Submit your Article

Former Health Minister Prof Dr Mathura Prasad Shrestha passed away on Monday. He was 88. Shrestha, who had long been suffering from respiratory and heart related problems, breathed his last during the course of treatment at the Maitighar-based Annapurna Hospital this morning, his son Dr Jaya Shrestha said. He was a veteran human rights activist. Shrestha became the Health Minister from the civil society in the government formed after the restoration of democracy. He is survived by six sons and one daughter. His last rights will be performed at the Pashupati Aryaghat on Tuesday.

The adoption of digital payment systems by consumers and businesses has gained fast momentum over the last three years. As the start of the Covid-19 pandemic in early 2020 forced people to stay inside their homes for months, digital transactions took a giant leap. Backed by the increasing use of smartphones and other computing devices, consumers were fast to adopt digital modes of payments and online shopping to buy daily essential items. Primarily, the retail payment systems in Nepal consist of cheque-clearing, electronic fund transfer, card payment systems, QR code-based payment, e-money, and remittances. Digital payment instruments like mobile banking, cards, QR code, connectIPS, e-wallets, internet banking, POS machines, etc. have been extensively used owing to the fear of transmission of coronavirus from physical modes of payments such as cash and cheques. The usage of digital transactions also increased with licensed institutions working to modernize existing instruments and innovate new payment tools. The faster adoption of new payment systems has further acclimatized users to digital banking rather than branch-based banking. While payments through electronic modes have also taken a beating in this fiscal year due to a sharp slowdown in economic activities, there is no doubt digital payment will be the increasingly preferred mode of payment in the coming days. Although the momentum in digital payments took pace in early 2016 and gained prominence in 2020, the foundational arrangements for modernizing the payment systems started in 2014. The National Payment Systems Development Strategy (NPSDS), 2014 was formulated to further develop the payment system. A recent report by Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB) titled 'Payment Systems Oversight Report' shows there has been growth in the number of Payment Service Providers (PSPs), PSPs Agent, Wallet Users, connectIPS Users, and Interbank Payment System Members in the last three years. "There has been a rapid increase in the user base of e-wallets and connectIPS post-pandemic," states the report. According to NRB, the number of wallet users increased from 6.27 million in mid-August 2020 to 13.68 million in mid-July 2022. Similarly, the number of connectIPS users increased from 162,117 in mid-August 2020 to 896,341 in mid-July 2022. The number of Interbank Payment System members has also increased to 111 members. Post-pandemic, digital instruments like connectIPS, e-wallets, mobile banking, internet banking, QR code, and cards have widely been used as customers can use these instruments in self-service mode. Similarly, e-commerce and POS transactions have also gained prominence after the beginning of the pandemic. According to the report, the number and value of connectIPS transactions have grown by 109.3 percent and 127.1 percent respectively from FY 2020/21 to FY 2021/22. Similarly, QR code-based payment is the most widely used digital payment instrument in the country. The number and value of QR-based payments have surged by 382.8 percent and 366 percent respectively from FY 2020/21 to FY 2021/22. The retail payment systems in Nepal are mainly operated by Nepal Clearing House Limited (NCHL), which provides image-based cheque-clearing solutions and electronic fund transfer facilities to customers. Similarly, FonePay Payment Services Ltd. provides the platform for QR payments and mobile banking services to BFIs. Other major operators in the card payment landscape are SmartChoice Technologies (SCT) and Nepal Electronic Payment Systems (NEPS) Ltd. Internationally recognized institutions like Visa Worldwide, Union Pay International Company, and MasterCard Asia/Pacific are also operating as PSOs in Nepal. The central bank has distributed licenses to 37 institutions to operate as PSPs and PSOs. Of them, 27 are PSPs and 10 are PSOs. RTGS transactions value up by 105%  The Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system has processed large value payments with 40.6 percent and 105 percent growth in the number and value of transactions respectively in 2021/22 compared with FY 2020/21. The central bank has been operating the Real Time Gross Settlement (RTGS) system for large value and critical payments since September 12, 2019. The RTGS is an electronic fund transfer system in which the transfer of funds between one bank/financial institution to another takes place in 'real time' and on a 'gross' (transaction by transaction) basis, without bundling or netting debit and credit transactions of a participant. The RTGS system has replaced the manual process to clear large value and critical payments in NRB’s General Ledger System with an automated and real-time payment process. ECC transaction value surged by 8.9% The number and value of Electronic Cheque Clearing (ECC) transactions have grown by 13.2 percent and 8.9 percent respectively in 2021/22 compared with FY 2020/21. Electronic Cheque Clearing (ECC) system allows the BFIs to accept and present interbank cheques for clearing and settlement. NCHL has been operating the ECC system, which offers high-value, express, and regular cheque-clearing options to customers. BFIs use the ECC portal to scan the cheques and present them for clearing and settlement. Use of cards for e-commerce declining While the usage of Point of Sale (POS) is increasing, a decline in e-commerce or online payments using cards has been seen. The number and value of online payments using cards have reduced by 39.1 percent and 46.8 percent in 2021/22 as compared with FY 2020/21. With many customers opting for cash-on-delivery options for e-commerce payments, there may have been a decline in e-commerce transactions through cards. Further, online sites have integrated wallets and instant payment systems for online payment, providing cardless digital payment options to customers. "A detailed study is required to identify the reason behind the decline in e-commerce transactions through cards," reads the report. NRB increases paid-up capital of PSPs and PSOs NRB has increased the paid-up capital of entities involved in the digital payment business. Issuing a new licensing policy in January, the central bank has increased the paid-up capital for payment service providers (PSPs) and payment system operators (PSOs). As per the new arrangement, the paid-up capital of PSPs operating devices other than payment cards has been fixed at Rs 50 million. The paid-up capital of PSPs operating payment cards and other devices has been fixed at Rs 250 million. Similarly, the paid-up capital of PSOs has been fixed at Rs 400 million, while PSOs handling payment transactions outside Nepal through payment instruments issued in the country have to raise their paid-up capital to Rs 800 million. NRB has set a deadline of 2028 for the existing PSPs and PSOs to meet the new paid-up capital requirement. The companies that have already obtained licenses from the central bank, have to maintain the paid-up capital as prescribed by the NRB by mid-July 2028," states the policy. Access on Payment Systems

