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For many people with disabilities, the everyday reality is filled with obstacles that remain invisible to most. Inaccessible roads, unreliable public transport, and poorly implemented laws create barriers that restrict opportunities, independence, and dignity. 

Take the story of Pustika Prajapati. She lost her vision after completing grade 12 due to corneal problems. “When I step outside, I walk carefully,” she explains. Her vision started deteriorating in grade 8, but she learned to adapt. “The roads have potholes and living in Bhaktapur is even hard because of the brick roads and gallis, but I have been managing till now,” she says.

Transportation and negotiating with city traffic, however, is another story. Zebra crossings are particularly dangerous because there is no voice system to assist. “Once, I asked a man to give me a reserved seat on the bus. He refused, and the conductor didn’t help either,” she recalls.

For Nar Bahadur Bista, a member of the Dwarf Association of Nepal, daily life comes with physical challenges that most people take for granted. Public transport, stairs, and even simple furniture like chairs or toilets are not designed for someone of his stature. “Getting on and off buses is difficult. Stairs, public toilets, chairs, and even kitchens are not made for people like me,” he says.

Hospital visits are also a challenge for Bista, as beds, counters, and chairs are not accessible.

These are not isolated cases. Across Nepal, inaccessible roads, vehicles, buildings, and services create an invisible prison for people with disabilities. These stories reveal the hidden cost of inaccessibility—lost education, lost jobs, and opportunities. 

Sugam Bhattarai, general secretary of the National Federation of the Disabled Nepal (NFDN) and a person living with macular degeneration—a condition that causes blurred or no vision in the central visual field—points out how poor infrastructure creates daily struggles. “Nepal’s roads are very bad,” he says. “They are too narrow for wheelchairs or four-wheeler scooters, and people are scared to use them on the main roads. Public infrastructure must be equipped with the latest accessibility features so that people with disabilities can move independently and with dignity.”

According to the Nepal Census 2021, 2.2 percent of Nepal’s population live with some form of disability. Among them, 2.5 percent are men and 2.0 percent are women. The prevalence of various types of disabilities is as follows: physical disabilities (36.75 percent), low vision (16.88 percent), blindness (5.37 percent), deafness (7.85 percent), hard of hearing (7.87 percent), combined deaf and blind (1.56 percent), speech impairment (6.36 percent), psycho-social disabilities (4.2 percent), intellectual disabilities (1.73 percent), hemophilia (0.75 percent), autism (0.75 percent), multiple disabilities (8.78 percent), and cases not specified (1.07 percent).

Globally, the World Health Organization estimates that excluding people with disabilities from education and employment can cost countries 3–7 percent of their GDP. In India, billions are lost annually because talented workers are sidelined. For Nepal, the cost of exclusion is staggering.

Binita Regmi, chairperson of National Association of the Physical Disabled (NAPD), says that a lot has changed within months as people have been aware, many people have been coordinating well.

For visually impaired persons like Prajapati, college presents another battlefield. “I study in a normal classroom, but the noise and disturbances make it hard to focus,” she says. “My friends say that I ask too many questions. I also need a writer for exams, but it’s hard to find one, and extra time isn’t provided.” 

She emphasizes the need for tactile pavements–designed with raised lines, domes, or other textured patterns to convey safety information to people who are blind, have low vision, or experience other visual impairments or guiding tiles, sound systems at crossings, and accessible educational materials—resources that are rarely available. 

“Laws exist, but they are not implemented. We have rights, but they are not enforced,” she says.

Nepal has legal frameworks intended to protect and empower persons with disabilities. The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2017 mandates accessible public buildings, transport, and services. Building codes require ramps, accessible toilets, and inclusive designs.

Section 15 guarantees access to education, housing, workplaces, transportation, and electronic services for people with disabilities. It also states that disabled individuals have the right to move freely with the assistance of aides or devices of their choosing.

Section 12 of the 2020 Regulations on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities mandates a 50 percent discount on public transport fares and reserved seats for people with disabilities. The National Policy on Persons with Disabilities, 2023, further emphasizes that transportation must be accessible and disabled-friendly.

But implementation remains weak. An audit of government buildings in Kathmandu revealed steep ramps too narrow for wheelchairs, lifts without Braille buttons, and toilets lacking sufficient turning space.

Bista says dwarfism is simply grouped under disability without special consideration. “Rules and regulations are made without consulting us, so facilities fail to meet our needs,” he adds. 

Bista advocates for inclusive planning, where persons with dwarfism and other disabilities are consulted to create fair and functional solutions.

