January 3: River guides have demanded an increase in wages, stating that their daily wage should be at least Rs 3000.    
The 15th annual general meeting of the Himalayan River Guide Association of Nepal (HRGAN) held at Fishling in Chitwan district decided that the minimum daily wage of a river guide should be Rs 3,000.    
The river guides are currently getting a daily wage of Rs 2,500. The AGM has decided to demand the daily wages of Rs 4,000 if the river guides have to travel for several days, said the vice president of HRGAN, Dol Bahadur Gurung.    
Milan Gurung of Chitwan, who has been working as a river guide for a long time, said that they have demanded a pay hike since they have to work from morning till late night. Furthermore, he said it is difficult to make living because they earn only during the active season for water-based tourism activities.    
Meanwhile, the river guides have also demanded to stop the construction of Trishuli Hydro Power Project under-construction in Trishuli River. The project will affect the employment of more than 150 river guides.    
The HIRGAN believes that the construction of the hydropower plant will compromise the beauty of the Trishuli river, which is considered the best in the world for water voyage, and affect the livelihood of the water travel operators and the workers dependent on it.    
The association plans to organize various programs to put forth its demands, including drawing attention of the relevant agencies. -- RSS