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The Madhes Province Policy and Planning Commission released a report on Sunday highlighting the high poverty rate and deteriorating Human Development Index (HDI) in Madhes Province. The HDI encompasses factors such as education, health, employment, and infrastructure development that directly impact human life.

According to the report, the multidimensional poverty rate in Madhes is 24.02 percent, compared to the national average of 20 percent. Issues such as food insecurity, inadequate shelter, lack of clothing, and inability to afford medical treatment are categorized under multidimensional poverty. Madhes Province ranks second in both multidimensional poverty and economic poverty, with an economic poverty rate of 22.53 percent.

Despite some improvements, Madhes remains at the bottom of the HDI rankings among provinces. The overall poverty rate and multidimensional poverty rate in Madhes were 27.7 and 47.9 percent respectively in the base year 2018/19. By 2022/23, these rates had improved to 22.53 and 24.02 percent, but they fell short of the target to reduce the overall poverty rate to 21 percent.

Similarly, the HDI increased from 0.421 to 0.519 during the same period. However, Madhes still lags behind other provinces, with Mahottari and Rautahat performing the worst. The first periodic plan aimed to raise per capita income to $1,000, but only $875 was achieved by 2022/23. The plan also targeted an average annual economic growth rate of 9.0 percent, but the actual rate was limited to 2.5 percent due to internal and external challenges.

The report cites the global Covid-19 pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war, and rising commodity prices, including petroleum, as key factors disrupting supply chains and hindering economic growth. The economic growth rate for Madhes was just 1.5 percent in 2022/23, with a per capita GDP of $868. For the fiscal year 2023/24, growth is estimated at 3.8 percent, with a per capita GDP of $892.

Breaking from the tradition of overly ambitious growth targets, the second periodic plan has adopted a nonlinear least square model to set realistic and achievable economic growth projections. Based on the GDP of 2022/23, the plan forecasts an average economic growth rate of 6.8 percent, with sectoral growth targets of 4.4 percent for the primary sector, 8.8 percent for the secondary sector, and 7.3 percent for the tertiary sector.

Regarding implementation, 60 percent of strategies and 57 percent of action plans have been executed under interrelated and overarching subject areas. Out of 143 proposed programs, 57—or 40 percent—have been implemented. Progress has been observed in only 70 of the 129 set indicators, with no sub-sector apart from forestry and environment exceeding 50 percent progress. Notably, data management and human resource development sub-sectors show no progress, and there is little coordination between climate change initiatives, disaster risk reduction, and indicator achievements.

Susan Sapkota, an 18-year-old environmentalist and social advocate, has already made a significant impact through his work in environmental sustainability, sexual and reproductive health, menstrual hygiene, and mental health. Shaped by his formative experiences, Sapkota attributes his current identity to the values and lessons instilled in him during his upbringing.

Sapkota grew up in Surkhet, Birendranagar, in mid-west Nepal. He recalls a childhood marked by significant transitions, such as moving to a new place where he found himself surrounded by adults. This early isolation from people his age led him to develop close bonds with the elders. Solitude also allowed him to mature quickly and become a leader at a young age.

From his early days in school, Sapkota exhibited natural leadership qualities. He was often appointed as a monitor or class captain by his teachers. Teachers joked about his potential political future. They said that he would one day be the prime minister of Nepal but politics never intrigued him. Instead, Sapkota’s interests gravitated toward social causes and making a difference in the world.

Sapkota comes from a modest yet supportive family. His mother, a teacher, and father, a former professional driver turned firefighter, instilled in him values of hard work, empathy, and social responsibility. While they were initially concerned about his education and the unconventional nature of his pursuits, they soon recognized his deep passion for the causes he was championing.

Currently, Sapkota is pursuing bachelors in economics and law at Kathmandu University. He says he wants to be self-sufficient and knowledgeable about legal matters, ensuring that as a campaigner, he won’t have to rely on others for legal advice. He has always been inspired by figures like Barack Obama and Nelson Mandela, whose backgrounds in economics and law aligned with his own academic and career goals.

