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Do all the things you throw away on a regular basis—plastic bags, straws, paper, wrapping paper, cotton buds etc.—make you feel guilty? Does your trash can overflow with stuff between pick-ups? Do you find yourself wishing you could cut back on unnecessary waste but don’t know where to start? If yes, then this helpful guide is for you. Some of the things in this guide might be stuff you are familiar with but still unable to put to practice. We will help you build habits that can make sustainability a part of your daily routine without you having to put too much effort into it.

The trick to using cloth bags

We are sure everyone knows the importance of using cloth bags instead of plastic bags. Most of us have at least a few cloth bags stuffed in random drawers in our homes. But what happens is that we forget to carry these when we go out shopping and we end up either using a plastic bag or buying another cloth bag which will eventually end up in the same random drawers. The trick to make sure you don’t use plastic bags is to always have a reusable bag with you. When you put away your groceries, don’t just toss your reusable bag in a drawer. Fold it away and put it in your bag, in the dashboard of your car, or next to where you keep your keys in your entryway. This way you’ll always have a reusable bag with you on hand. You can also hang a few on a hook in the kitchen so that when you have to make impromptu grocery runs, you can quickly grab one. Make sure your cloth bags are lightweight and strong.

Reusing whatever you can

Before you throw anything away, take a look at it with fresh eyes. Most of the time, we tend to throw things that can be reused in various ways. Whether it be empty cans or jars or wrapping papers and gift bags, everything can be repurposed and used for different things around the house. You can use empty cans and jars to store spices and grains. You can repurpose them to hold pens or remote controls. The reason most of these jars and cans end up in the trash bin is because they’re hard to clean. To get pesky labels off, immerse empty jars in a bowl of water overnight and then you can simply scrub them off with a steel wool the next day. Did you know that you can repurpose gift bags to make pretty boxes that you can use to store documents and little trinkets around the house? You can find many tutorials on Instagram and Pinterest. Wine and liquor bottles can be used to store oil, as water bottles, and even as flower vases. A great way to ensure that you reuse things and don’t toss them away is to make a list of all the ways you can do just that. It helps to have a reminder on hand.

Small actions

There are many little things you can do to live an eco-friendly life,  from carrying your own water bottle and metal straws to mending your clothes.

You just have to put a little thought into it but that is often easier said than done. Don’t try to make drastic changes overnight. Start with one thing at a time. For instance, in the month of May vow to not buy mineral water when you’re out. For this, you’ll have to carry your own water bottle. Invest in a steel or a glass bottle and carry water with you everywhere. Once you’ve gotten into the habit of doing this, pick up another action. Instead of carrying tissues, tuck a small handkerchief in your bag. Wherever possible, choose reusable options. Switching to a menstrual cup instead of tampons or pads can significantly lower your trash volume during your periods. The key here is not to start doing everything at once. Choose one action at a time and once you’ve mastered that move onto the next.

Buy what you need 

Most of us buy things without a second thought, and it’s not unusual for us to have multiples of everything, from notebooks and stationery to cookware and bags. Impulse shopping is something that we all succumb to every once in a while. One of the main things you have to do if you want to live a sustainable life is to look into your consumption patterns. Are you buying things because you need them or because you want them? Remember that things start to lose their appeal once you’ve bought them. The thrill only lies in the purchase. When you go out shopping, make a list of things you need and only buy what’s on it. Mend your clothes so that a simple tear or a popped button does not have you running to the store to replace the item. Try using what you have at home before you buy more things. This goes for items like bags, shoes, and clothes, as well as staples like pasta and grains among others. Don’t fall into marketing traps. Understand your needs and only buy things that you know you will use.

The banking sector is witnessing a steady rebound in credit growth, buoyed by rising foreign trade and increased loan demand across key sectors. According to a recent report from the Nepal Rastra Bank (NRB), private sector credit from banks and financial institutions grew by seven percent, reaching Rs 5,534.77bn, during the first nine months of the current fiscal year 2024-25. This reflects a credit disbursement of Rs 361.3bn between mid-July 2024 and mid-April 2025.

Credit growth had stood at 5.1 percent in the same period of the previous fiscal year, pushing the total credit portfolio to Rs 5,167.17bn in mid-April last year. On a year-on-year basis, credit disbursement grew by 8.3 percent in mid-April.

