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The government will be extending the child nutrition grant program to all 77 districts of the country.

At present the government has been distributing Rs 532 as child grant to the children below five years old in 25 selected districts as well as to children below five years old from Dalit households of all 77 districts.

Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens, Bhagawati Chaudhary outlined the ongoing efforts to broaden the scope of the nutrition grant program, and increasing the grant as 532 is insufficient for the nutritious food.

"We are dedicated to ensuring that every child in Nepal, regardless of their location, receives the essential nutrition support they need for healthy growth and development," said Minister Chaudhary during her address at the event ‘Policy Dialogue on Social Protection and Child Grant in Nepal’ organized by the Social Protection Civil Society Network and INSP! R Nepal here on Tuesday.

The Constitution guarantees various social and economic rights, including the rights to social security for vulnerable groups consisting of children. Article 43 of the Constitution preserves the fundamental right to social protection for all children. Similarly, The Child Rights Act 2018 provides a bundle of rights to children, including the rights to a dignified life, appropriate care, nutrition, and free basic health services.

Director of the National Planning Commission, Loknath Bhushal, presented about the provisions mentioned in the Integrated Social Protection Framework- 2080 and highlighted the role of governments, civil society organizations and trade unions for implementing it. Similarly, an expert of Social Protection Basant Raj Gautam, presented about the importance of investing in children, and emphasized the overall status, need to increase child grant and its future impact to the Nation.

Speaking in the program, Chairperson of the Women and Social Affairs Committee of the Federal Parliament, Kiran Kumar Shah, emphasized that the foundation of a ‘Prosperous Nepal and Happy Nepali is only possible if the government invests in children.

Ambar Bahadur Thapa, Chairperson of the Education, Health and Information Technology Committee of the Federal Parliament, expressed concerns and advocated for universal access to education and healthcare for all children.

Federal Member of Parliament and CPN-UML Whip Sunita Baral emphasized that the investment made in the field of children is scattered and it should be integrated while Coordinator of the Parliamentary Group for Child Rights and Federal Member of Parliament Ranju Kumari Jha emphasized the need to allocate the social security allowances based on identified needs and prioritize investments in children.

She reiterated the importance of ensuring that resources are directed towards addressing the specific requirements of children, underscoring that doing so is crucial for their well-being and development.

Federal Member of Parliament Dayal Bahadur Shahi emphasized that in the context of Nepal Social Security Allowance program was initiated only recently, however its effectiveness is evident, underscoring the importance of prioritizing the investment to children within the ambit of social security.

Ram Kumar Phuyal, a member of the National Planning Commission, said that in the next financial year and the next five-year interim plan, especially when more than 15 percent of the total budget of the federal government is spent on social security, that money should be focused on children and senior citizens, and the youth generation should be empowered by competition, production and productivity. He focused on giving the priority to contribution-based social security, to connect with independence and self-reliance, sustainability and life cycle.

Members of Parliament and concerned members of political parties emphasized the need to bolster investments in children and integrate them into the broader social security framework. Suggestions were made to increase the Child Nutrition Grant, allocate budget for implementing an integrated social protection framework, and prioritize investments in children.

In the program, more than 100 people participated, including Roshani Karki, Deputy Secretary of the Ministry of Health and Population; Kul Bahadur Khadka, Deputy Secretary-General of the Nepal Trade Union Congress, Mina Sharma, Chairperson of CZOP, Bhawa Raj Regmi, Secretary of the Non-Governmental Organization Federation, Gopal Nepali from Save the Children; Shyam Adhikari from World Vision; and Om Thapaliya from Home Net and INSP!R Nepal, stressed the urgent need for the state to address issues related to children, especially those concerning the welfare of children from marginalized communities, children with disabilities, and children affected by various forms of violence.

They suggested for appropriate acknowledgment from the state, urging for the inclusion of children's issues within the scope of social security, allocation and provision of a separate budget code for children, inclusion of topics such as child-friendly local governance, nutrition-friendly local governance, national pride for children, and Children and School are the Peace of Zone, to enhance investment in children. They also requested an increase in funding to improve the quality of nutritious day meal programs and expand the programs up to class 10 from the recent initiatives of class 5.

The symposium witnessed attendance from various stakeholders, policymakers including Bimala Subedi, Chairperson of Law, Justice and Human Rights Committee of the Federal Parliament, Federal Members of Parliament, Vice-Chairperson of the National Child Rights Council, Bam Bahadur Baniya, the Executive Director of Social Security Fund, Kabi Raj Adhikari, Usha Mishra from UNICEF, Government Officials, Development partners, civil society organizations, trade unions, and human rights activists. The event was organized jointly by the financial support from UNICEF, Save the Children, and We Social Movement (WSM).

As Nepal approaches the final stages of formulating policies, programs, and budgets for the fiscal year 2081/82, the symposium aimed to ensure robust policies addressing comprehensive social security issues, particularly focusing on the needs of children.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Health and Population Upendra Yadav said Nepal will lend full-fledged support to make the United Nations a strong and effective global body.

Deputy Prime Minister Yadav, who is in New York to attend the 57th session of the United Nations Commission on Population and Development, made the commitment in a meeting with the President of the 78th United Nations General Assembly Dennis Francis today, according to the Permanent Mission of Nepal to the UN in New York.

Talking about climate change and the problems facing the least developed countries like Nepal and its impact, the DPM expressed views on the importance of sustainable tourism development, international cooperation and multilateralism.

