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The Election Commission has urged all eligible Nepali citizens, who missed to register their name in voters' name list due to various reasons, to register their names before announcement of the date for the by-election.

It has started internal preparation for determining the date for by-election as per the law on appropriate time by consulting with the government of Nepal to fill up the vacant posts through by-poll.

The EC today urged the eligible Nepali citizens across the country, who missed to register their names in voters' list due to various reasons, especially the eligible citizens of concerned local-levels, province assembly constituency and House of Representatives constituency to register their name in electoral roll before announcement of the date for by-election.

A total of 23 posts had fallen vacant in different local levels, province assembly and House of Representatives after local-level election held on April 23 and election for the Province Assembly and HoR on November 20, 2023.

The EC has been regularly registering voter name lists through province and district election offices.

A press release issued by EC Spokesperson Shaligram Sharma Poudel reads that the EC is confident that all the eligible Nepali citizens across the country have been registered in the electoral roll as per the existing legal provision related to voter registration.

Chandra Prasad Risal is the project director of Rural Economic and Enterprise Development Project of the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock Development (MoALD). ApEx talked with him on strengthening market linkages through productive partnerships between producer organizations and buyers in five economic corridors in 171 municipalities across the country.

The Rural Economic and Enterprise Development Project has launched a productive partnership program and has called for joint proposals from the buyers and producers, what does a productive partnership mean?

Productive partnership refers to the friendly agreement reached between a producer organization and a buyer to achieve a specific offtake (or commercial) agreement. An offtake agreement specifies the product that will be provided by the producer organizations to the buyer in terms of quality, quantity, and delivery. It also specifies the price determination mechanism and payment modality between the two.

There are plenty of challenges in enhancing productivity and promoting sustainable agriculture practices in Nepal. How do you think this productive partnership between producers and buyers will help the development of rural agricultural enterprises?

The Rural Economic and Enterprise Development Project aims to stimulate the development of rural enterprises by strengthening market linkages among smallholder producers and buyers in the agricultural commodity value chain, and by strengthening the enabling environment for the development of enterprises in key economic corridors of the country. 

Under the productive partnership, it aims to establish productive partnerships between producer organizations and buyers based on mutually agreed business plans, specifying product quality, quantity, delivery conditions, and price determination mechanisms. So, for that, we have requested a call for proposals for the joint profiles from producer organizations and buyers for productive partnerships. But in cases of failure to find buyers or producers then we will provide support for prospective buyers and producer organizations to prepare simple joint profiles as well.

Through this partnership, we are hopeful that there will be business benefits through sales growth through access to new markets, increased product volume, better quality, lower costs, fewer losses, more timely delivery, and increased revenues for both buyers and producer organizations.

 Who are eligible to become producer organizations and buyers? What are the products they support?

Producer organizations are the rural entrepreneurs who are the smallholder farmers and rural producers organized in groups, cooperatives, or other forms of association like agribusiness small and micro enterprises and agri-tech start-ups who are growth-oriented. In the case of buyers, they can be national and international big firms, wholesalers, processors, retailers, suppliers, supermarkets, and intermediaries.

The project will support rural-based productive partnerships based on agricultural products, which could include cereals (rice, wheat, maize, millet, and barley), legumes, fruits and vegetables, poultry, milk, meat (goat, pig, buffalo), fish, tea, coffee, spices, honey, medicinal and aromatic herbs and non-timber forest products such as Sichuan pepper, cinnamon, bamboo, etc.), among others.

How will this start-up grant for productive partnership help the buyers and producers? 

A start-up grant will be provided only to a producer organization under an approved business plan. The objective of start-up grant is to assist producer organizations in maintaining the quality of products and ensuring a consistent supply of high-quality goods by offering essential technical support.

Even though buyers will not get any grant funding this partnership will minimize transaction costs, collection and aggregation expenses, and streamline the negotiation process with intermediaries, resulting in considerable savings of time and energy.

When was the call for proposals launched and when is the deadline?

 The second call for proposals for a joint profile for the productive partnership was announced on 1 Jan 2024, with a submission deadline set at 35 days. The deadline ended on Feb 4. The first call for proposals, held from Feb to June 2023, received 1,908 submissions predominantly from producer organizations.  

The CPN-UML Parliamentary Party has issued a whip to the UML lawmakers to mandatorily attend the Parliament's meetings and to play an effective role in the winter session of the federal Parliament. The winter session is commencing from 4 pm today.

Party whip Mahesh Bartaula said that this directive has been issued in line with the decision that the party's meeting made on Sunday. He said that the UML will shoulder the role of the main opposition party in a stronger and effective manner in the meetings of the current session compared to the past.

The meeting of the Parliamentary Party has also instructed its lawmakers to play an effective role in the context of making the laws required for constitution implementation, social justice, good governance, prosperity and national interest.

