The government has unveiled an integrated development fund of Rs 190 million to be used to fund development activities in five mid-western districts where the Maoist insurgency is most intense. The development "package"- with contributions from the Finance Ministry, the Prime Minister's relief fund, the budgets of local governance units and the MPs' fund-became effective on 4 November.

Rukum district is to get about Rs 38.8 million, Rolpa Rs 40 million, Jajarkot Rs 42 million, Kalikot Rs 35.5 million and Salyan Rs 35.8 million, according to Deputy Prime Minister Ram Chandra Poudel. The money from the Fund is to be used on prioritised programmes that benefit the largest number of people, and spending would be moni-tored by all-party committees at both the central and local levels.