition telling the NC and UML to address their demands immediately by amending the Interim Constitution.
MJF Chairman Upendra Yadav said UMDF favoured a broad democratic alliance to lead the nation and they were positive towards the new alliance and UML's leadership. “But the new alliance should make its stance clear on certain issues,” he said wi-thout elaborating the issues.
UML leader Raghuji Panta said, “We will hold dialogue with UMDF leaders and sort out issues tomorrow and reach a final agreement to form a coalition.”
Meanwhile, CPN-ML leader Chandra Prakash Mainali handed over the signatures of his party's nine lawmakers to Nepal extending support to lead the new government. Rastriya Prajantantra Party Chairman Pashupati Shumsher Rana, Rastriya Janashakti Party Chairman Surya Bahadur Thapa and Chitra Bahadur KC of National People's Front have directed their lawmakers to vote for Nepal in the prime ministerial poll fray.

Maoist politburo members part ways to meet again

BHAKTAPUR, May 7 -
The Politburo meeting of the Unified CPN (Maoist) held on Thursday to decide its future strategy after the party's disengagement from the government was put off until Saturday.
At today's meeting that lasted for about seven hours at Training Center of Agricultural Development Bank in Bode, Bhaktapur, Maoist politburo members reported about the latest political situation.
Echoing with the party's earlier stand, the politburo members reiterated that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's decision to reinstate Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal was unconstitutional and urged the party leadership to take forward other procedures only after President Dr Ram Baran Yadav retracts his decision.
The politburo members sought the leaderships' attention to stick its stance on thwarting the parliamentary business and the government formation unless the president corrects his decision, Maoist Politburo member Devendra Poudel said. However, the Maoists, who are infuriated after its pursuit to sack CoAS Katawal was not supported even by its coalition partner CPN-UML, has not formulated any line of attack against its political rivals.
Earlier, the Maoist Secretariat meeting had decided that the politburo would finalise the party's future strategy.
The 45-member politburo is the powerful body of the Maoists after its secretariat. Claiming that the status quoits and regressive powers have began forging alliance to launch, in its own word, "counter revolution" with the support of foreigners, the Maoists are said to make a solid plan to intensify their struggle from the parliament and the streets.
The Maoists have been staging struggle from the streets and the House saying that President Dr Ram Baran Yadav's order to reinstate Chief of Army Staff (CoAS) Rookmangud Katawal, whom the Maoist-led government coalition had given retirement, is 'unconstitutional' and was against the civilian supremacy.
The former rebel Unified CPN (Maoist), which emerged as the single largest party in the CA election last year after joining a peace deal in 2006, said that they pulled out of the government eight months after joining it, saying that President's "unconstitutional" move has breached the civilian supremacy and has created a parallel authority.
Posted on: 2009-05-07 07:35:32

Parijat awards today

Kantipur Report
Parijat Memorial Centre, Kathmandu has announced its annual prizes given out in three different fields. Accordingly, Parijat Creation Award -2065 has gone to Ninu Chapagain, Parijat Struggle for Women Award-2065 to Kamala Naharki and Parijat Art Award-2065 to Ramkrishna Bhandari. The award ceremony as well as Parijat memorial is being held today at Nepal Tourism Board, Exhibition Road.
The award is given in the memory of writer Bishnu Kumari Waiba alias Parijat who published three poetry collections and ten novels in addition to many short stories. Born in 1937 in Darjeeling, she is best known for her novel "Siris ko Ful."
Posted on: 2009-05-08 22:19:27 (Server Time)

