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The Industry and Consumers' Welfare Office, Humla has decided to organize a two-day industrial exhibition in the district headquarters, Simkot.

Office Chief Pradip Regmi informed that the exhibition would be conducted on June 25-26 for the promotion and publicity of locally produced goods.

The local products ranging from food items to clothes and rugs would be put on display.

Regmi further informed that the event would be an effective medium to publicize the indigenous skills and products.

The fair also features the competitive show where the first one would get a cash prize of Rs 30,000, while the second Rs 20,000 and the third Rs 10,000.

It is believed the event being organized at a time when there are complaints of not getting market for indigenous products would contribute to making the economy dynamic.

The disruption of flights at the Tenzing Hillary Airport, Lukla has stressed out the tourists.

Adverse weather caused disruption of flights for ten days. The tourists visiting the Khumbu region have been badly affected by the inconvenience in air services.

Air controller at Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (CAN) at Lukla, Divas Dahal, informed that the fog and poor visibility disturbed air services. Both the aeroplanes and helicopters were not able to conduct flights since June 8.

"It is the time the foreign tourists returned to Kathmandu after traveling to the Sagarmatha area. The number of tourists leaving the district is more than arrivals. But adverse weather took a toll on air services," Dahal added. All flight schedules are canceled for ten days. Thick fog has caused poor visibility.

However, Dahal informed that some helicopters were operated from Surke helipad located down Lukla. Geographical specificity is a problem for Lukla where dense fog occurs frequently this season, according to him.

Surke is relatively clear.

Similarly, after a four-hour trek down the Lukla airport, the travelers can get vehicles for Kathmandu. It is also the option for the tourists to ride from Thamdanda to Kathmandu in jeep.

Thamdanda lies 70-km away from Salleri bazaar, district headquarters of Solukhumbu.

The jeep fare is Rs 2,000 per person from Salleri to Kathmandu, a 275-km distance.

Kathmandu: “We have learned what it means to be a woman, and more importantly, what it means to be a woman who holds the power to redefine traditional definitions of equality and feminism tainted by patriarchal imprints in our society.”

When Priyanjali Karn, 22, from Janakpur, spoke these words from the podium to a packed hall, her parents beamed with pride. Eight months ago, she was quite different, they said. Karn’s mother, Subha Suhasini, 52, noted that her daughter was progressing and improving day by day. Her father, Satyandralal Karn, head teacher at the Kalimati-based Jana Prabhat Secondary School, observed that Priyanjali had become “more social, expressive, and extra confident in public speaking.” 

Although the family initially hoped Priyanjali would pursue a career in the technical field, they now fully support her dream of becoming a teacher. She is determined to advance the cause of women in her community and catalyze social change. “Now her choice is ours,” her father affirmed.

Priyanjali Karn, a proud daughter of Madhes, was among 18 girls from diverse castes and communities who graduated from the Young Women’s Political Leadership Course (YWPLC) 2023/24 program by Women LEAD Nepal. She received the ‘Most Growth Award’ for her batch. During her visit to Madhes Province as part of the course, she realized the significant challenges Madhesi women face, especially in education, and feels a personal responsibility to uplift them.

The graduation ceremony for participants of both the YWPLC and the year-long ‘Lead Course’ was held in the capital on Saturday. Reflecting on her journey, Priyanjali shared, “At the start of the YWPLC course, I was scared and nervous, unsure of what lay ahead. I felt helpless and disappointed at why women are still looked down upon. I was afraid to ask questions, fearing my lack of knowledge would be exposed.” She continued, “But these eight months have been a beautiful journey of learning, unlearning, understanding, internalizing, and searching for hope in where we stand and what we must question.”

Ranjana Ramtel, 18, from Sindhupalchowk, won the ‘Most Growth Award’ for the Lead Course 2023/24, which featured 27 Grade 12 young women in Nepal. “The Lead Course was a turning point in my life. It introduced me to women’s leadership and taught me skills I had missed out on for 18 years. I learned public speaking, leadership, active listening, time management, civic engagement, and more. I also learned to engage in social issues and work as a change-maker,” she explained.

A management student, Ramtel now aspires to become a societal leader over the next decade. Her mother, Maiya Ramtel, 41, traveled to the capital to attend the graduation ceremony. She marveled at the transformations in her daughter over the past year and expressed hope that her daughter would dedicate herself to fostering social transformation, combating discrimination, and standing firmly for her beliefs.

According to Women LEAD Nepal’s Executive Director, Hima Bista, the Lead Course is designed to empower Grade 12 young women with a deep understanding of leadership styles and personal strengths. It focuses on building confidence, communication skills, and resilience, equipping young women with the tools and support needed to become influential leaders and advocates for change in Nepal. The YWPLC, targeted at women aged 18-25, aims to provide foundational knowledge of Nepal’s democratic system and political processes, along with essential professional skills for political organization and an understanding of the importance of intersectionality and women in politics and leadership.

Lawmaker Dr Toshima Karki, who attended the graduation ceremony to inspire the graduates, emphasized the need for meaningful representation and leadership of women in all state apparatus. She asserted that women’s empowerment would remain incomplete until women were economically empowered. Dr Karki hoped that the graduates would significantly contribute to shaping the future of women’s leadership and urged them to continually enhance their skills to claim their roles and leadership in various sectors of society.

The Nepal Petroleum Tanker Drivers Association has decided to withdraw its protest, with the signing of a four-point agreement with the government.

A meeting between the Association and the Nepal Oil Corporation that took place at the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies today ended with the agreement, according to NOC Spokesperson, Manoj Thakur.

NOC Board of Directors Chair and Commerce Secretary, Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, was present in the dialogue and NOC Executive Director Dr Chandika Prasad Bhatta and Association Chair Ishwor Lama signed the agreement on behalf of their respective sides. 

This development is expected to ease the supply of petroleum products in the Kathmandu Valley, which was hampered due to the protest of the Association.

The Association had decided to disrupt the supplies on Sunday, putting forth a seven-point demand.

The demands include appointment letters as ensured by the Labor Act, remunerations as fixed by the government, risk allowance, safety alert training every three months, and their involvement in the Social Security fund among others.

As per the agreement, a sub-committee is to be formed under the coordination of the NOC Deputy Executive Director to present a report regarding the demands of the Association and other relevant issues within the next 15 days. 

The committee has the representatives from the Ministry, Association, the Independent Transport Workers Association of Nepal and the All Nepal Petroleum Workers' Union.