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From the remote village of Mukli in Solukhumbu, Machchhe Devi Gurung rose to become far more than an individual success story. She became a symbol of resilience for countless women fighting to be heard. As a little girl, she was enchanted by the voices on the radio, never imagining that one day it would become her most powerful weapon for change. Through this medium, she found her own voice and carried with it the hopes and struggles of thousands of women, echoing their concerns on national and global stages. Her journey shines as an inspiring example of courage, perseverance, and an unshakable devotion to social justice.

The village’s natural beauty brightened her childhood, yet beneath this beauty lay the harsh realities of social inequality and gender discrimination, which left a deep impression on her. From an early age, she witnessed how women were denied opportunities, subjected to discrimination, and endured violence. Although her family valued education, their modest means made it difficult for her to pursue her dreams with ease. The radio became her window to the world. Every time it played in the village, she would wonder in awe: “How can people enter this small box and speak?” That innocent curiosity gradually opened the door to a new universe of stories, information, and ideas. Determined to continue her studies, she made the bold decision to move to Kathmandu—her first major step toward a new life, though arriving in the capital was not just a physical relocation; it marked the beginning of a new chapter in her journey.

A campaign to amplify women’s voices

Recognising media as the most effective medium to amplify women’s voices, she enrolled in a ten-month journalism training program at the Nepal Press Institute, which laid the foundation of her career. Following the training, she undertook internships at Kantipur National Daily and Antenna Foundation, where she acquired essential journalistic skills and developed a clearer understanding of the media’s role in society. Her professional journey reached a turning point when she joined Radio Sagarmatha. For her, it was more than just a workplace—it became a platform to advance her vision and advocacy. At the station, she produced and hosted programs focusing on women’s rights, education, health, employment, gender-based violence, and equal participation in state structures. Over nearly 5 years, she produced and presented more than 400 episodes, significantly increasing the visibility of women’s issues and strengthening public discourse around them.

Machchhe Devi understood early on that women’s issues are not uniform. The challenges faced by Indigenous communities, Dalits, Madhesis, Muslims, women with disabilities, and single women are distinct. Through her radio platform, she amplified these diverse voices and brought their concerns to the national stage. Her program Saha Astitwa (Coexistence) became a driving force in pressing for 33 percent women’s representation in the Constituent Assembly. Her initiative inspired women across villages to speak up for their rights. She raised her voice through a Radio program for voiceless, marginalised, and disadvantaged women. 

Machchhe Devi tirelessly advocated for the implementation of the Domestic Violence (Crime and Punishment) Act introduced by the government. Critics labelled her a “feminist,” but she never took it as an insult; instead, she strengthened her campaign further. Her determination earned her recognition from various organizations. The Federation of Nepalese Indigenous Nationalities Journalists (FONIJ) honoured her with the FONIJ National Journalism Diaspora Award 2082 on its 26th anniversary. Likewise, the Federation of Indigenous Peoples of Nepal in America (FIPNA) acknowledged her contribution with a certificate of honour on the 31st International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples. She also gained opportunities to work on women’s issues through non-governmental organizations.

A new chapter in the diaspora

Currently, Machchhe Devi is in New York, where she is amplifying the voice of the Nepali diaspora through community journalism. She runs an online portal called NYC Nepal News, serving as its editor. Through this platform, she highlights issues related to the Nepali community’s language, culture, and rights. Additionally, she manages the Community Quest interview series and the NYC Nepal Podcast.

While in the United States, she has held various responsibilities in the Nepal America Journalists’ Association (NEAJA). In 2021, during NEAJA’s 7th General Convention, she was elected as vice president with the highest number of votes. During her tenure, she advocated for institutional transparency, women’s participation, and strengthening the journalism profession. She has also worked as a guest editor for Everest Times Online, where she emphasized community journalism to empower the community.

Recognition and inspiration

Machchhe Devi’s contributions have been recognized by various organizations. During Gurung (Tamu) Lhochhar 2023, the Public Advocate of New York City honored her. The Tamang Society of America acknowledged her contributions during the Dumphu Sannjh in 2018. Similarly, in 2012, she was honored for empowering women and combating domestic violence through Radio Journalism by the British Embassy to Nepal and the National Network of Women Human Rights Defenders, and Women Rehabilitation Center WOREC Nepal. In 2023, Nepalism.com recognized her as a change maker acknowledging her contribution to the community through journalism.

She presented a working paper on gender equality in the media sector at the 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women. She also served as an election commissioner at the 8th national convention of the Federation of Indigenous Nationalities of Nepal in America (FIPNA). Additionally, she took on the roles of judge and media coordinator at the Nepal Indigenous Film Festival and NIFF Awards 2018. Machchhe Devi took the role as one of the judges for selecting the NRNA Journalism Award provided by the Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) National Coordination Council - USA and NEAJA in 2025. 

