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At the crack of dawn, even before the misty air clears, Deepesh Khatri enters the ground and glances around, ensuring nothing has affected it overnight. A group of young players are already there. It’s a daily routine at the cricket ground of Lekhnath, which Deepesh Khatri has named ‘Eden Heavens.’ You might think the name is inspired by Eden Gardens in Kolkata, India, but the ground truly resembles heaven, if it exists. 

Recently, in Nepal, cricket has become a source of happiness and hope, drawing many youngsters into this promising sport. As a result, cricket academies have flourished across the country. Currently, there are only two cricket academies in the Kaski District, one of which is the Machhapuchhre Cricket Academy run by Khatri. The aspiring cricketers at Machhapuchhre Cricket Academy are happy to hone their skills by imitating their coach who has played a lot of cricket in his life.

Born and raised in India, Khatri learned the basics of the game in the rich cricketing atmosphere of Mumbai before coming to Nepal. It was his maternal uncle who urged him to come to Pokhara and showcase his talents. In 1999, he was selected for the Kaski District squad to participate in the Rajbiraj Jay Trophy. Unfortunately, he didn’t get a chance to play. Khatri desperately needed to prove his worth. He had come all the way from Mumbai to play cricket and wouldn’t give up so easily. When Khatri was provided the chance to play for Region No 4 in the U17 national cricket championship, he displayed his brilliance, making his team the tournament champions. 

He started his career as a medium pacer. With time, his batting abilities sharpened, making him a useful bowling all-rounder. In 2003, when Region No 4 was playing the final of the U19 national cricket championship against Biratnagar, captain Shakti Gauchan and the team management decided to experiment by sending Khatri as the opening batsman. 

Khatri, who usually bowled with a new ball, used to bat down the order. It was a gamble to promote him to the top order. In cricket, the chances of a lower-order batsman scoring runs as an opening batsman are always low. But there was something about Khatri that made the team trust him. Khatri top-scored with 110 runs under his belt, helping his team win the national championship. By then, he was only seen as a medium pacer who could swing his bat when needed. That innings in the final of the U19 national championship made him an undisputed all-rounder. He was now seen as a bright prospect of Nepali cricket.

He was an integral part of the Nepal squad in the 2003 U19 Youth Asia Cup held in Pakistan. The team, which included notable players like Paras Khadka, Shakti Gauchan, and Sharad Vesawkar, secured the title, which qualified Nepal for the U19 World Cup in Bangladesh. Despite his impressive performances in the domestic circuit, Khatri didn’t get many chances to play in the World Cup matches. This lack of opportunities at the international level, despite his evident talent, was one of the challenges he faced in his cricketing career.

In the selection tournament prior to Nepal’s tour of Kuwait, which marked Nepal’s first-ever Twenty20 international series, Khatri was recognized as the best bowler. Ironically, despite this accolade, he wasn’t given a chance to play in the matches against Kuwait. Disheartened by this decision, Khatri realized that there might be underlying issues affecting his selection and decided it would be better to focus on other areas of life besides cricket. 

Khatri’s decision to leave Nepal in 2008 shocked everyone, particularly those who had started seeing him as a bright prospect for Nepali cricket. It was apparent that Khatri’s spirits were low. However, Khatri’s love for cricket remained steadfast. In England, where he had gone to continue his studies, he played cricket for several clubs, including Blackheath Cricket Club. 

After completing his studies in England, Khatri returned to Nepal and leased a piece of land to build a cricket ground. He registered a club named ‘Machhapuchhre Cricket Club’. The ground, located in Nadipur, boasted a stunning view of the gleaming Machhapuchhre mountain, making it the most beautiful ground in Pokhara. Khatri continued to nurture the skills of his clubmates and, under his captaincy, Machhapuchhre Cricket Club consistently emerged as the best club in Pokhara. No other club had won as many titles in club-level cricket in Pokhara as Machhapuchhre Cricket Club.

Khatri’s contributions to promoting cricket in the nearby districts of Kaski were remarkable. He organized age-level cricket competitions, women’s cricket tournaments, and several leagues for men’s cricket as well. Through his efforts, cricket gained significant popularity and support in the region, fostering a new generation of cricket enthusiasts and players. 

