Submit your Article

The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police has reopened the file of Lalita Niwas land grab scam. This has renewed hopes that those responsible for the crime will be brought to justice and the government property will be rightfully restored. The incident involves individuals in the position of power and influence transferring the ownership of government land through deceitful means. As the coordinator of the committee formed to study the Lalita Niwas land grab case, I had the opportunity to delve into the details of the incident. As the investigation progressed, it became apparent that the government land had been systematically divided and distributed among individuals as if it were a gift. Certain portions of the land were sold off, while others were registered under the names of individuals who were involved in orchestrating this fraudulent scheme. It is disheartening to witness such a flagrant act committed by individuals who have lost all moral consciousness in their insatiable greed for money. The CIB has diligently carried out an extensive investigation into the case. The findings reveal that out of the total 299 ropanis of land, 14 ropanis and 11 anas of land still remain under the name of the previous owner, Subarna Shamsher. The Nepal government had lawfully acquired 284 ropanis of land from him and compensated him accordingly. All government employees, intermediaries, and any other individuals involved in the unlawful transfer of this land into private ownership must face the consequences of their actions and be held accountable before the court of law. The CIB has unearthed significant evidence in the Lalita Niwas land grab case, indicating that there may be involvement of individuals associated with political parties and their leaders. This has no doubt raised concerns about potential pressure on the police and the court to influence the investigation. Some even suspect that the case could shake the government.But it is crucial for the government to demonstrate unwavering commitment in solving the case and punish the guilty individuals. Immunity should not be granted to those who commit crimes based on their political affiliations. The investigation must proceed impartially and reach a conclusive outcome. Anyone found guilty of illegal acts must face appropriate punishment. I believe the resumption of the investigation, which was previously halted due to political pressure, will be concluded this time. For this, it is essential for the police to be allowed to carry out their work without interference. Similarly, the government attorney's office should operate independently, free from any external pressure or temptation. The investigation reports of both the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) and the CIB should be thoroughly examined, discussed, and debated in court. It is evident that the individuals involved in this case knowingly embezzled government land by orchestrating a well-planned scheme to register it under the name of a private individual in exchange for money. Such shameless acts should be condemned, and those involved should never be granted immunity. We kept the matter confidential during the investigation as it provided a conducive environment without undue pressure. Police need to be supported in their efforts to bring this matter to a conclusive resolution. Placing trust in the court system is also essential. Similar to the fake refugee case, this matter must be thoroughly examined in court. Following the court order to send individuals arrested by CIB on a seven-day remand, the case has now entered the court.  Some positive results can be expected. The author is former secretary who was also the coordinator of a government team that studied the Lalita Niwas land grab scam  

If you’ve ever heard an elderly speak of his heydays, you must have heard him say, “In our youth, diseases and illnesses weren’t so common. We ate what we grew in our farms, and walked and worked day and night. It isn’t like today when all you get is packaged food, and people do not have to move an inch. And you wonder why your generation is so unhealthy!” Well, this begs us to consider the question, why are we thought of as an unhealthy generation? Does that have to do with eating or lack of eating food in season? Eating fruits and vegetables that are in season has several benefits. Some of the main advantages of eating food in season is that seasonal produce is fresher, tastes better, and contains more nutrients. This is because seasonal produce is usually harvested at its peak and doesn’t need to be transported long distances. Long distance transportation can cause food to lose its flavor and nutrients. Seasonal fruits, grains, and vegetables were sole sources of sustenance of our forefathers when transportation was difficult and agriculture wasn’t as advanced as it is today. Today, with globalization, produce can come from far-flung places. Technology has advanced so much that foods are grown in labs, greenhouses and through chemical manipulation. We get fruits such as apples, grapes and oranges all year round when they are mostly winter fruits and were traditionally found in the winter season. Cucumbers and tomatoes which used to grow in summers are found year-round too. In various cuisines around the world, seasonal fruits and vegetables are consumed in season. There are various dishes that adapt to the ingredients available in the pantry at any given time. For example, the seasonal food in Korea was based on the ingredients available in the natural environment. In summer, vegetables and grains such as green beans, cucumbers, carrots, radish, lettuces, eggplant, rice etc. were eaten along with fruits such as lemon, watermelon, plum, grapes, apricots, mulberries, nectarines. In autumn, produce used included cabbages, turnips, cauliflower, celery, millet, wheat, barley, parsnip, onions, pulses, etc. Drinks included distillation of aromatic herbs. Similarly, in Nepal, in winters, hearty soups such as kwati (nine bean soup), bodi tama (black eyed peas and bamboo shoot curry), as well as yams, sweet potatoes, turnips, radishes, spinach are eaten. In summers, fruits such as mangoes, litchis, guava and pineapple are available. Nepal is still an agrarian society with vast swathes of land being used for agriculture. Farmers have recently started adding chemicals and genetically modified seeds to enhance crop production. While this has increased efficiency in farming and this