Her journey in journalism began 19 years ago as a trainee at Kantipur Daily, and it continues today with the same energy and passion. She has consistently raised her voice for social justice, equality, and the rule of law. Gurung firmly believes that social change cannot be institutionalised until there is a shift in individual mindsets. Her life story traces a path from a small village to the global stage. What began as a journey through radio has transformed thousands of women’s lives. Gurung’s determination, dedication, and sense of social responsibility have established her as a powerful voice in Nepal and beyond. Her tireless advocacy for women’s rights, inclusion, and respect for diversity inspires a new generation both within Nepal and across the diaspora. Gurung’s story is not merely her own; it represents the collective narrative of countless women striving to make their voices heard on the world stage.

TikTok has unveiled a set of tools to help families ensure their teens are using the app safely, launching a ‘family pairing’ feature, which focuses on family safety and privacy.

With the feature, parents can set time limits for their teens using screen-time management tools. They can also control settings such as direct messaging, comments on videos, whether or not accounts can be searched, and who can download videos.

According to the feature, direct messaging will automatically be turned off on accounts for users aged 16 and under, and push notifications will also be muted at night.

TikTok says it has set a feed that only shows age-appropriate content. The system selectively removes content deemed inappropriate for teens and uses technology to ensure that users are in the right age group.

The app makes sure to notify the parents if their child posts a public video. As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting user well-being, TikTok launched a new in-app feature called Guided Meditation earlier this year, which aims to make mindfulness practices easily accessible to people of all ages.

Those who have national identity cards don’t have to go to the election office to register for a voting card. The arrangements have been made to fill the form online for those who have their national identity card.

According to Acting Chief Election Commissioner Ram Prasad Bhandari, the process of collecting the voter list online has been made easier by taking the biometrics from the National ID card of those who are collecting the voter list. He informed that the commission made such arrangements after discussions with the GenZ representatives. For this, the commission had to go through technical work on Wednesday night.

The government has set a deadline of Nov 16 for voter registration. It is believed that the arrangements were done after a long line of people seeking voter ID cards was seen in front of the commission.

Bhimsari Rokka, 36, from Thawang Rural Municipality-3 in Rolpa, once dreamed of getting a higher education. However, due to her family’s poor condition, she had to work as a shepherd from the age of six instead of going to school. When she was only six months old, her father passed away.

Even though Bhimsari worked as a shepherd, her family managed to send her brother to school. “I wanted my brother to get a good education and become a government officer,” she recalled. Unfortunately, her dream was shattered when Maoists forcefully recruited him as a guerrilla while he was in grade seven. After the peace process began in 2007, he went to a Gulf country in search of better opportunities, but sadly, he died when he fell from a building where he worked.

Thawang is known as the birthplace of Nepal’s Maoist armed struggle, which began in Rolpa in 1996. It was one of the main base areas of the Maoist movement, and people lost their lives during the war. According to Rishikesh Budha Magar, Chairperson of the Thawang Rural Municipality, about 100 people lost their lives during 10 years’s 10-year-long Maoist insurgency in Thawang.  

Bhimsari got married at a young age. Because of poverty, she could not study as a child and spent most of her life struggling with hardship. After marriage, her husband, Parbesh Rokka, taught her how to read and write. Today, Bhimsari is not only literate but also skilled in using technology. Together, she and her husband run a small business that has brought happiness to their lives. “When I joined a financial literacy class, my life completely changed. It was a turning point for me,” she said.

Through her financial literacy class, she learned how to save money, run an agricultural business, and use modern technology such as digital wallets, mobile banking, and various mobile apps.

Particle Action, in collaboration with local governments, launched the Empowering Women Farmers through digital finance, Nepal (Samunati Digital Finance Project) in the backward villages of Rukum, Rolpa, and Dang, targeting women to empower them and improve their quality of life in 2022. 

Today, many women in the remote villages of western Nepal—particularly in the Dang, Rukum, and Rolpa districts—have become familiar with mobile banking and digital technology. This growing use of technology has helped them manage their finances, expand their businesses, and ultimately improve their lives.

Cashless village

Until five years ago, people in the villages had little idea of the internet or of technology such as mobile banking and useful apps. Those living in cities were familiar with these tools and used them regularly. However, over the past five years, even remote villages in Nepal have become cashless communities. Today, if you travel there, you don’t need to carry cash—digital payment has made life much easier.

Ram Kumari Jhakri, from Thawang Rural Municipality-3, Putalikhani, operates a small store in her village. In the past, she had to travel about 130 kilometers—spending an entire day on a bus and carrying large amounts of cash—just to buy goods for her shop. Now, she no longer needs to travel. She simply makes a phone call, prepares a list of items, and sends money through a mobile app.

“I haven’t traveled to buy goods with cash for the past three years. Everything is done through calls and mobile banking,” she explained. “It has made my life easier and saved time. Before, when I carried cash, I was always afraid.”

She now pays her electricity bills, insurance, and other expenses through mobile apps such as eSewa and Khalti. Earlier, she had to travel to the district headquarters in Liwang—a two-day journey that cost her about Rs 7,000—just to pay a bill of Rs 30.

