Submit your Article

Ramesh Kshitij is a Nepali poet, lyricist, and writer who is known for his poetry collections. ‘Arko Saanjh Parkhera Saanjhma’, ‘Ghar Farkiraheko Manis’ and ‘Parbat Parbatma Batuwa Gham’ are some of his notable works. He has also written lyrics for several songs sung by some renowned singers of Nepal, and has published a song collection called ‘Aafai Aafno Sathi Bhaye’. Babita Shrestha from ApEx talked to Kshitij about his interest in poetry, literature, and writing. How did you start writing? I was born in Salyan but raised in Dang. As a child, I loved reading books, listening to music and the radio. I also experimented with various writing techniques and took part in literature-related activities at school. So writing came naturally to me. But it’s the environment that I grew up in that made me realize that. The society I lived in had a diverse tradition and a rich cultural heritage and that gave me a lot of ideas on what to write. I think what piqued my interest in literature was my hometown’s rich cultural and natural heritage. What do you mostly work on? I’ve spent most of my time working on poems but recently I’ve also been focusing on story manuscripts. I prefer to write pastoral, philosophical, and spiritual poems with symbols and imagery. I often concentrate on life’s philosophy and my perspective on the world itself. I’ve worked on subjects closely related to society, religion, and philosophical thoughts. Additionally, I enjoy reading contemporary poems as well as classics by Lekhnath Paudyal (poet) and other prominent senior writers. That has also had an influence on what and how I write. How would you describe your poetry? Poetry is different from other forms of literature. It resembles originality, opinion, art, creativity and symbolism. When you write in your own style, poems become attractive. My poetry is more allegorical, according to critics who have read them. I release a new collection every ten years. I don’t write often, but when I do, I attempt to incorporate all the personal, societal, and nationwide issues I’ve witnessed in that decade. I like to explore the meaning of life from as many angles as possible. What’s the role of poetry in contemporary society? Poetry plays a significant role in our society. For many, it can work like meditation. It can provide a sense of inner peace. Now, in our world, the rise of digital technology is making us over reliant on machines. The world is plagued with isolation and loneliness. For instance, in the early days people used to live in communal houses but now there are many nuclear families. The advancement of AI has deteriorated creativity. I think in today’s alienating society, poetry can be a useful companion. Is there anything you want your readers to know about your work?  The world of poetry is vast. Individual feelings aren’t always at play. Sometimes a poet will discover other poets in his own work. If I’m writing on philosophy, I might express my personal viewpoint or write in accordance with how society around me is evolving. It automatically makes me happier when I discover that my work has been a friend to even one of my readers. It’s a feeling of content I get when my work motivates them to be more positive about their surroundings. To my reader, I want to make a promise that I will uphold this relevance all the way till the end and grant them the companionship they seek through my work. What recommendation do you have for someone who is aspiring to be a poet? I’d like to share some things that can assist them with discovering their writing abilities rather than making recommendations. I believe it will be beneficial for writers if they study relevant literature in which they are interested in. For me, they were ‘Tarun Tapasi’ by Lekhnath Paudyal, ‘Living with the Himalayan Masters,’ by Swami Rama, and ‘Yogi ko Aatmakatha’ by Paramahansa Yogananda. They are great writings that I think everyone should read. Keep writing with no boundaries because it will help you discover your inner self. Be persistent in your efforts. We all face obstacles, so keep calm and think about the efforts you’ve been putting in. When you recall your work decades later, the struggle and dedication will all seem worthwhile. Kshitij’s picks Tarun Tapasi by Lekhnath Paudyal Tarun Tapasi by Lekhnath Paudyal was published in 1953. The epic is divided into 19 cantos and is written in shikharini chhanda. Living with the Himalayan Masters by Swami Rama In this autobiographical book, Swami Rama talks about his journey through the Himalayan passes and meeting with various sages and yogis of different sects and branches. Yogi ko Aatmakatha by Paramahansa Yogananda This book is an autobiography of Paramahansa Yogananda published in 1946. It’s about his life and his encounters with spiritual figures of the Eastern and the Western world.

