Need Based Support

Like many other nations, Nepal is pulling out all the stops against the COVID-19 pandemic that is now at its peak. The rising virus cases and fatalities have forced the government to change its COVID-19 prevention strategy keeping its existing capacity and resources into account. The other day it drew flak for its decision of not bearing the medical expenses of the patients infected with the virus. The mainstream and social media ran the news stories slamming the government decision. Even the opposition...

COVID-19 Treatment

Despite a startling rise in the number of coronavirus infections in Nepal, the government has decided not to bear expenses of the people infected with COVID-19. However, the government will continue to bear the test and treatment expenses of the poor, helpless, persons with disabilities, single women, elderly citizens, frontline health workers, security personnel, sanitisation workers as well as those civil servants who are working in the risk-prone areas. If these persons have got their health insured...

The Goal Of Prosperity

Nepal is moving ahead with the ambitious plan of development and prosperity which is hard to achieve until poverty is eradicated. The slogan of ‘Prosperous Nepal, Happy Nepali’ can be translated into reality only when the nation ably overcomes the stumbling block of poverty. Ensuring citizens’ rights to health, education, job and robust social security schemes enables the country to meet the national goal of prosperity. Achieving inclusive growth and prosperity is indeed a tall order but it...

The Fight Against Poverty

The COVID-19 pandemic has triggered a global crisis hitting virtually every sphere of life. It has killed over one million people and infected more than 39 million across the world. The extended lockdown and prohibitory orders imposed to flatten the virus curb led to the cessation of economic and business activities. This means the loss of livelihoods for millions of people. Those without the social security net have to fend for themselves. In addition to rising fatalities and infections, the coronavirus...

PM's Move Of Reshuffle

After weeks of wait, the Cabinet witnessed a reshuffle the other day after the Prime Minister inducted few fresh faces and adjusted the portfolios of two sitting ministers. The restructuring was expected after the chairpersons of the ruling Nepal Communist Party held strings of meetings between them to make a Cabinet overhaul to address the demands of several NCP leaders. Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli reciprocated by designating new ministers and changing the responsibility of a few others.

Global Cooperation To Fight Disasters

Developing nations like Nepal often face numerous socio-economic problems in the wake of natural disasters and outbreak of epidemics. Such countries are disproportionately affected since they do not have adequate resources and infrastructure, and good disaster preparedness and healthcare systems. The devastating earthquake of 2015 that killed almost 9,000 people and ravaged private houses and public structures worth billions of rupees is still in our memory. However, the country has been successful...

Abide By Safety Rules

Nepal is now passing through a critical moment in its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the deadly virus, it has increased at an alarming rate. Now the number of coronavirus cases has crossed 111,802 which is higher than that of Wuhan city of China where it first appeared and quickly turned into a global pandemic. The active cases of virus have surged to 33,880, forcing the government to take some drastic decisions one

Air Rescue Guideline

The COVID-19 patients with severe degree of symptoms need prompt rush to central medical facilities, and if the location of the victim is faraway from the centre, rescue planes, choppers and air ambulances have to be used. Operation of such air ambulances, if available in time, can do mira

Increasing Foreign Aid

It is cheering to note that the bilateral and multilateral donors have continued to extend their helping hand to Nepal in her fight against the coronavirus pandemic and reviving the battered economy. Like many nations globally, Nepal has been struggling hard to contain the lethal virus since the third week of March. The government had no alternate but to go for a nationwide lockdown and other restrictions to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. Although tougher measures lik

Invest In Mental Health

The extended lockdown, enforced to rein in the COVID-19 outbreak, has triggered multiple socio-economic and psychological problems. The virus has badly affected the mental health of people. The pandemic has gripped the people from all walks of life, including the doctors, students, teachers, workers, housewives and office goers. The medical workers are often fearful of bringing virus home with them. The students have lost their contacts with friends and teachers for long. They are naturally anxious...

