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Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal and CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli held a meeting in Baluwatar on Monday.

UML Chairman Oli had reached Baluwatar to meet Prime Minister Dahal.

During the meeting, they discussed election to the post of National Assembly chair and vote of confidence to be taken by Prime Minister Dahal on March 13.

Narayan Dahal of the CPN (Maoist Center) on behalf of the ruling coalition and Yuvaraj Sharma of the Nepali Congress filed their nominations for the election to the post of upper house chair.

Prime Minister Dahal has already sent a letter to the Federal Parliament Secretariat to make arrangements to seek a vote of confidence on March 13, Speaker’s press advisor Shekhar Adhikari informed.

Prime Minister Dahal is seeking the vote of confidence for the second time.

He sought the vote of confidence for the first time on January 11.

Two persons have filed their candidacies for the National Assembly chair’s position.

Narayan Dahal of the CPN (Maoist Center) on behalf of the ruling coalition and Yuvaraj Sharma of the Nepali Congress filed their nominations for the election to the post of upper house chair to be held on Tuesday.

An office-bearer meeting of Maoist Center held on Sunday decided to pick Dahal as a candidate for the position. He is the brother of Prime Minister and Maoist Center Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal.

Dahal was nominated as a member of the National Assembly by the President on the recommendation of the government in 2021.

With the formation of a new alliance, an agreement was reached among CPN-UML Chairman KP Sharma Oli, CPN (Maoist Center) Pushpa Kamal Dahal, Rastriya Swatantra Party President Rabi Lamichhane and Janata Samajbadi Party Chairman Upendra Yadav to support the candidate of Maoist Center for National Assembly chair and UML for vice-chair.

Sharma (74) is a resident of Banke.

Sharma, who worked as the president of Banke district in 1988, was the vice-president of the Nepal Students Union, student wing of the Nepali Congress, when party President Sher Bahadur Deuba was the president of the NSU in 1971.

The position remained vacant after Ganesh Timilsina retired after completing his six-year tenure on March 3.

The gold is being traded at Rs 126, 000 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 125, 400 per tola.

Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1,475 per tola today.  

Media rights advocates and women journalists of Nepal have sought to address the pressing need for dismantling entrenched newsroom stereotypes to promote greater gender diversity in media. They were speaking in a roundtable discussion organized by Media Action Nepal in collaboration with the Working Journalists Association (WOJAN) on Sunday in Kathmandu to mark the International Women's Day.

Emphasizing the critical role of the media in shaping societal perceptions and narratives, Laxman Datt Pant, Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, underscored the importance of creating inclusive newsroom environments where women are empowered to take on leadership roles. Pant highlighted a crucial thing: editors are picked through contacts and affiliations rather than open competition in Nepali media. Were there open calls, women would have a chance of reaching the top, as would other capable individuals.

Priyanka Jha, Vice-Chairperson of Media Action Nepal, spoke about how it was not a lack of capacity keeping women out of the top level but a lack of trust. The inherent patriarchy in the structure of Nepali media, she said, does not view women as capable of leading newsrooms. The same structure also does not consider women as “having sufficient expertise” to be quoted in news. This prevents female voices from being heard on pertinent issues like climate change that ironically affect them most. Jha also noted the physical, professional, and sexual insecurities women in the media faced. “But they do not have a mechanism or authority they can approach when they face dangers or harassment. This affects their morale and mental health,” she highlighted.

Senior Journalist Poonam Poudel shared her experiences working in state-owned and private media and how female personnel were passed over for junior male colleagues. She shared how decision makers did not trust women enough to execute duties and chose to keep them as assistants while promoting less experienced men to higher roles.  An “attitude of doubt,” as she explained, prevailed against women media persons, an attitude that always doubted women’s abilities to deliver results. In Poudel’s observation, this was not the case of men who were readily trusted.

Poudel also felt that a lack of proper and regular payment discouraged women to develop a lengthy career in media. “We have no money, no time (as we have to be ready to work 24/7) and no encouragement, so why should we stay?” she questioned. Building on this, Jha made a poignant point, “Women have to prove their performance while men are automatically assumed to be able to perform.”

Journalist Manisha Awasthi shared that women are only editors in media they own. Others have not sought to make women for editorial positions. She further elaborated on the “attitude of doubt,” saying it was particularly directed against married women with children. “The higher-ups in the media think that such women will prioritize their families over their job responsibilities.”

Sangeeta Lama, Acting President of the organization Working Women Journalist, raised that women were “gate kept” out of leadership. They are always relegated to softer beats that do not lead to promotions or editorial positions.

Similarly, Bimala Tumkhewa, President of Sancharika Samuha, emphasized that women journalists faced additional obstacles than their male counterparts that necessitated additional organizations and redressal mechanisms. She also shared the tragic situation of relatively junior male journalists having become editors while senior and better skilled women journalists are on the verge of quitting the profession altogether. She further believed that advancing GESI in newsrooms would go a long way in increasing inclusivity.