Thanks to the proliferation of banks and financial institutions (BFIs) in the country, the use of formal channels for financial services has increased tremendously over the last decade. The new report titled "Nepal Financial Inclusion Report 2023" published jointly by International Finance Corporation (IFC) and United Nations Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) shows 90 percent of Nepali adults use formal financial services. With the countrywide expansion of BFIs as well as microfinance institutions, the use of informal channels for financial transactions has gone down significantly. According to the report, only 4 percent of adults use informal channels. The report says the percentage of adults who use formal financial services (from banks and other formal providers) has increased from 61 percent in 2014 to 90 percent in 2022. Of them, 81 percent use banking services while 9 percent use other formal financial services. In 2014, 40 percent used banks, and 21 percent used other formal channels. "The uptake of overall formal financial services has been largely driven by both banking and insurance sector service expansion across the country under the new federal structure, and the uptake of digital financial services amidst the growing mobile and internet penetration," reads the report. The usage of formal financial services has significantly risen not only for the urban population but also for the rural population as well. In rural areas, the use of formal financial services increased to 88 percent in 2022 from 58 percent in 2014. Of the rural population having access to formal financial services, 77 percent use banking services while 11 percent use other formal financial services. The report, however, said the urban/rural divide still persists as only 50 percent of adults from rural areas have an account at a financial institution, whereas 60 percent of urban adults have bank accounts. The concentrated and mandatory branch expansion of bank branches in all the local levels including the ones in the rural areas under the new federal structure, distribution of social benefits via bank accounts, and cohesive efforts from both the local level governments and the private sector to drive financial services are some of the determining factors increasing the access of formal financial services in the rural areas. According to the report, the gender gap has also significantly narrowed. In 2022, 89 percent of women and 90 percent of men have access to formal financial services (bank and other formal), which was only 57 percent and 64 percent respectively in 2014. However, there is still a gap in the usage of banking services between male and female adults, with 83 percent of men using banking services compared to 79 percent of women. In terms of account ownership, 50 percent of women and 56 percent of men have an account at a financial institution. The growth and the narrowing of the gender gap can be primarily attributed to gender-balanced regulations, financial inclusion drive by all three tiers of governments, i.e., local, provincial, and federal governments, as well as government-supported access programs such as concessional loans targeted towards women. Access to formal financial services is highest in Gandaki Province at 96 percent, followed by Bagmati Province at 91 percent. Province 1 and Karnali Province have the lowest usage with 87 percent. Gandaki Province has the highest percentage of adults with access to formal savings at 73 percent followed by Sudurpaschim (69 percent) and Bagmati Province (66 percent). In Gandaki Province, 42 percent have bank savings while 31 percent save at other formal institutions. In terms of payments, Gandaki Province (85 percent) has the highest usage of banking channels for payment services followed by Sudurpaschim Province (83 percent) and Bagmati Province (77 percent) respectively.

The Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has stated that it was unable to find the records of entry and use of Covid-19 vaccines and related materials worth Rs 17.08bn that the Ministry of Health and Population had received in the fiscal year 2021/22. The medical consignment was received as assistance from COVAX, the Government of Japan, UNICEF, and Gavi, among other donors. In its report, the OAG has noted that the Health Ministry spent Rs 7.89m received from different donor agencies for training and consultation services, but has failed to include the expenses in its budgetary system. It is mandatory for public offices to make all their spendings through the budgetary system. The OAG report has also highlighted huge financial lapses and discrepancies in other areas of the country’s health sector. It has, for example, mentioned Bir Hospital’s failure to start the construction of an international standard health facility in Duwakot, Bhaktapur, despite the budget allocation of Rs 500m in the fiscal year 2021/22. The proposed hospital is said to be completed within three years, but the construction process has yet to commence. Similarly, the National Public Health Laboratory failed to spend Rs 12.64m allocated to it for the construction of a laboratory building, the OAG report states. Furthermore, the government's plan to build basic hospitals in all 753 local units has also stalled. Although 655 local units were permitted to construct basic hospitals, construction is underway in only 414 local units, while work has not begun in 241 units. The OAG report says that the government spent Rs 6.96bn on building basic hospitals in the fiscal year 2021/22. In the fiscal 2021/22, the Health Ministry allocated Rs 3.12bn to procure equipment such as ICU, PICU, HDU, ventilator, and oxygen plant for federal, provincial, and municipal hospitals, community hospitals, and medical colleges. But while the ministry spent Rs 3.10bn on these equipment, it is unclear whether it has been put to use. The OAG has instructed the ministry to prepare a report on the use of such equipment and maintain an integrated data system. It has also directed the ministry to keep up-to-date records of the equipment procured for Covid-19 isolation and quarantine centers. According to the OAG report, the Health Ministry procured syringes for immunization at Rs 6.74 per unit in the fiscal year 2021/22, compared to Rs 4.41 in the fiscal year 2020/21. Interestingly, the ministry had estimated the cost at Rs 8.17 per syringe in the fiscal year 2021/22, resulting in an additional financial burden of Rs 53.35m. The report also raises the issue of several government hospitals and medical bodies violating the established norms while preparing cost estimates for procuring various equipment It says BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences, Bharatpur Hospital, and Health Insurance Board violated public procurement laws by eschewing the competitive bidding process to procure furniture and equipment worth Rs 14.37m, Rs 28.78m, and Rs 4.8m, respectively. In the fiscal year 2021/22, the OAG report further states, the Health Ministry provided grants worth Rs 449.5m to 38 community hospitals and organizations without completing the required procedures outlined in Section 4 of the Guidelines Related to Subsidy for Community Hospitals, 2016. The OAG report also states that 7.6 percent of the rotavirus vaccine and 79.3 percent of the BCG vaccines had expired due to the lack of proper management of vaccination programs. Similarly, nearly half of the VTM, RNA Extraction, Automated RNA Extraction, and Antigen kits, with a combined worth of Rs  Rs 298.12m, are set to expire without being used. Four million doses of China-donated Sinovac Covid-19 vaccine are also set to expire in 10 months. The government has not used the Sinovac vaccine, citing a lack of technical tests. The OAG has also identified a number of issues with the Department of Health Services' procurement and payment practices. Specifically, the department has released full payments to suppliers before the equipment installation and staff training, which violates the procurement contract. The OAG has instructed the department to ensure that suppliers abide by the procurement act and take action against officials who release payments before the work is completed. The department has released payments of Rs 445m to four suppliers for various equipment, including automated biochemistry analyzers, hematology machines, an ERCP machine, portable X-ray machines, and hemodialysis machines. The OAG also noted that suppliers took more than eight months to supply and install 50 sets of ICU ventilators that were urgently needed at various government hospitals. In addition, the OAG report says, the department has been procuring medicines using money received from the Gavi Fund through UNICEF, which goes against the practice of making spending through the budgetary system. According to the report, the Department of Drug Administration (DDA) has not been able to perform its monitoring responsibility effectively. The DDA monitored only 3,663 out of 33,474 pharmacies, and only 72 out of 187 drug producers. The OAG has also raised the issue of DDA’s failure to properly manage the medical waste and expired medicines, which could pose a significant risk to public health. The OAG has also pointed out the failure of the National Public Health Laboratory to procure and install 35 pathological test equipment despite receiving the budget for the same. Furthermore, the OAG has directed the National Tuberculosis Center to make effective use of equipment and infrastructure after discovering that the center was not utilizing a culture machine costing Rs 7m, NK analyzer costing Rs 2.25m, autoclave costing Rs 800,000, and centrifuge costing Rs 300,000. Similarly, the OAG report states that the National Academy of