Sapkota’s journey as a campaigner began during school, when he transitioned from a community school to Usha Bal Batika School, where his mother taught. Here, he was influenced by many visiting lecturers, including Dr Nawaraj KC, a pediatrician who introduced him to the concept of climate change and environmental responsibility. It was during this period that Sapkota began to truly internalize the importance of protecting the environment for future generations.

One of his earliest and most impactful campaigns, ‘Go Green Go Clean,’ was initiated with the guidance of Dr KC. The campaign aimed to raise awareness among students about environmental issues, focusing on waste management and the importance of preserving nature. Sapkota led the student club at school, handling the administrative and funding aspects of the campaign. In six months, they successfully reached all the schools in the area, setting the foundation for his future work in social activism.

Waste management remains one of Sapkota’s proudest accomplishments. He recalls how the campaign transformed the waste management practices in Birendranagar, with communities becoming more conscious about cleanliness and proper disposal. “It was a long journey,” he says, “but we made significant progress.”

Beyond environmental activism, Sapkota expanded his efforts to address sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR). Visiting rural areas like Mugu, Kalikot, and Jajarkot, he educated young people, especially women, about menstrual hygiene and sexual health. These campaigns were driven by his observation of gender disparities, with girls facing cultural restrictions that limited their opportunities.

However, Sapkota faced numerous cultural and societal barriers, particularly related to practices like chaupadi pratha (a tradition of keeping menstruating women in isolation, often in huts). One of the key challenges he encountered was the mindset of the communities he worked with. Despite the educational efforts, convincing people to put an end to long-standing practices proved difficult. However, Sapkota and his team used strategic approaches, including speaking to elderly people and engaging with local leaders, to bring about change. 

A particularly memorable achievement from the SRHR campaign was the workshop Sapkota and his friend conducted in Kalikot, where they taught women how to make their own sanitary pads. “It’s a skill they continue to use, and many women are now making a living through it,” he says. 

The work, he says, doesn’t come without challenges including resistance from conservative communities, misunderstandings about the campaigns, and the difficulties of managing multiple roles in his personal life. Despite these setbacks, he remains steadfast, viewing each challenge as a learning opportunity rather than a roadblock. “The challenges have been learning opportunities,” he says.

He acknowledges that much of his personal growth has come from the support and mentorship of key individuals in his life. He credits his parents, mentors like Dr KC, and his supportive friends for shaping his leadership journey.

Sapkota’s vision extends beyond Nepal. Looking ahead, he envisions himself continuing to lead campaigns and initiatives that make a positive impact on society. “I want people to recognize me as a good leader or a campaigner,” he says reflecting on his deep commitment to creating lasting social change.

Sapkota’s recent trip to South Africa, where he worked with The Green Connection to protect marine life, further expanded his understanding of global environmental issues. “It was a huge learning experience,” he says, “and it reinforced my belief in the power of collective action.”

His efforts to promote a ‘green university’ initiative in Nepal is aimed at reducing waste and promoting sustainability in schools and colleges. Having visited over 50 districts for his campaigns, Sapkota remains driven by the belief that passion and teamwork can overcome any obstacle.

Sapkota firmly believes if you do something with passion and determination, then nothing can stop you from reaching your goal. His message to aspiring campaigners is this: “It’s all about teamwork and setting a clear goal.”

Resolutions are overrated and perhaps destined to fail because of just how overly ambitious they are. This year, me and a few of my friends—comprising a medical doctor, a psychologist who has been practicing for five years, and an engineer who quit her job last year and runs her own business now—decided to list down some things we’d like to do in 2025.

We have always made shared resolutions but this year we decided to deviate from the usual routine and call them mindful habits. We’re also going to take it slow and not give up on a habit even if we fail a few times. I’ve asked for permission to share our list of habits or changes we’d like to make this year to inspire you all to maybe pick one or two to incorporate in your life or make a list of your own. Here are our top five things that we are going to follow in 2025 for a more disciplined and healthy lifestyle.

