HOUSE OF THE WEEK
A Golden Valley white out
UNBEKNOWST to Myanmar’s diligent meteorological department, an extremely localised snowstorm has carpeted the interior of this two-storey Golden Valley house. moreThukha clinic expands to X-rays
(Volume 26, No. 506)
Police to take action over forced begging
ACTION will be taken under anti-human trafficking laws and municipal acts against those who force children to beg for money, Police Major Thein Lwin, the head of Mandalay’s municipal police, said.
Poor children under 10 years of age are hired and forced to act as beggars in Mandalay’s busiest places, including Mandalay train station and Zeygo market, and near popular restaurants and cafés, 7 Day News journal reported on January 14.
According to the report, children from poor families living on the outskirts of Mandalay are recruited by “godfathers” to act as beggars for K2000 a day. “If they cannot get K5000 a day [from begging], the children are mistreated in various ways [by the godfathers],” said U Win Htut Kyaw, head of Mandalay City Development Committee’s (MCDC) Water and Sanitation Division.
This practice is most evident during the peak tourist season from October to January.
MCDC will take action against those who exploit children under municipal act – 26, Pol Maj Thein Lwin said.
Greenhouse gas survey underway
A SURVEY is now being conducted to tally Myanmar’s greenhouse gas emissions, officials from the National Commission of Environment Administration (NCEA) said late last month.
The US$400,000 project is being financed by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and should be completed by December 2010, 7 Day News journal reported.
The survey is examining emissions levels of factories, workshops and the agriculture sector, the report said.
Three Ministry of Industry (1) factories in Mandalay, producing soap, textiles and garments, are presently being surveyed
In addition, food and beverage factories, alcohol factories and cement factories will also be surveyed.
To estimate emissions from the agricultural sector, the project will study methane gas emissions at the Yezin Agriculture Institutes in Pyinmana, Mandalay Division, and Hmawbi, in Yangon Division, using advanced technology from Japan.
The project was initiated in 2008.
FAO provides $1.7m to agriculture group
THE United Nations Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) has provided US$1.7 million to the Myanmar Fruit and Vegetable Producers’ Association, a local non-government organisation, True News reported on January 12.
However, half the funding will go to the Laos Fruit and Vegetables Producers’ Association, the report said.
“The financial assistance will be used to develop the production of fruit and vegetables in both Myanmar and Laos,” said association general secretary U Soe Than Min Din.
The funds will be mainly allocated to those producing mangoes, watermelons and honey melons, he said, as well as those cultivating pomello, which is a well-known export item these days.
“The producers will be provided technical assistance, including training and excursions. We are trying to broaden the international market for our exporters and producers as well,” U Soe Than Min Din said.
