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It is well-documented that the current average global temperature is increasing. Data from the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology (DHM) shows that the average global temperature has been rising by 0.052 percent annually. The frequent occurrence of heat waves in Nepal indicates that local temperatures are also exceeding the average. This situation poses serious threats to the health, livelihoods, and overall well-being of Nepali communities.

A heat wave is defined as exceptionally high temperatures that exceed the average maximum temperature, typically occurring from March to June, and sometimes extending into July. Cities like Dhangadi, Janakpur, Birgunj, Bhairahawa, Nepalgunj, Dipayal, and Surkhet have experienced extreme heat, with temperatures reaching 40 degrees Celsius and above during the daytime. Normally, extreme heat is felt from May to September, but this year, temperatures in some Terai areas exceeded 40 degrees Celsius as early as April.

Increasing threat

In Nepal, heat waves—prolonged spells of unusually hot weather—have become more frequent, especially in the Terai region and cities like Kathmandu. These heat waves can cause dehydration, heat-related illnesses, and potentially fatal heatstroke. According to Dr. Bishnu Prasad Marasini of the Nepal Health Research Council, vulnerable populations such as the elderly, children, and those with pre-existing health conditions are particularly at risk.

Climate experts link the increasing frequency and intensity of heat waves in Nepal to global climate change and rising greenhouse gas emissions. Urbanization has exacerbated this issue, impacting not only human health but also depleting water sources and damaging crops.

Public health strategies

Public health officials in Nepal have implemented several measures to protect vulnerable populations. Awareness campaigns emphasize the risks of excessive heat, the importance of staying hydrated, avoiding vigorous activities, and keeping cool in shaded or air-conditioned spaces. The DHM has issued 11 bulletins this year, highlighting significant rises in both minimum and maximum temperatures and advising people to stay safe and alert.

The Government of Nepal has prioritized managing heat-related illnesses, developing a comprehensive heat wave action plan with support from various agencies. This includes training healthcare workers, ensuring proper facilities at healthcare centers (such as fans, cooling blankets, air conditioning, and sufficient IV fluids), and providing necessary medical supplies.

Civil society organizations have significantly contributed to heat wave mitigation efforts. Many have distributed fans, set up water ATMs for free drinking water, established makeshift cooling centers, and initiated “cool roof” projects using reflective materials to reduce heat absorption. These efforts represent a multi-faceted approach to mitigating the health impacts of heat waves. The Nepal Disaster Risk Reduction Management Authority (NDRRMA) has urged civil society organizations to actively contribute to heat wave response efforts without duplication.

Strategies for public health mitigation

To lessen the negative impacts of heat waves, government agencies, civil society organizations, media, and the private sector have implemented several strategies:

Awareness campaigns: Public education initiatives inform communities about the risks of heat waves and the importance of preventive actions. Media mobilization through traditional and digital means emphasizes staying hydrated, avoiding strenuous activities during peak heat hours, and seeking shade or cool environments.

Healthcare preparedness: The Government of Nepal has ensured that medical facilities are prepared to handle heat-related health problems. Training healthcare workers to identify and manage heat stress, ensuring cooling equipment is intact, and developing heat wave response plans are priorities. Mobile health units and community health workers help reach vulnerable and underserved populations.

Heat action plans: With support from various agencies, municipalities have developed heat action plans, including temporary cooling centers, safe drinking water facilities, and emergency medical support. Efforts to identify vulnerable groups are ongoing to ensure they receive necessary assistance.

Community involvement and education

Schools and educational institutions should incorporate heat wave preparedness into their curricula, educating students on the science of heat waves, their impacts, and practical safety measures. Involving youth in climate action initiatives promotes environmental stewardship and innovation. For example, Dodhara Chadani Municipality in Kanchanpur district has mobilized youth groups to inform the community about climatic events, raise awareness, and advocate for necessary actions. Raghu Nath Bhatt, the DRR focal person of Dodhara Chadani Municipality, reported that youth mobilization through various platforms, including social media, has significantly aided in disaster mitigation and coping with heat wave challenges.

Infrastructure and planning

Long-term solutions to heat waves in Nepal require rethinking urban planning and infrastructure development. An engineer working at NDRRMA emphasized the need for policies to ensure new urban constructions are energy-efficient. Using cool roof technology and reflective building materials can significantly lower indoor temperatures and save energy.