Meditate daily, even if for just 10 minutes

A couple of years ago, I took up yoga and meditation. I joined an online class and started doing an hour of it every day. The changes in me weren’t immediate but over time, people started commenting that I was calmer and happier. I had actually felt the changes in me before others noticed. I wouldn’t get upset over small things and was able to let things go without creating a fuss. Then after six months, the classes got over and I didn’t rejoin. I thought I could carry on without guidance. But then I started becoming erratic with my practice. This year, we’re planning to restart mediation and do 10 minutes to begin with. We will build up from there. Our aim is to make a habit to meditate for at least 30 minutes daily in the next six months.

Spend time outdoors

Exposure to morning sunlight is important to set the tone of the day. It’s also a good thing to do to get your daily dose of Vitamin D which is crucial for bone, muscle, and nerve health. All of us spend most of our time indoors, at work or at home, so we have decided to spend at least 10 to 15 minutes out in the sun as soon as we wake up. It could be while drinking a cup of tea or reading the papers. But this one is non-negotiable and it shouldn’t be that hard since all we have to do is open the door, step out into our balcony or garden area, and just bask in the sun. Alternatively, we have also decided to try to go out for short walks, mid-work, or spend some time in nature after we reach home.

Eat meat on the weekends

All of us agreed that we’d like to eat less meat this year. Many studies have shown that meat, especially processed meat, isn’t the healthiest thing for your body. We contemplated becoming a vegetarian for a year before deciding it would be too much too soon. So to take it slow and ease ourselves into it, we’ve decided to eat meat on the weekend and stick to a plant-based diet on the weekdays. This seems more doable than going vegetarian. This way we get to satisfy our non-veg cravings and we also have to experiment with our food, since we have to start eating all kinds of vegetables  and grains to compensate for the meat.

Sugar control 

Not eating sugar isn’t possible for us but for those who think they can do it, it’s one of the best gifts they can give themselves. Sugar is responsible for inflammation in the body which leads to many health issues, especially in the long run. Cutting down on sugar can help you lose weight, keep your blood pressure in check, and also prevent a lot of chronic diseases. We’ve all tried to stop eating sugar in the past and we’ve all failed miserably. So in 2025, our goal is to cut down on sugar and be mindful of what we are eating. We’re going to eat chocolates, but not every day. We’re going to have a slice of cake but we’ll stick to having it once a week at the most. The idea is to have as little sugar as possible while ensuring we don’t abstain from it altogether. This way, we believe, we will be able to give up sugar completely in the future.

Keeping our word

Oftentimes, we say we will do something and forget about it or we make promises knowing that we might not be able to keep it. We say yes when we want to say no. This sometimes has us doing things we wouldn’t have been involved in if we hadn’t said yes without thinking or if we had had the presence of mind to think things through. One of the things I’d personally like to change in 2025 is being able to keep my word. My friends agreed that if we all made promises we could keep, we’d feel better about ourselves and our reputations, at work and on a personal front, would also be so much better.

One more person has been tested positive for monkeypox.

A 44-year-old Saudi Arabia returnee man has been tested positive for the infection, according to Spokesperson at the Ministry of Health and Population Dr Prakash Budhathoki.

He said that further details regarding the infection will be made public soon.

On December 20, a 36-year-old male from Tahanun was diagnosed with the monkeypox infection. He is also a returnee from Saudi Arabia.

Nepal recorded the first case of infection on June 16, 2023. The infection was confirmed on a foreign national.

It is caused by a virus called monkeypox and is transmissible to humans or animals to humans. 

This disease is transmitted via contact with infected individuals or animals. Transmission can occur through direct contact with wounds, sores, or bodily fluids such as saliva or mucus, as well as through surfaces and materials contaminated with the virus.

Infected animals, including monkeys, rats, squirrels, and contaminated bedding or clothing, can also transmit the virus.