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Depositors have been unable to withdraw Rs 1.57bn parked in various savings and cooperatives declared as ‘troubled’ by the government. The hard-earned savings of 5,381 people are stuck in these cooperatives.

A report prepared by the Troubled Cooperatives Management Committee states that people have made claims for their savings amounting to a combined Rs 1.57bn. Speaking at the Agriculture and Cooperatives Committee of the House of Representatives, Kashi Raj Dahal, chairman of the Troubled Cooperatives Management Committee, said the government should return their savings to the depositors by selling off assets of the cooperatives. The government formed the committee for the management of troubled cooperatives on April 19 last year after people victimized by the cooperatives launched a protest for 63 days. The committee submitted its report to the government on October 9.

According to the report, over 80 percent of 31,373 cooperatives are under the supervision of local units, 19.5 percent under the provincial government, and 145 under the federal government. Out of the 15 troubled cooperatives, 4,249 depositors have parked Rs 3.19bn in Oriental Saving and Credit Cooperatives alone. Of them, only 519 depositors with savings less than Rs 100,000 have got their money back.

According to the report, the committee has managed to bring down the total liability of the suspended chairperson of the cooperatives, Sudhir Basnet, by Rs 880m. Efforts were underway to search and auction off fixed and liquid assets of board directors and borrowers of the company to pay off the depositors, Dahal added.

Investigations into three other troubled cooperatives—Consumer, Kohinoor, and Vegas—were going on together with Oriental, according to the committee. The report states that Standard Saving and Credit Cooperatives has returned only Rs 29.7m of 81 depositors out of Rs 110m deposits of 175 individuals. Dahal said preparations were underway to auction the assets of promoters and borrowers of the cooperative.

Similarly, the committee has managed to return Rs 360m out of Rs 480m claimed by 352 depositors of Pacific Saving and Credit Cooperatives. The committee is in the process of auctioning off assets of the promoters to return the savings of the remaining depositors. The committee has become successful in returning Rs 55.56m out of Rs 108.75m parked by depositors in Societal Saving and Credit Cooperatives. The committee has provided 13 katthas of land under the ownership of the cooperative to some depositors to settle their transactions. The cooperative still owes Rs 44m to the depositors.

According to Dahal, the committee has managed to return only Rs 3.3m out of Rs 130.2m of 138 individuals parked in Prabhu Saving and Credit Cooperatives. Similarly, Rs 60m out of Rs 117.4m claimed by 214 depositors of Lunibha Savings and Credit Cooperatives have been returned so far. The committee told the House panel that all the assets of Pashupati Saving and Credit Cooperatives have been seized and are being auctioned off to return the money of depositors. A total of 984 depositors have filed applications for the return of their deposits worth Rs 987.5m, according to the committee.

According to Dahal, Shiva Shikhar Saving and Credit Cooperatives have not been able to return deposits worth Rs 6.27bn of 16,365 depositors. The committee has seized documents from 36 branch offices of the cooperatives and sealed them. Likewise, all the branch offices of Tulsi Multipurpose Cooperative have been sealed. Depositors have filed applications for the return of their savings worth Rs 1.57bn parked in the cooperative.

Out of 15 cooperatives under the supervision of the federal government, depositors of three have managed to get all their money back. Depositors of Chartered, Standard Multipurpose, and Kuber have been paid Rs 8.4m, Rs 7.5m, and Rs 5.7m, respectively, according to Dahal.

“There are many problems in regulating cooperatives which have not received the attention of the state,” Dahal said. “There is a lack of resources and manpower. Most of the assets of promoters of cooperatives are already frozen as they have mortgaged them to secure bank loans.” According to Dahal, since the court has decided in favor of the cooperative promoters in many cases, it isn't clear how long depositors will have to wait to get their savings back.

The National Examinations Board this year has decided to conduct the Secondary Education Examination (SEE) and public its results in accordance with the Letter Grading Directive 2078 BS.

The Board has scheduled the SEE for the year 2080 BS from upcoming March 28 to April 9.

Board Chair Dr Mahashram Sharma said the grade 10 students this year will be sitting for the SEE as per the new curriculum and results will be published based on the Letter Grading Directives 2078 BS.

As per the new system, each SEE student is required to obtain 35 in theory in 100 full marks subject to be qualified for pursuing higher studies. Any student failing to secure above 35 in theory will not be eligible for getting enrolled in class 11 and will find the result under the non-Graded category.