Ram Kumari also recalled how she once gave Rs 4,000 to someone to pay her electricity bill for a year, but he disappeared without doing so. In another incident, she paid insurance premiums amounting to NPR 265,000 over three years to a local insurance agent she trusted. Later, the insurance office in Liwang informed her that no payments had been made. “I regularly paid cash to the agent, and he was well known to me, so I believed him,” she said. “But he cheated me and many others in the village. When we complained and demanded a refund, he too disappeared.”

Now, Jhakri helps other villagers pay their electricity bills and insurance premiums using mobile wallets—especially those who are not yet familiar with technology.

Even parents in the village, whose children study in private boarding schools, now use mobile apps to pay monthly school fees. Dil Maya Dasaudi Magar, a mother of two sons studying in Class 5 and Nursery, said, “I never imagined this technology could help us so much. It has truly made our lives smarter—even in remote villages.”

Technology and professional agriculture

In the past, extreme unemployment and poverty in districts like Rukum and Rolpa were among the main reasons behind the start of the Maoist war in Nepal. Today, however, technology is helping transform agriculture into a professional and profitable occupation in these same areas, creating jobs and hope.

Bhimsari Rokka’s husband, Parbesh Rokka Magar, spent 19 years in Saudi Arabia as a laborer. After Bhimsari introduced him to financial literacy and modern agricultural techniques, he decided to return home and start a farming business and a small store.

According to Parbesh, he now earns about Rs 500,000 annually from selling potatoes, beans, and other off-season vegetables. “We check market prices using a geo-agriculture app,” he said. “If a vegetable is infected by pests or disease, we take a picture and upload it to the app, and it gives us advice on what to do next.”

Through financial literacy classes, many farmers like Parbesh have learned to use mobile apps to improve their farming practices and income. Parbesh and his wife also save NPR 11,000 per month in a local cooperative. “We couldn’t study, but we want to provide a good education for our children,” he said.

Many other farmers in village areas are benefiting from agriculture-related mobile apps. For example, Shobha Gautam, from Dangisharan-7, Shreegawau, Dang, once noticed her goat was sick and not growing well. She took a photo and uploaded it to an agriculture app, and after following the advice she received, the goat recovered. “After we learned to use mobile apps, we’ve received so many benefits—from weather information to pest control,” she said.

Some women have even become entrepreneurs using mobile technology. Maya KC, from Shantinagar-2, Dang, runs a small snack bar and sewing shop. She learns new recipes and fashion designs from YouTube, which has helped her improve her business and increase her income. 

With the arrival of wired internet in remote villages, people have been able to use technology more effectively in their daily lives. In the remote districts of Rukum and Rolpa, residents now have access to cable internet services.

Khima Nanda Dangi, the owner of Nepal Agro Electric and Network Company, said that he has expanded over 1,000 kilometers of internet cable across villages in Rukum and Rolpa. According to him, his company now serves more than 4,000 customers in these two districts. 

“In places where the mobile phone network is weak, the wired internet connection works very well,” Dangi explained. “People are now doing almost everything online. Before internet access, students in remote villages had to travel long distances for tuition classes, but now they can study from home. Similarly, people can deposit money in banks and cooperatives through mobile banking.” He added that many people who have internet connections at home now use digital wallets to deposit or transfer money directly from their phones.

Ownership of local government

In 2022, Practical Action launched the Empowering women farmers through digital finance, Nepal (Samunati Digital Finance Project), targeting women and small farmers in the rural areas of Rukum, Rolpa, and Dang. The project aimed to empower women with digital financial literacy, help them access banking services, and use mobile banking effectively. The project period will conclude this December.

During this time, more than 7000 women across eight municipalities in the three districts have gained awareness and skills in financial literacy. 

“Many of these women had never even heard of the internet, WiFi, or mobile banking before,” said Santosh Adhikari, Project Manager of the Samunati Digital Finance initiative. “Now, they are familiar with technology. In areas where internet service was not available, we helped connect them to it.”

Following the project’s success, local governments have decided to continue financial literacy programs in their respective areas.

Triveni Rural Municipality in the Rolpa district has allocated a budget to continue financial literacy initiatives for its residents. Karna Bahadur Batha, Chairperson of the Municipality, said that although they have completed the basic development of physical infrastructure, improving people’s livelihoods remains a priority. “We realized that people need to be financially strong—to know how to earn and save money. That’s an important part of development,” Batha said. “Taking this seriously, we will continue the literacy campaign in the coming days.”

Triveni Rural Municipality has allocated a budget of Rs 7m for this year to support the program.

Similarly, Dangisharan Rural Municipality has also planned to continue financial literacy programs among its residents. Sambhu Giri, the Municipality's Chairperson, emphasized that human development is essential alongside infrastructure development. “Programs like these are gifts from institutions, but society must evolve with time,” Giri said. “That’s why we focus on programs that help bring real social change.”