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The heat is becoming unbearable, so much so that fans won’t just cut it. The sales of coolers and air conditioners have shot up. Kathmandu has never felt so hot and oppressing. Even the random rains, and there have been plenty, don’t do much to bring down the temperature. Many people the ApEx spoke to confessed of taking multiple showers in a day or having the cooler or AC on all day which dries out their skin. According to experts, the hot weather is only set to get worse so it’s best to be prepared. Here, we have a list of things you can do to summer proof your home that have been tried and approved by our readers. 

Don’t underestimate the power of cross ventilation 

Cross breeze can really cool at home, but most of us underestimate its power and don’t open enough or the right windows. In the morning, open the curtains and the windows, making sure windows that are opposite each other aren’t shut. This helps bring fresh air in and push stale air out. Cross ventilation can significantly cool a room and reduce the need of fans or air conditioning. The only thing to keep in mind is that the outlet opening should be equal in size or larger than the inlet opening. This facilitates efficient airflow.

Strategically close the curtains

Most of us open the curtains after we wake up in the morning and close them when it gets dark at night. But did you know that closing the south facing and the west facing curtains during the hottest part of the day can help keep the heat out? You can also install blinds in the windows in these directions to keep sunlight out during hot afternoons. Close your curtains or blinds from 11:00 am to 4:00 pm. If you are going out, close the curtains to keep the rooms from heating up. This simple trick can help you lower your electricity bills. 

Use natural and light fabrics

Have you ever sat on the leather sofa during the summer? Do you recall how sticky and uncomfortable the experience was? Materials like leather, suede, silk, and polyester tend to trap heat thus making for uncomfortable summer upholstery. We’re not suggesting that you change your couch if you have a leather or a PU one. You can simply put a throw, one that is made of linen or cotton, over it. Switch out your cushion covers from thick velvet ones to those made from hemp, linen, or cotton. Light fabrics are more breathable and allow for better airflow. Experience better sleep during the summer simply by switching to lighter bedsheets and pillow covers. 

Use fans efficiently

Fans help cool a space by moving air around but most of us use it to cool down by blowing it directly on our faces and bodies when we feel hot. This usually dries out our nasal passages, throats, and skin as well. It’s a good idea to set up fans in places where air seems to be stagnant or use them to draw outside air to warm areas of the house by placing them in the direction of the breeze. Make sure the blades run in counterclockwise direction. You must also use exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms to keep hot air from mixing with indoor air and leading to overheating. Turn them on without fail when cooking or taking showers. 

Treat your roof

One of our readers used large tarps to cover the rooftop of our house. This, she says, made the bedrooms at least a few degrees cooler. You can opt for a UV reflective paint that can help bring the temperature down of the entire house. There are many options available in the market these days. Roof guard coatings help reflect harmful UV rays and limit heat absorption. Alternatively, you can also set up large umbrellas to cover major areas or install shades to keep sunlight from directly shining on the roof. Choose your options considering your budget but term solutions are usually one-time investments. 

Avoid heat-producing appliances whenever possible

If your house is feeling impossibly warm during the summers, try giving your heat producing appliances a miss whenever possible. The stove, oven, and even the clothes dryer generate a lot of heat when used. Go back to the traditional way of hanging your clothes to dry in the sunlight. Try to have simple meals that don’t require much cooking. Limit the use of the oven. You can even opt to use an outdoor grill to barbecue meat and vegetables. Switch up your cooking routine by choosing meals that don’t require heating like salads and sandwiches. Avoid extended uses of small appliances like toasters, sandwich presses, and even microwaves. 

Outdoor changes for indoor cooling

We tend to focus on cooling our houses from the inside, but we forget that there are a few important things we can do to keep the heat from coming in. One of the easiest ways to prevent outdoor heat from moving indoors is to plant trees and large shrubs in your garden or in large planters by your windows and doors. Consider planting trees and shrubs in the south and west directions of your home. If you have a cemented patio or an outdoor area, consider updating it with some porous material as this will allow rainwater to absorb into the ground and lower temperature through evaporative cooling effect. Install an awning or pergola to shield the west windows from hot afternoon rays. 

Private schools exemplify excellence in education, fostering an innovative learning environment. Yet behind their achievement is a tricky issue that seems overlooked: succession planning for future leaders. It is an essential part of the procedure to maintain competent leadership that can sustain the school’s legacy. This entails identification and development of future leaders in private schools to ensure that operations continue unhindered when key personnel leave.