Technology and innovation

Early warning systems can provide timely information about impending heat waves, allowing communities to take preventive measures. Mobile apps, SMS alerts, and social media posts are effective tools for disseminating heat wave warnings and safety tips. Renewable energy sources, such as solar power, and innovations in water management, including rainwater harvesting and efficient irrigation systems, are essential for ensuring a reliable water supply during heat waves, especially in agriculture-dependent areas.

Looking ahead

As Nepal continues to face the challenges of heat waves, a multi-faceted approach is urgently needed. The government must prioritize developing a comprehensive strategy to protect Nepali communities from the dangers of heat waves, focusing on renewable energy and technological advancements in early warning systems. Community involvement is crucial to creating a sense of ownership, which can be promoted through neighborhood greening projects, local cooling programs, and other community-based activities.

The increasing frequency of heat waves serves as a clear reminder of the importance of addressing climate change and its effects. By taking early action, Nepal can ensure the safety of its citizens and build a more resilient and sustainable future in the face of global warming.

Justice for children refers to the legal and systemic processes designed to ensure that children are treated fairly and appropriately within the justice system. This encompasses both criminal and civil matters and aims to protect the rights and well-being of children at all stages of their interaction with the law. The goal is to uphold the best interests of children by ensuring access to justice, promoting rehabilitation over punishment, and safeguarding their rights during legal processes.

The core of juvenile justice focuses on four main aspects:

• Identifying causes: Understanding the reasons behind juvenile delinquency.
• Preventive measures: Implementing strategies to prevent children from engaging in delinquent behavior.
• Rehabilitation: Helping juveniles who have committed offenses to reform and reintegrate into society.
• Community safety: Ensuring the community is protected from juvenile delinquency through correctional or restorative justice, rather than punishment.

Legal framework

Before 1992, there was no separate law in Nepal specifically for juvenile delinquents, and they were tried in court as adults. However, after Nepal ratified the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) on January 26, 1990, it became mandatory to reform the existing laws to align with international standards. Consequently, Nepal introduced the Children Act in 1992, and in 2018, the new Act Relating to Children was enacted.

According to the Act Relating to Children 2018, a ‘child’ is defined as any human being below the age of 18 years. The act also defines ‘children in conflict with the law’ as those who have been accused of committing an offense and those who have been convicted by the Juvenile Court for committing an offense.

The Constitution of Nepal ensures the right to juvenile-friendly justice as a fundamental right. Article 39(8) of the constitution states that every child has the right to a justice system designed to be friendly to juveniles. This approach is based on the understanding that children are not mentally capable of committing crimes in the same way adults do.

The prevailing law dealing with delinquent juveniles is the Act Relating to Children 2018. According to this act, a child below 10 years of age is not criminally liable for any act they commit; therefore, no case or punishment is instituted against them. If a child between the ages of 10 and 14 commits an offense that is punishable by a fine, they are released after counseling. If such a child commits an offense punishable by imprisonment, they are either imprisoned for up to six months or sent to a child reform home for a period not exceeding one year.

For children aged 14 to 16 who commit an offense, the punishment is half of what would be imposed on an adult. If a child aged 16 to 18 commits an offense, they are punished with two-thirds of the penalty that would be imposed on an adult.

Challenges in juvenile justice

In Nepal’s justice system, there is a legal requirement to communicate with the accused in a language they understand. This means they should be informed about their criminal charges in simple terms they can comprehend. However, this requirement is often not followed. Children are arrested by police without fully understanding the crime they are accused of committing. They are often left in the dark about the nature of their charges.

Furthermore, children fully do not understand the legal terms and proceedings, making it difficult for them to grasp the details of their charges and defend themselves. This lack of clear communication severely hampers their ability to engage with the legal process. Without proper understanding, they cannot make informed decisions or provide relevant information that might help their case. 

Delayed case resolution 

The Supreme Court of Nepal has time and again directed district courts to adjudicate juvenile delinquency cases within 120 days through continuous hearings as mandated by section 37 of the Act relating to Children 2018.  Notable cases such as Kalinchowk 120 vs Dolakha District Court and Advocate Pushpa Raj Poudel vs Sindhuli District Court emphasize this directive. Despite these clear instructions, the timeframe is often not met, leading to significant delays in the legal process. This delay exacerbates their emotional and mental health issues, impeding their ability to reintegrate into society effectively.

