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Nepal is aspiring for a stable government and prosperous developmental initiation and progress. When we start the confab about development, environment appears simultaneously. However, more often than not, environment and development are mistaken as two sides of the same coin, which cannot come together. This is contrary to the global understanding.

Global development discourse, through a series of adaptive learning, has reached the general consensus that the achievements made on the development arena cannot be sustainable without proper integration of environmental aspects. The same has been the central idea behind Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which is the blueprint for peace and prosperity across the globe. Nepal must make some serious efforts to join hands on this global development discourse. The question is not about written commitments, as Nepal is party to a majority of multilateral environmental agreement, it is about implementation.

Environment and development

Environment Protection Act and Environmental Protection Rules (EPR) of Nepal mandate the proponent of development activities to conduct an Environmental Assessment (EA) before initiating development works. The proposals (policies, programs or projects) can have both positive and negative impacts on the physical, social or economic environment. EA was originally initiated to minimize or avoid negative consequences of development projects and their alternatives while amplifying the positive impacts. However, some of the factors have undermined the potentiality of EA in meeting stipulated objectives in the case of our country. 

First, development activists take the investment in environmental sectors as unnecessary liabilities. However, we need to take that investment to be analogous to insurance. Investing three to five percent of the total budget of the project in environmental issues can assure that your investment will provide a sustainable benefit. This means the cost-benefit ratio of investment in the environmental sector can be greater than 20. 

Godawari marble factory (Godavari, Lalitpur) and Himal cement factory (Chobhar, Kathmandu), among others, were terminated because of their failure to acknowledge environmental impact. 

The situation could have been different with identification of environmental aspects and adoption of mitigation measures from the first phase itself.

Secondly, EAs in Nepal are generally ill-timed. In case of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the study is initiated after preparation and approval of the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The scenario is worse in the case of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE). A majority of IEEs are carried out after the start of project works, restricting the ability of environmental assessment studies to properly explore the alternatives, which is very crucial for EA, to assist in the decision-making process. 

Third, EA requires an interdisciplinary approach. So, after initiating EA in Nepal to fulfill the commitment made on the global agenda, especially at the Rio convention (Earth Summit 1992), the government introduced Environmental Science at the Tribhuvan University (TU). The main motive was to produce skillful human capital for conducting EAs. The subject was designed focusing on the need of EA as it requires an interdisciplinary approach. Absurdly, even when there are sufficient environmental science graduates, untrained persons with backgrounds other than environmental science are getting the opportunity to conduct EAs in most of the cases. This makes the EA study liability instead of insurance. 

Fourth, even the students of environmental science lack adequate training. Most of the environmental graduates in Nepal are from TU. The Department of Environmental Science of constituent colleges of TU itself does not have adequate academic resources. The facilities are not adequate. The situation is even worse for other universities. 

The government has to make investments for raising the capacity of human resources. Furthermore, training the human resources through real field experiences in monitoring and evaluation work as a third-party monitoring body could provide the students with the real field experience of EA.  

Fifth, a majority of decision-making bodies lack the human resources with understanding of EIA. Most of the comments made to experts during the defense of the assessment report are either related to social aspects of the proposal or are related to the forest. Other aspects are often overlooked as support staff with administrative backgrounds and a scant understanding of technical issues often get to comment on EIAs prepared by subject experts. In the past, when the report was prepared in English, they used to make comments only on the executive summary section. As the reports are drafted in Nepali these days, a majority of comments are on grammatical errors, often at the expense of other critical issues. 

Sixth, the report cannot ensure sustainable development on its own. Environmental monitoring and auditing is the heart of an effective EA. If proper monitoring is done while undertaking development projects as stipulated in the assessment report, we can customize and address the issues that are often overlooked during the report preparation phase. In fact, the responsibility of monitoring has not been adequately assigned in the existing laws. Government has hired some Environmental Graduates as Environmental Inspectors. However, most of them have been posted in the Environment Division. Relevant ministries tasked with approving IEE reports lack human resources capable of understanding the interdisciplinary nature of the subject. 

Seventh, the Department of Environment (DoEnv) is often bypassed during the EA approval process. Though some of the officers get involved in the process, the department itself is bypassed. The Biodiversity Section approves the EIA while MoFE shows reluctance to pass on the authority to DoEnv, which is hard to understand. 

Finally, policy documents related to EA in Nepal focus only on project level assessment. Other tools such as cumulative impact assessment, sectoral impact assessment and strategic impact assessment need to be introduced to expand the horizon of impact assessment beyond the project level. Among other things, strategic environmental assessment is the utmost urgent need for Nepal. 

What next?