Private schools flourished in Nepal After the restoration of democracy in 1990. They provided good education compared to government-run schools. Today, the majority of private schools are still under the ownership of individuals who founded them. They are yet to relinquish power to the next generation. 

With the increase in private school numbers it is important to caution the owners on the issues they are likely to encounter in case they fail to plan ahead. The problem was raised during an international conference in Kathmandu, where many school owners shared that they were considering selling their institutions due to a lack of succession planning. This scenario raises questions about institutional stability and the  well-being of its staff in case the leadership transition is mishandled.

The barriers to effective succession planning are deeply rooted. Many school leaders lack awareness of its long-term importance, while cultural norms and family dynamics often obstruct smooth leadership transitions. Compounding the problem, immediate operational demands frequently overshadow strategic planning, leaving institutions without clear pathways for future leadership. The absence of an organizational culture that prioritizes talent development further exacerbates the issue, creating a vacuum when experienced leaders step down.

The consequences of neglecting succession planning are severe and far-reaching. Sudden leadership gaps breed uncertainty, eroding staff morale and institutional performance. Perhaps most critically, the departure of seasoned leaders results in the irreversible loss of institutional knowledge—the accumulated wisdom, relationships, and expertise that define a school’s identity and competitive edge. Without proper succession mechanisms, schools risk losing not only their direction but their very ability to adapt in an increasingly complex educational environment.

At its core, succession planning is about safeguarding institutional futures. It transcends mere replacement, serving instead as a strategic process to identify, nurture, and prepare the next generation of leaders. When done effectively, it ensures continuity of mission, preserves organizational memory, and provides stability through periods of transition. For Nepal’s private schools, this process is not a theoretical exercise but an existential imperative—one that determines whether institutions will flourish or fade in the coming decades.

The solution lies in treating leadership development as an ongoing institutional priority rather than a reactive measure. Schools must cultivate leadership pipelines by identifying high-potential candidates early, providing them with progressive responsibilities, and embedding mentorship into the organizational culture. This requires shifting from short-term thinking to long-term investment in human capital, ensuring that every leadership transition strengthens rather than weakens the institution.

For Nepal’s private education sector to thrive amid rapid societal changes, succession planning must move from periphery to priority. By confronting this challenge head-on—through awareness-building, cultural adaptation, and strategic foresight—schools can transform a looming crisis into an opportunity for renewal. The stakes extend beyond individual institutions; the quality of Nepal’s future education system hinges on today’s decisions about tomorrow’s leaders. Those who recognize this imperative and act decisively will not only secure their legacies but elevate the entire educational ecosystem for generations to come.

The author is  PhD Scholar at Symbiosis International University

Nepal’s financial system has disbursed loans totaling Rs 5.55trn to approximately 1.94m borrowers. Governor Biswo Poudel recently highlighted this trend while presenting new data on small borrowers—defined as those with loans under Rs 10m. On that occasion, the chief of the central bank, Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), raised concerns about the concentration of large loans among a small group of individuals and whether such lending practices are contributing meaningfully to economic productivity.

Around 1.94m Nepali people have accessed loans from commercial banks, development banks and finance companies. Of these, approximately 1.869m small borrowers have taken loans totaling
Rs 1.99trn.

These small borrowers include lower-middle-class individuals who often borrow to start small businesses, send family members abroad for work or fund vocational training. Many also take loans to purchase land or vehicles, or to build homes. However, this group is financially vulnerable. According to NRB data, 28.8 percent—equivalent to Rs 549.85bn—of their loans have become non-performing, accounting for 4.34 percent of total lending.

Mid-level borrowers, defined as those with loans between Rs 10m and Rs 100m, are also under financial stress. This segment includes approximately 6,793 borrowers, holding Rs 1.254trn in loans. Roughly 11 percent of this amount is non-performing, indicating severe repayment challenges, especially post-covid, as many small and medium enterprises failed to recover.

At the other end of the spectrum are large borrowers—those with loans exceeding Rs 100m. This group consists of just 7,763 borrowers, who collectively hold Rs 2.39trn. Even more concentrated, 1,552 individuals manage over Rs 1.34trn in loans, highlighting a stark imbalance in credit distribution. Despite handling large sums, the rate of non-performing loans in this group is significantly lower.

The data indicate that the larger the loan, the lower the likelihood of it being classified as non-performing. Borrowers in the higher brackets often have the advantage of restructuring loans, accessing new credit to service old debt and leveraging networks within the banking system. This circular lending practice, often facilitated by banks themselves, poses systemic risks and raises ethical questions.

