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Three persons died and three others sustained injuries when a Bolero jeep met with an accident at Nepane in Musikot Municipality-1 of Rukum West on Sunday evening.

The jeep (Karnali Province 2001 Cha 0413) was heading towards Musikot-4, Chhinkhet from Khalanga when the incident occurred.  

The deceased have been identified as Saugat BK (27) of Thakurbaba Municipality-5, Kaligaudi (Bardiya), Dharmendra Shrestha (30) of Gurbhakot Municipality-8, Mehalkuna (Surkhet) and Jit Bahadur Karki (19) of Barahatal Rural Municipality-5, Baddichaur (Surkhet).

Police Inspector Bakht Shahi, also the spokesperson of the District Police Office, Rukum West, informed that the accident took place when the vehicle fell some 200 meters down the road.

According to him, the critically injured were rescued from the accident site and taken to the District Hospital Salle where they were pronounced dead in the course of the treatment.

The injured are Sujal BK (17) of Banfikot Rural Municipality-4, Chhinkhet of Rukum West, Dilip Thapa (26) of Thakurbaba Municipality-5 (Bardiya) and Tikaram Khanal, (27) of Kaligaudi of the same municipality.

The condition of BK and Khanal is said to be critical. They were referred to Nepalgunj for further treatment after providing general treatment at the district hospital.

Injured Thapa is undergoing treatment at the District Hospital.

I belong to those who seek escapism through books. No matter how many people say “Don’t judge a book by its cover,” I've always been captivated by a book's cover, title, and scent. My heart calls out my name to experience the life books provide. Through these books, I have lived countless lives through my one real life. When it comes to reading books, I don’t limit myself to a specific genre; instead, I aim to explore all genres to gain insights into various aspects of books that reveal different facets of the world. Here are five books from my bookshelf that I highly recommend for anyone who likes learning and enjoys exploring diverse content.

The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho

Have you ever felt unseen and unheard? If so, then this book is for you! ‘The Alchemist’ is not just a book but a voice for people. A voice for you.

The author ‘Paulo Coelho’ has crafted the main character ‘Santiago’ as a relatable figure representing the individual within society. The book symbolizes the universal quest for dreams, as depicted through Santiago's long journey to find hidden treasures in the Egyptian pyramids, illustrating the essential steps toward success. It gives a poetic way to embrace power and voice to the individuals who feel hopeless from their life. The concept of pursuing one's dream in the book mirrors my own experience that has led to self-reflection at crossroads in my life. Coelho's transformative writing offers a powerful perspective on the world. Through Santiago, who always follows his heart, the book conveys a subtle message: we must heed the guidance of our own hearts."

Sold by Patricia Mccormick

If you are a girl, you must have experienced some kind of harassment or bad looks from men.‘Sold’ is such a heavy book as it carries the whole world within its pages. Patricia McCormick portrays society through the eyes of the protagonist, Lakshmi, a victim of human trafficking who loses her innocence. Lakshmi’s dream to support her family back in Nepal is shattered once she arrives in India only to have her identity taken away. The journey from Nepal to India is depicted with a timeless quality, leaving readers yearning for an end to her suffering. The book highlights how one should be fully aware of such issues in the society and bring societal awareness against forced prostitution. This book has given me such an insightful way to be mindful and be brave enough to speak up for myself.

Verity by Colleen Hoover

A highly recommended book for 18+! This book isn’t for everyone, but it’s perfect for those who enjoy dark themes and psychological thrillers. I won’t reveal too much to avoid spoiling the mysterious plot, but Colleen Hoover masterfully crafts a suspenseful story that keeps readers on the edge of their seats. The character “Lowen Ashleigh” witnesses such traumatic incidents and situations in front of her eyes and that makes her question her life decisions. It's thoroughly engaging from start to finish, filled with twists and turns that never bore and always amaze. The characters themselves are shrouded in mystery with their psychological behaviors, pulling you into a world you never imagined, one that will keep you awake at night. This is the kind of book that leaves you hanging. Personally, I found it incredibly enjoyable and it left me utterly shocked.

The Subtle art of not giving a f*ck by Mark Manson

As the saying goes, ‘Truth is always bitter,’ but when you read this book, you find yourself enjoying it and even laughing with hard truths. Out of all the self-help books I have read, this one has been my favorite from day one. First of all, I believe this book holds such a significant mirror for GenZ and I highly recommend it. Mark Manson clearly knows how to captivate and engage his readers until the very last page as he keeps spitting the hard truths about life. The central idea highlights the importance of having a balanced and healthy life, and gives a clear path towards success. It allows us to preserve our time and energy for endeavors that truly matter, and gives us the courage to provide importance to the ones that deserve. In fact, this beautiful book has provided me with a space to express my authentic self, and through its words, I discovered a sense of magic.

The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

“Only I can make her speak.” Another psychological thriller book that questions its existence in the world. Alex Michaelides has really impressed readers with his words, drawing them into a maze of lies and hidden motives as they seek the truth. The book provides insight into human behavior and the intricacies of the mind, demonstrating how skillfully people can manipulate situations. The two main characters, Theo and Alicia, explore their life-altering mind games. One can always expect the unexpected twists and turns in this book that keeps fully engaged. The book is shrouded in secrecy, but when the truths are revealed, you begin to question everything about the book.

Bhumika Shrestha

BA IInd Year 

St Xavier’s College

Every year, the Karnali Province government distributes different subsidies to boost production and productivity in the agriculture and livestock sectors.

The provincial government has been implementing these subsidy programs through the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture and Cooperatives, and its subordinate agencies, as well as through local units. However, the Office of the Auditor General (OAG) has pointed out in its annual reports that subsidies for agricultural technology promotion, agricultural infrastructure development, procurement of farm equipment, and the promotion of livestock businesses have failed to yield the desired results. Moreover, it said that the provincial and local governments have not conducted follow-ups to gauge the effectiveness of these programs.