Particulars	Mid-August, 2020	Mid-July, 2021	Mid-July, 2022
PSPs Agent	5,139	9,279	12,685
Wallet Users	6,274,129	8,885,914	13,675,993
connectIPS Users	162,117	534,615	896,341
Electronic Cheque Clearing Members	65	60	59
Interbank Payment System Members	85	103	111

Cards  

	Debit Card		Credit Card		Prepaid Card
	Number (in ‘000)	Growth (%)	Number (in ‘000)	Growth (%)	Number (in ‘000)	Growth (%)
Mid-July, 2018	5,544		105		97
Mid-July, 2019	6,709	21.0	123	17.1	67	-30.9
Mid-July, 2020	7,329	9.2	160	30.1	64	-4.5
Mid-July, 2021	8,840	20.6	192	20.0	68*	6.3
Mid-July, 2022	10,856	22.8	239	24.5	109*	60.3

  RTGS  transactions value up by 105 percent

Currency	2020/21		2021/22
	No. of Transaction	Amount (in million)	No. of Transaction	Amount (in million)
NPR	5,22,174	2,04,45,704.04	733,795	4,15,61,970.8
USD	10,364	688.04	14,774	828.12
EUR	702	161.09	1,098	222.83
GBP	426	3.23	582	4.96
JPY	175	1,891.12	348	75,633.62

Economic slowdown puts a brake on the speed of electronic transactions  With the sharp slowdown in economic activities, payments through electronic modes have also taken a beating in this fiscal year. The overall digital payments in the first six months of the current fiscal year declined by 0.54 percent. NRB data shows digital payments worth Rs 27010.414 billion took place in the first half of FY 2022/23 compared to Rs 27157.714 billion during the same period of FY 2021/22. There was a gradual decline in electronic payment transactions till the fifth month of the current fiscal. However, it improved in the sixth month (mid-December to mid-January) as electronic transactions increased by 12.12 percent. The monthly digit payments reached an all-time high of Rs 6,227.648 billion in the last month of FY 2021/22. However, electronic transactions have been on a decline every month in this fiscal year till mid-December. Electronic Payment Transactions (First Six Months)