A Disquieting Situation

In what appears to be a depressing situation, the spread of COVID-19 across the nation is taking place at a faster rate than many of us have thought. More baffling is the fact that the Kathmandu Valley, notably the district of Kathmandu, is turning out to be a coronavirus hotspot with steep rise in infection rate each day. The spike in daily cases has left our authorities, health employees, and health managers gasping for an answer to such an acceleration of virus cases. The high infection rate has...

Check Market Anomalies

That the Department of Commerce, Supplies and Consumer Protection (DCSCP) has intensified the market monitoring process to deal with irregularities such as supply and sale of substandard and inedible foodstuffs, cartelling and black marketing may have brought cheers to consumers. The government authority has mobilised 10 monitoring teams within the Kathmandu Valley alone in view of the possible increase in market anomalies on the eve of major festivals. The recent confis

Listen To Deaf Students

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only disrupted normal way of living and doing things but also exposed diverse societal fault-lines. It strained the state’s capacity to cope with the health emergency. It has badly disrupted economic and education sectors. The government has lifted lockdown and prohibitory orders to resuscitate the ailing economy but it has not allowed the full-fledged operation of schools and universities owing to the increasing virus threat. However, it has introduced the alternative...

Disaster Vulnerability Of Sindhupalchowk

Nepal being a mountainous country is vulnerable to natural disasters like landslides, flashfloods and soil erosion. Some parts of the country have weaker geological formation than others that increases the degree of devastations from natural calamities like earthquakes and landslips. Sindhupalchowk district is among such disaster vulnerable zones. This monsoon season alone, this district lying northeast of Kathmandu and bordering with the Tibet Autonomous Region of China, witnessed the loss of 72...

Minimise Mobility During Festivals

As the major Hindu festivals of Dashain, Tihar and Chhath are round the corner, people from Kathmandu and other cities across the country are planning to visit their hometowns to celebrate the festivals together with their families and relatives. With the COVID-19 infections increasing at an alarming rate in the Kathmandu Valley and other parts of the country, the upcoming festivals may prove to be disastrous if everyone does not take precautions rigorously. This year's festival season may become...

Care For The Elderly

On October 1, the world marked the 30th anniversary of the International Day of Older Persons with the slogan ‘Pandemics: Do They Change How We Address Age and Ageing.’ The occasion should remind the governments and policymakers of the precarious conditions of the elderly population in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. The older persons have become more vulnerable to the deadly disease than those of different age groups. It may lead to fatal consequences to the persons having chronic health...

Biodiversity Protection

Nepal is a nation known around the world for its unique biodiversity that has become a source of knowledge to scholars, researchers and scientists. Its topography, abundance of natural plants, rivers, snowy mountains, lush green hills and plains, various species of animals and birds, and most importantly, unique climate make the country's biodiversity unique to the rest of the world. Being a mountainous country of which geography has been occupied mostly by high mountains and rugged hills, the nation's...

Enforce Nepal-China Transit Agreement

Nepal and China have geared up for enforcing the Transit and Transportation Agreement, 2016, and its protocol, 2019, to strengthen the bilateral trade relations between the two friendly nations. With increased road and air connectivity between the two neighbours, their trade and tourism ties have consolidated further over the years. Needless to say, the two countries have continued to enjoy cordial relationship since time immemorial. Chinese President Xi Jinping's state to Nepal in October last year...

Integration Of Police

The new constitution promulgated in 2015 ushered Nepal into an era of federal democratic republic, abolishing a 240-year-old monarchy. For centuries, Nepal was under unitary model. A strong central government always featured in the governance system in Nepal since the ancient time. Even when the country was divided into scores of principalities prior to its unification, they were governed by powerful feudal rulers. They had the whip over the matters of security, law enforcement and governance at...

Tread With Caution

Despite the policy decision of the government that a lockdown may be re-imposed if the daily new cases of the virus exceed 25,000, the nation is currently reverting back to daily businesses after a long hiatus. Domestic flights have resumed with remarkable occupation in the very start. International flights have also been operating flights, though the numbers are far below compared to the normal times. Long route bus services have been brought into operation in the gap of around six months. News...