HELLO NEPAL

Silent revolution unfolding A silent revolution is unfolding across the nation. 568 women were elected as deputy mayors or vice chairs during the 2022 local government elections. They are now challenging long-entrenched gender norms, making executive decisions and ensuring women’s voices are heard where they were once ignored. A major milestone in women’s empowerment has been the leadership of women in the state executive, especially in a traditionally patriarchal society. Bidya Devi Bhandari made history as the first female president of the democratic republic of Nepal and became the twenty-sixth woman globally to hold the position of head of state. Onsari Gharti: From rebel commander to first female Speaker. She made history in 2072 BS, when she became Nepal’s first female Speaker of the Parliament. Sushila Karki: Breaking barriers in the judiciary: She made history as the first woman to serve as Chief Justice of Nepal’s Supreme Court, a position she held after a remarkable ...

Goma Shrestha moved to Bhaktapur from Khanyapani, Ramechhap with her parents at the age of four due to the family’s poor financial condition. After arriving in Bhaktapur, her father started working in a brick kiln and enrolled Goma in the nearby Mahendragram Secondary School. As Goma grew older, she began assisting her parents by working in the brick kiln in the mornings and attending school in the afternoons. She continued this routine almost daily until grade nine. However, in grade ten, she changed her schedule following advice from her parents and teachers to focus more on her studies, especially with the SEE approaching. Despite studying in a community school and achieving 4 GPA, she managed to become one of the 30 best students in Bhaktapur.  I wish her every success in her wish to study medical education and become a doctor. 🙏🙏

  Nation on the path of prosperity? A preliminary report published on Thursday has revealed that the total methane gas reserves in western Nepal could reach approximately 430 billion cubic metres, enough to possibly meet the nation's demand for gas for around 50 years. The report, prepared by the China Geological Survey (CGS), presented initial findings from just one of the four targeted wells in Jaljale area of Dailekh district, raising the possibility of the nation tapping into domestic sources of energy. The first drilling operation, launched on May 11, 2021, reached a depth of more than 4,000 metres, revealing an estimated 1.12 billion. Signs of hope that will brighten the nation’s future are starting to appear from the waters of Dailekh. The China Geological Survey Company has submitted a preliminary report on petroleum and natural gas exploration in Dailekh to the Nepal government. It has revealed that the Jaljale area is a huge storage site for methane gas. The...

Okra, commonly known as Lady’s finger (Bhindi), contains beneficial antioxidants, fibre, vitamins and minerals. Its disease-fighting nutrients promote heart health, blood sugar management and better digestion. Okra also boosts bone health due to its calcium and vitamin K content. Okra is low in calories but packed full of nutrients. The vitamin C in okra helps support healthy immune function. Okra is also rich in vitamin K, which helps your body clot blood. This is a wonderful VDO health tips about Okra.

For many of our young generation, the attraction of foreign lands signifies a dream of opportunity—a chance to earn money for the livelihoods of their children and families back home. But for those seeking to travel on visit visas, the path has been so difficult with obstacles, corruption, and extortion. Beneath the surface lies a meticulously orchestrated scheme involving immigration officials, middlemen, and travel agencies, exploiting hopeful travelers under the guise of bureaucracy and ‘strict provisions.’ At the heart of the issue is a set of criteria introduced by the Ministry of Home Affairs, ostensibly to curb illegal migration. These provisions include requirements like proof of a high annual taxable income, prior travel history to Gulf countries, and English proficiency. Instead of ensuring legitimate travel, these measures have flourished a black market where travelers pay exorbitant fees—up to Rs. 300,000 for Europe-bound visit visas and Rs. 50,000 for other destination...

Nepal Electricity Authority in deep trouble While most of the state-owned enterprises are struggling to sustain themselves, there was positive news from the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA). The state-owned power utility has maintained steady profit for eight consecutive years, significantly reducing leakage to 12.73%. It has stated that it limited electricity theft and technical losses to approximately 12.73 percent in the last fiscal years. However, barely eight years ago, the NEA faced a leakage rate of 25.78 percent. The success of NEA should serve lessons to all other state enterprises to ensure that they not only serve the people, but also stand as a commercially viable entity. The success of NEA is largely attributed to its Managing Director Kulman Ghising, who not only helped end the prolonged load-shedding crisis in the country, but also transformed NEA as an organization, paving the path to even start exporting Nepal’s surplus electricity to India and Bangladesh. One key l...

Nutritional values of walnuts The history of walnuts can be traced back to ancient Persia, where they were once meant for royalty Walnuts have been considered valuable throughout history, but why? Although walnuts are high in calories, they are also extremely nutritious with a variety of health benefits: 1. Heart health Walnuts are a great source of alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is important for reducing inflammation. In fact, it is the only nut significantly high in these omega-3 fatty acids. Their anti-inflammatory compounds may reduce the risk of heart disease. 2. Brain health Studies have shown that the antioxidants and anti-inflammatory polyphenols (compounds) found in walnuts may improve brain function and slow mental decline that occurs with aging. Cognitive functions include your memory and ability to think. 3. Gut health Bacteria and microbes in your intestines and gut are also essential to your health. Research shows walnuts can impr...