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KP Sharma Oli, Prime Minister 

It is my distinct honor to attend and address this august gathering of high officials for a ‘Lead Free Future.’ I wish to thank the United States Agency for International Development for organizing this important event and for the opportunity to share our views. 

It is a distressing fact that lead poisoning harms every other child in low- and middle-income countries, damaging their cognitive development, physical health and future potential. If calculated in economic terms, some reports state that lead exposure causes global productivity losses at an estimated $1.4trn annually. Although controlling lead poisoning is entirely preventable and not so costly, we have not done enough.  

Let me put some of my thoughts on this issue:

First, governments should take the leadership and put in place effective domestic policy measures such as limiting and, where necessary, banning the use of lead in different sectors. 

Second, the United Nations and its agencies should put this issue on high priority. 

UN agencies should help national institutions, particularly in the LDCs and the LICs, through capacity building, education, awareness raising, training, and research and development. 

WHO can provide support to install necessary testing facilities in hospitals and labs.

Third, resource mobilization is a key to the success of this effort. For this, World Bank and other IFIs, international and bilateral donors like USAID scale up their support in needy countries.  

Fourth, a mass awareness program should be launched with specific target groups like children and pregnant women, reaching out the furthest behind. 

Excellencies, Nepal is one of the first countries in the Global South to ban leaded gasoline and the first in the region to regulate lead in paint through binding rules. 

In 2014, the Government of Nepal enacted the National Lead Paint Standard to eliminate leaded paint from Nepal.

In 2023, we introduced strict regulations limiting heavy metals, including lead, in infant food, alcoholic beverages, and essential food and water supplies. 

In 2024, we have taken another significant step forward with the enactment of our Food Safety Bill, further strengthening the regulatory framework to protect public health.

We will conduct a national blood lead level assessment in 2025, to collect critical data to further refine our health and environmental policies. 

We are determined to join the global effort to ensure that no child’s potential is diminished by lead exposure. 

As we need concerted global efforts to control lead exposure in our children worldwide, we move forward with the Partnership for a Lead-Free Future.

Let me express Nepal’s firm commitment to work with all partners for a lead-free future in Nepal and beyond. 

Excerpts from Prime Minister  KP Sharma Oli’s speech delivered at the Partnership Launch and Pledging Event on ‘A Lead-Free Future’. The event was organized by USAID

If I had to pick one cookbook from my little shelf dedicated to cookbooks, I’d definitely choose Reader’s Digest’s ‘The Great 5-Ingredient Cookbook’. It has 250 simple, healthy recipes that can be made in less than 30 minutes. And there is something for everybody. My husband and I have polar opposite food preferences but we both love many of the recipes from this book.

You can whip something savory and satisfying with ingredients that you already have at home. The recipes require minimal preparation and take less than 30 minutes to make. There are recipes for starters, light meals, snacks, salads, and desserts among others.

What I especially like about the book is that it has a lot of time-saving cooking tips and recipe variations. There is even a section that provides quick recipes for handy sauces and spice mixes that you can use to elevate the taste of simple dishes. The magic microwave tricks section that provides readers with nifty ideas to cook rice, pappadums, popcorn, and the quickest ever jacket potatoes is such a lifesaver. You will wish you had known about them sooner.

The photographs by Ian Hofstetter are gorgeous. There are full page photos of drool worthy dishes and desserts that make you want to try your hands in replicating them. I made Butter Chicken, Penne with Tuna, and Spiced Rice Pulao and they looked exactly like they did in the photos and tasted absolutely marvelous. They have now become my go-to recipes for when I’m not in the mood to cook an elaborate meal but want to enjoy something hearty.

A word of caution though: There are plenty of recipes where you might not be familiar with the ingredients. But I recommend you give them a try if you want to serve/eat something that might not be what you regularly have at home. If some of the recipes are too outlandish, you can easily substitute one or two of the main ingredients with something of your choice. I made a chicken, green bean, and orange salad by following the recipe for the lamb, green bean, and orange salad.

I also liked the layout of the book. It’s very user-friendly, especially for someone like me who gets overwhelmed by the mere thought of cooking a new dish. Each recipe is accompanied by a full-page photo of the dish. It makes the cookbook feel a lot less like an intimidating cookbook and more like a coffee table book that you would pursue at leisure.