Month	FY 2021/22	FY 2022/23
Shrawan	Rs 3612.083 billion	Rs 5688.626 billion
Bhadra	Rs 3920.982 billion	Rs 4926.715 billion
Ashoj	Rs 4705.105 billion	Rs 4605.317 billion
Kartik	Rs 4931.923 billion	Rs 3946.194 billion
Mangshir	Rs 4845.953 billion	Rs 3697.658 billion
Push	Rs 5141.668 billion	Rs 4145.904 billion
Total	Rs 27157.714 billion	Rs 27010.414 billion

Source: Nepal Rastra Bank   

I’m a 28-year-old man, and I’m struggling with letting my family know about my sexual orientation. I came to terms with it years ago, but I haven’t told my family yet. I know they will be reluctant to accept me for who I am. On top of that, they have been urging me to get married, which makes me even more anxious. I don’t know what to do or how to have a conversation with them. Please help!—L.M.  Answered by Aditya Dangol, Counseling psychologist, Happy Minds Letting your family know about your sexual orientation can be a difficult process, especially when you are concerned about their acceptance and support. You are in an emotionally vulnerable state, so feeling anxious is natural. But remember that, at the end of the day, it’s your life, and you deserve to live that life being true to yourself and the way you are, regardless of others’ opinions.  Coming to terms with your sexual orientation is a courageous thing, especially because you run the risk of rejection or lack of acceptance from your loved ones. I understand that it’s not an easy journey, but remember that you aren’t alone in this. Hiding your orientation from your loved ones might make you uncomfortable. So, it will be helpful to reach out to people/groups with similar experiences, so that you have a place where people can understand what you are going through. Everyone needs emotional support, and this could be how you get yours.  But sometimes, talking to a complete stranger about your problems, no matter how similar both of your situation is, might not be what you are looking for. In that case, talking to someone who you think will be able to understand and support you can be an option. Yes, I do understand that it might be scary, and you might not get the answer you would like to hear. So, I suggest you let them into the conversation gradually. See how they react first, so that you know if you want to move forward with the conversation.  Secondly, be kind to yourself. Having a different sexual orientation from what our society deems fit should never be a problem. You know you would say the same thing to someone going through a similar situation. So, don’t be so hard on yourself. Know that you get to choose your own partner, and it’s only you who can decide when to get married. Don’t let others take control of a decision that’s primarily yours, even if it’s your family.  About letting them know, you have mentioned that they might be reluctant to accept the truth. In situations like these, it’s helpful to have a plan on how you will handle the conversation if their reaction is negative. Sometimes, we jump into a conversation without thinking of the ‘what ifs’ and the result is not always pretty. That might give you a lot of emotional shock and trauma. So, to avoid that, it’s better to plan ahead. This could include seeking support from your friends, loved ones, or people who have gone through similar experiences, who will truly understand you.  Another option is to consult a mental health professional. Having a psychologist guide you through this will keep you at ease. They will help you start a conversation with your family, if that is something you are ready to do. They will provide you with much needed emotional guidance and support, along with coping strategies and resources to help you manage your anxiety in a healthy and productive way. 

At least 45 persons were injured when a bus met with an accident in Pokhara on Sunday. The District Police Office, Kaski said that the injured are undergoing treatment in various hospitals of Pokhara including the Pokhara Health Science Academy. Most of the people injured in the accident are said to be the students of Pokhara University. Sangita Chhetri of Butwal, who was also injured in the incident, said that the students had come from various places of the country to take part in the convocation ceremony of the Pokhara University to be held on Monday. All the injured are in normal condition, police said. The bus was heading towards Pokhara from Gagangauda when the incident occurred.

