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Photo: Mehmet Turgut Kirkgoz NEPAL’S ECONOMY Unlocking the nation’s vast potential   By LB Thapa , MA (Economics) Bhopal University, India Nepal is a country blessed with abundant natural resources, a hardworking population, and a strategic location between two of the world’s largest economies: India and China. Despite these advantages, Nepal has lagged far behind many Southeast Asian nations in terms of economic growth and industrial development. Countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam have transformed their economies through industrialization, export promotion, tourism development, and foreign investment. These nations have achieved remarkable economic progress over the last few decades. However, Nepal continues to struggle with slow industrial growth, inadequate infrastructure, political instability, unemployment, and heavy dependence on imports. Nevertheless, Nepal still possesses enormous economic potential. If the country manages its water resour...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa  Why Panmasala, Pan, Tobacco, Jarda, and Gutka should be banned in Nepal! By LB Thapa Panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka are widely consumed products in many South Asian countries, including Nepal and India. Although some people consider them a part of their daily habit or cultural tradition, the harmful effects of these substances on public health and the environment cannot be ignored. The growing consumption of these products has become a serious concern because they not only damage human health but also contribute to poor sanitation and public nuisance. Considering their harmful consequences, Nepal should seriously consider banning panmasala, pan, tobacco, jarda, and gutka. One of the strongest reasons for banning these products is their devastating impact on human health. Most gutka, jarda, and tobacco products contain nicotine and numerous harmful chemicals that are highly addictive. Once people become addicted, it becomes extremely di...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa VRINDAVAN Its spiritual importance and the challenge of Fake Sadhus By LB Thapa , lately in Vrindavan   Vrindavan, located in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is one of the most sacred places in Hinduism. It is closely associated with the childhood and youthful pastimes of Lord Krishna and occupies a special place in the hearts of millions of devotees around the world. According to Hindu tradition, Krishna spent much of his early life in and around Vrindavan, performing divine pastimes with the gopis, cowherd boys, and the residents of Braj. The town is home to numerous ancient and modern temples, including Banke Bihari Temple, ISKCON Temple, Radha Raman Temple, and Prem Mandir. Every year, millions of pilgrims visit Vrindavan to seek spiritual inspiration, participate in devotional activities, and experience the sacred atmosphere of the land associated with Krishna.   The importance of Vrindavan extends beyond religion. It represents a livin...

Photo: Mumtahina Tanni  The silent crisis: Medical waste management in Nepal By LB Thapa Nepal’s healthcare system has expanded significantly over the past two decades, with increased numbers of hospitals, clinics, and diagnostic centers in both urban and rural areas. However, this progress has brought an unintended consequence: a dramatic rise in medical waste. From used syringes and contaminated bandages to expired pharmaceuticals and pathological remains, medical waste has become a silent environmental and public health crisis.   Although the government has issued strict warnings time and again and insists on following prescribed guidelines, the current situation has not improved so much. Due to lack of infrastructure and coupled with negligence by hospitals and municipalities, the situation has only turned bad to worse in recent years.     Current situation of medical waste management in Nepal   In practice, medical waste management in Ne...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   BEYOND ROTE LEARNING A need for a sea change in the SEE examination By LB Thapa The Secondary Education Examination (SEE) is an important moment for millions of Nepali students. In this context, the government deserves a brief but sincere appreciation for its commendable efficiency in publishing the SEE results within a single month of the examinations’ conclusion. This promptness not only alleviates the anxiety of students and parents but also provides a crucial window for students to plan their higher secondary pathways without disruptive delays. Thus, the determination shown by the present government is no doubt a welcome step toward transparency and accountability in Nepal’s public education system.   A brief glance at this year’s results compared to previous ones reveals a familiar yet troubling pattern. While the overall pass percentage has seen minor fluctuations—occasionally sustained by grace marks or lenient checking—the consisten...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa The Lipulekh-Limpiyadhura dispute: A Himalayan impasse By LB Thapa The map of South Asia, drawn and redrawn by the hands of empire, diplomacy, and war, contains few border disputes as intricate and persistently challenging as the one between India and Nepal over the high-altitude trijunction of Lipulekh, Kalapani, and Limpiyadhura. What appears on some maps as a mere sliver of land in the shadow of the Himalayas represents a clash of legal interpretations, national pride, and strategic interests. As India and China move forward with the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra through the Lipulekh Pass without Kathmandu’s formal consent, a century-old disagreement has once again flared into a modern diplomatic crisis, testing the limits of the unique "Roti-Beti" relationship between New Delhi and Kathmandu.   The genesis of the dispute lies in the Treaty of Sugauli of 1816, signed between the Gorkha Kingdom and the British East India Company following the Ang...

Image: ChatGPT/Concept: LB Thapa   RSP Connecting politics with career and professionalism By LB Thapa Are you planning to contest elections on a Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) ticket? If so, you now need to prove your ability by completing a course at the Leadership Academy. In RSP, getting a ticket no longer depends on money—you need to pass an exam.  For years, we have witnessed the chaos outside leaders’ doorsteps in the months leading up to elections: briefcases exchanged for tickets and the deep-rooted practices of nepotism and favoritism. This bitter reality of Nepali politics has long been suffered by the people. Now, the Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP) has introduced a decision that could shake the very foundation of how election tickets are distributed in Nepal. But what exactly is this Candidate Club and Leadership Academy? What does the Academy teach? And how does RSP intend to stop the broker system and the setting of ticket distribution?  In the upcoming loca...

  Education consultancies and foreign colleges evade trillions in taxes under the guise of foreign education By  LB Thapa “Many education consultancies conceal their actual income and avoid paying taxes. In fact, these consultancies charge exorbitant fees and service charges from students, generating enormous profits." According to a report published in Harpan Khabar, numerous education consultancies and foreign colleges are involved in tax evasion amounting to trillions of rupees annually. This is undoubtedly startling news.  It has been revealed that under the pretext of sending students abroad, many consultancies and foreign colleges have allegedly evaded hundreds of billions in government revenue, deceived hundreds of thousands of students, and created a chaotic situation that has shaken the state. In response, the government is now preparing to tighten legal measures to curb the activities of these unscrupulous education consultancies.  Operating under the facad...

Chintan’s accomplishments make the Nepali Diaspora proud in England What you do and how you live abroad will create an image of the country and its people. In this regard, we can take the example of Indian people living abroad. Look around, and you will find many Indians holding up higher posts in the corporate sectors, teaching in colleges, and universities; and even some joined politics and made their marks. Many CEOs of excellent companies are Indians, and even Rishi Sunak, of British Indian origin, held the post of British Prime Minister. Kamala Harris, yet another Indian-origin American, fought the US presidential election.  The success story of the Indians is endless, and this achievement has painted a positive image of Indians abroad.   In this regard, now even Nepalese people living abroad are not behind. They are working hard to carve their niches in many sectors to make their presence felt, and they are very successful in their efforts as well.   Take the ex...