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The Bharatpur-based BP Koirala Memorial Cancer Hospital has started providing 'CT Scan Service' in extra time. With this, patients do not need to wait for the 'CT Scan' service at the hospital.

Before this, patients had to wait for a week to access this service from the hospital that has been daily undertaking 60 to 70 CT scans of patients.

Chief of the Hospital's Radiology Department Dr Nitu Sharma said compulsion to wait for the turn has been ended when two vacant positions of radiologist got filled and mobilized for providing service in extra time. She said, "After new management was in place, the two vacant posts were fulfilled. With this, 12 hours of service from 8 am to 8 pm has begun", the Department Chief informed.

The department has a total of seven radiologists. Earlier, there was an issue of service delivery when only five radiologists had to provide service during office hours.

Now, the patients have to wait for just two days to access MRI service, she said, adding earlier the patients had to wait for two weeks to get MRI service.

There is no need to wait for the video X-ray now. Earlier, only one radiologist used to provide the video X-ray service, but now there are two dedicated persons to deliver the service, Dr Sharma added.

Shahida MacDougall is the Country Director of British Council Nepal. She has previously worked with the British Council under various roles in countries such as Tanzania, Pakistan, Bangladesh, India, and Sri Lanka. In this interview, Shreya Shrestha of ApEx talks to MacDougall about her experience, motive and programs that the British Council has organized in Nepal. Excerpts:

The British Council has been in Nepal since 1959. How would you summarize the key contributions and milestones of the British Council in Nepal over the past 65 years?

The British Council has been a key partner in Nepal since 1959. Over these 65 years, we have supported Nepal’s government and people with our work in English language, education, arts and culture. We started first as a British Library, and since then, we've impacted millions through education and skills programs utilizing our UK expertise and global presence across over 100 countries. In the 60s and 70s, we introduced UK literature and education models, including Budhanilkantha School.

In the 90s, we advanced English language initiatives, like Cambridge A Levels, and helped form Nepal English Language, Nepal English Language Teachers Association (NELTA) and Association of British Alumni (ABAN). 

We’ve supported the EU-funded Dakchyata project for vocational training and the School Sector Development Plan, focusing on Nepal’s strategic priorities for graduation and positioning for the Middle Income Country by 2030. Our current work with youth, particularly women, is crucial in skills development and collaborations in English, education, arts, culture, and UK qualifications.

In the 1970s and 1980s, the British Council played a significant role in institutionalizing English education in Nepal. How did these initiatives shape the current state of English language education in the country?

The Government of Nepal endorsed the National Education System Plan (1971–76), which made English a compulsory subject in the school curriculum from Grade 4 up to the undergraduate level. We played a key role in supporting this agenda. We trained university-level English teachers and designed various teacher training programs. We also provided scholarships to hundreds of professionals who studied in the UK and now influence English education policy in Nepal.

Tribhuvan University graduates capable English teachers, scholarship recipients shape English education policy, and NELTA forums benefit for teachers across seven provinces, improve English skills for marginalized girls for better jobs, standardized assessments like listening and speaking, and provide access to international exams like IELTS and A Levels.

Last year, we researched the Continuing Professional Development (CPD) needs of teacher educators to enhance teacher training and classroom quality and are now developing a competency framework with Center for Education and Human resource Development (CEHRD).  We’re working with all levels of government to improve English teaching and assessment. We’re also partnering with other organizations to extend our reach to marginalized and remote areas, supporting the School Education Sector Plan (SESP).

How has the British Council promoted cultural exchange between Nepal and the UK, and what impact has this had on fostering mutual understanding and collaboration?

The British Council has a rich history of fostering cultural exchange between Nepal and the UK. The main mission is about creating people’s connection because its mutual benefit is not just only for Nepal but also for people in the UK. Over the past decades, we’ve continued to be that bridge between our nations and cultures through various programs.

It connects artists and cultural sectors from both countries. Each year, we send Nepali artists to the UK for art programs and festivals to expand their networks. For instance, this year, we supported a Nepali filmmaker to attend the Sheffield Documentary Film Festival and sent two other artists to festivals and residencies. Our Culture Responds program focuses on diverse groups, including youth, women, disabled individuals, and LGBTIQA+ people. Over the past three years, we’ve worked with UK and Nepalis partners to support green business entrepreneurs through our ‘In Our Hands’. We’ve helped over 80 teams develop green business ideas and supported 17 teams with research and prototyping.

Since 2017, we’ve organized the Women of the World Festival in Nepal, focusing on gender issues. This major arts-culture festival has reached over 25,000 people. This year, we’re hosting the 7th edition in Kathmandu, in partnership with Kathmandu Metropolitan City. Projects include Maithili relief sculptures, archival work in Dolpo, the Kusunda language, and food heritage among Nepal’s indigenous communities are being promoted.

The Dakchyata project focuses on skills development in agriculture, construction, and tourism. How has this project impacted these industries in Nepal, and what are the future plans for similar initiatives?