is a step to agro-development, it also takes away from the fact that food isn’t just local and seasonal anymore. The classic question of efficient production versus niche product comes to the picture. The other side of it is that produce produced in Nepal has to compete with cheaper vegetables and fruits that are brought from neighboring countries. In such a competitive climate, can we blame our farmers for effective albeit chemically enhanced farming? When fruits and vegetables are picked before they are ripe, they don’t have the chance to develop their full range of nutrients, flavor and taste. Seasonal produce, on the other hand, is allowed to ripen naturally in the sun which means that it has had more time to develop its full range of nutrients, antioxidants, and phyto-nutrients. These nutrients are essential for maintaining good health and preventing diseases. Some plants need high temperatures to bear fruits and flowers such as watermelon and cucumber whereas carrots grow in cold temperatures due to which it’s mostly available in winter. This is why most of the fruits and flowers are seasonal. They require different temperatures, soil quality and water availability to grow. Locally produced fruits and vegetables are more nutrient dense. Along with that, instead of buying the same boring vegetables you always pick out at the grocers, buying local seasonal fruits and vegetables can be exciting for its variety. Apart from that, buying locally grown fresh produce can also be cheaper. This is because additional cost of transportation isn’t included. The food made is also more flavorful, fragrant, and delicious. Seasonal foods are more flavorful. You must have noticed that when we eat mustard greens (raayo ko saag) in winter, the flavor is different. This is because spinach is fresh and grown locally. In addition to being more nutritious, seasonal produce is also more environmentally friendly. I find that to be important for me personally. When produce is transported long distances, it requires more energy and resources to keep it fresh which can have a negative impact on the environment.  There was a debate on social media that veganism, although great for the environment, isn’t environment friendly as transporting avocados, nuts and other vegan friendly produce requires air travel which greatly increases the carbon footprint of these produce. So, the answer is eating seasonal produce that is grown locally. This can help reduce the carbon footprint of our food and also support local farmers. All in all, eating seasonal fruits and vegetables is a great way to ensure that you are getting the freshest, most nutritious produce while also supporting local farmers and reducing your carbon footprint at a cheaper price. So, think globally, eat locally.

A national daily published a report on 21 March 2023, shedding light on the endeavors of women entrepreneurs from Mustang, who were venturing into digital marketing for the promotion and expansion of their businesses. It offered valuable insights into the current state of internet access in Nepal and women entrepreneurs’ growing interest in digital marketing for the expansion of their businesses through digital platforms. Talking with the author, many women entrepreneurs from various regions of the country shared that digital knowledge, skills in digital marketing, and the use of social media like TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook are essential to run and sustain businesses in this day and age. The global impact of Covid-19 has created a new paradigm for digital entrepreneurship, and women entrepreneurs in Nepal have also found themselves riding this wave, utilizing digital platforms to market and promote their businesses. Various initiatives and organizations are working to support women digital entrepreneurs in Nepal. These include business incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurship programs specifically designed for women. These programs provide mentorship, training, access to networks, and financial support to help women succeed in the digital realm. Tourism Entrepreneurs Women Association Nepal (TEWAN) and the Federation of Women Entrepreneurs' Associations of Nepal (FWEAN), with support from development partners, have been providing support to women entrepreneurs through ‘Digitalization of Women Entrepreneurs’ Businesses’. These organizations have been providing support, albeit on a piecemeal basis. Digital entrepreneurship has brought numerous benefits for women in Nepal by empowering them to overcome traditional barriers and participate actively in economic activities. Social media platforms have provided these entrepreneurs an opportunity to expand their market from their hometown to district, province, and to the Center. Using online marketplaces, they can reach customers beyond their local communities and expand their customer base. Digital entrepreneurship has brought flexibility in timing as well as the possibility to work from home, enabling women to balance their entrepreneurial pursuits with family responsibilities, creating a better work-life balance. Furthermore, it has encouraged women with small capital to start their own businesses, which has also brought innovation. In this way, women entrepreneurs can leverage affordable technology, such as smartphones and internet connectivity, to establish and run their ventures at a lower cost, reducing financial as well as entry barriers. In Nepal, digital entrepreneurship has provided an opportunity for women to develop skills, set up business networks and empower themselves. With women able to run their own businesses from home and make some money, their independence has gotten a boost. Considering these facts, the strategic use of digital entrepreneurship by women has a big potential in Nepal. Women digital entrepreneurship is not only a matter of concern for urban areas but also for villages. Increased access to the internet in Nepal has already provided a solid foundation for women entrepreneurship. Skill and support on the use of technology is important for promoting women digital entrepreneurs, as the entrepreneurs from Mustang have shown. Relevant government initiatives can be instrumental in promoting local products, utilizing local skills and giving the local economy a shot in the arm. Moreover, civil society and media advocacy for women digital entrepreneurs is crucial for creating an enabling environment for women's digital ventures and addressing the digital gender divide.