This uptick marks a turnaround from the sluggish loan expansion seen in recent years, which had eroded bank profitability. Amid a deposit surge and subdued credit growth, the banking system was left with excess liquidity, pushing interest rates to historic lows. In mid-April, the average interest rate on loans from commercial banks fell to 8.22 percent, down from 10.55 percent a year earlier. Development banks and finance companies saw similar declines, with average lending rates dropping to 9.59 percent and 10.40 percent, respectively.

Slow credit expansion in previous fiscal years was largely attributed to the phased rollback of covid-era relief measures, including loan moratoriums and subsidized interest rates, by the central bank. As the economy stabilized, these supports were withdrawn, leading to cautious lending practices and tepid credit demand from businesses.

However, the latest data signals renewed momentum in credit expansion. Foreign trade has surged, with merchandise exports rising by 65.5 percent to Rs 188.2bn, and imports increasing by 12.2 percent to Rs 1.309trn in the nine-month period. This has triggered a spike in demand for import loans, which grew by a robust 60.6 percent by mid-April. Working capital loans and margin-based loans also recorded strong growth of 17 percent and 37.8 percent, respectively. In addition, credit expansion was driven by increased borrowing in real estate, stock market investments, and vehicle purchases.

Credit flow to the production sector rose by 9.6 percent, construction by 11.4 percent, transportation, communication and public services by 10.2 percent, and service industries by 8.6 percent. During the review period, term loans increased by 4.9 percent, margin nature loans by 37.8 percent, trust receipt (import) loans by 60.6 percent, hire purchase loans by 4.1 percent, cash credit loans by 5.2 percent and real estate loans (including residential personal home loans) by 4.9 percent.

Despite the rebound in credit activity, banks continue to grapple with excess liquidity. The banking system recorded a 5.7 percent increase in deposits, totaling Rs 368.47bn, while remittance inflows rose by 10 percent to Rs 1,191bn during the same period. This has left banks and financial institutions with a stockpile of loanable funds.

The NRB absorbed a total of Rs 17,186.15bn from the market, comprising Rs 2,212.05bn through deposit collection auctions, Rs 14,974.1bn via the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and Rs 2.7bn utilized under the Overnight Liquidity Facility, over the first nine months of the current fiscal year. In contrast, the central bank had absorbed Rs 766.19bn in net liquidity through various monetary operations in the same period of the previous fiscal year.

Nepal is stuck in a dangerous cycle. Corruption is increasing, and the gap between the rich and the poor is getting wider every day. Many people have lost trust in the government because they feel ignored, cheated and left behind. Even though Nepal has become a democracy and given more power to local governments, real control still lies with a small group of wealthy and powerful people. Most citizens, especially the poor and those living in rural areas, continue to struggle just to survive.

Corruption is present at every level—national, provincial, and local. Money meant for important services like schools, hospitals and roads often disappears due to theft, misuse or waste. Politicians and officials make big promises, but many development projects are only started to make money for themselves and their friends. Budgets are often made larger than needed, so that extra money can be secretly siphoned off. Contracts for construction are not always given to the most qualified companies, but to those with political connections. This leads to weak, unsafe buildings or projects that are never finished.

Even when work begins, a large amount of money is lost before it reaches the people. It is believed that only about 35 percent of the capital budget is used properly. Corrupt politicians, dishonest contractors and some government employees devour the rest. Because of this, roads break apart within months, schools lack basic furniture and qualified teachers, and hospitals do not have enough doctors, medicine or even potable water.

This situation hurts poor people the most. Many laborers working on these projects are paid very low wages—and sometimes, they are not paid at all. Their problems are ignored, and they have no real way to raise their demands or seek justice. Meanwhile, rich people keep gaining more power by using their money to influence politics and business. This unfair system keeps poor people stuck in poverty and gives the rich even more control over the country’s future.

Another big problem is how government jobs are given. Instead of hiring people based on education, skills or experience, jobs often go to relatives, friends or political supporters. This means that many important offices are run by people who are not qualified for the jobs at hand. As a result, government services become slow, unfair and ineffective. Honest and capable people are often pushed aside, which creates frustration among the youth. Many young people lose hope in the system and choose to leave the country to find better opportunities abroad. This “brain drain” is a big loss for Nepal, as it loses skilled and educated workers, who could have helped develop the country.

Even the institutions that are supposed to fight corruption are failing. Organizations like the anti-corruption commission and other watchdogs are often under the grip of powerful leaders. They are not truly independent, and they rarely investigate or punish those in high positions. When corrupt leaders go unpunished, it sends a message that stealing public money is acceptable. This creates a culture where corruption becomes normal and expected.

