Eradicate Drug Abuse

Substance abuse has become a major problem in many parts of the world. Nepal is no exception and the country has its own share of this social evil. Alcoholism, dependence on drugs and banned substances are rife in our society, ruining the life of many Nepali youths. Because of this lingering trouble, people's health suffer and they lose life prematurely, besides failing to complete education, taste success in career and lead life as normal citizens if they continue with the abus

Heed Children’s Welfare

Children are an important future resource for the overall development of any country. As teachers, doctors, engineers, environmentalists, politicians and social campaigners, they will have a vital responsibility for leading the nation towards the path of progress and prosperity. They will also have to deal with various social evils and anomalies, and development challenges. There is no denying the fact that Nepal is one of the nations in the world to have a significant number of young people. Looking...

Boosting Big Projects

The government has relaxed restrictive measures imposed to break the chain of COVID-19 pandemic in view of declining cases of virus and fatalities caused by it. However, the virus is mutating with the emergence of new variants, posing a continuous threat to public health.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Experts have suggested that preparedness and reliable weather forecasting technology can go a long way in monsoon disaster risk reduction. This year’s monsoon unleashed major devastation within the first week of its arrival, causing loss of lives and property in

Easing Of Restrictions

The second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic seems to be abating gradually across the country. A remarkable fall in new infections and fatalities in the Kathmandu Valley as well as many other virus-hit areas in recent times has clearly signalled this trend. According to the Ministry of Health and Population (MoHP), the rate of infections Sunday dropped below 1,500 in the country on average. A total of 1,421 new cases were detected from among 6,677 Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reacti

Enhancing Budget Spending Capacity

More than three years have elapsed since the country embraced the federal system. The three-tier federal governance is not just about attaining the political and administrative autonomy. The creation of provinces and local bodies is also meant to spur balanced economic development through the identification and mobilisation of local resources. The constitution has clearly defined the rights, power and responsibilities of the three-tier governments. The provinces and local units have been empowered...

Provide Timely Relief To Disaster Victims

The country is currently facing a crisis in the form of natural calamity. Monsoon mayhem has hit hard the country as floods, landslides and inundation in different parts of the nation left the victims in tatters. About 15 people have been killed and 16 injured and several have gone missing in many districts as floods and landslides have also posed a threat to public and private properties, infrastructures such as roads, power transmission lines, communication and drinking water facilit

Standing Prepared For Monsoon Fury

Within the first week of the start of this year's monsoon, flash floods and landslides triggered by torrential rains have wreaked havoc in different parts of the country, killing several people and causing a huge loss of public and private properties.

COVID-focused Budgets

Nepal’s seven provinces are pulling their weight to stand on the firm financial footing. In February 2018, all seven provinces had formed their governments following their elections in November and December of 2017. Considered as the pillar of federalism, these provinces are striving to achieve a balanced, equal and sustainable development. In their budgets for the fiscal year 2021/22 unveiled on Tuesday, they sought to attain this goal. They target to eradicate COVID-19 pandem

The Jumbo Migration

A few days ago, a herd of wandering 15 elephants in China hit the headlines of the media across the globe. Around this time, Nepal witnessed the similar sight of migrant elephants wandering and entering Nepal from India. On June 10, a herd of around 40 to 45 elephants entered Bardiya district of Nepal from across the border. The elephants, including their calves, entered the Shiva Community Forest in the district through Khata Wildlife Corridor from Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pr

Oxygen Adequacy And COVID-19 Treatment

It is needless to say that oxygen is the lifeblood of the human body. Medical oxygen is considered as an essential substance in the treatment of patients suffering from ailments ranging from pneumonia, heart failure, sleep apnea, asthma, lung disease, bronchopul

Provinces Focus On Fighting Pandemic

Despite the chaotic political environment, Nepal’s federalism is sailing smoothly. In 2015 when the Constituent Assembly promulgated the historic constitution, Nepal formally ushered into a federal democratic republic. Its transformation from a unitary state to a federal one brought structural changes in the governance system. It created three-tier political and administrative units – federal, provincial and local. In 2017, elections to the three levels of government were held successfully to...

Tackling Monsoon Predicaments

This year's monsoon has already entered the country from the eastern region. Following a build-up of low pressure around the Bay of Bengal region, the monsoon clouds entered Nepal from Province 1 in eastern Nepal. After reaching Province 2 and Ba

Chure Conservation Issue

As Nepal's ecology is very fragile, the country has an important role to play in preserving the natural environment. There is no doubt that the country has expressed its firm commitment to abiding by many international conventions and pacts associated with the ecological conservation. The nation has been working towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) despite facing a variety of constraints and challenges. This is certainly a testimony to the fact that Nepal is making a great stride...

Easing The FDI Flow

With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic more than a year ago, the global economy has nose-dived on an unprecedented scale. The global health crisis forced nations to adopt tough restrictive measures, including lockdown and prohibitory orders to rein in the spread of coronavirus. The transport, trade, manufacturing and tourism has come to a grinding halt, triggering massive lay-offs and economic recession. The pandemic has badly struck the economic globalisation as the globa

Development In Focus

Politics reigns supreme in a state as it influences every sector of the society including the economy. However, the statecraft is not the end in itself; it is basically a means to ensure development, prosperity and happiness of the citizens. End is more important than the means. Politics for the sake of politics, with its departure from ends, cannot win the trust of the people.  Systems of governance that fail to deliver development and prosperity cannot sustain. Working of a syst

Vaccinating The Elderly

Even amidst a shortage of vaccines against COVID-19 in Nepal, the government has started vaccinating people aged 60-64 across the country since June 8. This has become possible with the support of one million more doses of Vero Cell vaccine from China. Th

Defunding The Pork Barrel Programmes

Just, judicious and need-based allocation of resources is the key to the success of any development project. The development budget needs to be allocated and spent based on the principle of equity, fairness and necessity. It should enhance basic infrastructure development, create jobs and fuel economic growth. This is because the countries with scarce resources lack economic wherewithal to boost the development activities. Failure to properly utilise the tax payers’ money result in failure of projects....

Preserving Ecosystem

Environmental degradation has become a burning issue in the modern world. The exploitation of the environment has increased in recent years with the increase in population, land encroachment, unmanaged infrastructure construction, rapid urbanisation and higher growth of industrialisation. Climate change, an outcome of environmental degradation, has led to major environmental disasters. The rise in temperature, natural calamities, loss of habitats, difficulties in availing safe drinking water as

Extension Of Restriction

The number of COVID-19 infections and deaths seems to have been showing a downturn trend gradually even in the virus hotpots like the Kathmandu Valley and Nepalgunj, thanks to strict preventive measures, including the partial prohibitory orders. The local administration has extended the prohibition order in the capital valley for the next 10 days since June 4. The decision in this connection was taken by a joint meeting of the Chief District Officers of Kathmandu, Lalitpur and Bhaktapur distric