Medical Sciences (NAMS) has been neglecting the upkeep and maintenance of medical equipment. The report states that seven ventilators, one USG equipment, one patient monitor, eight Hamilton ventilators, and two CareFusion ventilators are in need of repair. The lack of functioning equipment has adversely affected the hospital's service delivery, the report notes. The OAG has also directed NAMS to expand its pharmacy to reduce the waiting time for patients to get medicines. The report reveals that NAMS has been unable to install a CT simulator and Thermotherapy machine for cancer treatment, even four years after procurement. NAMS has also been called out for disbursing Rs 31.77m as medical expenses to its staff without verifying procurement bills. The OAG has instructed NAMS to recover the amount. The OAG report also states that the construction of a 400-bed neonatal building, a 300-bed cardiac center, and a 200-bed oncology center at the BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences (BPKIHS) remains incomplete, even five years after the contracts were awarded. According to the report, the administration of BPKIHS released Rs 32.21m as cost variation of the neonatal building without approving the variation. The OAG has instructed BPKIHS to recover the amount from the contractor. The building, which was supposed to be completed in three years, still remains incomplete. Furthermore, the decision to terminate the bidding process for the procurement of dental materials has cost BPKIHS an additional Rs 5bn. The institute awarded the procurement contract to the only bidder at a cost of Rs 19.97m. However, in the previous bidding, one of the bidders had quoted around Rs 14.92m for the same tender. The OAG also found discrepancies in the preparation of cost estimation for procurement. In addition, the report revealed that Paropakar Maternity and Women's Hospital has been referring patients to private hospitals and diagnostic centers insteading of repairing its equipment. For instance, the hospital referred 4,200 patients to other hospitals for MRI services in the fiscal year 2020/21. It has affected service seekers as they are forced to pay as much as Rs 3,000 for MRI which would cost only Rs 1,000 at the maternity hospital.

I’m a 21-year-old woman who was recently diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the reasons behind my weight gain. Being someone who has been living with body image issues, gaining all that weight from PCOS has affected my mental health. I’m insecure about my body, and I fear being judged. This has especially affected my romantic pursuits. Maybe it’s society’s beauty standards that makes me doubt my worth, but no matter what anyone says, I don’t feel comfortable when people get close to me. Sometimes, I tell myself that people are just trying to take advantage of me even when they’re genuinely interested in me. I have trust issues. What should I do?—J.K  Answered by Dristy Moktan, psychosocial counselor, Happy Minds I understand that being diagnosed with PCOS isn’t easy. It causes hormonal imbalance, mood swings, and irritability, which can be quite overwhelming for your mental health. On top of that, being insecure about your body image might be making the situation even more difficult for you. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean it’s not manageable. There are a lot of women living with PCOS, and they have sound mental health. So I want to assure you that if you put a certain level of effort, you will be fine too.  First, I would like to talk about your body image issues. Our society has set a certain beauty standard that many think they should fit into perfectly. But I know even you know that not everyone looks the same and that people in their own way are beautiful. Ask yourself this: Would you ever judge someone based on their physique? You know you wouldn’t. So, why refrain from showing the same kindness and compassion to yourself? Yes, I know there are going to be people who will never understand how much they talk about your body image will bother you. But, that doesn’t mean you should believe everything they say. I know it’s easier said than done but if you don’t love yourself for who you are, who will?  Sometimes, we tend to refrain from finding out the core reason behind having these issues. Either we are in denial, or we don’t want to dig deep and face the problem. Don’t do that. It’s easier to find a solution to your insecurities when you know what’s triggering them. From what you have written in your question, I believe you are still not aware of the trigger. Take some time and think about what the reasons are behind these insecurities. Then maybe you will find some answers on how to overcome them.  Journaling helps. Our feelings can be fuzzy. You might not always understand your emotions. It can become perplexing. Expressing your emotions in writing can help you understand your feelings better. Managing those emotions will then become easier.  Also, try talking to someone who has been facing similar issues. Learning how they cope with their problems can give you an idea on how you can manage yours too. Finding your own way of healing will require you to try a lot of things until one of those methods works. But you will never know unless you try. On top of that, sharing your feelings with someone who can empathize with you can be therapeutic. This will also help with your trust and attachment issues with people. You will slowly learn to get comfortable with people getting close to you, romantically too. You just need to know what your comfort zone is before you jump into any kind of relationship.  The solution to body image and trust issues is gradual. You have to give yourself enough time to heal and move forward. But if it gets too difficult for you to handle your emotions, the best option would be to consult a mental health professional.