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In 2009, when Rumi Rajbhandari joined Burn Violence Survivors–Nepal (BVS-Nepal), an organization working for the rehabilitation of burn survivors, she thought of it as her first step in the world of social work. She thought she would eventually move on to other ‘more lucrative’ jobs. But fast forward 15 years later, she now runs her own organization, Astitwa, that helps burn survivors find their footing back in society.

“I never planned this. But working at BVS-Nepal made me realize how neglected the issue of gender-based violence was in our country and I wanted to do something to change that,” says Rajbhandari. When she met burn victims and heard their stories, during the course of their treatments, an intense rage, fueled by the injustice of it all, would take over. Most women were set on fire by their husbands and in-laws. Others by scorned lovers. “There weren’t strict laws for the crime and most of the time the incidents were swept under the carpet as ‘domestic’ issues,” she says, adding even the police would try to get the victims to compromise and go back home.

The women were more often than not financially dependent on the men, and this compelled them to live with their abusers. The more Rajbhandari saw, the more she realized how dire the situation was. As the program coordinator for BVS-Nepal, she had to work closely with the victims and their families and that also made her bond with them. “Eventually, it became unthinkable that I could or would ever do anything else,” she says.

Now, through Astitwa which was established in 2018, she is determined to provide burn survivors first the medical aid they need and then empower them through vocational and skills training. Astitwa runs a project called Sakchyam which provides jewelry-making training to survivors. The stunning pieces of jewelry made by the didis have found markets in the UK, US, Germany, Australia, and India.

However, Sakchyam, Rajbhandari says, will now focus on the local markets as well. “We see a lot of scope for it as our pieces are well-made with good quality materials. And they are beautiful. Oftentimes, the team doesn’t want to sell the pieces. We would rather keep them for ourselves,” she says, with a laugh that lights up her eyes.

Archana Ranjit, sister in-charge, burn ward, at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital in Maharjgunj, Kathmandu, says Rajbhandari is a dedicated social worker. Ranjit has known Rajbhandari since her BVS-Nepal days and says she is compassionate and driven by the need to make a difference. She says Rajbhandari is able to connect with the survivors and they open up to her.

Rajbhandari’s colleagues at Astitwa agree that she has a presence that puts people at ease. The office environment isn’t formal and overwhelming because Rajbhandari isn’t strict despite being a go-getter. She knows what she wants but she doesn’t impose her ideas on others. This gives people the mental freedom and the clarity that comes with it to come up with their own ideas and solutions to problems. The team can regularly be seen discussing work over chatpate and chiya.

This has made it possible for Astitwa to achieve quite a lot of its goals in the six years it has been in operation. All their Kathmandu-based survivors have jobs, which is a big feat. When Rajbhandari first started working, no one would give jobs to burn survivors. One look at their scars and they would be rejected. But now, people are coming around and taking it upon themselves to help burn survivors by giving them the opportunities they desperately need.

“Many survivors are working as housemaids and are able to fend for themselves. This gives them an immense morale boost, and they can live free of their abusers,” says Rajbhandari.

Additionally, Astitwa has been able to fund the education of 24 students. These are all survivors or children of survivors. Rajbhandari considers this a major achievement as education will empower them and they will be able to break from the vicious cycle of poverty and the abuse that seems to be linked to it. “We have some kind sponsors who have made it possible for many of these students to stay in school,” she says, adding interested people can contact Astitwa and sponsor a child’s education. They would be making a huge impact, she says.

Rajbhandari is happy with all that Astitwa has been able to accomplish but the work sure does have its pitfalls. She recalls not being able to eat or sleep after seeing women suffering from severe third-degree burns. One would assume it would get easier with time and experience but that’s not true for her. It’s a traumatic line of work. Rajbhandari still shudders while talking about some cases. Her eyes welled up. Despite most of these women having recovered, what they had to go through continues to haunt her.

“Many perpetrators are still walking free. The survivors live in fear of their abusers. They also can’t move on because they never got justice so there is no sense of closure,” she says. There need to be stricter laws to lessen, if not put an end to, gender-based violence. Rajbhandari laments the government hasn’t given as much attention as it should to the matter. The media too doesn’t write about burn violence unless there is a new incident to report.