His case highlights that accessibility is not only a matter of physical infrastructure but also of thoughtful policy-making that considers the diversity of disability experiences. Without inclusive planning, even minor design decisions—like the height of a counter or step of a bus—can become insurmountable barriers.

Government and transport officials acknowledge the gaps. Bhupendra Aryal, CEO of Sajha Yatayat, says the company has 111 buses in operation and 65 of them are disability-friendly. He admits some buses still need to be replaced or reformed. “As a new CEO, I have received many complaints highlighting these issues. We have two types of buses—A and B grade—where disabled passengers can travel more freely, but they need to become more accessible and relevant. We are actively working to address these concerns,” he says.

Similarly, Saligram Poudel from the Ministry of Physical Infrastructure and Transport (MoPIT) says the ministry has been working with the concerned agencies to make public transport more disability-friendly. “A specific fleet of buses with proper facilities will be introduced soon to address these needs,” he says. Kamala Ghimire, under secretary at the Ministry of Women, Children and Senior Citizens (MoWCSC), acknowledges that accessibility remains a major challenge in Nepal due to poor infrastructure. She notes while about 2.2 percent of the population is living with disabilities, many of them are not visibly disabled, yet still face significant difficulties—particularly when using public buses. She stresses that traffic authorities, bus staff, and coordinators must ensure proper management of seats and respect the rights and regulations that guarantee accessibility for persons with disabilities.

Dharma Raj Bhandari, general secretary of Nepal Transport Workers’ Association, says they are actively trying to address the concerns of passengers with disabilities.  

“The Vehicle and Transport Management Act is in the process of being amended, and I believe that with proper planning and consultation with people with disabilities, we can create meaningful improvements,” he says.

Meanwhile, experts suggest a multi-pronged approach to improve accessibility. This includes strict enforcement of accessibility codes for all new buildings and public transport, as well as incentives for businesses that invest in inclusive infrastructure. They say low-cost smart solutions, such as portable ramps, voice-assisted apps, tactile paving, and audio announcements, can also make a significant difference.
Alongside these measures, community awareness campaigns are essential to reduce stigma and promote accessibility as a shared social responsibility.

Rame Dhakal from NAPD stresses the importance of awareness. “People need to be educated about the words they use. Many still use inappropriate or insensitive terms when referring to persons with disabilities,” he says. “The real change starts with an attitude change.”  

Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri has completed his two-day official visit to Nepal, during which he held extensive talks with top leaders of major parties, representatives of fringe parties, government officials, and the army chief.

While in Kathmandu, Misri met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, President Ramchandra Paudel and Foreign Minister Arzu Rana Deuba. He also interacted with Nepali Congress President Sher Bahadur Deuba, CPN (Maoist Center) Chair Pushpa Kamal Dahal and other senior leaders. Bilateral talks were also held with his Nepali counterpart Amrit Kumar Rai, though both sides have kept the details undisclosed.

Misri’s trip comes ahead of Prime Minister Oli’s planned visit to India, marking the first such high-level exchange in four months. The timing follows a brief but deadly war between India and Pakistan, US President Donald Trump’s tariff measures against India and other shifting regional dynamics. For much of the past year, New Delhi had appeared hesitant to extend an invitation to Oli. However, PM Oli and Modi met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly last year and on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC meeting this year which means there has been constant communication between two sides.  

The upcoming visit suggests a thaw in what has been a turbulent relationship between Oli and New Delhi over the past decade. His trip is expected to focus on longstanding issues, particularly the implementation of earlier agreements. Among the priorities is the stalled Pancheshwor Multipurpose Project, where efforts are underway to resolve remaining disputes.

From 2015 to 2022, Nepal-India relations were shaped by five major factors: the 2015 blockade, the map row, the still-unimplemented Eminent Persons Group (EPG) report, China’s growing influence and debates over reviving SAARC. A decade later, only the “China factor” remains a prominent feature in bilateral diplomacy; the other issues have largely faded. In the same period, several temporary irritants, mostly border-related, hampered normalization of ties.

 Yet, another quiet trend was taking root: development projects began reaching completion on schedule, India’s overt support to Madhes-based parties waned and economic cooperation advanced despite political mistrust. In recent years, energy cooperation, connectivity projects and regular political and bureaucratic exchanges have helped sustain a more cordial partnership.