Khatri was a permanent member of the district and regional teams, and his cricket career was progressing well. However, in 2015, he faced a lengthy three-year ban for speaking out against the cricket board. This ban sidelined him from the sport. Despite the setback, Khatri continued to train aspiring cricketers at his ground in Nadipur. He also traveled to India to play in several tournaments. His passion for cricket remained undiminished, and it was hard to keep him away from the game. In 2017, he organized the Machhapuchhre Cricket League (MCL), the largest league in the Gandaki region. Operating under a franchise system, the league captured the attention of cricket enthusiasts nationwide. 

After the lockdown, Khatri was asked to halt his cricketing pursuits in Nadipur, highlighting a sudden demand for government quarters around the ground. The ground that once produced and nurtured many cricketers now lay in ruins. Khatri felt dispirited, yet he couldn’t stay away from the game that meant the world to him. In 2021, Khatri once again built a club ground in Lekhnath, entirely funded by himself. Though he no longer plays competitive cricket, he is frequently spotted practicing with aspiring cricketers at his self-built ground. 

Numerous Indian and local clubs and teams regularly visit to play matches there. And that is how Khatri covers his expenses. Reflecting on his life, Khatri humbly admits cricket has been his sole focus. The cricketers around him draw inspiration from his career and seek to learn from his experience. Their respect motivates him to continue advancing and contributing to the sport’s development. When asked about his life, he simply replies, “I’m all about cricket. I’m a cricketer for life.”

Academia-industry cooperation is the symbiotic relationship between academic institutions (academia) and the industrial sector (industry) through collaborative efforts and partnerships. The shared knowledge and expertise accessed through such cooperation can bridge the gap between theoretical knowledge acquired in academic settings and the practical applications of industries. Together, academic institutions and industries can co-create solutions to overcome pressing challenges by fostering partnerships and embracing best practices.

Academia-industry collaboration holds immense potential for driving innovation, economic growth and sustainable development. Industries continue to resort to private consulting firms that charge hefty amounts for advice or services in specialized areas. The collaboration between academia and industry would facilitate a mutual relationship, wherein industries seek consultation from experts in academia to leverage their knowledge and skills. Consequently, academic institutions and industries can co-create solutions to address the country’s pressing socio-economic and environmental challenges by overcoming challenges, fostering partnerships, and embracing best practices. Simultaneously, it eliminates the necessity for students to seek employment abroad because such collaborations hold the potential to generate employment opportunities domestically.

Different models and approaches to foster collaboration between academia and industry have been adopted across the globe. Distinguished companies like General Electric, Rolls-Royce, Siemens and IBM have collaborated with universities for years. Toyota’s research institute collaborates with Stanford University’s Artificial Intelligence Lab to advance research in artificial intelligence and automotive safety. Inside the University of Cincinnati Innovation Hub, Procter & Gamble has launched a Digital Accelerator. Beyond simulation, the facility is applied to solve business challenges. Many students have gained full-time employment at P&G following their time working at the Digital Accelerator. Companies like Amazon, Facebook and Google have also ventured into this domain and started collaborating with academic institutions around the world.

Industries drive the economy and industrial development drives economic prosperity. With the industrial sector contributing a mere 14.29 percent to GDP, Nepal’s economy is facing major headwinds. The projected growth rate is only 4.1 percent in 2023, down from 5.8 percent last year, the situation is critical. A high unemployment rate (19 percent) and a staggering student outflow (21.6 percent) paint a grim picture. Capital outflow worth Rs 47.35bn owing to Nepali students going abroad to pursue foreign education has already been recorded in the first five months of the current fiscal (2023-24). This exodus of students seeking education abroad is largely driven by the fear of limited job opportunities back home. Nepal needs a collaborative effort to address these interconnected issues to create a larger labor market. Only through such collaborative efforts can Nepal hope to navigate its current economic challenges.

