Submit your Article

Pavit Nanda Anand is Communication Lead for the Asia Pacific (APAC) region at inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform headquartered in Mountain View, California. With over 15 years of experience in public relations and communications, she has been instrumental in launching and expanding inDrive’s services across multiple countries, including Nepal, India, Pakistan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and the Philippines. Excerpts:

What safety measures does inDrive have in place to ensure passenger and driver security during rides?

inDrive places a strong emphasis on safety and maintains a strict zero-tolerance policy against any offensive or unlawful behavior by users, strongly condemning inappropriate conduct. User safety and satisfaction, particularly women's safety, are among our top priorities to ensure a secure and comfortable ride experience. To achieve this, inDrive has implemented various safety features. The safety button, represented by a shield icon on the main screen, allows users to quickly contact support, call the police, or request an ambulance. The trusted contact feature enables users to save the phone number of a trusted person for quick access in emergencies, even during a ride. 

Additionally, both passengers and drivers can share their ride details with friends or family, providing real-time updates on the route, driver or passenger information, and vehicle details. Users are also encouraged to rate their driver or passenger after each trip, with the option to contact support if any concerns arise. By integrating these features, inDrive ensures that all users—whether passengers or drivers—feel safe and confident while using the platform.

Does inDrive have partnerships with local insurance companies to provide coverage?

Yes, inDrive collaborates with Sagarmatha Lumbini Insurance Company Limited (SALICO) to offer accident coverage to its users in Nepal. By partnering with reputable insurance companies, inDrive ensures that passengers and drivers have access to reliable financial protection in case of accidents. These partnerships enable a seamless claims process, allowing affected individuals to receive compensation without unnecessary delays. The collaboration also helps inDrive maintain high safety and service standards, reinforcing its commitment to user well-being. Such partnerships are vital in Nepal’s growing ride-hailing sector, as they enhance trust between inDrive and its users. By working with well-established insurance providers, inDrive ensures compliance with local regulations while offering comprehensive coverage tailored to the needs of its driver-partners and passengers.

What type of accidental insurance coverage does inDrive provide for passengers and drivers?

inDrive provides accidental insurance coverage to both passengers and drivers to ensure their safety and financial security in case of an accident. This coverage includes compensation for death, permanent disability, and medical expenses resulting from an accident during a ride booked through the inDrive platform. In the unfortunate event of death or permanent total disability of a passenger or driver, a compensation amount of Rs 800,000 will be provided. If the accident leads to injuries requiring medical treatment, inDrive offers reimbursement of up to Rs 80,000 for medical expenses.

For minor passengers, the compensation amount will be 50 percent of the insured amount, ensuring adequate financial support for their families. This insurance service is a significant step towards enhancing trust and confidence among users, ensuring they feel safe while using inDrive’s ride-hailing services.By providing financial protection, inDrive aims to create a secure environment where both drivers and passengers can focus on their journeys without concerns about potential risks.

How does inDrive handle emergency situations, and is there an SOS button or emergency contact feature in the app?

Yes, inDrive has multiple safety measures to handle emergency situations, with the Safety Button (shield icon) being one of the key features designed to assist users during critical moments. If a passenger or driver faces an emergency, they can quickly tap the shield icon to reach inDrive’s 24/7 support team for immediate assistance. This feature also allows users to directly contact local emergency services, such as the police or an ambulance, ensuring swift response in urgent situations.

Additionally, inDrive provides an extra layer of security through the trusted contact feature, enabling users to assign a family member or friend for quick access during emergencies. These measures ensure that inDrive users have reliable and immediate access to help when needed, reinforcing trust and safety within its ride-hailing network.

Vinisha Shrestha is a seasoned banking professional with over 28 years of experience at Nabil Bank, where she currently leads as the Head of the Treasury Department. Her journey in banking began unexpectedly, initially intending to pursue higher studies abroad, but her dedication and passion for the field kept her engaged, propelling her to a leadership role. Excerpts:

How would you define your banking career, from starting as a junior staff to becoming the head of a department, especially as a woman?

I began my journey in banking somewhat unexpectedly, as I originally planned to pursue higher studies abroad and took the job to gain some workplace experience utilizing my free time. However, I started to enjoy my banking job and found myself continuing till now. It has been more than 28 years since I joined Nabil Bank. My journey with the bank had its fair share of opportunities as well as challenges. I had always been a dedicated and hard working person but despite hard work and best efforts, sometimes results did not come in my favor. It’s human nature to feel disappointed in such a situation and I was no different. However, I kept my spirit high and always gave my best to the organization and when next opportunities came I tried harder and today I am in the position of leading a department.