Government should prioritize the environmental sector, as they are crucial for national prosperity. Strengthening environmental issues by creating a platform for environmental science graduates at each level of the government will be a tactful decision. Those graduates can assist local bodies in devising and executing the plan based on local contexts. This will also enable local bodies to properly monitor environmental impact of developmental activities carried out within their jurisdiction. Currently, some local and provincial authorities have the authority to evaluate and approve IEE and brief environmental study (BES) reports. However, as they do not have qualified human resources, the government should think about appointing at least one environment expert for each local body. At the central level, strengthening the Department of Environment and allocating authorities related to environmental assessment should be a priority action. We also need to start discussing and implementing cumulative impact assessment, sectoral environmental assessment and strategic environmental impact assessment. 

Beside these, restructuring the course of Environmental Science at the Bachelor level as a stand-alone subject (BSc CSIT model), establishment of well-functioning governing bodies (Equivalent to that of Medical Council/Engineering Council) to take examination and issue licenses for EA and compulsion of license for passing assessment reports are also equally vital. 

The author is an assistant professor at the Department of Environmental Science, Padma Kanya Multiple Campus

When the South Korean film “Parasite” made history by winning four Academy Awards, including the award for the Best Picture, people started wondering if they have been missing out on some good foreign films that would undeniably enrich their cinematic experience.

Why was “Parasite” an achievement?

Bong Joon Ho, the director of  “Parasite” drew further attention to this matter by cleverly stating: “Once you overcome the one-inch-tall barrier of subtitles, you will be introduced to so many more amazing films.”

The general consensus is that people have an aversion to subtitles because they draw the attention to the wrong part of the screen and are generally distracting and take away from the visual storytelling and experience. Therein lies that barrier.

But the issue goes even deeper. One could argue that the concept of subtitles couldn’t possibly be associated with politics. This would be wrong. The underlying issues such as racism, omnipresent prejudice and cultural differences are key aspects that fuel the general public’s dislike towards foreign films and, by default, subtitles. Despite winning numerous accolades, “Parasite” still struggled to make a complete breakthrough and earn recognition among the English-speaking audience. People argued that they enjoy watching a movie, not reading it. Some even wondered why the director chose an all Korean cast and why the director did the film in Korean instead of English.

It wasn’t until “Parasite” won the Academy Award for the Best Picture, when people had no choice but to give it the recognition it deserved. It can be concluded that, in order to get recognition in the entertainment business, a movie should be made in English.

Foreign films vs Hollywood

Foreign films often have smaller budgets than their Hollywood counterparts; therefore, the quality of production, costumes, special effects, marketing, etc. is not as mega costly as it’s often the case with Hollywood movies. The former simply can’t compete with the latter—production wise. But that is not to say that great budget equals great quality.

Certainly there are expectations the audience has from Hollywood productions and when a foreign movie falls short of the same expectations, the audience often generalizes the quality of all foreign cinemas. Some foreign movies are far superior and engaging than their Hollywood counterparts, but they are rarely watched due to the preconceived bias that foreign cinemas are bad. Such an attitude perpetuates prejudice towards foreign films, categorizing them as sub-par or low quality and therein lies an even greater barrier.

In fact, foreign films show and teach us obscure aspects of life and culture, making up for budget shortcomings in an innovative and creative way. Therefore, one could argue that the role of subtitles is necessary and a vital part of cinematic experience, enhancing understanding, not only of a language but of culture as well. That is why, for the people who don’t speak the language, subtitles don’t represent a barrier, but a tool, a form of aid that allows them to understand the dialogue and actually get a chance to fully experience the film.

The issue with subtitles

The mechanism of subtitles is a complex one. It requires the accuracy of a translation that successfully and effortlessly shifts from source language to target language, without losing or omitting the original idea and, as such, are crucial in delivering the nuances and hidden, as well as obvious, meanings that a director wishes to convey to foreign audience.

What role can the subtitles play?

Subtitles are crucial in the success of a movie, because badly translated or inaccurate subtitles limit and hamper the message a movie is trying to deliver. To further illustrate the importance of subtitles, we can have as an example of the persons who are deaf or hard-of hearing. For them, subtitles are a tool that removes whatever limitations they may have and that may hinder their enjoyment and are of vital significance in making movie content accessible and inclusive.

On a more technical note, subtitles also serve as visual cues that allow a viewer to focus on what’s being said, if we take into account background noise, a variety of accents and voice levels or even ambient dialogue, without missing visual information. They are a physical manifestation of auditory information, which constitutes a rather important part of a film. Furthermore, subtitles aid in learning language and improve reading abilities, which is often an underrated effect. 

Are subtitles necessary?

