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By all accounts, the country is not on the right path. Nepal is facing a multitude of challenges that require immediate and concerted efforts to address. From agriculture and corruption to climate change and political instability, the issues are deeply interconnected. Without urgent action, the country risks further decline, with long-term consequences for its economy, society, and democracy. To support my argument, I have identified the 10 major problems Nepal is facing today.

Agriculture

I do not want to rely on government statistics, but based on my visits to Karnali, Sudurpashchim and areas surrounding the Kathmandu valley, I can say that Nepal’s agricultural sector is witnessing an alarming decline, with decreasing productivity. On one hand, there is a lack of youth willing to work in agriculture; on the other, a small group of local politicians and government officials are hijacking government subsidies, sidelining genuine farmers. One must be an active member of a political party to receive fertilizer and seed subsidies. Additionally, some people are forging fake agricultural documents to siphon funds that never reach the farmers. Market access for local farmers remains a major issue. Fertile agricultural lands are dangerously becoming barren, and their visible impact will be evident within the next 10 years.

Corruption

For a long time, everyone has been saying that corruption is everywhere, so this issue may seem redundant. However, believe me, it has reached an alarming level, especially at the local level. Corruption has severely compromised the quality of infrastructure projects. There is a dangerous nexus between politicians, government officials and contractors. For instance, I have personally witnessed cases where less than 30 percent of the allocated budget is actually spent on infrastructure projects. Corruption exists even in small health posts—people do not receive the free government-provided medicines because they are diverted to private pharmacies for profit. Corruption has permeated every level of budget allocation and project implementation.

Economy

Government indicators may suggest a gradual economic recovery, as it is also a necessity for the government to manipulate economic data to show progress. For example, the current government has claimed improvements compared to the previous administration. However, the overall sentiment in society clearly indicates that the economy is struggling. Business owners are under severe stress. Visit any small shop, and you will hear about the difficulties they face. People are hesitant to start new businesses due to high loan risks. Even top businesspeople are gradually losing confidence in the national economy. Whether you talk to a small tea shop owner or a leading business figure, optimism is hard to find.

Climate change

Again, this may not sound like a new issue because everyone is talking about it, but Nepal is facing a severe crisis due to climate change. Unfortunately, for our politicians, it is not a matter of urgency. But don’t just blame them—even US President Donald Trump called climate change a hoax. However, visit farms and talk to farmers, and you will feel its devastating effects firsthand. The September floods swept away agricultural lands around the Kathmandu valley. Over the past few months, prolonged droughts have seriously affected winter crops. In the coming years, both floods and droughts will continue to impact vital areas such as water availability, crop production, biodiversity and human settlements.

Misinformation and disinformation

This has emerged as one of the biggest risks to society. Social media platforms are filled with disinformation, and it is disheartening to see that people believe misinformation more readily than the facts. There is a low level of awareness about deepfake technology and how such content is created. This issue could lead to social unrest at any time. Politicians are aware of the spread of disinformation, yet there is no urgency to address it. Passing a few laws alone will not be enough; the government must launch a large-scale awareness campaign. Without it, disinformation could create security threats and other serious problems.

Youth migration

Every young person with a high school degree wants to go abroad. At college classrooms, I hear students discussing their plans to leave. In tea shops, I hear young people talking about how to gather funds to migrate. And in my home village in Kavre, I rarely see young people—most have already left. When I travel abroad, I find many Nepalis working and studying there. This trend does not need further explanation; its long-term economic impact will be severe, especially in the next decade.

Geopolitical tensions

Growing geopolitical tensions are gradually affecting Nepal. The Russia-Ukraine war has had economic and social repercussions here. Additionally, the escalating tensions between the US and China during Trump’s administration will not spare Nepal. Meanwhile, the growing influence of major global powers is increasing polarization within Nepali society. Our politicians are losing their ability to manage or leverage these global developments for the country’s benefit.

Political vacuum

Nepal currently has seven national political parties. Three major ones—Nepali Congress, CPN-UML, and CPN (Maoist Center)—united to promulgate the 2015 constitution. Superficially, it appears that these parties still dominate the political landscape. However, dissatisfaction is growing. More and more people are beginning to believe that traditional parties can no longer solve the country's problems, yet credible new political alternatives have not emerged. Even dedicated local-level cadres of major parties—except those who benefit directly—are considering changing their voting preferences in the next election. This has created a political vacuum at the local level. Which political force will fill this gap?