Despite the potential benefits, academia-industry collaboration in Nepal faces challenges that hinder effective partnership-building and knowledge exchange. Kathmandu University has pioneered this initiative with the motto of taking knowledge and skills “from the campus to the community” by establishing the “Academia Industry Cooperation” at Kathmandu University (AICKU) under the esteemed office of the Vice-chancellor to bridge the gap between university and industry. AICKU identifies potential industry partners and establishes strategies for collaborations through joint research projects, conferences, and meetings. It also facilitates the mechanism for technology transfer, licensing and commercialization of research output.  Recently, AICKU successfully conducted “Academia Industry Meet 2023” where stakeholders from academia, industry and government sectors came under the same roof and discussed current challenges followed by possible solutions. Additionally, Kathmandu University has started a KU Employment Promotion Program to provide job opportunities to 80 top graduates per year and equip them with skills to compete in the global market. AICKU has also signed agreements with different industries to provide internships and job opportunities to students of the university. Recently, it facilitated the different research centers and labs of KU for the following projects.

• “Pilot Scale Green Ammonia Production in Nepal for Contribution to Domestic Economy and Better Utilization of Hydropower Electricity” with the Nepal Electricity Authority.

• “Feasibility Study of Green Urea Plant in Nepal” with the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock.

• “Condition Monitoring of Hydropower Plants in Nepal” with Nepal Electricity Authority.

Looking ahead, AICKU plans to establish mechanisms for technology transfer, licensing, and commercialization of research outputs. Collaboration with the Business Incubation Center for the promotion of entrepreneurial ideas of students, faculties and researchers is well underway. With its long-term goal to foster a seamless transition from academia to the workforce, AICKU is emerging as a beacon of collaboration, laying the foundation for mutually beneficial relationships between academia and industry to shape a prosperous future for Nepal.

Despite these efforts of KU, a joint effort through other universities as well as stakeholders is needed to achieve the aim of enhanced synergy. There are many hurdles in the path such as limited research funding for the university, regulatory and administrative issues due to complex bureaucratic procedures and outdated regulations, differences in priorities, timelines, and expectations between involved stakeholders, limited technical expertise, infrastructures and research facilities, and institutional barriers. A new initiation is essential to combat the difficulties and fulfill the objectives of academia-industry collaborations. At first, policy reforms are essential from the government level to promote academia-industry collaboration, innovation, and technology commercialization. Through collaborative efforts, Nepal can not only harness its full potential to build a prosperous and resilient future for its people, but also solve the problems of youth retention and unemployment.

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Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli took the oath of office and secrecy on Monday.

President Ram Chandra Paudel administered the oath of office and secrecy to PM Oli amidst a special ceremony organized at Sheetal Niwas this afternoon.

President Paudel appointed CPN-UML Chairman Oli as the prime minister as per Article 76 (2) of the Constitution of Nepal.

With this Oli has become the prime minister of Nepal for the fourth time.

He became the prime minister for the first time on October 11, 2015.

Later, he was appointed as the prime minister for the second time on February 15, 2018 and third time on May 13, 2021.

Vice President Ram Sahaya Prasad Yadav, speaker of the House of Representatives Devraj Ghimire, Chief Justice Bishwombar Prasad Shrestha, National Assembly Chairman Narayan Prasad Dahal, outgoing prime minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, former prime ministers Sher Bahadur Deuba, Jhalanath Khanal, Baburam Bhattarai, lawmakers, representatives of diplomatic missions and chiefs of security agencies among others were present on the occasion.

After taking the oath of office and secrecy, Oli expanded his Cabinet

Local governments are struggling to implement sustainable development projects, often due to financial constraints or inconsistent budget allocations. These governments at people’s doorsteps are failing to deal with development challenges, raising public concerns about the future of Nepal's fledgling federal system.