Meanwhile, Nepali leaders have softened their positions on the map row and the EPG report. Today, the three major forces—Nepali Congress, CPN (Maoist Center), and Madhes-based parties—have all set aside these contentious agendas. Only CPN-UML raises them, and even then, only half-heartedly. Oli remains consistent, however, in asserting that Lord Ram was born in Nepal, a claim that continues to irritate India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. On the boundary dispute, both governments appear to share an understanding to address the issue quietly through established bilateral mechanisms rather than public confrontation. As for SAARC, the prospect of revival has receded further since the India-Pakistan clashes in May this year. 

Still, despite the delay in Oli’s visit, Nepal-India engagement has intensified. Cabinet ministers from both sides have been exchanging visits, political delegations between Kathmandu and New Delhi have grown more frequent and meetings of long-dormant bilateral mechanisms have resumed, showing tangible progress. The “China factor” remains central, with India frequently raising concerns about Beijing’s influence in Nepal in the context of its own security interests.

Regional dynamics have also nudged the two countries closer. During the India–Pakistan war of May 7–9, Nepal issued two statements condemning terrorism, implicitly siding with India. Indian Ambassador Naveen Srivastava personally met Prime Minister Oli to convey New Delhi’s appreciation. Since coming to power in 2014, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has prioritized neighboring countries in India’s foreign policy. Though critics argue these efforts have fallen short, the Modi government continues to push forward with economic and development packages as the backbone of its neighborhood engagement.

Defense cooperation, once strained, is also seeing renewed momentum. During Misri’s visit, India handed over light strike vehicles, critical care medical equipment and military animals to the Nepali Army. The Indian readout described this as reflecting “the close relationship between the two armies and our robust defense cooperation.” 

Collaboration between the two armies has grown in recent months, even as India closely monitors Nepal’s growing ties with the US and Chinese militaries.

Institutional mechanisms have also restarted. After a six-year hiatus, the Nepal-India Boundary Working Group met in New Delhi on July 28–29 for its seventh session. While contentious issues remain unresolved, the two sides agreed on updated modalities for inspecting and maintaining boundary pillars, finalized a three-year work plan, and committed to using advanced technologies for boundary management.

Progress has also been noted in legal and development cooperation. Negotiations continue on a revised extradition treaty and a mutual legal assistance agreement in criminal matters. Small-scale development projects under the High Impact Community Development scheme are advancing steadily. Integrated Check Posts (ICPs), first agreed upon in 2005, have also moved forward. Three of the five ICPs were completed and operationalized in 2018, 2020, and 2024, with work underway on the remaining two.

“During the various engagements, both sides noted with satisfaction the concrete progress in recent years in diverse areas of bilateral cooperation, including physical connectivity, digital connectivity, defence and security and energy cooperation,” said the press release issued by Indian Embassy in Nepal. 

“Nepal is a priority partner of India under its Neighbourhood First policy. The Foreign Secretary’s visit continued the tradition of regular high-level exchanges between the two countries and helped in advancing our bilateral ties further.”

The World Health Organization (WHO) on Monday announced that Nepal has successfully eliminated rubella, also known as German measles, as a public health problem. This achievement marks a significant step forward in the country’s efforts to protect its population from vaccine-preventable diseases.

Rubella is a highly contagious viral infection that poses a serious threat to pregnant women, as it can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth or severe and lifelong birth defects. The disease, however, is preventable with safe and cost-effective vaccines.

“Nepal’s success reflects the unwavering commitment of its leadership, the persistent efforts of health workers and volunteers, and the unstinting support of engaged and informed communities,” said Dr Catharina Boehme, Officer-in-Charge of WHO South-East Asia. She endorsed the recommendation of the Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination (SEA-RVC), which verified Nepal’s achievement.

The SEA-RVC held its annual meeting from July 22-24, where it reviewed and evaluated data submitted by Nepal’s national verification committee on disease surveillance and immunization coverage rates before recommending verification of rubella elimination.

Nepal is the sixth country in the WHO South-East Asia region to achieve this milestone. The region has prioritized the elimination of measles and rubella as public health problems by 2026. Prior to Nepal, Bhutan, DPR Korea, the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Timor-Leste from the region had eliminated rubella.

“Nepal’s achievement of rubella elimination is yet another testament to the success of the national immunization program, which has long been one of the strongest pillars of our healthcare system,” said Pradip Paudel, Minister for Health and Population. He acknowledged the steadfast support from Gavi and WHO and called on all stakeholders to continue their efforts to ensure no child in Nepal suffers from a vaccine-preventable disease.

Nepal first introduced the rubella-containing vaccine into its immunization program in 2012. Subsequent nationwide campaigns in 2016, 2020, and 2024 helped the country achieve over 95 percent coverage for at least one dose of the vaccine by 2024, despite challenges resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and the 2015 and 2023 earthquakes.