Pessimism

Nepalis are getting increasingly pessimistic about the country’s future. A majority believe conditions will worsen rather than improve. Many have lost hope that economic growth will create jobs and opportunities. This growing pessimism is contributing to rising mental health issues, which in turn are causing a surge in crimes.

Constitution

The 2015 constitution played a crucial role in maintaining peace, but it is now under threat. Anti-constitution forces are gaining momentum. Meanwhile, the commitment of political parties to the constitution is wavering. If the constitution and current system come under attack, the public is unlikely to rally to protect them because they feel the constitution has failed to improve their lives. If people do not safeguard the constitution, political instability could worsen at any time, potentially endangering democracy itself.

A new bill registered in the House of Representatives aims to remove the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal’s (CAAN) role as a service provider, if passed. This legislation will separate CAAN’s regulatory and service-oriented functions, allowing it to focus solely on oversight and compliance.

According to Minister for Culture, Tourism, and Civil Aviation Badri Prasad Pandey, CAAN will retain its authority over key regulatory responsibilities, such as granting and revoking aircraft-related permissions, overseeing registration and cancellations, and ensuring personnel qualifications. It will also be responsible for setting and enforcing safety standards for air services.

To manage airport construction, operation, and related services, a separate bill has been proposed. This new legislation, the Nepal Civil Aviation Act 2024, will replace the Civil Aviation Authority Act 1996.

Under this restructuring, CAAN will have the authority to grant licenses and permissions to organizations and service providers operating airlines, aircraft, gliders, ultralights, microline balloons, paragliding, skydiving, and other aerial activities. It will also oversee air navigation services, airport operations, and civil aviation training programs.

Additionally, the bill grants CAAN jurisdiction over aircraft and parts manufacturing, maintenance, import, storage, sale, and distribution. It will regulate commercial flights by foreign airlines in Nepal and oversee international airline operations.

The authority will also have the power to issue ‘type’ certificates for aircraft and grant licenses, certificates, and permits to personnel requiring specialized skills in civil aviation.

Further responsibilities include setting standards for air traffic services, aircraft search and rescue, fire prevention, aviation weather information, and life-saving services. CAAN will also be responsible for installing, operating, repairing, and maintaining aviation communication, air navigation, and surveillance equipment.

Moreover, the authority will enforce international aviation standards and implement recommendations from global conventions and organizations. It will also coordinate and collaborate with international regulatory bodies to ensure compliance with global aviation norms.

One of the most common yet complicated and sophisticated phenomena is parenting. While children may be born biologically healthy, the absence of a nurturing environment significantly impacts their development into healthy individuals. Child development expert Dr Gabor Maté points out that humans are essentially "prematurely born" compared to other species, emphasizing the prolonged developmental period of the human brain after birth.

Due to this extended developmental period, many dimensions of our nature, characteristics and personality are shaped by our primary socialization, that is our family and how we interact with them. Parenting is vast as an ocean; there are still many aspects yet to be discovered and analyzed, but we’ll be discussing only one aspect of it.

Suppose a parent goes to collect the academic report card of a son/daughter, who studies in grade 6 and is around 11 years old. The mark-sheet shows that the child has failed in three subjects. What kind of parent-child conversation will ensue on their way home and later? Part of the most common comment from a parent after seeing the mark-sheet may be like, “We’ve sacrificed so much for you, fulfilling your wishes while setting aside our own…” Though well-meaning, this sentiment can sometimes feel more like a guilt trip, leaving the child burdened with a sense of shame. A similar guilt trip and sense of disgrace grips children when parents encounter unwanted response/behavior from their wards. But have we ever thought as to why our children are responding and behaving in such a manner? Have we ever contemplated why our children are refusing to bother much with academics? Let’s consider a scenario to better grasp the reason.

Imagine someone gifted you a sapling of marigold flower—one that thrives in sunlight and fresh air—hoping it would make a perfect addition to your bedroom, placed elegantly in a beautiful pot beside your bed. And that gift, from someone truly special on a significant occasion, isn’t just an ordinary flower—it carries a deep emotional attachment. You diligently water it every day and provide the necessary nutrients it needs. After two weeks, you notice that the plant looks malnourished. Its leaves and flowers are slowly decaying and drying up. What really comes to your mind? Do you scold the plant, saying, 'I’ve watered you every day, given you all the nutrients you need—why aren’t you blooming? It’s your responsibility to blossom. You need to make me proud and justify my effort and emotional attachment.' 