Nepal crisis may hit Pancheshwar dam

Shishir Prashant / New Delhi/ Dehra Dun May 07, 2009, 0:23 IST

The 6,000 megawatt dam planned on the Indo-Nepal border likely to be delayed.The ongoing upheavals in Nepal in the wake of the resignation of Nepalese Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal ‘Prachanda’ can further delay the proposed 6,000 Mw Pancheshwar dam on the Indo-Nepal border.
“We view the developments in Nepal very disturbing as far as the Pancheshwar dam is concerned,” an official here said.
Prachanda, who had shown keenness in developing the Pancheshwar dam, had visited the 2400Mw Tehri hydel project, an engineering marvel, last November to understand the problem of rehabilitation. He also went inside the powerhouse of the dam, which is the highest in Asia, and watched various mechanisms of the project.
After visiting Tehri, Prachanda also had a luncheon meeting with chief minister BC Khanduri in Dehra Dun where the two leaders discussed matters related to the Pancheshwar dam, which is being jointly developed by Nepal and India with an estimated investment of Rs 30,000-40,000 crore.
At that time, the Maoist leader had also told Khanduri that Nepal was looking forward to work with India on more hydel projects.
Significantly, Uttarakhand, which had opposed big dams for a long time, gave its consent for the Pancheshwar hydel project.
For the development of the mega dam, a separate Pancheshwar development authority comprising top officials from both Nepal and India was also in the process of being set up. The Uttarakhand power secretary is a member of the authority established to expedite matters related to the project as well as its detailed project report. The project was proposed on the basis of the 1996 Mahakali Treaty.
Initially, after the formation of the Maoist government in Nepal, doubts were being raised over the future of the hydel projects sharing border with Nepal. But after the visit of Prachanda to India, the air of uncertainty had been removed largely, the official added. Now, all depends on the situation in Nepal and future government at Kathmandu, the official added.
The Pancheshwar hydel project, thrice the size of the Tehri dam, is being proposed on the Kali river in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts of the state along with some parts of Nepal. The project, having 12 units of 540 Mw each, would uproot hundreds of people from Pithoragarh and Champawat districts and submerge a large area in the region. Nearly 80 percent of the catchment area would be in India and rest in Nepal.
There are reports that the height of the Pancheshwar dam has been increased from 238 metre to 315 metre. Besides, a huge reservoir is being planned for the Pancheshwar dam in which over 100 villages would be submerged completely. But the sources here said as compared to the potential of the dam, the number of people being uprooted would be far less.
There will be two underground power projects in the proposed site. Most of the areas in Pithoragarh and Champawat districts are ecologically very fragile as well as earthquake prone.
The project has also come under fire with social activists saying they do not want another Tehri-like experiment in the state again.

Bad Omens For Nepal’s New Government

KATHMANDU, NEPAL, May 4, 2009:
When King Gyanendra’s army-backed reign ended three years ago followed by the abolition of monarchy in the world’s only Hindu kingdom, it did not come as a surprise to the Himalayan nation’s devout Hindus. “It was on the charts,” says Upendra Dahal, a Brahmin priest who also dabbles in astrology at the revered Pashupatinath temple in Kathmandu. “The Gods were against him and sent him omens.”
There were several omens. An annual procession during which the Kumari was disrupted after an axle broke; a second chariot procession for Rato Machhindranath, God of rains, was halted; a famous deity, Bhimsen, began to sweat in a Kathmandu temple. The people of Nepal took these signs to heart.
Now a year after the exit of the king and his former arch enemies, the Maoist guerrillas, there are fresh divine rumblings. On Sunday, the procession of Rato Machhindranath came to a standstill once again as the immense chariot almost keeled over.
As the spectre of a no-trust vote and a humiliating defeat hangs over the Maoist government, people are also talking of the former rebels’ professed disdain for religion.
In the Sunsari district in southern Nepal, which was hit by major floods last year, discontent is visible. “The prime minister took the oath of office in the name of people and not God,” a villager said. “It was his disbelief that brought about the flood.”

Clashes on Durbar Marg mar republic celebrations

Riot police encircle the statue of King Mahendra on Durbar Marg.

Early on Thursday morning people had climbed onto the statue and

tried to drape it with the national flag. After Nepal officially became

a republic on Wednesday night, the historic first sitting of the

Constituent Assembly declared the 240 year old Shah dynasty

null and void, giving the last remaining head of

the dynasty 15 days to vacate the Narayanhiti Palace.

Kantipur Report
KATHMANDU, May 29 - Excited crowds and riot police clashed in front of the main gate of the Narayanhiti Palace on Durbar Marg throughout Thursday after republic celebrations turned unruly.

Around a dozen persons from both sides were reported injured. Durbar Marg was the scene of frequent skirmishes today after crowds of people, euphoric with the declaration of a federal democratic republic, marched to the Narayanhiti Palace to hoist the national flag on its walls. Police had to fire tear gas to bring the situation under control after demonstrations turned violent.


The people chanted anti-King slogans demanding the king to leave the palace immediately. Elements at the head of the crowd managed to hoist the national flag on the main gate of the palace which overlooks Durbar Marg, also popularly known as King’s Way, stating that the government had delayed hoisting the national flag in the palace premises even after the royal flag was removed by palace officials early this morning.However, police personnel quickly intervened and used batons to push back the crowd and removed the flags hoisted by the demonstrators.