The Great 5-Ingredient Cookbook

By Editors of Reader’s Digest

Published by the Reader’s Digest Association, Inc.

Pages: 319, Hardcover

Hariram Pariyar and Sangita Shahi from Rupandehi got married in February, choosing to elope after a long relationship. Unlike traditional marriages, where family members and relatives from both sides gather to celebrate, love marriages often lack such social rituals. In a caste-based society, inter-caste marriages, like theirs, can lead to serious conflicts.

Now, Hariram and Sangita are in Kathmandu, seeking protection and justice after receiving death threats from Sangita's family. Their pleas for help have so far gone unanswered. “We have filed complaints with all the relevant authorities, but no one has responded. We are being threatened with death,” says Hariram.

Another inter-caste couple, Ganesh Kumar Chadara and Jyoti Shah from Jajarkot, are also facing rejection from their community. They are currently living in Khalanga, the district headquarters, because their society has yet to accept their marriage. These couples are just two examples among many inter-caste pairs struggling for safety and acceptance amidst social and familial hostility. Both Hariram and Ganesh Kumar belong to the Dalit community.

The Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offense and Punishment) Act has been in place since 2011, but discrimination persists. The Dalit community, which is economically, socially, and politically marginalized, continues to suffer from untouchability and caste-based discrimination. Several Dalit youths have been killed for participating in inter-caste marriages or for minor infractions like touching a kitchen—evidence of the Act's ineffective implementation.

Recent incidents, including violent attacks on Dalits and their forced displacement, show that untouchability is, in fact, increasing. Sete Damai and Manbire Sunar, among others, lost their lives due to caste-based violence, even after the Act came into force.

The Act stipulates that individuals who discriminate based on caste face up to three years in prison, a fine between Rs 1,000 to Rs 25,000, or both. However, a study by Samata Foundation reveals that police often delay registering complaints and, in many cases, side with perpetrators. “Victims are frequently pushed toward reconciliation, even when cases are filed,” says Pradeep Pariyar, chairperson of the foundation.

According to Samari Utthan Sewa, 16 people have been killed due to caste discrimination since the Act's implementation. Although various political parties have pledged in their election manifestos to end untouchability, some political leaders themselves are implicated in caste discrimination cases.

Lawmaker Min Bishwokarma notes that caste-discrimination incidents are rising due to the Act’s weak penalties. Maoist Centre leader Ganesh BK advocates for equal Dalit representation in law enforcement and decision-making bodies. At a time when the bureaucracy appears indifferent to caste-based discrimination laws, CPN (Maoist Centre) politburo member Parshuram Ramtel has called for their effective enforcement.

“It is tragic that the Dalit community still endures inhumane treatment due to caste-based discrimination and untouchability in the 21st century,” says Bindi Pariyar, chairperson of the Association for Dalit Women’s Advancement of Nepal. 

Sixteen Dalits were elected to the House of Representatives in the recent elections, though only one was elected through the first-past-the-post system. Despite these political movements promising to end caste-based discrimination, these commitments have remained unfulfilled, according to rights experts.

Although the Dalit community has played a crucial role in Nepal's political transformations, caste-based discrimination and untouchability persist. According to political analyst and writer Bishwa Bhakta Dulal, these issues will not disappear until the economic and social status of Dalits improves.

Article 24 of Nepal’s Constitution guarantees the right against untouchability and discrimination. It prohibits any form of caste-based discrimination in both private and public spaces. It also forbids acts that promote caste superiority or inferiority or justify social discrimination based on caste. Though the Caste-based Discrimination and Untouchability Act was passed 12 years ago, its enforcement remains weak, say experts.

Twenty-eight-year-old Ang Chhiring Sherpa, born in the rugged terrain of Okhaldunga, Nepal, has forged his life amidst the peaks of the Himalayas, where every step is a test of endurance, courage, and survival. A seasoned mountaineer, Chhiring’s journey from a humble porter to an expert guide summiting Mount Everest represents the resilience of the Sherpa community and their vital role in the global mountaineering community.