Innovative strategies, such as ‘immunization months’ and outreach programs to vaccinate missed children, provided additional momentum. Nepal also recently introduced a robust laboratory testing algorithm, the first in the WHO South-East Asia Region, to further strengthen surveillance.

“Congratulations to Nepal for eliminating rubella. This public health achievement is the result of close collaboration between the government, dedicated health workers, partners, and communities,” said Dr Rajesh Sambhajirao Pandav, WHO Representative to Nepal. “WHO is proud to have contributed to this journey and remains committed to supporting Nepal in sustaining this accomplishment.”

The Regional Verification Commission for Measles and Rubella elimination in South-East Asia Region (SEA-RVC) was established in March 2016 to monitor progress toward measles and rubella elimination. The WHO says that the National Verification Committees of countries in WHO South-East Asia Region report on annual progress  made towards achieving the goal of measles and rubella elimination which is then reviewed by SEA-RVC which provides suggestions and recommendations or verify them as achieved the status of measles and  rubella elimination.  

In 2013, the WHO South-East Asia Region set the goal to eliminate measles and control rubella by 2020.  In 2019 the goal was revised to measles and rubella elimination by 2023. In view of setbacks during Covid-19 pandemic, in 2024, member countries agreed to extend the target for elimination of measles and  rubella, aspiring to achieve by 2026.

As the monsoon sets in, Parthenium hysterophorus, an aggressive annual herbaceous plant, bursts into full bloom. Its invasive nature has allowed it to spread rapidly across open lands. Commonly known as Santa Maria feverfew, this deceptive weed resembles Gypsy, a popular ornamental flower used in decorations, bouquets, and even bridal hairstyles. Because of its appearance, many admire or even cultivate it, overlooking the serious threats it poses. Beyond damaging ecosystems, it poses risks to the health of all mammals. Classified as a noxious weed, its key traits include being non-native, poisonous, and unpalatable to herbivores.

Research shows that Parthenium seeds have an extremely high survival rate. On the soil surface, they can last for more than a year, and in the substratum, up to six years. They endure a wide range of temperatures and can germinate even in minimal water conditions. With longer droughts becoming common due to climate change, this species thrives while native plants struggle to germinate. A single plant can produce nearly 25,000 seeds, creating a substantial seed bank in the soil. Wind pollination (anemophily) makes dispersal even easier, as the seeds are extremely light. Though adaptable to most soil types, it is especially vigorous in alkaline, clay, and loam soils.

The blooms may appear attractive, but they are far more harmful than anticipated. Infestation can cause up to 40 percent crop loss and reduce forage production by almost 90 percent due to its allelopathic properties. The impact is particularly severe in rain-fed ecosystems and non-cropped areas. In urban centers such as Kathmandu Valley, it dominates roadsides and open lands. Prolonged contact with Parthenium is linked to dermatitis, naso-bronchial allergies, and allergic rhinitis from pollen exposure. In India alone, treatment of Parthenium-related health conditions is estimated to cost around Rs 8bn.

Parthenium hysterophorus is no longer just a weed; it has become a multi-million-dollar problem worldwide. Native to South America, it has spread aggressively to countries like India, Australia, and across North Africa, creating near-crisis situations. Complete eradication is highly unlikely; control is the only realistic option. Management strategies fall into four categories: mechanical, biological, chemical, and cultural. Among these, cultural control involves habitat management practices such as grazing regulation, prescribed burning, and physical habitat modification.

Unlike Mikania micrantha, which can be suppressed by repeated cutting, Parthenium resists such measures because of its deep carrot-like root system. No single method of control is sufficient. Success requires an integrated strategy, coordinated at the national level. Unfortunately, public awareness remains low, and existing policies, while promising on paper, lack clear and actionable measures. The absence of a coordinated system and genuine stakeholder participation has hampered progress.

Parthenium management must therefore be recognized as a national priority. Stakeholder participation, including communities, local governments, researchers, and policymakers, is crucial to address this silent but serious ecological and health threat. Citizens often resort to blame-shifting when problems arise, but meaningful change begins with advocacy and action. At a time when we already face widespread allergies and health concerns, ignoring this weed’s dangers would be reckless.

What is urgently needed is an action-oriented movement: raising awareness, acknowledging the scale of the threat, and mobilizing collective effort. A hopeful tomorrow can only be secured through a prepared present, and that means immediate dialogue with local authorities and full participation of all stakeholders.