Much is at the stake for New Delhi and Washington as PM Modi kickstarts his historic three-day US visit today. India, as Foreign Minister S Jaishankar puts it, expects ‘significant outcomes’. The schedule, event, and laid out agenda  making PM Modi the first Indian prime minister to address the US Congress twice is emblematic of the “deep and close partnership” . Modi’s diaspora outreach on July 23, his fourth major address to the community since he came to power in 2014, is testament of the growing importance and economic and political stake of the Indian diaspora in American politics. The Indian diaspora that constitutes one percent of the US population contributes six percent to the nation’s total income tax. The importance of diaspora outreach like soft power diplomacy too was recognized under PM Modi’s stewardship in Indian foreign policy. India  has acknowledged the Indian diaspora’s crucial role in promoting the country’s image, fostering economic ties, and building political relationships. The China question Both sides have conceptual differences on the Indo-Pacific. The US takes the Indo-Pacific as a region where rules-based liberal international order needs to be preserved against the backdrop of China’s aggressive rise. In contrast, India considers the Indo-Pacific as an “inclusive” region and  has categorically stated that the QUAD is not directed against any one country. Hence as Senior Adviser to India Policy Studies Richard M Rossow puts it, both the United States and India need to spend time on their shared and different views of the Indo-Pacific. In the wake of the divergences, QUAD’s objective of bringing collective capacities to come up with solutions to real problems  in the Indo-Pacific has gained  traction. One of the important areas that India needs to draw attention of the US and other QUAD partners is the security of critical chokepoints and maritime highways of the Indian Ocean Region. India has so far stuck to its Non-Alignment values avoiding alliance partnership with external powers. The US as a strategic partner must take that into consideration. Critical defense partnership As both sides are preparing a ‘robust outcome document’, the external affairs ministry has said that a roadmap  for defense industrial cooperation is expected to be one of the key outcomes of PM Modi’s visit that comes amid the India-China tensions along the border. The multi-billion dollar deal likely to be announced after the Modi-Biden talks assumes significance as it gives America an opportunity to weaken India’s reliance on Russian weaponry. Moreover, the US  looks at India as a strong counterweight to China. A strong defense cooperation deal is bound to convey a strong message to China. Indo-US technology partnership Amidst the China-US semiconductor standoff, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US is likely to give a boost to the Indo-US technology partnership, especially on the establishment of a new semiconductor supply chain where major announcements are expected. Two months after the US Congress passed the CHIPS and Science Act (a law that approves subsidies and tax breaks to help renewed indigenous production) in August 2022, the Joe Biden administration issued wide-ranging restrictions on the export to China of chips and chip-making technologies to undercut that country’s ability to manufacture the same class of integrated circuits. Amidst “healthy competition” between the US and China, as Janet Yellen would put it, India can expect to attract foreign investments and leverage it to achieve its “atma-nirbhar” (self-reliance) goal. India’s neighborhood In India’s neighborhood, an area that requires attention is the Af-Pak region. After the US withdrawal, China is emerging as a major player in Afghanistan that gives it access to the critical mineral reserves. Further, Pakistan and China have decided to go ahead with a plan to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghanistan. Apart from the issue of  China’s expanding sphere of influence, terrorism is an important challenge in the region that concerns both the US and India’s global commitment. In an important development, China on June 20th blocked a proposal by India and the US at the United Nations to designate Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorist Sajid Mir, wanted for his involvement in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks, as a global terrorist. This case also highlights the need for India and the US to jointly address the common challenges in the region. Promoting global south Demonstrating India’s commitment to bridging the gap between the Global North and the Global South, PM Modi recently urged the G20 members to invite the African Union as a member during the upcoming summit. Given that the US is now adapting its foreign policy for expanding its footprint in the Global South, New Delhi can be Washington’s bridge.  During his visit to India in March, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said, “Prime Minister Modi is right that there are real challenges to the multilateral system” indicating that there’s room for US-India consultations on new-age multilateralism. The way forward India and the US have common issues like climate and clean energy,  partnership for global good, and I2U2 that aims to forge cooperation and bring investment in areas such as water, energy, transportation, space, health, and food security as fundamentals.  Forums like the US-India Commercial Dialogue and US-India CEO Forum should get activated to reinvigorate bilateral economic conversations. Overall, ensuring meaningful exchanges and discussion on shared strategic,  regional, bilateral and global challenges would ensure a stronger future for India-US relations. The author is a foreign policy analyst based in New Delhi