In such a situation, the chance exams for two subjects will be allowed three times.

A total of 489,000 students, both regular and towards grade improvement, will be appearing for the SEE, according Nandalal Paudel, SEE Examinations Controller.

Grading system has been already implemented in the exams of grade 11 and 12. The Board has intensified the preparations for the SEE.

The printing of question papers, preparations of other logistics and fixations for examination centers are the parts of the preparations, it is said.

Meditation is said to have a myriad of benefits. It’s believed to reduce stress, increase clarity, and promote overall wellness. It’s fairly simple to pick up, though tough to master. But the benefits are almost immediate. Meditating for as little as five to 10 minutes can help you sleep better. Research suggests that over time meditation can be useful for managing several chronic health problems, including mental health disorders like depression and anxiety.

It can be a bit perplexing to figure out how and where to start. The good news is there isn’t a right way to meditate. In this practice of mindfulness, there isn’t a one-size-fits-all approach. Meditation is about feeling relaxed, calm, and aware of the present and there are many ways to get there. Former Miss Universe Sushmita Sen swears by what she calls the moving meditation. All you have to do is play soothing music while engaging in light movement. Here are some tips to help you get started. 

Keep it simple

The worst mistake you can make while starting your meditation journey is to make the ritual so complex that it overwhelms you and you give up after a couple of days. This is also the most common mistake. When you are first beginning to develop a practice, keep the approach simple. Sen’s moving meditation could be one way to go about it. But if you’d rather sit down and do it, find a quiet place, put on some nice tunes, and begin by trying to focus on your breath. We often think sitting cross-legged is the ideal way to meditate as that is how it is often depicted. But the best meditation posture is one that is comfortable. So, sit on the chair, your comfiest couch, or stand up. The choice is yours.

Focus on your breath

Everyone knows this but this can often be the most difficult thing to do. Try to focus your attention on each inhale and exhale. Alternatively, you can do a body scan. Focus on each part of the body pausing to notice the sensations. Distractions will come. Your mind will wander. Acknowledge it but don’t dwell on it, and gently bring your attention back to your breathing. The goal isn’t to turn off your brain but to let go of your thoughts as they arise. Learning how to manage distraction is an important part of meditation and you will, with practice, get the hang of it. However, don’t try to control your breath. Keep it natural.

Practice in bursts

You will most likely be unable to sit for a long time without feeling uneasy or impatient. At the beginning of your practice, start by meditating for short bursts of time. You can set the timer for as little as three to five minutes and just stay still and concentrate on your breathing during that time. You can do this multiple times during the day. As you get the hang of it, and you will, you can increase the time to 10 to 15 minutes and then slowly work your way up from there. Early morning is probably one of the best times to meditate. You can finish your practice before others in your house wake up and start making a lot of noise.

Set aside a space to meditate

Though experts say you can meditate anywhere, it can be helpful to have a designated space for meditation. It’s good for habit-building and you are more likely to stick to the practice if you have a designated corner for it. So, create a calming space with some pillows, candles, and incense, and surround yourself with things that bring in a sense of calm. Make sure the place is relatively free of distractions. Though a separate space is not a prerequisite, having one will usher in some discipline and dedication. You don’t have to meditate at home. You can do it in the park or even at the office before you begin work. It just might be a good idea to have a space that feels like a meditation spot but it can be anywhere.

Cut yourself some slack

Your journey to meditation bliss will not be a straight path. Accept that and give yourself a break. Many people dive into the practice with lofty ambitions and when they inevitably fall off the wagon, they give up altogether. The key here is to begin again. If you meditate for a few days and find that you are unable to meditate for a couple of days, don’t give up on it. Start again. The same goes for when you are meditating and get distracted. Begin again. Nothing’s lost. Tell yourself that. Give yourself credit for focusing on your breath even if it’s for a few minutes. Be kind to yourself throughout the process.

The gold is being traded at Rs 118, 400 per tola in the domestic market on Wednesday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 850 per tola.

The price of silver, however, has increased by Rs 10 and is being traded at Rs 1, 380 per tola today.    

Kathmandu: The Forum for Indigenous Girls (FIG) and ALL In Foundation (AIF) jointly hosted a ‘Debriefing COP28 with Indigenous Delegates from Nepal’ on Tuesday. The organizers said that the event aimed to gain insights into the experiences and perspectives of Nepali Indigenous delegates who participated in the COP28.