Similarly, the meeting has urged the government to stop the youth brain drain to foreign countries and to promptly bring back home the Nepali youths who are in difficulty, paying attention to the deteriorating peace and security situation in West Asia.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal has said that the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) bill should be endorsed on the basis of political consensus.

A Parliamentary Party meeting of the CPN (Maoist Center) held in Singhadurbar on Monday morning, party Chairman Dahal mentioned that the Bill related to Enforced Disappearances Enquiry, Truth and Reconciliation Commission would be endorsed by consensus in this session.

“All the people will be benefited if the TRC bill is endorsed on the basis of consensus as much as possible. We should go through the same process,” he said.

Chairman Dahal directed the party leaders and cadres to present themselves ideologically against those who are against the federal system.

Saying that federal democracy was brought in the country with their active participation, he issued a directive to play a constructive role in favor of the system.

“We have brought this system. It is our responsibility to protect and strengthen this system. That is why, we should present ourselves ideologically against the people who are against this system,” he further said.

Prime Minister Dahal also directed the party lawmakers to play a strong role in favor of the people in the Parliament.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 400 per tola in the domestic market on Monday.

According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow metal is being traded at Rs 118, 500 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 118, 900 per tola on Sunday.

Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 117, 950 per tola. It was traded at Rs 118, 350.

Similarly, the price of silver has dropped by Rs 5 and is being traded at Rs 1,390 per tola today.

Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal told the people's representatives of Gorkha that the operation of Gorakhkali Rubber Udhyog and construction of Budhigandaki Hydropower Project would be taken ahead immediately.

In a meeting with the mayors, deputy mayors and other people's representatives of various rural municipalities of Gorkha district who reached Baluwatar on Sunday evening, PM Dahal said the promises made during the election would be fulfilled, informed Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality Chair, Bishnu Prasad Bhatta.

At the meeting with Prime Minister Dahal, the chiefs of the rural municipalities briefed about the situation in their respective municipalities and the plans and needs of development works, he said. "We put forth the issues on behalf of the rural municipality with the Prime Minister in the discussion," Bhatta said, adding, "He expressed his views focusing on the issues raised by the people's representatives."

During the discussion, the Prime Minister said that the construction of the national pride project, Budhigandaki Hydropower, is to be taken forward immediately.

"The Prime Minister is committed to expedite the construction of Budhigandaki project soon," he said, adding, "We are confident that the construction of the project will gain momentum now."

Bhatta informed that the closed Gorakhkali rubber industry located at Deurali of Gorkha Municipality-13 is also going to be operational soon. "The Prime Minister is planning to take forward the closed rubber industry on a public-private partnership model," he said, adding, "Based on our conversation, the prime minister is thinking of running the industry in partnership with the private sector in a way the land ownership will remain with the government." 

The Prime Minister also pledged to allocate a budget for the development of roads and other physical infrastructures in Gorkha in the coming fiscal year in a way that would be improved more than in the current fiscal year 2080÷81 BS, he said.

District Coordination Committee Gorkha Chief Mohan Bahadur Thapa Magar, deputy mayor Lila Pariyar, representatives of Bhimsen Thapa Rural Municipality, Gandaki Rural Municipality, Barpak Sulikot Rural Municipality, Ajirkot Rural Municipality, Chumnubri Rural Municipality, Gorkha Municipality, Palungtar Municipality, Dharche Rural Municipality and Shahid Lakhan Rural Municipality, among others, reached Baluwatar to meet the Prime Minister.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) plunged by -5. 31 points to close at 2,061.70 points on Sunday.

Similarly, the sensitive index dropped by -0. 60 points to close at 373. 32 points.

A total of 9,272,782-unit shares of 307 companies were traded for Rs 3. 21 billion.

Meanwhile, Unique Nepal Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (UNLB) was the top gainer today with its price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Mahila Lagubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited (MLBSL) was the top loser as its price fell by 5. 37 percent.

At the end of the day, the total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 24 trillion.

Simple silhouettes, timeless designs, stylish, and comfortable—that is how your clothes should be, says Anuza Rajbhadari who, along with her younger sister, Alpaza Rajbhandari, founded the sustainable clothing brand Ekadesma. The 42-year-old mother of two loves natural fabrics and believes what you wear shouldn’t have a high environmental price tag. In a conversation with Cilla Khatry of ApEx, Rajbhandari spoke about her love for slow fashion and how sustainability is at the heart of everything she does. 

Can you tell us a little about Ekadesma? 

Ekasdesma is a lifestyle brand that was established in 2011. My sister and I identified a market gap for a homegrown brand. Nepal was importing a lot of stuff but we didn’t have that many options when it came to a locally-made clothing brand. We wanted to use locally sourced materials and create unique pieces that reflected our culture and roots. And, with the collective experience of working in the garment business and marketing, we thought we could pull it off. 