It’s always useful to be reminded that movies are not limited or exclusive to Hollywood. Keeping an open mind is necessary in every aspect of life and having an open mind makes a foreign movie more enjoyable. This exposes a person to a myriad of different styles of cinematography and talented directors and actors. It is inspiring as it is useful.

Pleasing everybody all the time is not possible but we must strive to understand one another, without jumping to conclusions and relying on prejudice when we are met with something that is unfamiliar. When “Parasite” won the Academy Award for the Best Picture, it broke the barriers and erased the boundaries imposed on motion pictures. It made the audience strive to understand the foreign culture. It truly made history. The cinema won that night, and cinema is not exclusive to a country, language or culture.

There are a lot of gifted filmmakers in so many countries, presenting us with outstanding films. It would be a waste to miss out on those amazing films just because they come with subtitles.

Subtitles have the ability to transcend, by means of making a part of a culture that is embodied in a visual storytelling accessible to everyone, therefore broadening the experience, which certainly demonstrates the resonance and power of that “one-inch-tall barrier.”

The writer is a Nepali subtitle translator and runs a Nepali translation company, Wordinvent

A combination of economic forces, shifting demographics, and technological developments is causing a significant upheaval in the banking sector in developing nations. Traditional paradigms are being upended by these movements, which also present exciting fresh opportunities for financial inclusion and economic expansion. Some key trends are briefed below:

Banks are now able to safely exchange consumer data with third-party financial service providers, thanks to open banking Application Program Interfaces (APIs). As a result, new financial services and solutions that are customized to meet particular needs are emerging within the financial ecosystem, encouraging cooperation and innovation. With so many different financial requirements unmet, emerging nations stand to benefit greatly from this trend.

In developing nations without official identity paperwork, traditional KYC (Know Your Customer) practices can pose a barrier to financial inclusion. Technologies for biometric authentication, such as iris and fingerprint scanning, present a viable remedy. These technologies can be leveraged to offer secure and trustworthy identification by utilizing mobile phones and local infrastructure, giving previously excluded groups access to financial services.

Due to a number of factors, including high operation costs and geographic limitations, traditional brick-and-mortar banks are finding it difficult to reach significant portions of the unbanked population in developing nations. But the advent of mobile banking and fintech is altering the landscape. Millions of people are now using mobile money platforms (esewa, mobile wallets, etc) which provide basic financial services such as credit, savings and payments via mobile phones. In rural areas, this "branchless banking" has a particularly positive effect, empowering people and small companies, which were historically excluded from the financial system.

Developing nations are placing increasing importance on sustainable banking practices. Banks are moving beyond traditional profit-focused models, now integrating environmental, social and governance (ESG) factors into their strategies. This reflects a recognition that responsible finance is crucial for long-term economic success and tackling global challenges like climate change and inequality.

As the information technology and communication technology penetration increases, cybersecurity threats also rise rapidly. Developing nations generally lack the strong infrastructure and knowledge necessary to effectively combat cybercrime. Building a safe digital financial ecosystem requires cooperation with regulators and significant investments from banks and fintech firms in security measures.

Many people in developing nations lack credit history, which is a prerequisite for many traditional credit scoring methodologies. The creation of new credit scoring models is made possible by the rise of alternative data sources, such as utility bills and usage habits of mobile phones. For the underbanked and unbanked communities, these models can more precisely evaluate creditworthiness, making loans and other financial products more accessible.

The technological prowess of big tech firms (e.g. Apple with Apple Pay, Google with Google Pay, etc.) is fueling a significant transformation in the financial services sector. This transformation opens doors for innovation but also raises concerns such as data privacy, increased regulatory complexity, competition for traditional banks, etc. Balancing innovation with fair competition and fostering a diverse financial ecosystem are crucial challenges for policymakers.

The Banking Landscape in Developing Countries: Financial inclusion, economic expansion, and social development have enormous potential thanks to the changes reshaping the banking sector in these nations. Governments, authorities, banks, fintech firms, and civil society must work together to navigate these developments, though. In developing nations, the financial sector can adapt to meet the needs of all, creating a more sustainable and inclusive future. 

This can be achieved by tackling issues like cybersecurity, encouraging responsible innovation, and maintaining fair competition. In addition with advancement in artificial intelligence(AI) which empowers banks to unlock hidden insights, predict risks and personalize services, propelling them into a future of smarter finance and happier customers and from fraud detection to streamlined operations, AI automates tasks, frees up human expertise and fuels efficiency, driving cost savings and a competitive edge in the banking landscape. For the industry, it is crucial for unlocking a promising future.

The caste system, the world’s oldest surviving social hierarchy, has left an indelible mark on societies, particularly in Nepal. Stemming from distinctions in professional roles that often lead to the derogation of certain professions, the caste system determines one's social standing from birth, making it nearly impossible to alter or move between caste categories, with the exception of inter-caste marriages. This article delves into the historical roots of the caste system in Nepal, its socio-economic implications, and the persistent challenges posed by caste-based discrimination.