How do you manage to balance your professional responsibilities and personal life?

Managing professional and personal responsibilities and maintaining a balance is definitely a challenge, especially for a woman in a patriarchal society like ours where a woman is expected to take on more family responsibilities. While you cannot compromise on professional responsibilities, you are expected to manage household chores, kids, family and other social responsibilities as well. These things add an extra layer of pressure to perform your professional duties. Fortunately, I have a very understanding, supportive and encouraging support system at home, which makes it easier for me to balance my professional and personal life. I think it is a matter of firm self-determination toward your career goal and setting clear boundaries where sometimes you need to learn to say “no” as well.

Given that women are underrepresented in senior banking positions, what steps do you think should be taken to address this gap?

It is not just in banking, women are underrepresented in senior positions across all professions. Generally speaking, despite having the same education and skills, women often face barriers like unconscious bias, societal expectations and a lack of mentorship and adequate opportunities that hinder their career progression. In order to address this, there should be policy level interventions to promote equal opportunities, implement flexible work policies to support work-life balance, encourage mentorship from senior leaders and provide training to prevent unconscious gender biases. 

Women themselves should also not lose their focus toward their career goal and remain driven and determined to achieve their career dreams. 

In many cases it can be observed that women become submissive to societal pressures and give up on their career dreams and remain content after reaching a certain level. Why I am saying this is because at entry and mid levels, women outperform their male counterparts however they are left behind in the race to top management positions which proves that it is not because of lack of capability but due to lack of determination and drive to succeed professionally.

What is your advice for young women who aspire to build a successful career in banking?

Young people should understand that there is no alternative to hard work and there are no shortcuts for success. Young women aspiring to build a successful career in the banking sector need to be ready to work hard and continuously invest in gaining relevant qualifications and skills. The world around us is extremely competitive. Gaining advanced degrees or certifications alone won’t be enough to get success, you need to have required soft skills like communication, networking, rapport build up and must have a learning attitude. Challenges and setbacks are a part of the journey so you need to stay resilient and never give up on your goals. 

Rahul Barua is the Secretary General of the South Asia Foundation. He holds a B.Tech in Chemical Engineering from the Institute of Technology, Banaras Hindu University (now IIT-BHU), and currently serves as a Visiting Faculty at Malaviya Peace Research Centre, Banaras Hindu University. In 1997, he established the first-ever crafts development center in Sikkim, introducing microcredit and self-help groups in the region. 

He also developed a potter’s village on the outskirts of New Delhi, named Kumhargram. Additionally, he founded the South Asia Centre for Peace Research and Sustainable Development in collaboration with Lumbini Buddhist University. Baruwa has played a significant role in peace-building efforts in Nepal, facilitating meetings between Nepali and Indian political parties.  He worked alongside prominent figures such as Sitaram Yechury and Dr DP Tripathi as well as Nepali leaders like Pradeep Giri, Girija Prasad Koirala, Krishna Prasad Mahara, Pushpa Kamal Dahal and Madhav Kumar Nepal, among others. ApEx talked to him on wide-range of issues related to Nepal-India relations. Excerpts: 

What is the South Asia Foundation? Please tell us about its activities.

The South Asia Foundation is a Nepal-registered organization. In collaboration with the Lumbini Buddhist University, we established the South Asia Centre for Peace Research and Sustainable Development. A few years ago, around 5,000 people visited the Maya Devi Temple — a sacred site for followers of Buddha’s teachings — daily. Today, the number has risen to 7,000, with an additional 15,000 visiting Lumbini. Gautam Buddha is not just a figure for Nepal or India, he is a South Asian face for global peace and humanity. His teachings — tolerance, peaceful co-existence, compassion and moving away from materialism — are more relevant than ever in today’s conflict-ridden world. 

This center was conceptualized years ago, and it is very encouraging that Lumbini Buddhist University has provided it with land and necessary infrastructure.  The center not only disseminates knowledge about Buddha but also offers academic diploma courses designed in collaboration with the university. Many top universities of India and South Asian, along with experts, academicians and retired government officials are eager to engage with the center to share their knowledge and expertise with students.

We aim to facilitate Memorandum of Understanding (MoUs) with Lumbini Buddhist University and other universities all over the world. We are in negotiations with the best universities of the South Asian countries. Best minds have come forward and we are collaborating in multiple forms. Several MoUs have already been signed.

What are the other areas that the Foundation and the Center are working on?

