--- Nepal Trail Bridge Program ---

Mr. Deepak Bhattarai

Mr. Krishna Mohan Shrestha

Mr. Nirmal Neupane

Mr. Nagendra P. Adhikari

Mr. N. Shah

Mr. J. K. Shrestha

Mr. Rajendra P. Bohara

Mr. K. Jaisi

Mr. G.R. Shrestha

Mr. G.B. Basnet

Mr. B.R. Khanal

Mr. R. Sapkota

Mr. J.S. Roukema

Mr. S. Arjyal

Mr. B.B.Devkota

Mr. T. Nepal

Mr. G. Rajbhandari

Mr. S.C.Kantha

Mr. Mukti Rijal

Principal, NEC

Representative, KEC

Representative, CTEVT

Executive Member, Nepal Engineers' Association

Section Chief, TBS/ DoLIDAR

Project Manager, SBD

Representative, Nepal Engineering Council

Engineer, SBD

Engineer, TBS

Engineer, RADC

Research and Planning Specialist, ADDCN

Programme Coordinator, TBSSP

Regional Programme Coordinator, TBSSP

Sr. Prog. and Capacity Building Officer, TBSSP

Social and Org. Behaviour Coordinator, TBSSP

Sr. Technical Coordinator, TBSSP

Dy. Programme Coordinator, TBSSP

Legal Consultant

Mr. Shah mentioned that formation of the Nepal Trail Bridge Forum is a landmark in institutionalization of trail program in Nepal. Trails and trail bridges are very crucial to Nepal and it plays significantly important role in providing access to the poor people living in the remote and rural hills. Government and donor agencies have been engaged in construction and maintenance of trail bridges in Nepal for the last four decades. But there was no forum to discuss all the trail bridge related issues and collaborate among the agencies concerned. Trail Bridge Coordination Committee (TBCC) was functional in the recent past. But, TBCC was focusing mainly on coordination of program among the bridge building agencies. Therefore, the formation of NTBF is a step forward.

The establishment of Trail Bridge Section in the Department of Local Infrastructure and Agricultural Roads is a milestone. In the past there was no agency at the central level to focus on matters related to policy, norms, standard, technology, quality control and monitoring. Now, TBS is given these mandates.

Mr. Shah further mentioned that Nepal Trail Bridge Policy and Nepal Trail Bridge Directives are almost ready and shall be submitted to HMG/N for their concurrence and publication in the Nepal Gazette.

1. Rectifications in the draft Charter: All the participants were provided a copy of the draft Charter of the Forum prior to the meeting. The draft charter was discussed and the following rectifications were recommended.

a) The name and acronym of the Forum: There was consensus that the Forum be named "Nepal Trail Bridge Forum" and the acronym will be "TBRIF". In Nepali, the Forum shall be called "Jholunge Pul Sarokar Manch" and the Nepali acronym will be " JhoPuManch ".

d) The name of Charter: It was agreed that the name of the charter shall be " Nepal Trail Bridge Forum, 2004".

e) Preamble para 2 shall read as "This Charter has been prepared for the purpose of establishing the Forum with a view to develop mutual contact, collaboration, coordination and information exchange among those concerned with trail bridges and thereby help the rural poor people in availing safe, comfortable and durable means of transport and communication under decentralized approach in order to improve their living conditions".

f) Section - 1 Clause 1 a ) : "Charter of the Nepal Trail Bridge Forum 2004 instead of " Charter of the Trail Bridge Forum 2003".

g) The headings of the Clauses : The headings of the Clauses shall read as e.g. , Directive Principles of the Forum, Seal and Logo of the Forum, Objectives of the Forum etc.

h) Section 1 Clause 2 d) shall read as " The Forum shall extend all possible assistance in the tasks of establishing, enforcing and implementing policies, guidelines regarding trail bridges".

i) Section 1 Clause 3 shall read as "The seal and logo of the Forum shall be as specified ........... as and when it meets".

j) Section 1 Clause 4 a): "Charter of the Trail Bridge Forum 2003" shall be replaced by "Charter of the Nepal Trail Bridge Forum 2004".

k) Section 1 Clause 4 b) shall read as "Forum" means the Nepal Trail Bridge Forum established under this charter. It shall be abbreviated as "NTBF".

m) Section 1 Clause 4 f): The word " section " shall be replaced with the word " clause".

n) Section 2 Clause 5: Prior to the objective, the overall Goal shall be formulated and inserted.

"The Overall goal of the Forum is to improve the living conditions of the rural people through improved accessibility by making rational use of resources, dissemination of know-how, adoption of the right technology, better planning, coordination and collaboration and decentralization of program especially by involving communities and NGOs/CBOs".

O) Section 2 Clause 5: The words " trails and" shall be added prior to the words "trail bridges" wherever deemed essential in order to incorporate both trails and trail bridges.

P) Section 2 Clause 5: Sub clause I) shall be added. It shall read as " To undertake any other activities related to trails and trail bridges and as decided by the General Meeting of the Forum".

Q) Section 2 Clause 6 a) The words "trails and" shall be inserted prior to the words "trail bridges".

R) Section 2 Clause 6 e) " A Working Committee" shall be replaced with " An Executive Committee".

S) Section 2 Clause 6 f) shall be added. It will read as " Honorary membership may be awarded to organizations/individuals by the General Meeting on recommendation of the Executive Committee. Honorary membership shall be awarded in recognition of the contributions of the organizations and individuals in the field of trails and trail bridges".

T) Section 2 Clause 7: The title to read as " The Secretariat of the Forum" in lieu of "The Forum's Secretariat".

U) Section 2 Clause 8 a) shall read as " if a member fails to renew membership within the period of three months after the expiry of validity of the membership".

V) Section 2 Caluse 8 b i) shall read as " if a member wishes to leave the Forum, a notice along with a written application for resignation should be sent to the Secretariat of the Forum at least one month in advance from the effective date of resignation of membership".

W) Section 2 Clause 8 b ii) shall read as "The executive Committee shall acknowledge the decision sent by the organization / individuals and give its ruling".

Y) Section 2 Clause 9 d): The last sentence shall read as " In case this quorum could not be satisfied for the third time, the General Meeting will be held with the members present".

AA) Section 2 Clause 11: The title " The Functions, Duties and Powers of the Executive Committee shall be as follows".

BB) Change the words "Working Committee" with "Executive Committee" wherever required in the whole document.

DD) Section 3 Clause 17 d) shall read as " other rules of procedure during meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee".

EE) Section 3 Clause 17 e) : Two sub clauses to be added in the beginning and the existing first bullet to be changed as below:

FF) Section 3 Clause 18 : To be added sub clause c ) " Earnings made by the Forum from its activities".

2) Ratification of the Charter: The participants as listed in Schedule - 1 ratified the charter, subject to rectifications as suggested above. Mr. Mukti Rijal shall finalize the charter incorporating the above recommendation and shall submit the final version of the charter to the Executive Committee of the forum. The participants authorized the Executive Committee to approve the final version of the charter.

3) Membership fee: The proposed membership fee seems high. It shall be reviewed and decided by the Executive Committee.

4) Operation of accounts: The Executive Committee Shall decide about the operation of accounts ..

5) The Rules and Regulation of the Forum: The Executive Committee shall make the rules and regulations of the Forum and such rules and regulations shall be subject to approval of the General Meeting.

6) Formation of the Executive Committee : The following members were unanimously nominated to the Executive Committee of the Forum.