Non-availability of juvenile bench 

In most cases, children are tried in regular benches instead of juvenile benches, as envisioned in Section 30 of the Act Relating to Children. The juvenile bench should be established in every district court and include a district judge, a social worker, and a child psychologist. However, the act allows district judges discretion to forgo forming a juvenile bench if it’s not feasible for any reason. Due to this exception, many children are tried without the presence of child psychologists, which hampers their mental well-being.

This practice contradicts the principles of a juvenile-friendly justice system and fails to provide the specialized support children need. The absence of child psychologists and social workers means that the unique psychological and social needs of juvenile offenders are not adequately addressed. Consequently, children face trials that do not consider their mental and emotional maturity, leading to decisions that may not be in their best interests.

Way forward 

While Nepal’s Act Relating to Children 2018 provides a robust framework for protecting the rights of juveniles in conflict with the law, significant gaps in practice undermine its effectiveness. Addressing these implementation issues is crucial to ensure that the juvenile justice system in Nepal truly serves the best interests of children, providing them with fair, timely, and child-friendly legal proceedings.

To address delays in juvenile cases, we need to enforce the 120-day resolution timeframe strictly. This can be done by monitoring case progress and ensuring deadlines are met. Publishing regular reports on case statuses will increase transparency. Additionally, creating fast-track courts for juvenile cases will speed up their resolution and reduce backlogs. 

Juvenile benches should be mandatory by amending the Act Relating to Children to eliminate exceptions. To support the mental and emotional well-being of juvenile offenders, we need to ensure the availability of child psychologists and social workers during legal proceedings. Establishing partnerships with NGOs can provide additional support and resources. 

We should provide regular training for police, lawyers, and judges on effectively communicating with juveniles. Developing child-friendly informational materials that explain legal processes in simple terms will also help. Employing child advocates and counselors can ensure that children understand their rights and charges.

Finally, establishing a comprehensive national policy on juvenile justice, regularly reviewing and updating it, and fostering collaboration among stakeholders, including the judiciary, law enforcement, and social services, will create a cohesive system that better serves the needs of juveniles. Conducting research and using data to inform policies will ensure that interventions are effective and tailored to the specific needs of children in conflict with the law.

Ramprit Yadav was a ranger working in Chitwan in the late 1960s before Chitwan National Park (CNP) was established. He later became a warden of CNP. “In 2026 BS (1969),” he told me, “our team conducted a survey to establish the national park without consulting the Tharus of Chitwan.” He thinks this was a mistake. CNP officials should have consulted the Tharus because their traditional practices helped create a habitat for Chitwan’s famous rhinos and tigers.

Yadav credits the Tharus for teaching him about conservation.“In 1973, when I started working as a member of the national park, I was only 22 years old. I had only read about trees and plant conservation in college courses. For the first 10-15 years, I learned how to conserve wildlife from the indigenous Tharus of Chitwan, which was very useful in conserving wildlife.'”

When CNP was created in 1973, the army prevented Tharu men and women who lived nearby from using the areas inside the park that they had relied upon and cared for, for generations. In 2003, the park was expanded in the east by removing Padampur VDC, where 10,000 people, mostly the Tharus, lived.  When we look at the history of Chitwan, we see that Tharu traditional methods helped make Chitwan a good area for wildlife in two ways: Wetland management and grassland management. After removing the Tharus, the park wetlands and grasslands suffered. That meant the Tharus suffered and so did rhinos and tigers. Conservationists like to talk about “win-win” scenarios. This was “lose-lose.”

The indigenous Tharu community of Old Padampur had been cultivating the flatlands for generations by creating a canal from the Churia Hills to the south. The traditional way of irrigation from the canal brought tree leaves as manure to the farmlands, which helped greatly in enhancing agricultural production. After using the water they needed, the Tharus used to divert the leftover water inside the national park, which helped give new life to the park’s wetlands. The conservation of wetlands created a habitat for rhinos and birds.