“Through Astitwa, I hope to bring change in our society’s attitude towards burn violence survivors and empower victims of violence. And I’m determined to do everything I can for it,” says Rajbhandari. 

There is a possibility of cloudy weather and rain for the next three days.

According to the Weather Forecasting Division of the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology, light to moderate rains are currently occurring in a few places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

In the afternoon, there is a chance of light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning in some parts of the hilly areas of the country including Lumbini.

Later during the night, light to moderate rain with thunder and lightning is possible at some places of Koshi, Bagmati, Gandaki and Sudurpaschim Provinces and few places in the rest of the provinces. There is also a possibility of heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places in Koshi, Bagmati and Gandaki provinces.

On Monday, heavy rain with thunder and lightning is likely in one or two places in Lumbini, Karnali and Sudurpaschim Provinces.

Likewise, on Tuesday, there is a possibility of heavy to very heavy rain with thunder and lightning at one or two places in Lumbini and Sudurpaschim Provinces and heavy rain at one or two places in Koshi and Karnali Provinces.

Two persons died in a road accident in Rupa Rural Municipality of Kaski district on Saturday.

The deceased have been identified as Krishna Gurung (29) and Ashok Gurung (24) of Dudhpokhari Rural Municipality-6, Lamjung.

The District Police Office, Kaski said that they were heading towards Rupataal from Pokhara Metropolitan City-32 on a bike (Pra 3 02 009Pa 5205) when the incident occurred yesterday.

Critically injured in the incident, they were rescued by the police and taken to the Western Regional Hospital for treatment but doctors pronounced them dead on arrival.

Meanwhile, the police are investigating the cause of the fatal accident.

The Light We Carry

Michelle Obama

Memoir | Self-Help

Michelle Obama offers readers a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power, including her belief that when we light up for others, we can illuminate the richness and potential of the world around us, discovering deeper truths and new pathways for progress. Drawing from her experiences as a mother, daughter, spouse, friend, and First Lady, she shares the habits and principles she has developed to successfully adapt to change and overcome various obstacles—the earned wisdom that helps her continue to “become.” 

Plains of Discontent: A Political History of Nepal’s Tarai

Maximillian Morch

History | Politics

Plains of Discontent sheds light on an often-overlooked aspect of the flatlands of the Tarai, where over 50 percent of the country’s population resides. It is in the Tarai that bitter political movements and battles have taken place, raising fundamental questions about Nepali identity and the structure of Nepal as both a nation and a state. To fully comprehend the anger, resentment, and discontent in the Tarai, the book argues, we must delve into its political history. This is a deeply insightful book to gain some perspective on what shapes Nepal. 

The Top Five Regrets of The Dying

Bronnie Ware

Self Help | Psychology

Bronnie has had a colorful and diverse past, but by applying the lessons of those nearing their death to her own life, she developed an understanding that it is possible for people, if they make the right choices, to die with peace of mind. In this book, she expresses in a heartfelt retelling how significant these regrets are and how we can positively address these issues while we still have the time. The book gives hope for a better world. It will leave you feeling kinder towards yourself and others, and more determined to live the life you are truly here to live.

The remittance inflow increased by 21.2 percent and remained at Rs 1.220 trillion in the last fiscal year 2022/23, according to the NRB report.

The report on the current economic and financial situation unveiled by the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) showed that the remittance inflow had surged by 4.8 per cent in the fiscal year 2021/22.

Similarly, the report stated that the remittance inflow in USD increased by 12.1 percent and reached USD 9.3 billion in the last fiscal year. The increase rate was 2.2 per cent in the previous fiscal year.

Likewise, those obtaining work permits (institutional, personal/new) for foreign employment increased by 40 per cent in the last fiscal year and reached 497,000. It was increased by 392 per cent as compared to fiscal year 2021/22.

The report reads that the number of people obtaining re-approval for work permits decreased by 1.8 per cent and reached 277,272. In the fiscal year 2021/22, it had increased by 198.5 percent.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Uddhav Thapa is scheduled to take vote of confidence on August 21.

Deputy Speaker of Koshi Province Assembly, Srijana Danuwar, allowed Chief Minister Thapa to present the proposal regarding vote of confidence in the Province Assembly at 1 pm on August 21, said PA Secretary Gopal Prasad Parajuli.

CM Thapa registered the notice regarding the proposal for the trust motion at the PA Secretariat today. 

Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) Nepal Compact will go into the implementation phase from August 30. There has been an agreement to set August 31 as the entry into force of the MCC Nepal Compact. The MCA Nepal board meeting held on Wednesday agreed to consider the last of August as the entry into force (EIF) of the Nepal Compact.

The government officials in the MCA-Nepal board had initially said that the EIF should be moved ahead because of the lack of preparation. However, MCA Nepal, a special-purpose vehicle established to implement the compact, insisted that the entry into force be set for Aug 31. The countdown for the five-year project will begin from the day of EIF. 

“The agreement has been made regarding MCC Nepal Compact's entry into force on Wednesday,” said a board member of MCA Nepal. It will be formalized after approval from the MCC headquarter.

As part of preparatory works, the project site should be cleared and the contract should be signed at the place where the project will be implemented. While the contract process of transmission line projects has already started, the land acquisition has not yet been completed.

According to the source, the announcement of entry into force has been made on the basis that the land acquisition will be completed by the time the contractors are selected.

A 315-km high-capacity transmission line will be built and a section of the East-West Highway upgraded under the $500 million US aid. Five segments of transmission lines to be built are—New Butwal-India Border (18km), New Butwal-New Damauli (90km), New Damauli-Ratmate (90km), Ratmate-New Hetauda (58km), and Ratmate-Lapsephedi (59km). Three substations will be built in Ratmate, Damauli, and Butwal.

Once completed, these transmission lines are expected to provide a vital missing link for power projects of different river basins to the existing high-voltage grid in Nepal.

MCC, the US aid agency has committed to provide $500m while the government had earlier pledged $197m to implement the transmission line and road improvement projects under the MCC Nepal Compact. 

The government has allocated Rs 10.84bn for the MCA-Nepal for the current fiscal year. While Rs 9.27bn had been set aside for the entity in the last fiscal year, only Rs 4.11bn was spent, according to the Finance Ministry.

With only two weeks left for entry into force, the preparatory work of the MCA Nepal Compact is far from over. Mainly, the land acquisition for the transmission lines has not been completed. MCA-Nepal has to acquire lands in Chitwan, Nawalparasi and Nawalpur, Kavrepalanchok, Kathmandu, Dhading, Makwanpur, Palpa, Rupandehi, and Tanahun for the transmission line project.

Except for Kathmandu, the process of land acquisition has started in other nine districts but has been completed. A compensation and compensation determination committee has been formed under the coordination of the Chief District Officer.

Six Indian companies have submitted bids to construct the power line which will be constructed in three separate packages. An association of Megha Engineering and Infrastructure Ltd and Power Mech Projects Ltd along with Kalpataru Power Transmission Limited, KEC International Ltd, Transrail Lighting Ltd, Tata Projects Ltd, and Larsen & Toubro Ltd participated in the bid. 

The three packages of the power line include Lapsiphedi-Ratmate-New Hetauda 400kV D/C Transmission Line, Ratmate-New Damauli 400kV D/C Transmission Line, New Damauli-New Butwal 400kV D/C Transmission Line (Base), and New Butwal Nepal/India Border 400kV D/C Transmission Line. The high-capacity transmission lines will be built connecting Nepal’s major power consumption centers including Kathmandu Valley, Butwal, and Hetauda. This transmission line will also work as a bridge to link the eastern and western parts of the country with high-capacity transmission lines. 

The MCA Nepal has also opened a tender for the construction of the substation. The last date for the submission of the bid is Sept 4. 

The MCA Nepal is planning to move forward with land acquisition and implementation together. The contracts are likely to be signed by September/October.

Seven hundred tourists from Bangladesh arrived in Kathmandu on Friday to visit Nepal.

They arrived in Kathmandu on a chartered flight this afternoon.

The Nepal Tourism Board with the panche baja, a set of traditional Nepali musical instruments, welcomed them at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

Samrat Tour and Travels Pvt. Ltd has managed the Bangladeshi tourists who arrived in Kathmandu today.

The Bangladeshi tourists who came to Nepal through Mountain Club in Dhaka, Bangladesh will visit the historical heritage sites.

Bangladesh, which is close to Nepal, is a destination country with potential for tourism.

According to the Tourism Board, around 13,600 tourists from Bangladesh came to Nepal in 2023.