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Acid and burn violence (ABV) is one of the most heinous forms of gender violence that not only erodes a person’s skin but takes away their confidence, dignity, and sense of self. Astitwa Nepal, an NGO working to rebuild the lives of ABV survivors, believes victims of violence need opportunities that go beyond recovery. They deserve a life where they feel valued and empowered, and this is where Inara by Astitwa comes in.

The outlet that sells products made by ABV survivors is located at Jhamsikhel, Lalitpur, near the Army Chief’s residence and is open six days a week from 11:30 am to 7:00 pm. It’s closed on Wednesdays. The small store is aesthetic and has a lot of products made by ABV survivors such as earrings, scented candles, hand painted bags, and others, the proceeds of which go to the survivors. “Having a physical store where they can see their hard work on display and people appreciating and buying them acts as a motivator for the survivors. They feel valued and empowered,” says Rumi Rajbhandari, co-founder and executive director of Astitwa Nepal.

The products sold at Inara aren’t just items you would buy for a cause and forget all about when you take them home. They make for great decor pieces and wearable items. According to Simran Silpakar, co-founder and program director of Astitwa Nepal, ABV survivors are given five vocational skills, each culminating in a product development phase, so that they can create good quality, market-ready goods. Inara by Astitwa acts as a safe space for survivors to showcase their skills.

Rajbhandari adds that the survivors had already been making beautiful, high-quality jewelry and crafts that have been sold in Kathmandu, the USA, Europe, and Australia. Now, they are just expanding the initiative to a permanent survivor-run center where they will be given a chance to manage operations, mentor others, and rebuild their lives along the way.

Inara by Astitwa is thus more than just a retail outlet for products made by ABV survivors. It’s a place where economic empowerment meets healing and opportunity. The hub is designed to address both immediate and long-term needs of survivors that cater to their economic, emotional, and psychological well-being. They will gain real workplace experience, manage parts of the outlet, and be able to mentor one another and build courage and confidence together.

The hub will also create jobs for ABV survivors belonging to economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The income generated from Inara by Astitwa will help them break the cycles of poverty and violence by giving them financial independence and the strength that comes with it. Additionally, creative work like jewelry making and crocheting aren’t just skills. They can act as therapy. Skill building training and workshops are good for ABV survivor’s mental health as well as boosting their confidence and sense of purpose in life.

The survivors ApEx spoke to during a vocational training at Astitwa Nepal’s office in Sanepa, Lalitpur, say making jewelry, candles, and various other things gives them a sense of purpose in life. For some, it was a way to pass time which otherwise seemed to drag on. For others, it meant financial freedom. “We don’t have to ask anyone for money and that is a huge boost to our self esteem,” says one survivor who makes it a point to participate in every training Astitwa Nepal organizes.

Inara by Astitwa was launched on July 5 and the outlet saw a lot of customers during the event. The small store was bustling with people and many of the products like hand painted planters, earrings, and bags flew off the shelves. This made the survivors well up and encouraged them to work harder. Some of the survivors stayed up all night to ensure they had enough products to display at the store the next day. Rajbhandari says that they hadn’t expected this kind of response from people and that they are proud and grateful for the support that’s coming their way.  The second day of the two-day launch saw an overwhelming turnout of customers as well.

Shilpakar adds that the survivors are overjoyed and emotionally moved. The success of the launch has reignited their motivation to continue learning and creating handmade goods. “People’s support has also strengthened our team’s commitment to expanding our support for survivors of gender violence,” she says.

Inara by Astitwa is an attempt to make women less vulnerable to violence by providing them with a stable income and agency. The center aims to make ABV survivors businesswomen, change-makers, and leaders in their own right. You can help ABV survivors rewrite their stories by supporting this initiative. Step into the outlet to buy some lovely products for your home or a meaningful gift for your friends. They have a select range of items that are crafted with love and care. Your purchase has the power to change someone’s life. 

Officials have said that the floods inflicted extensive damage in Rasuwa.

The details of the damage caused by the floods, however, are yet to come.