Before 1973, the small ponds inside the forest were routinely dug out by the indigenous Tharus during Chaitra, Baishakh, and Jestha to make the ponds better for fishing. This practice helped in water conservation in the wetlands. But after the establishment of CNP in 1973, all these activities were stopped by the park officials and the small ponds dried up.

The eastern parts of Old Padampur encompassed Jitpur and Amelia, and the western part was Jayamangala, Bankatta, and Bhawanipur. At that time, as a result of the conservation of wetlands in the eastern parts of CNP, the rhino census report showed a good number of rhinos in that area. However, comparing the recent rhino census in 2021 to the time when Old Padampur was inhabited, the count has significantly decreased. In 2003, the park was expanded but the number of rhinos dropped.

Source: Rhino Count 2021

Paugi Chaudhary, a 70-year-old resident of Old Padampur, reminisces, “When I was in Padampur, I used to bring 10-15 kg of fish and 20-25 kg of Ghonghi (snails) from the paddy field in a day, but after the relocation from inside the park, all those things disappeared.”

Bal Singh Chaudhary (84) recalls, “When Old Padampur was inside the national park, there were 15-20 rhinos in one pond inside the park. With the removal of Padampur and other Tharu villages from the national park area in the late 1990s, all those large ponds have dried up.”

According to Ram Giri Chaudhary, a nature guide at CNP, “Nowadays, you can see 1-2 rhinos in the ponds inside the park only with difficulty.”

Before the establishment of the national park, each Tharu village used to have 300–400 domestic cattle (cows and oxen), and those cattle used to graze in the park’s grasslands. At that time, grasslands made up 20 percent of the park.

“Before the establishment of the national park,” says ex-warden Ramprit Yadav, “the indigenous Tharu people managed the national park in two ways: Firstly, they grazed their domestic animals inside the park and secondly, they harvested the grass for the construction of their traditional houses, once a year.”

Tharu people also used to set fire to the grassland. Only after lighting fire, it was easy to cut grass, and only after setting fire did new grass grow. This helped in forest management as well as in wildlife conservation. It created a habitat for rhinos and deer. Ramprit Yadav says, “Earlier, all Tharu houses were made of reeds, and they used to build temporary houses on the river banks for three months of the year, and cut and burn reeds in the forest during the three winter months—Mangsir, Poush and Magh. This helped a lot in managing the grasslands in the forest.”

According to Aashis Gurung, information officer for the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), “After burning the reeds, the calcium, magnesium, and nitrogen from the reeds mix with the soil, helping the new grass to grow. This is why the condition of the grasslands in the National Park is better where the grass is burned than where it is cut by machines.”

The ban on grazing cattle and cutting grass and reeds for house construction (imposed in 1973 and 2003), along with the ban on controlled burning, hurt the grasslands. A 2016 Chitwan National Park report shows only 6.42 percent of the grasslands remained. Grasslands are crucial for rhinos and other park wildlife. According to the director of NTNC, Chiren Pokharel, “Before removal of the Tharu community from the park, the population of rhino and other animals in that area was statistically good, but after the displacement (of Tharu communities), the number of rhinos and other animals in the same area has gone down.”

It is true that for many years after 1973, Tharu and other local people were allowed into the park to burn and cut grass for 15 days a year. That window for cutting was reduced as time went by. During the Maoist civil war, cutting was stopped altogether. Afterwards, the grasslands really suffered.

It was not only the rhino who suffered from the loss of grasslands; birds also suffered. According to Ramesh Chaudhary, former chair of the Bird Education Society, Sauraha, “Birds that are found only in short (siru) grasslands, such as Bengal Florican, Lesser Florican, Selender-bellied Babbler and Jerdon's Babbler have disappeared from Chitwan.”

The main food for these birds, insects, are found in short (siru) grasslands. Those foods were found in the dung and feces of domestic animals grazing in the jungle. Many people believe that removing the Tharus from CNP will be helpful for biodiversity and wildlife conservation, but so far, it has turned out to be just the opposite. This is because CNP officials didn’t understand the knowledge of Chitwan’s indigenous Tharu people in managing wetlands and grasslands. Without Tharu management, Chitwan’s wetlands and grasslands have disappeared, reducing habitat for rhinos and deer and other wildlife.

