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The 6.4 magnitude earthquake that struck Jajarkot and Rukum West last Friday has left behind a trail of death and devastation. Around 160 people have died (more than half of the dead are children), hundreds have suffered injuries, lakhs have become shelterless and lost the means of livelihood. 

In the immediate aftermath of the quake, the United Nations said in its report that around 1.3m people have been exposed to the quake, and about 0.25m may need humanitarian assistance within 72 hours of the disaster.  

After announcing the completion of search and rescue operations, the government is ‘focusing’ on the distribution of relief materials. 

But media reports from the ground are not that encouraging. This daily and a number of other media outlets have pointed out that the government has largely failed to provide for the needy in times of a crisis. 

With their possessions under the rubble, the survivors are in need of food, shelter, warm clothing and medicine. But even the tarps have become a luxury for most of the people, forcing them to live in the open without food and warm clothing in freezing temperatures. 

A report published in this daily, for example, quotes relevant officials as saying that one has to be a house-owner to get a tarp from the government. Another ApEx report states that the representatives of organizations involved in relief distribution are not bothering to visit the backwaters for relief distribution. 

What does it all mean? That the lives of those living on rent or on temporary shelters like sheds do not count? That the people hailing from remote corners are expendable? 

In the aftermath of the disaster, a series of chopper-borne high-profile visits to the affected areas have taken place like on previous such occasions, with promises of all possible help to the survivors. 

Promises aside, relief materials like food, drinking water, shelter and basic medicine are really hard to come by for most of the survivors, leave alone specialized care for the traumatized ones, including children. 

The quake and several jolts aside, the survivors have also been grappling with a cumbersome governance system that has largely failed to provide for the people in dire need. Leave alone the disasters from a distant past, government authorities do not seem to have learnt lessons even from the 2015 Gorkha earthquake that killed around 10000 people, rendered lakhs homeless and destroyed infrastructure worth billions of rupees even as a dilapidated Singhadurbar looked on. 

The government should get its acts together and rush relief to the needy, in close coordination with political parties across the aisle, defense-security agencies, donor agencies, civil society and the public to save lives.     

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has appointed Indu Barma as the new captain of the Nepal national women's cricket team.

Rubina Chhetri had been captaining the national women’s team.

Though Chhetri has been included in the team, Barma will captain the T20 series to be held in Hong Kong.

Vice-captain Bindu Rawal, Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana Magar, Asmina Karmacharya, Kajol Shrestha, Kanchan Shrestha, Somu Bista, Puja Mahato, Roma Thapa, Sangita Rai, Khusi Dangol, Samjhana Khadka and Sonu Pakhrin are in the team.

The team will leave for Hong Kong to play the four-nation T20 series from November 15 to 19.

Finance Minister Dr Prakash Sharan Mahat has urged the banks from Asia to invest in Nepal.

Addressing the Asian Bankers Association (ABA) 39th Conference that kicked off here today, he said there are immense possibilities for investment in Nepal and urged the chief executive officers of the banks from the Asian countries to pump investment in Nepal.

"There is a big opportunity for investment in Nepal for the private sector as well as for foreign investors. Hydropower sector has a huge potential for investment in the context of India pledging to purchase 10,000 megawatts of power from Nepal in 10 years. Therefore, I urge you to invest in hydropower development without any inhibition. The government is committed to facilitating this," the finance minister reiterated.

Stating that the government will promote green energy through policy measures, he said Nepal has set the target of achieving the zero-carbon emission goal by 2045 making all sectors of the economy carbon-free.

Finance Minister Mahat said the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank have also expressed their commitment to invest in the mega hydel projects in Nepal and assured the participating bank CEOs that the government will create an investment-friendly climate to attract foreign direct investment. He added that investment has been increasing in the hydroelectricity development sector in recent years.

The finance minister stated that policy arrangements are being made by the government placing electricity production, small industries and agriculture in priority.

On the occasion, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) Governor Maha Prasad Adhikari said the country's economy is in normal state despite various challenges and it needed to be made further dynamic. Stating that the time has come to completely restructure the means and resources of the banking sector directly contributing to the economic growth, he stressed on the need of securing sustainable economic growth.

He expressed worry that the inflation rate in the country was still above the limit set by the central bank, saying still some emerging markets and developing economies have been facing high inflation. "The escalating war between Israel and Hamas in West Asia and the drawn-out Russia-Ukraina conflict have posed a challenge in keeping prices stable. As a result of this, many central banks have continued to adopt strict measures through monetary policy, which means we will have to grapple with high interest rate for long time."

Governor Adhikari said that Nepali banks have made progress in a short time and stressed on the need of developing the digital banking system.

He pointed out the need of the Asian banks to make the management effective by internalizing the possible risks so as to prevent problematic loans from increasing. The NRB Governor said the rapid technological change has benefited the banking system a lot and this has been transforming banking into a profession, stressing on its sustainability.

ABA Chair Eugene S. Acevedo pointed out the need of bringing an effective plan along with collaboration for the sustainability of the overall economy of the Asian countries. He expressed the belief that the Conference will help the Asian banks to come up with the concept of their forthcoming strategy.

Nepal Bankers' Association Char Sunil KC said the conference having the participation of the CEOs of banks from Asian countries that is being organised for the first time in Nepal will help form the long-term strategy on their effective role in facing the challenges in the Nepali banking sector.

Representatives of more than 60 banks and financial sectors of 18 countries are attending the two-day conference jointly organized by Nepal Bankers' Association and the Asian Bankers Association.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 11. 85 points to close at 1,852. 08 points on Thursday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 1. 36 points to close at 357. 04 points.

A total of 2,833,731-unit shares of 282 companies were traded for Rs 836 billion.

Meanwhile, Sayapatri Hydropower Limited was the top gainer today with its price surging by 6. 96 percent. Likewise, Mountain Energy Nepal Limited was the top loser as its price fell by 6.58 points.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 2. 85 trillion.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal along with federal ministers are to contribute one month's salary to the relief fund for earthquake victims.

A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to donate one month's salary from the Prime Minister to ministers for the assistance of the earthquake victims.

Similarly, the meeting has decided to provide Rs 5 per liter of the infrastructure tax levied on fuel for the Budhigandaki Hydropower Project.

The National Examinations Board (NEB) has published the results of the Class 12 grade improvement (supplementary) examination.

The NEB stated in a press release today that the results of the Class 12 grade improvement (supplementary) examinations conducted on September 26 and 27, 2023 by NEB, Office of the Controller of Examinations, Sanothimi, Bhaktapur, have been published.

A total 117,882 students had sat for the examination and of them 88,947 or 75.45 percent students have secured grades, according to NEB.

The Board stated that the examination of 15 students was canceled.

The gold is being traded at Rs 114, 700 per tola in the domestic market on Thursday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 114, 150 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 380 per tola today. 

Recommendations have been made to pay attention to the potential psycho-social problems among the earthquake survivors in the quake-hit areas.

A psychiatric doctor underlined the need of stepping up psycho-social counseling, especially to the women and children who are in a state of fear due to the earthquake.

Citizens have been mentally and psychologically traumatized in earthquake-hit areas, Psychiatric Doctor of Karnali Province Hospital Purna Rawal suggested the government run a complete package of psycho-social programs in the quake-hit areas.

"Aftershocks are frequent in the area. Citizens are in precarious condition. Psycho-social problems can be seen among the people in such situations. All three tiers of governments should pay attention to psycho-social counseling along with relief and rehabilitation", he added.

Meanwhile, the Karnali Province government said that it has deputed a team of psychosocial counselors to the field for counseling services.