The EU-funded Dakchyata Technical Vocational Educational Training (TVET) Practical Partnership Project, run by the British Council, aimed to enhance public-private partnerships in TVET, focusing on agriculture, construction, and tourism sectors for Nepal’s economic growth. 

The project trained 6,750 individuals (29 percent female, 47 percent aged 15-24) and developed an Occupational Demand Tool. For the first time in Nepal, five private sector federations, including construction and tourism associations, worked together on skills development and also assisted with the Ministry of Education Science and Technology in creating the 10-year TVET Strategic Reform Plan, shaping the sector for the next decade.

In partnership with UNDP, ILO, and IOM, we up-skilled over 2,000 returnee migrant workers, aiding their reintegration into Nepal’s economy during Covid-19. Our public information campaigns reached over 2.2m people through TVET festivals, broadcasts, social media, and digital platforms, raising awareness about TVET among young people.

How has the British Council’s role in providing technical assistance to projects like the School Sector Development Plan influenced Nepal’s education system?

The British Council has supported Nepal’s SSDP, aiming for inclusive, quality education and federalism. Since 2019, technical assistance has improved teacher development, assessment, curriculum reform, and Education Management Information System (EMIS). A teacher mentoring system has been developed, enhancing local officials’ capacity and supporting government delivery.

During the Covid pandemic, we modeled interventions around remote teaching by developing national strategies and guidelines, training teacher trainers, and enhancing CEHRD’s online learning portal. Our work included developing handbooks and assessing the portal’s accessibility to support safe online learning.

We also contributed to national reforms, including the development of a national assessment framework, improvement of the Grade 8 examination with 3,000 test items, and training local officials on administering the exam. We improved the EMIS system and trained 1,000 educators. In partnership with UNICEF, we are supporting the government and developing multilingual education standards and capacity building for teachers.

What has been your personal journey with the British Council, and how do you see your role contributing to its mission in Nepal? 

I’ve been with the British Council for over 11 years. The individual has experienced the transformative power of education and cultural exchange, driving their career with the British Council. As Country Director, we are here as trusted partners to support the government’s strategic objectives by building people-to-people connections, collaborating with government agencies, educational institutions, and development partners to enhance English language education, cultural exchanges, and educational reforms.

Additionally, I’m committed to driving innovation within our program. This means exploring new approaches and solutions that can address emerging challenges and opportunities. A significant part of my role also involves nurturing a collaborative and inclusive environment within our team, celebrating and embracing diversity. 

Ultimately, my goal as Country Director is to ensure that the British Council’s work in Nepal continues to make a positive difference. By leveraging my experience, focusing on strategic partnerships, and fostering innovation, I believe we can contribute significantly to Nepal’s educational and cultural development and ultimately continue strengthening the bonds of mutual understanding between our two nations.

Four persons died when a landslide buried a house at Tumeda in Bungal Municipality-10, Bajhang in the wee hours of Monday.

Kali Dhami, Golki Dhami, Ashika Dhami and Laxmi Dhami lost their lives after a landslide buried their house at around 1 am today, according to police.

The District Police Office, Bajhang informed that the locals and a team of Jhapa Police Post retrieved the bodies of all of them at 7: 20 am.

The house was completely damaged in the incident.

There were nine people in the house when the incident took place.

Bira Dhami, Ujjwal Dhami, Roshan Dhami, Kamala Dhami and Shanti Dhami were rescued with the locals immediately after the incident.

Janai Purnima also known as the sacred thread festival is being observed across the country on Monday.

On the occasion, Hindu Brahmins and Chhetris who have undergone Bratabandha (hair shaving ceremony) change the sacred thread (janai) and also tie sacred thread around the wrist of the right hand.

It is also believed that this thread should be removed only on the day of Laxmi Puja that falls during Laxmi Puja in Tihar.

Janai Purnima is also popularly known as Rakshya Bandan.

On this day, sisters offer rakhi (a symbol of protection) to their brothers.

The death toll from this year's rain-induced disasters since June 10 has reached 182 as of this afternoon. 

The landslides and floods claimed the lives of 182 people including three in the Kathmandu Valley, Spokesperson of Nepal Police Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Dan Bahadur Karki said.

Police said that 27 persons died in Koshi Province while eight in Madhes Province.

Likewise, 32 were killed in Bagmati Province,55 in Gandaki Province, 36 in Lumbini Province, 10 in Karnali Province and 11 in Sudurpaschim Province, according to Nepal Police Spokesperson DIG Karki.

Similarly, a total of 233 people sustained injuries in the water-induced disasters. Among them, 11 persons were injured in the Kathmandu Valley, 38 in Koshi Province, 12 in Madhes Province, 23 in Bagmati Province, 46 in Gandaki Province, 18 in Lumbini Province, 57 in Karnali Province, and 28 in Sudurpaschim Province.