He pledged Nepal's full support to the priorities put forward by President Francis for peace, prosperity and sustainable development.

Appreciating the significant improvement in Nepal's health sector, especially maternal and reproductive health, the President pledged the UN's support to Nepal in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Also speaking at a program jointly organized by Nepal along with Denmark, Ireland, Sweden, Colombia and the UK in the United Nations, Yadav highlighted Nepal's progress and challenges in the health sector and said that exchange of trust, goodwill, solidarity and cooperation among the nations was important for the improvement of the health sector.

Permanent Representative of Nepal to the United Nations Lok Bahadur Thapa and high-ranking government officials of Nepal were present on the occasion.

The CPN-UML has decisively won the recent by-elections in Ilam-2 for the House of Representatives and Bajhang (A) for Sudurpashchim Provincial Assembly, signaling a significant shift in political dynamics.

In Ilam-2, Suhang Nembang secured an impressive victory with 27,772 votes, surpassing his closest rival Dambar Bahadur Khadka from the Nepali Congress who garnered 21,942 votes. Similarly, in Bajhang (A), Daman Bahadur Bhandari clinched a narrow win over NC’s Abhishek Bahadur Singh with a margin of just 267 votes.

Prior to the elections, uncertainties loomed due to internal divisions within both the NC and UML, as well as the emergence of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, which had shown considerable strength in previous by-elections in Tanahun and Chitwan. However, the latest by-election results underscore the UML’s successful efforts to fortify its organizational structure, reflecting positively on its strategies.

Since the 2022 general elections, the UML has been actively engaging with the public through initiatives like Mission Grassroots and Sankalpa Yatra, demonstrating a commitment to connect with constituents at all levels. Senior UML figures attribute their recent victories to adept management of internal discord in Ilam and Bajhang.

“We are encouraged by the by-elections results. The results show that the party has succeeded in managing the intra-party rift both in Ilam and Bhajang,” a senior UML leader said.  

The UML’s unveiling of the Mission ‘84 campaign, aimed at the 2027 general elections, indicates a strategic push to ascend as the leading political force. The outcomes of the Ilam-2 and Bajhang (A) by-elections hint at a potential shift in power dynamics, with the UML poised to challenge the NC’s dominance.

Conversely, the NC faces a significant setback in the aftermath of the recent by-elections, echoing previous defeats to the RSP in Tanahu and Chitwan. Meanwhile, the erosion of voter support, exemplified by a substantial decline in votes for both the NC and UML in Ilam, underscores the urgent need for both parties to reassess their strategies.

The overall votes of both UML and NC have gone down in Ilam. In the 2022 general elections, the UML candidate Subas Chandra Nembang had secured 30,020 votes, while the NC’s Dambar Bahadur Khadka had garnered 29,006 votes. In the latest by-election, the UML candidate secured around 2,000 fewer votes than last time and the NC lost around 7,000 votes. 

Losing around 7,000 voters should be a matter of grave concern for the NC, but the party leadership seems unfazed.

The rise of identity politics, particularly evident in Ilam’s electoral landscape, presents a formidable challenge to traditional parties like the NC and UML. Independent candidate Dakendra Singh Limbu’s robust performance underscores the resonance of identity-based narratives, posing a challenge for established parties.

Whether they believe it or not, despite UML’s victory in the recent by-elections, major political parties face serious challenges in the coming days. A key challenge for the established old parties is to retain their cadres and supporters.

And while the RSP candidate did not put on a strong electoral show, the party’s rising popularity, especially among young voters, cannot be discounted when Nepal goes to general elections in 2027.  

Looking ahead, both the NC and UML confront an uphill challenge of retaining their support base amidst the emergence of new political forces like the RSP. The need for organizational rejuvenation, coupled with a shift toward younger, more dynamic leadership, emerges as a critical imperative for both parties.

It could be argued that Suhang Nembang won the by-election in Ilam-2 due to the sympathy vote following the death of his father and former UML Vice-chairperson Subas Chandra Nembang. But the party, unlike the NC, has at least realized that there are problems within the party organization and that support base is dwindling. The party is willing to put in the hard work necessary to retain its cadres and voters. 

For the NC, the latest by-election results once again send a clear message that the party needs to wake up and  work hard to strengthen its organizational strength, resolve the intra-party rift, and pick young and fresh candidates. It is no more business as usual.

A Cabinet has been expanded in Karnali Province nearly after three weeks.

CPN-UML leader Yam Lal Kandel was appointed as the Karnali Province Chief Minister with the support of CPN (Maoist Center) and CPN (Unified Socialist) on April 9.

Karnali Province Chief Tilak Pariyar expanded the Cabinet at the recommendation of Chief Minister Kandel.

According to Office of the Province Chief, CPN (Maoist Center)'s Mahendra KC, Bir Bahadur Shahi, Durga Bahadur Rawat and Ran Singh Pariyar have been appointed as Minister for Economic Affairs and Planning, Minister for Social Development, Minister for Industry, Tourism, Forest and Environment and Minister for Water Resources and Energy Development respectively.

Similarly, CPN (UML)'s Sher Bahadur Budha has been inducted in the cabinet as the Minister for Physical Infrastructures, Binod Kumar Shah as Minister for Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperative.

Gamata BK has been appointed as Minister of State for Physical Infrastructure and Urban Development. However, CM Kandel has kept the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Law with himself.

Newly appointed ministers except Binod Kumar Shah have taken the oath of office and secrecy today itself.