Do you do this? Of course not because you’re not an idiot. Rather, you curiously search what went wrong and where. Upon googling, you’ll probably find out that the flower needs proper air and sunlight to blossom, and definitely create an environment where the plant can grow and blossom.

In the same way, do we ask similar questions while interacting with our children? Do we try to identify the elements in our parenting and how family relationship dynamics is impacting our children and is generating unwanted behavior in them? Or do we make them feel guilty by questioning their loyalty to our efforts and hardships? Does it serve our purpose? It does not. 

Now, let’s discuss how these kinds of behavior impact and hinder the development of children. We are demanding certain things from children, which they cannot give. It’s not that they don’t try, the reality is they can’t, they are not able to, they don’t know how to. This results in conflict within themselves, between what they are and they are not. A child often perceives and understands that their parents are struggling because of them. They see how much their parents have done for them and question whether they can ever pay for the sacrifices made. If children experience this sentiment repeatedly, they may begin to believe that their existence is the root of their parents' difficulties. This can lead to the conviction that if they had never been born, their parents’ lives would have been easier and more peaceful. This would make children feel responsible for their parents’ hardship and their struggle. They may even start to feel obligated to repay their parents' sacrifices—as if repaying a loan—rather than reciprocating love —a duty rather than a responsibility born out of love. When children internalize the idea that their existence has cost their parents so much, they may struggle with self-worth, feeling that they are a burden rather than a source of joy. This mindset may shape the child to avoid asking or demanding—not out of understanding their parents' limitations,  but because, as they were unable to alleviate their struggles, the least they feel they can do is avoid adding to their burden. This could further weaken the sense of dependency that is essential for children’s emotional and social development.

During adulthood, they may find difficulty in forming healthy relationships as they may constantly seek validation or fear being a liability to others. Interpersonal communication eventually translates into intrapersonal communication. They may eventually shape their self-image through the lens of their parents' perceptions. No matter how much one is able to achieve, they are programmed to connect with their inadequacy and their internalized shame. Their achievements often get overshadowed by what is missing in their life or what they have yet to accomplish. Because the concept of ‘I am not enough’ is so deeply ingrained in them that no amount of achievement during adulthood can cover the deep neglect endured during childhood. 

Now, let’s try to understand from the lens of parents the reasons behind this pattern of behavior. South Asian parents strive to offer more than what they themselves possess, weaving dreams from the threads of their sacrifices, which is perfectly alright. I am not questioning the parents’ intention behind it, rather I am condemning its results. Because actions and behavior driven by such intent come to interplay and influence the dynamics of our relationships. A common example of this unfolds when choosing a school for our children. We strive to enroll them in the best schools we can afford, pouring our resources into giving them the best opportunities. We endure countless hardships to provide as much as possible, yet often overlook the frustration that accompanies these struggles. Through such acts, aren’t we saying to our children, albeit unconsciously, ‘'Look, I’ve endured so much to give you the best. Now it’s your turn to justify my sacrifices by meeting my expectations, especially in academics and behavior”.

Aren’t we trying to compensate for our hardships through our children?

And children are not ready and able to pick this burden of expectation; they shouldn’t be. Research on parenting emphasizes that shielding them from these expectations allows them to explore and learn the many dimensions of life with joy and curiosity. More than that, as they lack the feeling of disgrace and burden, they will be able to depend emotionally on their parents.

Parents do not have to meet every demand or fulfill every whim of their children. While providing everything a child wants seems to be an act of love, it does the opposite of helping a child develop emotionally. Life will bring situations where a desire is expressed but not met, and that is one very important reason why parents need to prepare them for such instances.

But when parents opt to be present with their children during disappointment or frustration, rather than quickly solving the problem or giving them what they want, they provide something so much more valuable. They open the doors for teaching children to recognize, understand and manage their emotions, such as through feeling validation, naming the emotion and then guiding them toward constructive ways to cope.

This not only helps children learn to manage their emotions but also fosters an environment of trust and security. They come to understand that not every need or desire will be met, what’s more, they also learn to deal with the situation.