Loans in the Rs 10–500m range account for 95 percent of Rs 1.048trn in outstanding loans, with a non-performing loan (NPL) ratio of 22.14 percent (Rs 232bn). Notably, NPL ratios decrease as loan sizes increase. For loans between Rs 50–100m, the NPL rate drops to 4.83 percent, and for
Rs 100–200m, it falls to 3.01 percent, with the highest loan brackets seeing NPLs as low as 0.04 percent.

There is a stark contrast in Nepal’s loan distribution and associated credit risks across borrower categories. While small and mid-level borrowers (with loans below Rs 100m) collectively hold significant portions of the total loan portfolio—Rs 1.99trn and Rs 1.254trn, respectively—they also exhibit alarmingly high non-performing loan (NPL) ratios of 28.8 percent and 11 percent, indicating financial vulnerability and limited resilience. In contrast, large and very large borrowers (with loans above Rs 100m), though few in number, control disproportionately high volumes of credit—up to
Rs 2.39trn—with remarkably low NPL ratios (3.01 percent and 0.04 percent). This inverse relationship between loan size and credit risk reveals a systemic concentration of financial resources among a limited elite, raising concerns about financial equity and governance. The findings underscore the need for regulatory reforms to rebalance credit flows, safeguard small borrowers, and address emerging issues of financial inequality and systemic risk.

This disparity raises concerns over the governance and equitable distribution of financial resources. NRB data reveal that out of 1.94m borrowers, just 194 individuals—0.01 percent—have accessed loans exceeding Rs 2.25trn, or 3.9 percent of the total loan volume. On an average, each of these individuals has taken loans of over Rs 1.11bn. These statistics underscore a critical issue: a limited number of individuals control a disproportionate share of banking sector credit.

This concentration of financial power has drawn attention in parliamentary discussions. In a recent meeting of the Finance Committee of the House of Representatives, clause-by-clause deliberations on the amendment of the Banks and Financial Institutions Act (BAFIA), 2073, are underway. The proposed amendments aim to address conflicts of interest, ensure fair loan distribution and introduce stricter governance measures to prevent the undue concentration of credit.

The ongoing legislative review seeks to establish clearer guidelines on eligibility for loans and address the structural weaknesses that allow such imbalances. Key concerns include whether bank directors and affiliated individuals are receiving favorable treatment and whether existing legal frameworks are sufficient to prevent misuse of financial resources.

As the debate continues, it has become evident that financial inequality is deepening. There is a pressing need for reforms to ensure that credit distribution contributes to inclusive growth, supports small and medium enterprises, and reflects principles of transparency and social justice.

The author is a senior fellow and program executive at SNG Solution

Purna Bahadur Rawat of Rawat village in Bheri Municipality-1, Jajarkot, has been living in a tin hut for the past two years after losing his house in the earthquake. His situation worsened after he lost his two sons. Now, he lives miserably in the cramped shelter, one room for all belongings, another for cooking and sleeping. While he has endured all seasons in this fragile structure, the monsoon brings new hardship. The roof has started leaking, and when the wind-driven rain hits, it becomes nearly impossible to sleep.

“Two years have passed waiting for the government to build a permanent house,” Rawat said. “We are still forced to live in a tin shack that scorches in the sun and leaks in the rain. I’m still grieving the loss of my son, who had just started eating solid food. We’re suffering without a decent place to live. Who will understand the pain of earthquake victims?”

Rawat’s temporary shelter was built by the Youth Awakening and Rehabilitation Center. However, the local government has yet to register him in the disaster portal, meaning he hasn’t received a detailed damage assessment (DDA). Like him, others not listed in the portal have also been excluded from receiving their DDA.

Similarly, Kalika Shah of Bheri Municipality-1 said an NGO called Sosek had helped build temporary housing immediately after the disaster. But now, as the government prepares to provide reconstruction grants, they’ve been left out due to the lack of a DDA.

This is the situation for many survivors of the 23 November 2023 earthquake, which killed 154 people and damaged over 70,000 private homes across Jajarkot, Rukum West, and Salyan. The government provided Rs 50,000 per family for temporary shelter. In the immediate aftermath, newly appointed leaders arrived, distributed relief, and promised swift reconstruction. But now, survivors are stuck in leaking tin huts and facing pressure from banks, as no permanent housing has been provided.