The seriousness of this problem can be seen in the numbers. According to OXFAM, Nepal’s Gini coefficient—which measures income inequality—rose from 0.49 in 2010-11 to 0.58 in 2019. This shows that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing quickly. Another number, the Palma Ratio, shows that the top 10 percent of the population earns three times more income than the bottom 40 percent. This level of inequality is dangerous for any country.

Inequality is not just about income. It also affects access to good education, healthcare, housing, justice and job opportunities. Poor families cannot afford to send their children to private schools or pay for treatment at private hospitals. The legal system is slow and expensive, and poor people often cannot afford lawyers or do not have the connections needed to get justice. Over time, this creates anger, hopelessness and frustration, especially among young people, who feel their future has been stolen.

When people believe that the system is unfair and corrupt, they stop trusting democracy. They stop voting, stop getting involved and stop believing that change is possible. This weakens society as a whole.

Corruption also hurts Nepal’s economy. Investors, both local and foreign, are unwilling to put their money into a country where bribes are expected and laws are not enforced. Small businesses—which create most of the jobs—cannot survive if they are constantly blocked through unfair rules, heavy taxes or competition from companies that enjoy political protection. As a result, unemployment increases, and more and more young people leave the country to find work abroad.

If this situation continues, Nepal is most likely to face serious problems in the future. Poverty may rise, social unrest could grow and public services may collapse. Protests and instability could become more common, and more people could lose hope in the idea of a better future.

Solving this problem is not easy. Passing new laws alone is not enough. Real change needs to happen in how the system works and how leaders think. Government offices must be honest and open about how they spend money. Public jobs should be given to people based on their skills, not their political connections. More importantly, citizens need to be able to ask questions, demand answers and take part in decision-making.

The media, civil society and youth movements can play an important role in the fight against corruption. Educating young people about honesty, fairness and responsibility can help build a new generation that refuses to accept corruption as normal. Technology can also help by making government systems digital and easy to track, so that money is not stolen as easily.

In conclusion, corruption in Nepal is not just one problem. It is the root cause of many other problems, including poverty, poor public services, slow development and a weak democracy. If we don’t take it seriously, the rich will keep getting richer, the poor will suffer more and Nepal will fall even further behind. The country needs honest leaders, strong institutions and active citizens who work together to build a fairer and more hopeful future.

The new leadership at the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) has launched a renewed effort to collect long standing disputed dues related to dedicated and trunk power lines. On Friday, the Authority issued a public notice calling on customers with outstanding dues to file appeals by June.

The NEA stated it aims to resolve the disputes—which have remained unresolved for nearly a decade—by addressing misunderstandings from a new perspective. The decision to move forward was made at a Board of Directors meeting on May 4. According to the NEA, total disputed dues now amount to Rs 23.44bn.

To facilitate dispute resolution, the NEA has amended Sub-regulation 2 of Regulation 55 under its 2021 Electricity Distribution Regulations. Under the revised provision, five percent of the billed amount can be submitted either in cash or via a Class A bank guarantee valid for one year.

The dispute began in 2016 after NEA introduced new tariffs for dedicated and trunk lines. In 2018, approximately nine months after load-shedding ended, NEA sent backdated bills covering two years and seven months. Industrialists contested the charges, arguing they had received trunk line facilities without formal notice and were billed as though load-shedding continued. Most only paid regular bills, rejecting the additional charges.

NEA regulations stipulate that customers seeking 20 hours of uninterrupted electricity via trunk lines during extended load-shedding must apply in advance, with service granted only after NEA Board approval. Customers are also required to provide Time-of-Day (TOD) meter data, which the NEA must verify.

To address the dispute, NEA formed a task force which submitted its findings. In 2019, the parliamentary Accounts Committee also intervened. A subcommittee recommended that the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) probe NEA officials for failing to enforce tariff regulations, leading to revenue losses. The subcommittee also urged NEA to implement provisions requiring payment within 35 days of billing or disconnection after 60 days of non-payment.

Multiple committees have since examined the issue. In 2024, a commission led by former Justice Girish Chandra Lal submitted a report directing the government to recover Rs 6.11bn in dues from Feb 2016 to May 2018. NEA’s notice mentions plans to collect this amount as well.

Former NEA Executive Director Kulman Ghising had also attempted to collect these arrears per the commission’s recommendations, but government intervention stalled the effort.