The demonstrators also attempted to cover the statue of King Mahendra on King’s Way with the national flag but were stopped by riot police. Early this morning, palace officials had removed the flag with the royal seal inside the palace premises at about 8 am today after the first sitting of the Constituent Assembly yesterday announced the country a republic and abolished the centuries old monarchy.


The CA meeting had also directed the king to leave the palace within 15 days. The government had earlier declared Durbar Marg a prohibited zone for all forms of rallies and demonstrations.

Happy Mother's day!

Maoists to lay claim to govt leadership

The central Committee meeting of CPN-Maoist has decided that the party would claim leadership of the next government, as it has emerged as the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly.

“We should get a chance to lead the government but we will work in tandem with other major parties,” Maoist leader CP Gajurel told this daily about the party’s decision. He said his party was in favour of intensifying dialogue with other major parties to forge a consensus. The party formed a sixmember committee under the coordination of Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ to finalise the names for 100 PR seats the party has won under PR system. RSS quotes Gajurel as saying that the Maoists will not allow amendment to the Constitution to appoint or oust the PM by a simple majority.

He said, “The meeting has taken decision that the appointment of the PM and the formation of the government should be done in accordance with the present constitution.” Interim Constitution states that the PM’s appointment shall be done on the basis of two thirds majority if consensus could not be reached among the political parties. He added that the meeting formally took a decision to ask party chairman Prachanda to take up the responsibility of the head of state-cum-government.

Meanwhile, central committee of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum met today to review its election performance. According to MJF central committee member Shyamanand Shuman, his party would finalise the names for PR seats tomorrow. Asked about the party’s future strategy, he said, “We will pressure the NCled government to stepdown, as it has lost the mandate to lead.” He said the Maoists had the people’s mandate to lead the next government. “Our next strategy will be to rally support of other stakeholders to end ambiguities in the Interim con stitution with regard to the formation and ouster of a government,” he said. NC vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha said the Maoists should form the next government on the basis of a consensus.

“Let it be loud and clear we don’t want to go against the popular mandate by exploring the alternative to the Maoist-led government at this point,” he said. He added that the Maoists should renounce all kinds of violence and fulfil their past commitments to convince others that they have really transformed into a democratic party. He also criticised the UML for pulling out of the government even as it has urged the PM not to quit the government until a political consensus is evolved for a next government. UML leaders, however, hold a tougher line and maintain that they can forge understanding with the Maoists only if the latter strictly adhere to the peace pact. UML leader Ishwor Pokharel said, “We have to seek consensus but it should not come at the cost of our identity.”

The central Committee meeting of CPN-Maoist has decided that the party would claim leadership of the next government, as it has emerged as the single largest party in the Constituent Assembly. “We should get a chance to lead the government but we will work in tandem with other major parties,” Maoist leader CP Gajurel told this daily about the party’s decision. He said his party was in favour of intensifying dialogue with other major parties to forge a consensus.

The party formed a sixmember committee under the coordination of Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’ to finalise the names for 100 PR seats the party has won under PR system. RSS quotes Gajurel as saying that the Maoists will not allow amendment to the Constitution to appoint or oust the PM by a simple majority. He said, “The meeting has taken decision that the appointment of the PM and the formation of the government should be done in accordance with the present constitution.” Interim Constitution states that the PM’s appointment shall be done on the basis of two thirds majority if consensus could not be reached among the political parties.
He added that the meeting formally took a decision to ask party chairman Prachanda to take up the responsibility of the head of state-cum-government.

Meanwhile, central committee of the Madhesi Janadhikar Forum met today to review its election performance. According to MJF central committee member Shyamanand Shuman, his party would finalise the names for PR seats tomorrow. Asked about the party’s future strategy, he said, “We will pressure the NCled government to stepdown, as it has lost the mandate to lead.” He said the Maoists had the people’s mandate to lead the next government. “Our next strategy will be to rally support of other stakeholders to end ambiguities in the Interim con stitution with regard to the formation and ouster of a government,” he said. NC vice-president Gopal Man Shrestha said the Maoists should form the next government on the basis of a consensus.

“Let it be loud and clear we don’t want to go against the popular mandate by exploring the alternative to the Maoist-led government at this point,” he said. He added that the Maoists should renounce all kinds of violence and fulfil their past commitments to convince others that they have really transformed into a democratic party. He also criticised the UML for pulling out of the government even as it has urged the PM not to quit the government until a political consensus is evolved for a next government.

UML leaders, however, hold a tougher line and maintain that they can forge understanding with the Maoists only if the latter strictly adhere to the peace pact. UML leader Ishwor Pokharel said, “We have to seek consensus but it should not come at the cost of our identity.”