The organizers conducted this post-COP28 sharing event with indigenous delegates and youths who attended the conference. The objective of this initiative is to offer guidance to indigenous youths in Nepal regarding the situations and positions of indigenous youths at COP28. The event also aimed to explore how these youths can actively participate in future COP meetings as representatives of their community.

The program also helps to emphasize the role of Indigenous Youths as catalyst agents of change in addressing the global climate crisis and their specific contributions during COP28, said the organizers. “We will draft a statement paper from opinions and suggestions gathered during the program to support our objectives.”

A total of seven indigenous delegates from Nepal shared their experiences and findings from COP28 during the event. Pratima Khadgi, Pema Wangmo Lama, Buddha Gharti Magar, Indira Shreesh, Tunga Bhadra Rai, Dev Kumar Sunuwar and Yasso Kanti Bhattachan shared their experience.

The government on Tuesday requested President Ram Chandra Paudel to call a session of the Federal Parliament on Feb 5, three months after the prorogation of the annual session of the parliament (Nov 2).

Per a constitutional provision, the President shall call a session of the parliament on the recommendation of the government.

Earlier, the parties had differences on whether to call the session after UML’s Madhya Pahadi Yatra Campaign (Mid-hills Journey) or after National Assembly elections (slated for Jan 25), leaving the government in a fix over the House session. 

If Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal’s promises on the government’s policies and programs and budget are anything to go by, the House session should already have convened, paving the way for pre-budget discussions on policies and programs in the parliament in mid-February.

On May 29 last year, Finance Minister Prakash Sharan Mahat had announced in the House of Representatives that the principles and priorities of the budget-related Bill will be discussed in the parliament in mid-February, 2024.

For holding pre-budget discussions in the parliament, necessary laws should be drafted soon (mid-February to mid-March).

In addition, the government has been expressing commitment to introducing laws necessary for implementing the Constitution, which will be easier said than done. NA has found, in the course of a study, that the federal government must introduce 39 laws immediately for implementing the constitution.

It should be noted that provincial governments have been demanding what they call the ‘readjustment of the police force’ in line with the charter. Stakeholders with varying interests in Federal Civil Act and Education Act have also been piling pressure on the federal government to address their concerns.   

Citing the government’s promise to convene discussions on the budget in mid-February after introducing necessary laws, leaders of different political parties have been taking the government to task over delays in convening the parliament session.

Janamat Party withdrew its support and quit the Madhes province government.

Minister for Education and Culture and Minister for Labour and Transport who were participating in the government on behalf of the Janamat Party submitted resignation letters to Chief Minister Saroj Kumar Yadav.

Spokesperson of the Madhes province government and Minister for Home, Communications and Law Mohammad Samim informed that the ministers from the Janamat Party had collectively submitted their resignation to Chief Minister Yadav.

Earlier, Janamat Party's parliamentary party leader and Minister for Education and Culture Mahesh Prasad Yadav had submitted a letter to the Madhes Province Chief Hari Shanker Mishra withdrawing its support to the government.

Yadav shared that the ministers from Janamat Party had resigned since the government after a year of its formation failed to perform effectively and did not allow the atmosphere for the ministers of his party to function well.

The Janamat Party has 13 province assembly members in the Madhes.

Annapurna Post Senior Correspondent Rajkaran Mahato was walking along the roadside when a bus driver and conductor verbally abused him, employing language that disrupts communal harmony, and attempted to physically assault him. Mahato has lodged a formal complaint against them with the Baneshwar police circle.

On Sunday, around 12:00 noon, the conductor and driver of a ‘Sundarimai Yatayat’ bus (Ba 2 Kha 4534) stopped on the side of the road in Tinkune, Kathmandu. They treated Mahato disrespectfully, referring to him as ‘bhaiya’ and using obscene language. When Mahato questioned the mistreatment, both bus personnel attempted to physically harm him.

“This incident is not an isolated occurrence for me. All Madhesis have been subjected to such insults against our ethnic identity. The unfortunate reality of being demeaned with terms like ‘bhaiya,’ ‘Bihari,’ and ‘Marsiya,’ relegating us to second-class citizens based on our attire, appearance, and speech, has sadly become commonplace,” Mahato remarked.

He has urgently appealed for the immediate arrest of the culprits and their subsequent prosecution.

Various organizations, including the Madhesi Commission, Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), and Madhesi Journalist Society Nepal, have called upon the relevant authorities to investigate the matter thoroughly and ensure justice for Mahato.