The caste-based system creates a hierarchical structure within society, with far-reaching consequences. Studies in 2005 revealed that while the ‘upper castes’ constitute only 35 percent of the general population, they make up 98 percent of all army officers, highlighting a stark imbalance. 

The system also leads to the creation of a status-governed personality, stigmatization, and the maintenance of the status quo with control over state privileges. Caste-based practices reinforce fatalism, legitimize exclusion through religious preaching, and perpetuate continuous discrimination for the benefit of a privileged class.

Multifaceted challenge across socio-political spheres

In Nepal, Dalit participation in administrative bodies reveals a significant gap, with national statistics highlighting notable income inequality between Dalit and non-Dalit households. Dalit households, unfortunately, earn less income, underscoring their status as the most disadvantaged caste group in the country. Shockingly, advancements in maternal health services have disproportionately bypassed the Dalits, further exacerbating their challenges.

Recognizing the need for inclusivity, efforts have been initiated to address the underrepresentation of Dalit women in formal sectors, striving for their proportional participation. Despite these efforts, the struggle persists, reflecting the broader issues faced by the Dalit community. Reports on political and electoral participation in South Asia provide valuable insights into the challenges hindering Dalits from actively engaging in governance and decision-making processes. The complex interplay of social, economic, and political barriers continues to impede the full integration of Dalits, emphasizing the urgency of comprehensive and collaborative solutions.

They are significantly underrepresented in governmental and decision-making bodies, which makes it difficult for them to influence laws that directly affect their lives. When the socio-political scene is analyzed, the results of the local elections in 2022 paint a shocking picture. In Madhes, out of 1,271 wards across 136 municipal levels, the Dalit group elected only one mayor and two deputy mayors. This basic portrayal is worrying, especially in light of the larger picture.

When one looks more closely, the data shows even more differences. Dalits obtained only 33 ward chairperson posts out of 136 local levels, demonstrating a weak representation even at the grassroots level. The state of affairs in national politics is still depressing. 

Not a single Dalit was elected to a seat in the Madhes, even though 32 MPs were chosen using the First-Past-the-Post (FPTP) system. In the same way, only one Dalit person was elected out of the 64 Provincial Directly Elected Members of Parliament.

These statistics show how critical it is to address Dalits’ underrepresentation in sociopolitical domains. The biased results of the elections in 2022 highlight a structural problem that prevents Dalits from being fairly and equally included in decision-making processes at all levels of government. The lack of Dalit voices in positions of leadership raises questions about the political system’s responsiveness and inclusivity, necessitating investigation and corrective action to guarantee a more inclusive and participatory democracy.

In society, recognition or identity based on one’s status becomes the source and justification for discrimination. Institutionalized discrimination reinforces the status quo, sustaining special advantages for the powerful. Subordination thus becomes an outcome of institutionalized discrimination, reinforcing the existing social order.

True equality is only possible by dismantling discriminatory practices that perpetuate advantages for one group at the expense of another. The concept of equality is inherently tied to the notion of change, as progress can only be achieved by challenging and transforming the conditions that justify discrimination.

What should be done?

The state must take proactive measures, including the realization, recognition, entitlement, commitment, accessibility, and enjoyment of rights. Monitoring indicators of full and practical realization is essential to ensuring tangible progress.

The judiciary should adopt a proactive and human rights-sensitive approach. It plays a crucial role in upholding and protecting the rights of marginalized communities, ensuring justice is served without discrimination.

The general public and advocacy groups need to internalize the concept of equality through awareness and education programs. Active participation, public interest lawyering, lobbying efforts, and publicizing discriminatory practices are vital in challenging the status quo.

Nepal has taken legislative steps to address caste-based discrimination, such as the Caste-Based Discrimination and Untouchability (Offense and Punishment) Act, 2011. The Constitution of Nepal explicitly condemns discrimination based on caste and untouchability, emphasizing the right to equality and social justice.

In Conclusion, Caste-based discrimination continues to plague Nepalese society, impacting the lives of millions. It is imperative to recognize the historical roots, socio-economic implications, and pervasive practices of discrimination that persist. Achieving equality requires a commitment to change and a dismantling of institutionalized discrimination. The state, judiciary, and the public all play crucial roles in fostering an inclusive society where every individual enjoys equal rights and opportunities. Through collective efforts, Nepal can pave the way for a future free from the shackles of caste-based discrimination, embracing the principles of equality, justice, and human dignity.

The author is pursuing BA LLB at Kathmandu School of Law