The police also rescued as many as 113 people from the disasters. A total of 28 persons were rescued in the Kathmandu Valley, DIG Karki said.

He added that 50 persons were still missing in the floods and landslides. And, the search operations for the missing people are under, he said.

The rain-induced disasters also killed as many as 838 cattle.

Since June 10, the flood and landslides inundated 321 houses, 111 cowsheds, 51 bridges, four schools and two government office buildings, according to the police.

The number of households displaced by the disaster stands at 4,787 in the last two months.

The government has registered a bill to amend the Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act, 2076 BS in the Parliament.

The government has registered the bill in the Parliament to provide enough time for the discussions on the government's policies and programs and the annual budget submission process, to manage the additional financial obligations owed to the government by public bodies outside the budget system and to make the provisions on reducing wasteful expenditures effective.

Finance Minister Bishnu Prasad Paudel has registered the bill in Parliament last Friday with the aim of regulating the operation, management and related economic activities of the Federal Reserve Fund and other government funds as well.

The decision of the Council of Ministers on July 1 had given approval to submit the bill to the Parliament. Last January, the government started the process of amending the act through an ordinance, but the ordinance could not be passed by the Parliament within the specified time.

A provision has been added in the bill that the province, local level and public bodies outside the budget system (extra-budgetary) shall be subject to the prevailing laws related to such level or body and keep accounts in accordance with the approval of the Comptroller General's Office.

The National Planning Commission, in coordination with the Ministry of Finance, is going to amend the provision that the projection of the available resources and the limits of the expenditure that can be incurred in the next three years for the purpose of formulating the med-term expenditure structure and the budget and program of the next fiscal year must be completed by the 15th of January of the current fiscal year.

It is mentioned in the bill that the budget ceiling should be prepared by the end of mid-February.

Similarly, the bill states that the report on resource estimation and determination of the expenditure ceiling prepared by the National Resource Estimation Committee coordinated by the National Planning Commission's vice-chairperson should be submitted before the finance minister around February 18.

"The guideline and outline related to budget formulation should be sent to the related ministries, commissions, secretariats or entities within Fagun 7 (around February 18) of the current fiscal year. The guideline and outline should mention the budget ceiling, the outline of the mid-term expenditure structure, including the necessary amount in line with multi-year resource guarantee of the national pride projects, for the formulation of the budget for the next three years and remaining within the resource and expenditure ceiling fixed by the Resource Estimation Committee," reads the bill.

An amendment proposal has also been registered seeking to amend Clause 11 of the main Act. The provision of the finance minister presenting before the Federal Parliament the principles of the budget and programs, and the project or program priorities to be included in the Appropriation Bill at least 15 days before presenting the Bill, is being amended.

According to the provisions of the bill to amend the Economic Procedures and Financial Responsibility Act, the principles and priorities of the budget and programs should be presented before the Federal Parliament three months ahead. The Federal Parliament shall forward within the 15th of Chait any suggestion or directive or any topic to be included or removed on the principle and priorities of the government after completing deliberations in principle on it.

Similarly, the bill has also amended the provision on the deadline for 'budget surrender' to be made to the Ministry of Finance.

Country's annual average inflation stood at 5.44 percent last fiscal year.

The inflation remained within the expected ceiling.

According to the  Current Macroeconomic and Financial Situation of Nepal  (based on annual data) unveiled by the Rastra Bank today, last year, imports decreased by 1.2 percent and exports by 3 percent.

In the previous year, imports decreased by 16.1 percent and 21.4 percent respectively.

Remittance inflows increased 16.5 percent to reach Rs.1445.32 billion.

The increase was 23.2 percent in the previous year. In the US Dollar terms, remittance inflows increased by 14.5 percent to reach 10.86 billion in the review year compared to an increase of 13.9 percent in the previous year, according to the report.

Likewise, the balance of payments remained at a surplus of Rs.502.49 billion compared to a surplus of Rs.285.82 billion of previous year.

Gross foreign exchange reserves stood at USD 15.27 billion. This level of foreign exchange reserve is sufficient to cover the merchandise and services imports for 13 months, it is said.

Broad money (M2) expanded by 13.0 percent and deposits at Banks and Financial Institutions increased by 13.0 percent and private sector increased by 5.8 percent in the review year.  Total deposits at BFIs stood at Rs.6452 billion and private sector credit amounted to Rs.5074 billion.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by 34. 47 points to close at 2,966.33 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by 6. 65 points to close at 528. 85 points.

A total of 65,475,366-unit shares of 330 companies were traded for Rs 28. 83 billion.

Meanwhile, Rastriya Beema Company Limited (RBCL), Life Insurance Corporation (Nepal) Limited (LICN), Multipurpose Finance Company Limited (MPFL) and Sampada Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (SMPDA) were the top gainers today with their price surging by 10. 00 percent.

Likewise, Nepal Finance Ltd. (NFS) was the top loser with its price dropped by 10. 00 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 4. 71 trillion.