Sancha Kumari Lama Tamang, Central Committee Member of the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) said the root of this problem was conservative mindset and noted that there was much to do to ensure women leadership in Nepali media.

Janmadev Jaisi, Chairperson of WOJAN, highlighted the need for acknowledgement and awareness. Acknowledgement that there are problems in the Nepali media sector and problems hindering the progress of women media persons. And awareness among journalists and editors about their rights.

The roundtable served as a platform for robust dialogue, with over 25 participants sharing insights, experiences, and best practices for promoting gender equality within the media industry. Everyone agreed that the interaction was fruitful and hoped it would facilitate further discussions on challenges facing women and gender minorities in Nepali media.

The Sherpa community across the country is celebrating Gyalpo Lhosar today by organizing various programs.

The festival celebrated by the community as their new year falls on Shukla Pratipada in the Nepali month of Falgun.

On the occasion, people of the Sherpa community clean up houses and villages, cook and eat various delicacies, organizes various cultural programs and exchange best wishes with each other.

The festival that is divided into 12 years, mouse, cow, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog and pig is observed for almost two weeks.

Observed in 12 mountainous districts previously, the celebration has now extended to 22 districts.

I’m a 21-year-old man from a middle-class family. I’m the kind of person who never rests. I can work all day without feeling tired. But sometimes it feels like no matter what I do, some unseen force is constantly undermining all my efforts, regardless of how hard I try. Despite my best attempts, I keep failing. I always find myself doing things the hard way and suffering more than others, even though I believe in my capabilities. This constant effort with no value of result makes me want to give up. But, in the end, I think about my career. However, it’s getting increasingly difficult. Something is amiss. What can I do to get out of this mental trap?

Answered by Aditya Dangol, professional counselor and psychologist

I would like to thank you for your willingness to share your experiences. I would like to start by saying that ‘failure’ is subjective and varies according to individual interpretations. What one person perceives as a failure, another might view as a minor setback or a valuable learning opportunity. Failure is not a fixed endpoint but rather a dynamic process that unfolds differently for each person.

You might occasionally be too critical of yourself. Sometimes, feelings of helplessness in achieving one’s goals arise when outcomes fall short of perfection. But it’s important to recognize that setbacks are integral to the learning process. Acknowledging and celebrating even the smallest achievement can foster a positive mindset and bolster personal growth.

Additionally, there may be unconscious beliefs or behaviors contributing to a fear of failure or tendencies towards self-sabotage. Addressing these underlying factors with compassion and self-awareness is crucial for overcoming obstacles and moving forward.

Understanding how you define yourself and approach problem-solving is key. Seeking guidance and support from mentors or trusted individuals can offer fresh perspectives and insights into overcoming challenges.

Ultimately, remember that mistakes are an inevitable part of life but they serve as valuable opportunities for growth and improvement. By reframing our perspectives on failure and being kinder to ourselves, we can cultivate resilience and work towards our goals with a positive outlook. If you feel like this isn’t something you can do by yourself, it might be a good idea to seek professional help.

You say its fate, I say it’s not

Maybe it was just a stroke of bad luck

When we met and our paths intertwined

You looked at me with that smile so divine

Now you are lost, never to be found

How could I have been so spellbound

How can life be so cruel

Maybe I was just a dense fool

Now I visit you at your grave

If only I had been a bit brave

That angelic smile I couldn’t save

I wish I could visit you beyond your grave

For the embrace of your warm arms I crave

Without your wits and guts

I am just a soul, lost

Within this darkness, I will stay

Thinking about this curse every day

With this immortality, I behold a blessing few might say

With this tragic ending that I could not foretell

My soul trapped by this unholy spell

With all this overwhelming guilt

Why am I crying over spilt milk?

This lost soul trapped in this plain

With no one to lose or to gain

Just left with all this suffering and pain

With no sun, just left with a lot of rain

A trapped soul wanting to be saved

From the mistake only I had made

Just keep going you always said

Now you lie there in your eternal bed

Trapped by that ray you hold

I am Just another trapped soul

Arnav Shrestha

A Level

LA College 

Joying and gracing being a woman, 

A monthly journey with cycle profound,

Painting lives in intricate lace, blooming to embrace. 

Women’s beauty of blood, legacies its pride 

Honoring this cycle divine, let us shine 

Finding the key of rhythm, assenting the femininity of life. 

Carrying secrets, joy and pains 

Mother’s flowing blood , a sacred sign 

A river of life , coursing through her veins 

Through cramps may come and mood may sway 

I choose to greet each moment, 

For in the cycle of its gentle sway,

I find gratitude in each passing day I go through my bliss.

Supriya Paudel

BBM III Semester, United College