Last year, when the census showed that the number of Chitwan’s tigers had nearly tripled, the Government of Nepal and the donor agencies were widely applauded at the national and international level. But the indigenous Tharu people, who were displaced from their ancestral land to make the park and who suffer disproportionately from wildlife killings and crop raiding, were not acknowledged anywhere despite their traditional conservation practices that helped make Chitwan a suitable habitat for wildlife like tigers, rhinos and deer.

China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has seen mixed progress in Nepal since the two countries signed the agreement in 2017. A common narrative suggests that no significant projects have been completed under the BRI framework, leading many foreign policy observers to conclude that China has not succeeded in expanding its influence in Kathmandu, largely due to implicit pressure from the West and India. 

Nevertheless, the implementation of BRI remains a top agenda item in interactions between representatives of the Communist Party of China and Nepal’s political parties, especially the communist ones, which have expressed dissatisfaction over the perceived slow progress.

From the Chinese perspective, several soft and hard projects launched in Nepal fall under the broader BRI framework. However, China is pushing for the implementation of more infrastructure projects, as globally, the BRI is perceived mainly as an infrastructure initiative. 

Beyond BRI, China’s reach and influence in Nepal have significantly expanded across various sectors—from education to security, from village to national levels, and from electric vehicles to airline companies. Recent interactions even include the judiciary and parliament, with notable exchanges of visits between officials from both countries.

In November last year, Nepal’s Chief Justice Bishowambhar Prasad Shrestha visited China, followed by a reciprocal visit this week by Liu Guixian, a senior justice of the Supreme People’s Court of China. Senior leaders from Nepal’s National Assembly and the Speaker of the House of Representatives have also visited China in recent years.

Recent examples of China-Nepal cooperation include Chinese Ambassador to Nepal Chen Song’s participation in multiple events. These events illustrate China’s diverse offerings to Nepal, such as organizing the first intra-party school Chinese pop dance competition involving students from 13 primary and secondary schools, and a cardiovascular screening program by specialists from Fuwai Yunnan Hospital, which provided screenings for 4,682 Nepali children diagnosed with congenital cardiovascular disease, offering them free treatment in China.

Additionally, China has resumed the China Higher Level Education Fair, halted for two decades, and Nepal’s colleges and universities are increasingly offering Chinese language courses. The number of scholarships for Nepali students to study in China has also increased, as has the participation of Nepali bureaucrats going to China for education. Beyond education and health, China is also interested in importing Nepali tea, and the two countries are working on petroleum product collaborations. These are just some instances where there is a long list of new areas of collaboration between the two countries. 

For a long time, Western and European countries have been expanding their influence in Nepal through non-governmental organizations. Now Chinese non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are also becoming more active in Nepal. The China Foundation for Rural Development (CFRD), for instance, has been working in the areas of health, education, and other social issues, particularly in the Tarai region. Recently, CFRD provided aid to fire-affected people in the Mahottari district but this is not the first time. CFRD has been providing support in Madhes region since 2015 and it continues to expand. 

China has developed networks and projects to engage with all segments of Nepali society, and Ambassador Song has been instrumental in enhancing bilateral engagement through active social media presence and interactions with media personnel.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Narayan Kaji Shrestha has been a strong supporter of bilateral projects, frequently attending events organized by the Chinese Embassy and other Chinese-funded local organizations. Shrestha is notably the only minister in the Pushpa Kamal Dahal-led government, who has been consistently pushing for the signing of the BRI implementation plan, which remains pending.

As China aspires to engage more with Nepal, bilateral visits are expanding, with politicians from various levels visiting China. But it is noteworthy that visits by leaders from the Nepali Congress (NC) are fewer compared to those from communist parties. This could be due to fewer invitations from China or a lack of interest from senior NC leaders. Despite this, both Chinese and NC leaders acknowledge the historical role of bilateral relations, often referencing BP Koirala’s contributions from the 1960s.In summary, while progress on the BRI in Nepal may have been slow, overall Chinese engagement in the country has picked up speed, balancing hard and soft power. The Nepal-China border, which had been largely closed since 2015 and further impacted by Covid-19, has recently reopened, facilitating increased movement of people and goods. This week, the two countries are holding their 16th Secretary-level meeting to review the entire bilateral relationship. To measure China's influence in Nepal solely through the BRI lens is to overlook the broader picture.