National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority spokesperson Suresh Sunar said that the initial report stated that 18 people are missing.

“Teams from all three security agencies have been mobilized to search the missing persons and rescue those trapped in the floods,” said Sunar.

“Miteri Bridge connecting Nepal and China in Rasuwagadhi has been washed away, and the Timure dry port and some hydropower plants have also been damaged,” he said.

According to Dhruba Prasad Adhikari, Assistant Chief District Officer of Rasuwa, the damage was caused by the flash flood triggered by incessant rainfall at around 3 am. Vehicles in the dry port were swept away. The drivers and assistant drivers of those vehicles were also caught in the flood.

Videos posted on social media also show vehicles being swept away in the floodwaters, people trapped in the floodwaters trying to escape by climbing trees, and Nepal Army helicopters rescuing them.

Kaisang Nurpu Tamang, Chairman of Gosainkunda Rural Municipality in Rasuwa, said that rescue and relief works have been affected as the floods and landslides obstructed roads in several places.

Police said that the landslides completely obstructed Syafrubeshi-Rasuwagadhi road section alson the Pasanglhamu Highway

Meanwhile, officials said that the damage caused by the floods in Rasuwa was not due to rain on Nepali territory.

Officials from the Disaster Management Authority and the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology have initially estimated that there may have been heavy rain in neighboring China or that the dam may have burst, leading to the flood.

Disaster Management Authority spokesperson Suresh Sunar said that since there was no information about heavy rain in Nepal, something might have occurred in China.

Pratibha Manandhar, a senior meteorologist at the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology Weather Forecasting Division, said that there has not been enough rain to cause major flooding in Nepal.

"It appears that less than 30 millimeters of rain has occurred in the area in the past 24 hours," she said. "This much rain will not cause that much flooding." According to her, only light to moderate rain has occurred in Rasuwa and its neighboring districts.

Employees of the Flood Forecasting Division have also speculated that heavy rain may have occurred on the Chinese side or that a dam may have burst and the Bhotekoshi River may have flooded.

Doctors and health workers have continued their protest by closing all services except emergency care across the country today.

Nepal Medical Association had decided to shut all services except emergency from Monday onwards.

The private hospitals and clinics along with public hospitals have expressed their solidarity for the Association’s protest. 

The umbrella organization of doctors launched the protest pressing for amendment to the provision of Consumer Protection Act, 2075, reads a statement issued by the Association.

It decided to continue the protest after the government did not take concrete efforts to address their demands so far.

The doctors and health workers have expressed reservation on the Consumer Court's decision of action on the cases of medical practices.

The Consumer Court has recently issued a verdict against some hospitals directing them to provide compensation, citing negligence of the hospitals and doctors in the treatment of patients.

NMA General Secretary Dr Sanjeev Tiwari said the medical profession is a highly sensitive and science-based service, which should not be evaluated like other professions.

He demanded such matters be handled by the Nepal Medical Council.

Similarly, the NMA urged doctors and health workers within Kathmandu Valley to participate in the sit-in staged at Maitighar Mandala and doctors and health workers out of the Valley at the places as determined and informed.

After the floods wreaked havoc in Rasuwa, an emergency meeting of the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Executive Committee is to be held at the Home Ministry at 1 pm today.

The Home Ministry has said that an emergency meeting of the Central Security Committee and the National Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Authority Executive Committee has been called to discuss the damage caused by the floods in Rasuwa.

Police have said that 16 people have gone missing and nine have been rescued after floods hit Bhotekoshi in Rasuwa on Tuesday morning.

The floods also washed away the Miteri Bridge that links the Nepal-China border.

At least 16 people have gone missing after being swept away by the floods.

According to Assistant Chief District Office Dhruva Prasad Adhikari, the missing include three Nepali policemen, three drivers, six Nepali workers, a driver and four Chinese workers.

He said that nine people trapped in the yard of the Rasuwagadhi Customs Office have been rescued.

The floods have also damaged infrastructure including charging stations along the border, the Rasuwagadhi Hydropower Project, and also swept away cargo containers and electric vehicles at the customs yard.