Twelve days after a devastating earthquake hit Turkey and Syria, more than 46,000 people have died and more than 84,000 buildings have either been severely damaged, need urgent demolition, or collapsed, according to officials, Aljazeera reported. As Turkey attempts to manage its worst modern disaster, concerns are growing over the victims of the tragedy in Syria, with the World Food Programme (WFP) pressuring authorities in the northwest to stop blocking access to the area as it seeks to help hundreds of thousands of people ravaged by earthquakes. The death toll in Turkey stands at 40,642 from the quake while neighbouring Syria has reported more than 5,800 deaths, a figure that has not changed for several days.

The price of gold has increased by Rs 700 per tola in the domestic market on Sunday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the precious yellow metal is being traded at Rs 103, 200 per tola today. The gold was traded at Rs 102, 500 per tola on Friday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 102, 700 per tola. Similarly, the price of silver has increased by Rs 15 and is being traded at Rs 1,290 per tola today.

Team NEPO, a youth-led non-profit organization, has established a library in the Rasuwa prison office through its flagship project “Pustak Pariyojana” on Friday along with two-days free health camp for inmates. The Team NEPO said that it established the library in prisons of Nepal to promote rehabilitation, reintegration and reading culture for inmates, ensuring their right to education and information followed by imperceptible reintegration into the society once out of prison. The event was chaired by Chief District Officer Prakash Chandra Adhikari. Dr. Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO, DSP Subash Budhathoki, Inspector Bishnu Pradeep Bashyal and Jailor Hariram Neupane were also present in the program. Addressing the inmates and the organization representatives, CDO Prakash Chandra Adhikari congratulated and thanked Team NEPO for their effort towards establishing prisons as correctional centers and requested inmates to invest their time in reading the books. Jailor Hariram Neupane said that he was extremely happy and excited to receive the books and thanked the team for their generous and thoughtful contribution. Dr Nigam Paudel, Founder President of Team NEPO handed over 500 books of various genres ranging from fictional/non-fictional to self-help, motivational, autobiographies and skill development books, journals and magazines. Nabin Khanal, Treasurer of Team NEPO, handed over 100 notebooks and pens to Jailor Hariram Neupane. Dr Paudel highlighted, "Books in prison bring positive changes in people's lives and the reading habit is beneficial for our mental health.” Addressing the prisoners, he appealed to make maximum use of those books, as well as encouraged them to write down their experiences, positive and negative feelings, difficulties and stresses while spending time in prison. stating that the notebooks were provided to the prisoners in order to journal their everyday life in prison, he thanked the supporting partners Ethics from Diverse Perspective and Global Hub for Educational Network. Earlier, libraries were set up in Arghakhanchi, Syangja, Tanahun, Achham, Chitwan and Dang prisons under the campaign. Pustak Pariyojana in Rasuwa benefits 72 inmates (64 males and 8 females). Meanwhile, Sarina Subedi, Program Coordinator of Team NEPO handed over 100 sanitary pads for female inmates inaugurating two-days free health camp on 17th and 18th February. She handed over the sanitary pads in collaboration with District Ayurveda Health Center, Rasuwa, Prison Office Rasuwa supported by Dekha Herbals. The health camp offered general health checkup, blood pressure and blood glucose screening and provided free prescribed medicines, said Dr Paudel. The camp served 72 inmates along with security personnel and other staff of the Rasuwa Prison Office.  

Parliament member and Nagarik Unmukti Party whip Arun Chaudhary has been released from jail on Sunday. President Bidya Devi Bhandari on the recommendation of the Office of Prime Minister and Council of Ministers waived the remaining jail sentence of Chaudhary on the occasion of Democracy Day. According to Lilakant Paudel, assistant spokesperson at the President’s Office, 381 persons, who were doing time in various prisons, were released this morning. Party Chairperson Ranjita Shrestha among others had reached the prison to welcome Chaudhary. He was apprehended from Kohalpur of Banke on February 2. Following his arrest, he was suspended as a lawmaker. He was produced before the court on February 3. Around 12 years ago, the Kailali District Court had sentenced Chaudhary to six months in jail for torching a tractor. He was elected as a member of the House of Representatives from Kailali-2 by securing 21, 871 votes. Police had said that Chaudhary was nabbed as he has yet to serve the jail term associated with a 12-year-old arson case.