Lastly, this article is not intended to create guilt, rather its sole purpose is to raise awareness about how we are handling our children. If we strive for perfect parenting, then the need to be perfect will dawn on our children automatically.

It can’t be denied that we rely all too much on imported goods, whether it be for clothes, perfumes, makeup items, bags, shoes, or toys. Many people ApEx spoke to confessed that they shopped when they traveled and that they don’t find what they need in the local markets in Nepal. They say the choice is between cheap Chinese products that don’t last more than a month and exorbitantly priced branded items that actually cost a fraction of the retail price on the brand’s website or at outlets in India and abroad.

But there are local businesses that actually sell good stuff. And their number is increasing by the day. We have rounded up some local brands and businesses that you can check out the next time you are shopping. We, at ApEx, believe this can help boost the local economy as well as entice entrepreneurs to come up with innovative ideas and products in the long run. But that doesn’t mean you have to compromise on the quality as these made in Nepal products have been made with care and caution and are some of the best you will ever come across.

Abir

Next time you want to shop for clothes, check out Abir near Pimbahal, Lalitpur. It’s a sustainable clothing brand. All the fabrics—bamboo, cotton, linen, hemp, and their blends—are made in Nepal. In winter, they used wool that was sourced from Nepal. Bini Bajracharya, co-owner of Abir, says they take pride in the fact that their clothes have minimal impact on the planet. The business is run by a small team of 10 to 12 people and they design clothes for both men and women. Recently, they have also started incorporating crochet in their designs, making their pieces unique and interesting. We spoke to some of their customers and they all agreed that Abir’s clothes are comfortable, don’t fade or shrink, and are designed to look great on all body types.

Maya Handicrafts Jewelry

This could be your go-to stop for dainty and stunning pieces of jewelry that you can wear every day. Maya Handicrafts has two physical outlets—one in Sanepa, Lalitpur and the other in Lazimpat, Kathmandu. But you can also browse through their collection on Instagram and order from there as well. However, we recommend visiting the stores to see their pieces up close. You will notice that they are simple and stylish and have been made really well. They have silver jewelry, gold-plated ones, and even some gold and diamond pieces. The prices are reasonable and they have quite a good collection. Their bangles and bracelets are especially made for daily wear. Maya Handicrafts is also a business with a conscience. They help charities and causes whenever they can. In the past, they donated two percent of their sales to Astitwa Nepal to help victims of acid and burn violence.

Nepal Knotcraft Center

If you want to buy home decor items and other little accessories like purses, pouches, and bags, look no further than Nepal Knotcraft Center. They have an outlet in Kupondole and their products are also available in Thames at Ekadeshma Collective. The company was founded in 1984 to create jobs for women and empower them. When it started out, it had three employees. Now, there are hundreds of women from all over Nepal working for the company. Most of the products are made from natural fibers and recycled wood. If you want placemats, rugs, and other home decor pieces like baskets, bowls, wall hanging etc, Nepal Knotcraft Center has a lovely selection of them all.

Jamarko

Founded by a sister duo and now run by their daughters, Jamarko is a paper recycling company that was started in 2001. They make various recycled paper and lotta paper products. They have notebooks, boxes, pencils, wrapping paper, frames, gift bags, and many other items. The designs are appealing and the products, despite being handmade, have a factory-finish to them. The company collects paper waste from various sources and recycles them to make beautiful products that can be used at home. Kritica Lacoul, executive director at Jamarko, says their short term goal is to minimize paper waste whereas their long term goal is to conserve our natural resources and reduce consumption. Buy from Jamarko for a guilt-free shopping indulgence. Another good thing is that their products aren’t pricey at all.

Gallery VS

You don’t have to buy expensive perfumes anymore. These handcrafted blends of essential oils smell great and are really long lasting. There are many variations available for both men and women and the fragrances range from mild to strong. The base of these roll-on perfumes are solvents and not alcohol and that ensures the smells stay for long. The proprietor says he wants to make good quality perfumes that are inexpensive but of good quality. The company also sells essential oils and diffusers as well as hand creams that aren’t greasy and are, again, long lasting. The company has a kiosk in Chhaya Center, Thamel as well as puts up stalls at the Saturday market at Labim Mall, Pulchowk, and the Le Sherpa Farmer’s Market on Saturday.