<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The CPN (Maoist Centre) and the CPN (United) have been united today.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p>During a programme organized in the capital city, Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN (United) Chairman Ganesh Saha signed in a joint press statement mentioning the party unity.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Addressing the programme, Chairman Dahal said bandwagon of the coming together of the leftist and communist forces would help accomplish the socialist revolution.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>There is two-thirds mandate of the leftist forces in Nepal. If it is unified, the model of the socialist revolution could be developed, he underscored.&nbsp;</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Chairman of CPN (United), Saha said the central committee meeting of his party held on Monday and Tuesday had unanimously decided to be united with the Maoist Centre.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">The National Reconstruction Authority (NRA) has directed the authorities concerned to make arrangement for providing subsidized loan of Rs 300,000 to the earthquake survivors in a smooth manner.&nbsp;</span><br></p><p><br></p><p>A meeting of the Council of Ministers held on Monday amended the working procedure-2074 BS on granting loan on group collateral for the construction of the house of earthquake victims.&nbsp;</p><p>The Cabinet decision to this effect has opened the way for survivors to obtain loan by keeping the under-construction house as collateral.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>The NRA has also called on the authorities to arrange easy and smooth flow of loan to the end beneficiaries.&nbsp;</p><p>NRA Chief Executive Officer Prof Dr Govinda Raj Pokharel directed the Minister for Federal Affairs and Local Development, Ministry for Urban Development, Bankers' Association and representatives of Office of Auditor General to ease the process for immediately granting subsidized loan to the earthquake victims for the reconstruction of private homes as per the working procedure approved by the Cabinet on Monday.&nbsp;</p>

<p><span style="line-height: 1.42857;">A meeting of Legislature-Parliament has passed the bill related to providing health services through insurance to all the citizens. The Health Insurance scheme comes in accordance with Article 296 (1) of the Constitution.&nbsp;</span></p><p><br></p><p>The Health Insurance Act is deemed necessary to make the expenditure of health sector useful by reducing the financial risk of insurance policy holders through post-paid system.&nbsp;</p><p>It is expected that the health insurance would end the huge financial burden on ordinary people while using health services.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>There is also provision in the bill which says that the government would bear the premium for poor people, completely differently abled, single woman, senior citizens and orphan children.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Families of those going for overseas employment, civil servants, and those working in informal sector have been mandatorily affiliated in the insurance.</p><p><br></p><p>The people would get free basic health services from primary health institutions once the health insurance act is implemented. The act would also incorporate other specialized health services.&nbsp;</p><p><br></p><p>Health Minister Giriraj Mani Pokharel said that it is a great achievement in the health sector while former Health Minister Gagan Kumar Thapa said that health insurance bill was indispensible to address the health rights of people guaranteed in the Constitution. &nbsp;</p>