The annual reports of the OAG from fiscal years 2017/18 to 2022/23 clearly state that no study or analysis has been conducted on the contribution of subsidy programs in increasing production and creating employment. This has raised questions about the effectiveness of the millions of rupees invested in farm subsidies.

According to the OAG’s annual report for the fiscal year 2022/23, the Ministry of Land Management, Agriculture, and Cooperatives distributed Rs 138.46m for the promotion of agricultural technology, agricultural infrastructure development, expansion of livestock health services, and procurement of agricultural equipment, among other purposes, in 2022/23. Additionally, it provided farmers with another Rs 46.94m as a subsidy for insurance premiums. Subsidies have also been provided by the federal government’s Prime Minister’s Agriculture Modernization Project.

In its report, the OAG has directed the provincial and local governments to study the effectiveness of such subsidy programs. “There is no system for inter-agency coordination in the distribution and use of subsidies,” the report said, adding, “Due to a lack of coordination with local units, the use of subsidies has not met expectations.”

No list of beneficiaries 

The ministry has developed procedures for the distribution of farm subsidies. However, the targeted farmers in Karnali have not been properly listed. Consequently, the subsidies provided by the government have not reached the intended recipients. According to the report, the provincial government provided Rs 39.67m in interest subsidies for Rs 712.15m worth of concessional loans taken by 1,227 agri-entrepreneurs in 10 districts of the province. However, there is no certainty that the loans were used to run industries as the provincial government has not submitted any supporting documents, the report states.

The report has urged public offices to regularly monitor the subsidies and measure the achievements to ensure that the loans provided are used for the specified purpose.

Similarly, the ministry has provided Rs 220m to 20 subordinate offices for the procurement of farm equipment, promotion of vegetables and fruit farming, distribution of cattle of improved breeds, and youth self-employment programs. These programs are also being implemented by the federal government and various agencies under the provincial government and local units. There is a lack of inter-agency coordination for the implementation of these programs, according to the OAG report.

During the same year, the Agriculture Development Office, Dolpa, distributed Rs 9.16m as subsidies to 47 profit-oriented farms and individuals. Likewise, the Agriculture Development Directorate, Surkhet, provided a subsidy of Rs 17.88m to 162 profit-oriented firms and individuals. The report states that the directorate has not maintained records of the subsidies distributed.

Irregularities in subsidy distribution

The Veterinary Hospital and Livestock Service Office, Dailekh, provided a subsidy of Rs 7m to the Rural Agriculture Multipurpose Organization to implement a program for distributing 100 cows of improved breeds to farmers. In its proposal, the organization stated it would distribute Holstein and Jersey cows and cover any budget shortfall through internal resources. However, the OAG report indicates that the organization distributed cows of local breeds to the farmers.

Furthermore, the organization collected Rs 15,000 from each beneficiary farmer and also received a Rs 500,000 subsidy from the concerned local unit.

Multiple subsidies for the same program

According to the OAG report, the ministry provided a subsidy of Rs 850,000 to a local cooperative to build a cold storage facility. However, the cooperative also received a Rs 5.85m subsidy from the Raising Incomes of Small and Medium Farmers Project. Additionally, the Agriculture Development Directorate provided another Rs 6.65m subsidy to the cooperative for the same purpose. The OAG report for the fiscal year 2019/20 stated that farmers have not received any benefits from these subsidies and called for a necessary investigation.

Subsidies to Private Firms and Companies

The ministry provided subsidies ranging from Rs 200,000 to Rs 500,000 to nine profit-oriented business firms and companies in the fiscal year 2017/18. The report noted that the ministry provided a total subsidy of Rs 2.2m to private firms and companies, violating the provision that subsidy amounts can only be provided to consumer committees and beneficiary communities.

The number of people dependent on agriculture in Karnali is significant. However, in terms of production, Karnali has not been able to become self-reliant. Government statistics show that only 30 percent of households in Karnali are self-reliant in their own production. According to the National Agricultural Census 2021, 70 percent of households engaged in farming do not produce enough to sustain themselves year-round.

Devendra Godara, a leading farmer from Dungeshwar Rural Municipality-6 in Dailekh, said that the agricultural subsidies provided by the government have not been utilized effectively. “The subsidies received by genuine commercial farmers seem to be well-utilized, but those who get subsidies based on political affiliation and access misuse the subsidy amounts,” Godara said.

He also called on the government to revisit its subsidy program. “Subsidies should be given based on the area of land cultivated or the number of livestock. Only then will the subsidy program be effective, production will increase, and the living standards of farmers will also improve,” he added.

Bir Hospital, the oldest hospital in the country, has launched free brain tumor surgeries effective from today.

According to Hospital's National Brain Tumor Centre's chair Prof Dr Rajib Jha, the service was launched coinciding with the World Brain Tumor Day that is observed on June 8 each year. The service will be available till June 30.

Typically, the cost of such surgeries in other hospitals ranges from Rs 100,000 to Rs 300,000, according to Dr Jha.

He says that brain tumors develop when body cells undergo abnormal and uncontrollable growth. The risk of brain tumors increases with age due to a weakened immune system. Additionally, patients with Hepatitis and HIV/Aids are more vulnerable to lymphoma tumors. Exposure to radiation, such as that from X-rays and CT scans, can also contribute to the development of brain tumors.

According to hospital sources, Bir Hospital receives an average of six to eight brain tumor cases, with a nationwide tally of around 100 cases. Bir Hospital also holds the record of performing the first brain tumor surgery in the country.