Chhiring’s fascination with the mountains began in his early years. He started his career as many Sherpas do, working as a porter for trekkers navigating the lower regions of the Everest trail. “I used to carry the luggage of those who came for trekking,” says Chhiring, explaining his modest beginnings. This work, though arduous, gave him his first real exposure to the world of high-altitude trekking and the intricate demands placed on those who accompany climbers to the Everest Base Camp and beyond.

Over time, his role evolved from a simple porter to a transporter manager, organizing the logistics of trekking journeys up to Everest Base Camp. He joined 8K Expeditions in 2022 and became a guide, leading groups not just to Everest Base Camp but to the very summit of the world’s highest mountain. The move from base camp logistics to high-altitude guiding required extensive training and mental preparation. He shares that for both guides and foreign trekkers, the training process is rigorous, sometimes taking up to five years.

“Climbing Mount Everest is not something you can do on a whim,” he says. Most climbers, particularly foreigners, arrive in Nepal having already undergone two to three years of preparatory training in their home countries. Once they connect with a company like 8K Expeditions, they undergo further preparation, starting from Kathmandu, where the physical and mental demands of high-altitude climbing are addressed. “We prepare them for the 8,000-meter climb and the training starts in Kathmandu,” says Chhiring.

This preparation involves not only fitness and endurance but also familiarization with the equipment needed for the climb, including oxygen supplies, safety gear, and the intricacies of navigating the dangerous and often unpredictable terrain of Everest. Sherpas, like Chhiring, play a crucial role in ensuring that climbers are adequately prepared and safe throughout the expedition.

Climbing Everest is dangerous, and guides like Chhiring bear the responsibility for the lives of their team members. One of the defining moments in his career was his first successful summit of Everest as a guide. “All throughout the climb I kept thinking about all the risks that came with it,” he reflects. The enormity of the risks involved weighs heavily on all climbers, but for the Sherpa guides, who often bear the brunt of the dangers, the risks are especially pronounced.

Reaching the summit, however, brought an overwhelming sense of achievement. “I can’t describe how happy I was when I reached the top,” says Chhiring. But even in moments of triumph, the dangers are ever-present. On his descent from the summit, late at night, he saw the body of a climber being dragged down the mountain. “I thought that could have been me if luck hadn’t been on my side,” he says.

As time went by, Chhiring learnt to confront the harsh realities of mountaineering. He began to understand the many reasons why climbers perish on the mountain, from lack of oxygen to sheer exhaustion. “At first, I didn’t know the mountains well. I used to see so many dead bodies being rescued off the mountain, and sometimes I would think that could be me,” he admits. “But now, I’ve become stronger and less fearful.”

The challenges of guiding climbers up Everest go beyond physical danger. The logistical and emotional strains of ensuring the safety of every team member are enormous. Chhiring recalls one expedition where his assistant guide suddenly experienced severe altitude sickness and dizziness at 6,000 meters.

“I saw him throw away his glasses, gloves, and even his safety harness,” says Chhiring. Acting quickly, he stopped his colleague from making irrational decisions and descended with him to a lower altitude, saving his life. “The mountain is a very dangerous place,” he adds, “But I’ve been lucky.”.

Despite the grandeur of Everest, its slopes are marred by the debris left behind by decades of climbers. Waste management on Everest has become a significant concern, with climbers and expedition teams often leaving tents, oxygen canisters, and other materials behind as they ascend. “There is a lot of trash at the 7,000-meter camp. Just the thought of it makes me sad,” says Chhiring.

In recent years, the Government of Nepal has allocated budgets for cleaning up the mountain, but progress has been slow. As a dutiful guide, Chhiring and his fellow Sherpas have made it a personal rule to bring back their own waste.  

Adding to the environmental concerns is the impact of climate change. Over the years, Chhiring has observed less snowfall and melting glaciers at the higher altitudes. The shifts in weather patterns and the receding glaciers are clear signs of the environmental changes affecting Everest and the surrounding region.

Chhiring has now summited Everest twice but his journey as a mountaineer is far from over. When he isn’t on an expedition, he spends his days in Kathmandu, training for the next season. His current focus is on summiting Manaslu, the eighth-highest mountain in the world, and he has several other expeditions planned for the future.

Despite the dangers and the toll that mountaineering takes on the body and mind, Chhiring feels deeply connected to the mountains. “The mountains are home,” he says. He has learned to embrace the risks, and rely on his experience and growing confidence.