We started with a retail store in Thamel, Kathmandu. After the 2015 earthquakes, we realized we could and must generate employment for underprivileged women and started our manufacturing unit. Now we have two outlets, one in Thamel and the other in Kupondole, Lalitpur. We export our products to the US, Norway, and New Zealand.  

What is slow fashion and why is it important in today’s world?

Slow fashion is a movement for a better world. It’s an approach to fashion that focuses on sustainability. It’s fashion that thinks about its environmental and social impact. It’s also about ethical manufacturing and mindful consumption. Brands can promote slow fashion by being transparent and ethical in the manufacturing process. People can opt for slow fashion by being conscious of what and how they choose to buy clothing. 

There are a lot of things slow fashion takes into consideration that fast fashion doesn’t. From fair wages for the laborers and a safe working environment to higher textile quality and durability of the finished product, there are a lot of reasons why slow fashion is beneficial. Slow fashion is also timeless so when you buy a piece you can wear it multiple times, for different occasions. Ekadeshma is still selling designs that were a part of our earliest collections. That’s the beauty of slow fashion. It transcends trends. 

How do you come up with a new collection? 

Alpaza, my younger sister, who is based in Seattle in the US, designs the collection. It’s a lot of work and it takes a while. We only launch two capsule collections in a year—in summer and in winter. Once my sister sends us the designs, our team in Nepal, which has an assistant designer as well, studies them. We conduct a feasibility test and make a prototype. 

What’s different about Ekadesma is that we don’t just test the fitting of our clothes on dummies. We get actual people to try them. They tell us how comfortable it is and if something needs to be fixed. Then we manufacture the design in four sizes, from small to extra-large. Another thing we are conscious about as a sustainable business is to minimize waste. We try to use every possible inch of fabric. We make accessories like small pouches and laptop bags from leftover cloth. We are still trying to reduce the waste produced and, if possible, go zero-waste. 

What are some major challenges of running a sustainable business?

People are much more aware of sustainability and its importance now than they were when we started. But it’s still quite a challenge to make them understand why our products are a bit on the expensive side. In that sense, I believe there is still a lack of awareness and education. It’s been an issue since day one. There is also no clear government policy for sustainable businesses. There are no studies or reports to measure the impact of sustainable businesses. People aren’t aware of the positive chain of events that they kick off when they opt for sustainable fashion.

As a sustainable business, transparency is key. But we have to deal with suppliers and weavers who would rather not be transparent. So that causes problems in the supply chain. Since we only use natural materials like cotton, linen, and hemp, we also have to be extra careful to make sure there aren’t any synthetic materials in our textile. It requires a lot of effort, time, and patience. 

How do you overcome them?

We are particular about our textile weavers. We only work with the transparent ones. We also try to be more visible to create more awareness. We showcase our brand at fairs and exhibitions. Despite having two outlets, we use every opportunity to promote our brand. We reach out to people and talk about sustainable business. 

Challenges can affect you personally so, as a business owner, you have to look at the positive side of things and power on. It’s easy to give up. My sister and I have had moments when we questioned why we were doing what we were doing. But you have to believe in your company’s vision and long-term goals. We wanted to give back to the community and, as cliché as it might sound, we are passionate about our work. Also, we receive good feedback from people who wear our clothes. We have seen the growth of the women who work with us. They are happy and empowered. It gives us every reason to continue despite the difficulties.

How can people incorporate sustainable fashion into their lifestyles?

Our brand has grown organically, largely through word of mouth. I think that is because, slowly but surely, people are waking up to the importance of sustainability. Sustainability is a conscious way of living, and consumers are a lot more conscious than ever before. But the younger generation is driven by trends and that promotes fast fashion. To change that, effort is needed on a policy-level scale. 

On an individual level, there are many ways in which you can opt for sustainable fashion. Rewearing and restyling your clothes is the best way to be sustainable in your fashion choices. You can re-dye your cotton clothes to give them a new lease of life. DIY ideas can be used to mend your clothes and give them a fresh look.

What has been your biggest lesson so far as a business owner and a promoter of sustainability?

As a business owner, you have to be patient and resilient. It’s easy to start a business but it’s difficult to give continuity to it. When you start something new, you are sure of your ideas and you have a lot of energy. But when you start facing hurdles, as you inevitably will, it can be tempting to give up. That is when you have to give yourself a pep talk and be willing to learn and adapt and do what it takes to stick to your business ideals. I wasn’t a very patient person but owning a business, especially one that is as challenging as sustainable fashion, I have realized that you can’t expect instant results. You have to be persistent in your efforts.