While many local governments have opted for short-term, cosmetic projects to appease constituents, Tilottama Municipality in Rupandehi district has taken a different approach. Known for its innovative practices, Tilottama has initiated a strategic long-term planning process for the fiscal year 2023/2024. Breaking from the conventional notion of allocating the available resources in petty projects, the municipal government has categorized its development works into three themes: municipal prioritized projects, municipal pride projects and municipal golden projects. After assessing projects proposed by ward offices, the municipal government included them in the project bank. Projects costing under Rs 10 million were categorized as prioritized projects, between Rs 10 and Rs 50 million as pride projects and those costing above Rs 50 million as golden projects. This aimed at ensuring effective resource allocation while addressing cross-cutting issues such as balanced, sustainable, green, resilient and inclusive development.

The municipality constructed 17 kilometers of internal roads in its 17 wards using modern asphalt concrete technology, naming this project the "One Ward, One Kilometer Road Construction Project". This falls under the theme of municipal prioritized projects. The municipality had often been criticized for focusing its budget on the vicinity of the six-lane Siddhartha Highway. To address this public concern, it decided to develop inner strategic roads in each ward, bridging the rural and urban sectors to boost the local economy.

Additionally, to address the long-standing issues related to maternity and infant health, the municipality came up with the plan to build "Tilottama Maternity and Infant Hospital" as a municipal pride project. Moreover, to tackle the widening gap between private and public education, Tilottama has proposed constructing a minimum of four government school buildings each year. The plan has been categorized under municipal golden projects. This novel initiative has generated widespread public curiosity and support from various sectors of local life.

In a similar vein, the municipality constructed Tilottama National Flag Park to celebrate the national cricket team's achievement of participating in the 2024 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. A towering national flag was installed in the park to commemorate this national achievement with the hope of fostering national solidarity. The park also boasts a digital screen where all the matches of the Nepali cricket team were broadcast live. The primary objectives of this project were to instill a sense of nationhood in young people seeking their future within the country and to honor the national players, their parents, friends and neighbors who witnessed the performance of the national cricket team alongside their municipal leaders.

Tilottama acknowledges its plans and policies for the current fiscal year as a significant policy departure in various avenues. The municipality developed a new vision for each letter of its name: T for technological advancement, I for innovative ways of doing, L for local leadership development, O for operational simplicity, T for technical expertise, T for typical product enhancement, A for artificial intelligence, M for mobilization of resources, and A for autonomy of works. These themes represent five sectors of local level development: economic, social, infrastructure, forest, environment and disaster management, and good governance and service delivery. In terms of good governance, Tilottama emphasizes transparency, responsiveness, responsibility, accountability, controllability and simplicity of administration. To register public complaints and address them accordingly, the municipality introduced the "Hello Tilottama" hotline last year, focusing on municipal responsiveness to public needs. Additionally, the "Innovative Tilottama" framework has been designed with a special focus on administrative simplicity. Most ward offices and municipal sections run software-based systems to provide timely services to residents effectively and efficiently. The sub-national government is also introducing "Time Card" services for its citizens.

The municipality has beautified Siddhartha Highway, which bisects its land, in an exceptionally decorative manner. The greenery on both sides of the road and the picturesque bougainvillea flowers in the divider entice any traveler passing through the Butwal–Bhairahawa road. During May and June, the area sees an influx of photo-motivated tourists from both Nepal and neighboring states of India. The municipality has added value to this scenic road by constructing a roof truss on the pedestrian crossing bridge, an initiative introduced for the first time in Nepal, and has installed several traffic and high-mast lights across the road. Moreover, a decorative pedestrian bridge made of glass and aluminum is under construction in Manigram - a major economic hub of the municipality.

The sub-national government is also well-known for its community-based practices such as community sanitation and greenery promotion, community health, community education, community forestry and community irrigation. It organizes community sanitation and greenery promotion programs twice a month to sensitize the local community about garbage management and environmental protection. Last year, a mega program was held on the municipality premises to mark the 100th event of a nationally hailed community sanitation and greenery promotion program, with a dream to establish it as a Tilottama civilization.

Local governments across the country have drafted their plans, policies, and programs for the new fiscal year. The Tilottama style of planned development could be insightful to them if they want to establish themselves as learning organizations. Since creativity and learning are the underlying features of transformational leadership, local leaders who demonstrate these values can benefit from Tilottama’s politically and economically grounded local development model.