Allegations of Ncell commercial relations with NST groundless
KATHMANDU, MAR 31 -
Allegations that Ncell has commercial relation with Nepal Satellite Telecom (NST) and has taken operational responsibility of the latter are false, the top GSM service provider has said.
The statement has come amid demonstrations by former NST workers demanding their reinstatement.
The former NST workers and the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)-aligned All Nepal Trade Union Federation have been claiming that NST is being operated “internally” by Ncell and that the company should address their demand.
Ncell and NST are two telecom companies, in which Swedish-Finnish company TeliaSonera has share ownership.
In a statement on Saturday on behalf of its principal shareholder TeliaSonera, Ncell said the allegations “are totally unfounded and are incorrect as a matter of law and fact”.
Last year, TeliaSonera, through its subsidiary TeliaSonera Asia Holding BV, acquired 49 percent stake and voting rights in Cyprus-based Airbell Services, which owns 75 percent in NST. TeliaSonera owns 80 percent stake in Ncell , the first private sector GSM mobile service provider.
TeliaSonera is in talks with NST shareholders to evaluate consolidation opportunities pursuant to which a capital investment could be made by TeliaSonera in NST, enabling NST to provide a faster and better service to its customers.
According to Ncell , if the current negotiations between TeliaSonera and NST are successfully concluded, both the parties are committed to respecting employee and other contractual obligations in compliance with prevailing Nepali Laws.
18 schools, 15 students to get financial support
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, Ncell is offering financial support of more than Rs 25.50 million to 18 additional community-run schools in 2013. The fund will be utilised for building infrastructure for the schools from 18 districts.
The company has been providing support to rural schools through “Adopt a School” project for the last three years to enable children get better education in an improved learning environment. To this effect, it has joined hands with Save the Children and other local non-government organisations.
The project supports in building classrooms, toilets, drinking water and other basic facilities, fencing school premises, furnishing classrooms, and providing education materials along with indoor and outdoor sports materials. Save the Children will identify needy communities for adopting schools in 18 districts.
“The support will create better learning environment for students and also enabling the schools to intake more students and retain them,” said Sanju Koirala, corporate communications director of Ncell . She said the support focuses on building good sustainable infrastructure and learning environment.
With this, the number of schools receiving Ncell support of about Rs 50 million has reached 41 (6 in 2011, 17 in 2012 and 18 in 2013). Apart from support to schools, under its “Girl Scholarship Programme”, Ncell will also be providing scholarships worth Rs 900,000 to15 girl students passing out the SLC this year to help them complete education up to Bachelor’s level without financial burden.
Ncell provides Rs 500,000 to each of the 15 girl children selected by Save the Children under the scholarship. “The Rs 900,000 is the first instalment that we will be releasing to the needy girl students this year”, according to Ncell .
Besides, the company has also supported in establishing Digital Library at 13 schools in 12 districts.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