We are working on several bilateral issues such as water sharing and border management among others. In 2017, former Indian Ambassador to Nepal, Manjeev Singh Puri, highlighted how Nepali living in India are contributing significantly to the Indian economy. Gone are the days when Nepalis were limited to roles like security guards or menial jobs. Today, they are entrepreneurs running restaurants, manpower agencies and online service providers. 

One area of focus is Nepal’s potential to supply dairy products, especially ghee, to South Asia. Milk production is falling in Bangladesh, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, as well as in the Nepal-India border regions. Nepal can fill this gap by supplying dairy products not only to India but also to other South Asian countries. There should be duty-free agreement on these items between Nepal and India. The Foundation operates without foreign funding, relying entirely on internal resources.  We are training Nepali women to become entrepreneurs and have partnered with India’s dairy giant Amul to make the dairy sector organized. There are many areas where we can work together.

Can you please tell us about the light and sound program being launched in Lumbini?

We have signed a MoU for this project and are raising funds locally. Several banks have agreed to support us, though they have their own terms and conditions as per the law and banking regulations. This light and sound program is the first of this kind in Nepal and one of the few in the world dedicated to narrating the story of Lord Buddha. Our goal is to spread the message of peace, compassion and Buddha’s teachings which are relevant even today. We are doing a lot of work on DPR and research from our own funds.  We are receiving technical assistance from a British company. The idea for this light and sound program was proposed to me by Sujeet Shakya of Kathmandu Guest House.

Last week, you organized an important seminar in New Delhi. What were the key outcomes?

The seminar was organized to facilitate knowledge-sharing between Lumbini Buddhist University and other universities in India.  Renowned professors, academics and historians participated in the seminar and shared their insights. They also pledged to support our initiatives. 

Five universities and two institutions have agreed to collaborate with the Lumbini Buddhist University and the Center on joint research, student and faculty exchange programs, seminars, conferences and academic partnerships. We also held sideline meetings with Nepali political leaders and other stakeholders. 

Many more universities have expressed interest in supporting Lumbini Buddhist University. During the seminar, Nepali delegates also engaged with Indian leaders and diplomats, discussing Nepal’s ongoing development and its emergence as a dynamic nation. Over the past two decades, not only has India undergone rapid changes, but Nepal has also transformed significantly.  These changes need to be acknowledged, understood and embraced.

How do you assess the current state of Nepal-India relations?

Nepal and India are both sovereign countries and must mutually respect each other. Both sides share the responsibility to strengthen this relationship. The two countries are equals, each holding their own vote in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations. There is no thing as a ‘big’ or ‘small’ country. Mutual respect is essential to foster a healthy relationship. India’s prosperity should benefit Nepal as well, and vice versa.

What are your suggestions for future prospects?

There has been significant progress in energy cooperation, which is a positive step. However, we should expand student exchange programs on a large-scale, moving beyond limited scholarship schemes. Other potential areas of collaboration include agriculture and dairy productions. India should encourage joint projects in Nepal to further deepen bilateral ties.

How do you view the growing Chinese influence in Kathmandu?

I do not consider Chinese influence as a dominant factor in Nepal-India relations. China has its own aspirations of becoming a geopolitical leader, but what often gets overlooked is the unique and special relationship between Nepal and India rooted in shared social, historical and cultural ties and linguistic similarities.

BR Gems, RB Diamonds, and Classic Diamond—three synonymous names in Nepal’s diamond industry—are all the brainchild of Babu Raja Maharjan, who currently serves as the chairperson of Classic Diamond. His younger brothers, Amir and Samir, have also been in the business for around 25 years. Classic Diamond, focused on establishing itself as a leading brand, regularly organizes the Timeless Paragon Jewelry Fashion Show (TPJFS). The fifth season of TPJFS is set for Feb 24, followed by an exhibition, Elite Collection 2025, from Feb 25 to March 3. ApEx spoke with Amir Maharjan, Managing Director of Classic Diamond. Excerpts:

What inspired Classic Diamond to organize TPJFS?

The jewelry industry is centuries old. Many were engaged in the business, but no one was truly working to build a brand in Nepal. That’s why, through Classic Diamond, we set out to change this in 2006. We introduced new initiatives, such as establishing high-end manufacturing facilities in Nepal, launching customer retention schemes, and adopting modern marketing strategies like publishing flyers. This gave us exposure, but we wanted a more refined way to showcase our products. That’s when we conceptualized the TPJFS. Seeing models wear and display real jewelry allows clients to visualize how the pieces look when worn.