During the rainy season, many families stay awake all night in fear. “We live in constant dread when it rains. We don’t even know when we’ll receive the reconstruction grant,” said Gopal Lohar of Nalgad-1, Chiuri. As frustration grew after DDA results were published, earthquake victims locked their ward offices. Those still living in tents remain in disarray, particularly with the onset of the monsoon.

Seventeen months after the earthquake, the government has only recently begun DDA work in earnest. When the names of completed wards were published, residents of Wards 3, 4, and 12 of Nalgad Municipality locked their ward offices in protest, halting further activity. Locals are demanding that even damaged houses be eligible for reconstruction support—regardless of whether they lie within the district boundaries.

Badri Bahadur Pant, ward chair of Nalgad-4, said that everyone who received the Rs 50,000 for temporary shelter should be included in the reconstruction program. Although the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority (NDRRMA) had announced the start of reconstruction in July, delays persist due to procedural confusion and local-level indifference.

In Nalgad-3, a total of 654 households were listed as beneficiaries, with 475 eligible for reconstruction—of which 440 are under construction and 35 under general maintenance or reinforcement. However, 179 houses identified for reconstruction are still not on the official list. Ward Secretary Uttam Chand said that when agreements for reconstruction began, people left off the list locked the ward office. Administrative work has since been disrupted, delaying the reconstruction further.

In Nalgad-4, of 436 assessed households, only 311 were certified for reconstruction. The remaining 141 have been left out. This pattern is repeated across the district. Nearly all mud-brick homes were damaged and remain unsafe. Yet, many residents continue to live in them, holding onto the hope of eventual reconstruction support.

“The padlocks are a cry for justice,” said Dhan Bahadur Rawal of Nalgad-4, whose name was not included in the DDA list. Officials claim that homes without visible damage or those owned elsewhere are excluded in accordance with the 2024 Reconstruction Procedure. But Rawal and others argue that the DDA list is arbitrary and discriminatory.

Ganesh Sharma of Nalgad-4 warned that if the ward office does not revise its list, the municipality office will also face padlocks. CPN (Maoist Center) leader Ramdeep Acharya said that laws causing harm to victims must be amended. “It’s not possible to reinforce homes made of stone and clay. These homes must be fully rebuilt,” he said. “It’s the state’s responsibility to ensure no citizen suffers from unjust exclusions.”

Nepali Congress leader Chhabi Panta added, “Our voices on the earthquake issue have been repeatedly ignored. There's widespread anger. If officials think mud-and-stone homes are safe, then let them live in these cracked houses.”

CPN-UML leader Niraj Acharya echoed similar concerns, calling for a reconsideration of the DDA conducted nearly 18 months after the earthquake. “Mud and stone homes should be rebuilt. Those left out must be included,” he said. “The state must listen to the victims.”

The risks of inaction are becoming deadly. In Tarpena, Kushe Rural Municipality-3, two sisters, Chandra Budha, 14, and Sharmila Budha, 16, were killed when a large stone fell from a damaged roof and collapsed their house. Last year, over a dozen people died in landslides during the rains. Today, dozens of settlements remain at high risk.

Geologists have warned that more than two dozen settlements in Jajarkot are vulnerable to collapse and must be relocated. The local administration has issued alerts across Barekot, Nalgad, Bheri, and Shivalaya municipalities.

The establishment of the Earthquake Reconstruction and Rehabilitation Project Implementation Unit Office in Rimna, Jajarkot, had raised hopes. During its inauguration, Home Minister Ramesh Lekhak promised there would be “no more delays” in reconstruction. “Whatever has happened until now, there will be no delay moving forward,” he said.

Mayor of Nalgad Municipality Dambar Bahadur Rawat acknowledged the urgency: “Victims are suffering in tin huts. In some wards, reconstruction has stalled due to local protests and office lockdowns.”

Jajarkot’s Chief District Officer Mekh Bahadur Magranti said the delays stem from verification steps following DDA completion. “Some beneficiaries were verified just recently, and their lists have reached local authorities. However, confusion around formal beneficiary recognition is holding things up,” he said. Reconstruction will begin once municipalities complete these steps.

The government has committed to providing Rs 400,000 per household for rebuilding, Rs 250,000 for reinforcement, and Rs 100,000 for general repairs. Technicians are being mobilized to complete DDA verification in the affected districts. So far, around 22,000 beneficiaries in Doti, Bajhang, Bajura, Salyan, Rukum West, and Jajarkot have been verified.