The first season of TPJFS took place in 2010, featuring Indian actress Minissha Lamba. In 2012, we held the second season with Zeenat Aman, followed by the third in 2014 with Sushmita Sen. The success of these shows motivated us, as they significantly boosted our business and brand recognition. The fourth edition in 2017 featured Manisha Koirala. Now, we are all set for the fifth season, with Lara Dutta and other renowned figures from the fashion industry. This show remains the best platform to showcase our jewelry. These shows also help people become more conscious of the value and visibility of the brand.

This year, the show features Lara Dutta and other renowned figures from the fashion industry. How do such high-profile collaborations help the brand’s presence?

It’s human nature that when we see others wearing something, we get inspired and want to wear the same. This is especially true when celebrities or high-profile individuals set trends. Bringing a former Miss Universe like Lara Dutta gives our products significant exposure. Dutta is not only an actress but also an inspiring and intelligent woman—a true example of women’s empowerment. Her endorsement of our jewelry is immensely valuable for our brand. And, we believe that the personality she carries truly matches our brand objectives and thus we have chosen her to walk on the ramp wearing our crown.

What makes Elite Collection 2025 special and how does it stand apart from previous collections?

In this year’s collection, we have focused extensively on design because there is currently a trend of low-quality designs in the market. With this collection, we aim to show our customers what true quality in design and product looks like. Jewelry should be state-of-the-art, prominent, long-lasting, and built with solid craftsmanship. This collection features a blend of wedding, casual, and office-wear jewelry. Additionally, we are offering a 25 percent discount off the factory price. The market is highly competitive, and while the discount helps, it is the quality that truly matters. This time, we have kept the profit margin to a minimum, with the sole vision of showing our clients what actual hand-made jewelry looks like.

Many people aren’t aware that high-quality products are available in Nepal. There is a significant amount of cross-border business in this industry. However, with this collection and scheme, we aim to show our customers that we offer the best products in Nepal.

How has your brand evolved over time and how do you see the future of this industry?

When we started, the jewelry market in Nepal was dominated by imports from India. Back then, after receiving training in India and Hong Kong, we noticed that there were no proper manufacturing facilities and expertise in Nepal. However, we saw a huge opportunity and potential, which led us to start our own brand. At the time, the industry followed a traditional model, with two or three workers in a jewelry shop. We, however, established a manufacturing factory with the goal of ensuring clients wouldn’t have to go outside of Nepal to buy jewelry. This would not only benefit the market but also keep money within the country, generate employment, and ensure quality. 

It has been solely driven by family unity and values that helped us grow so far. Our major family members have also gained expertise in precious gemstones and innovative design and aesthetics. 

Initially, since people were accustomed to going to India for their jewelry, it was challenging for us. But over time, we managed to establish our presence. We also educated people that buying jewelry in Nepal would make after-sales service much easier. Slowly, we were able to break that trend. 

As for the future of the industry, it’s very bright. If the government provides more support, there’s immense potential. Currently, there is a shortage of raw materials and difficulties with importing and exporting. While we have a large market abroad, export challenges prevent us from reaching our full potential. Classic Diamond alone can export jewelry worth $6-7m annually, which would not only help generate foreign currency but also contribute to employment and improve the nation’s financial situation. However, the government’s support is crucial. In many countries, exporters receive benefits when importing raw materials, based on the amount they export, but there is no such provision in Nepal.

How do you balance tradition with modern aesthetics in your jewelry designs?

Today’s clients are largely inspired by designs from abroad. However, we put significant effort into our designs and do not directly copy others. Designs are the core competencies of Classic Diamond. Even when clients request replicated designs, we incorporate our own modifications. Additionally, we create original designs. Over the past three years, we have developed 3,000 new designs and many of them will also be showcased at the Elite Collection 2025.

What measures does Classic Diamond take to enhance customer satisfaction and build lasting relationships?

We have sustained our business primarily through exceptional customer service. We don’t view customers solely from a business perspective but strive to make them part of our family. In jewelry, both financial and emotional aspects are intertwined, making this connection essential. We ensure customers receive the best products. In some cases, we have remade items even when customers were satisfied but we felt they didn’t meet our standards. Every product undergoes quality control before reaching the customer. Additionally, we offer a 10 percent return policy, free exchanges, free cleaning, and free maintenance.

With showrooms in New Road, Pulchowk and in the US, do you have plans for further expansion within Nepal or internationally?

In the near future, we are expanding with two more stores in the US, bringing the total to five. In Nepal, we will soon be opening a store in Pokhara. We would like to reach out to as many jewelry enthusiasts as possible and also to take our sophisticated craftsmanship to the bigger marketplace.