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Socio-legal awareness programs have concluded in three government schools in Palpa. Nyayalaya, an award-winning project of Women LEAD Nepal, has conducted classes at Shree Karnadhar Secondary School in Mathagadhi-2, Shree Janahit Bhagawati Secondary School in Rambha-4, and Saubhagya Secondary School in Mathagadi-1.

This project—led by Sadiksha Nepal, Puspa Khadka, Shanti KC, and Aarati Baniya—was honored with the Sujata Baskota Changemaker Award worth Rs 90,000. “Around 200 students from classes 8, 9, and 10 across these three schools benefited from the program,” said Nepal.

The classes covered various social and legal aspects, including child marriage, gender inequality, caste discrimination, and fundamental rights, aiming to inform students on these issues. “Our objective was to raise awareness among students about the social and legal implications of prevalent malpractices in rural societies of western Nepal,” she added.

Three houses have been turned into ashes in  a fire that broke out at the Bhutanese refugee camp in Beldangi of Damak Municipality-3, Jhapa on Sunday.

DSP Khagendra Prasad Rijal of the District Police Office, Jhapa said that the fire started from the house of Bhim Bahadur Ghimire due to an electric short circuit at around 3 am today.

He said that property worth around Rs 500, 000 was destroyed in the fire.

Police said that the fire was taken under control with help of a fire engine of Damak Municipality, police personnel and locals.

Police have arrested a man on the charge of forcing girls into sex trade.

Police mobilized from the Human Trafficking Investigation Bureau, Babarmahal arrested 24-year-old Suman Tamang of Tandi Rural Municipality-6, Nuwakot as well as rescued four girls, based on information that Tamang lured the girls to join the flesh trade and sexual activities at various hotels and guest houses at New Buspark area in Kathmandu.

Police Headquarters stated that investigation revealed Tamang targeted girls from economically poor families, lured them with the promise of finding them jobs as waitress and cleaning staff at hotels and guest houses before forcing them into the sex trade. The girls were not even allowed to come out of the hotels and guest houses since the last five years, it is said.

Police are carrying out an investigation, taking permission from the District Court Kathmandu for extension of custody against Tamang in a case related to human trafficking.

Centre for Social Inclusion and Federalism (CESIF) organized a round table discussion on ‘Small Scale Aid in Borderlands and Cross-border Ties’, reflecting on two of its publications: “Dynamics of Small-Scale Foreign Aid in Nepal’s Borderlands” and “Evolving Nepal-China Cross Border Relations and Its Impact on Borderland Citizens.”

The Executive Chair of CESIF, Vijay Kant Karna reflected in his opening remarks the importance of research on Nepal’s trade and border relations with China and India.

Madhav Sapkota, Member of Infrastructure Development Committee (HoR), Hon’ble Samjhana Thapaliya, Member of International Relations and Tourism Committee (HoR), Former Secretary Krishna Gyawali, Former Secretary Lal Shankar Ghimire and Secretary of Ministry, Commerce and Supplies, Madhu Marasini were the prominent speakers during the discussion, reads a statement issued by CESIF.

Presenting the findings on “Dynamics of Small-Scale Foreign Aid in Nepal’s Borderlands,” Milan Acharya, a researcher at CESIF, said that China’s small-scale aid focuses solely on the northern frontier districts bordering Tibet Autonomous Region. Of late, India’s small-scale aid and projects have increased in the northern region. The research found that China has a tendency to override state mechanisms and procedures and its small-scale aid is unregulated compared to that of India’s.

Sharing the findings of the research “Evolving Nepal-China Cross Border Relations and Its Impact on Borderland Citizens,” Prabisha Basnet, a researcher at CESIF said, “The Dalai Lama issue remains a major obstacle, with China viewing reverence as a security threat. Unilateral border closures, stringent checks, and declining trade also impacted cross-border marriages and cultural exchanges.”

The dialogue brought together diverse views from the parliamentarians and experts, according to the statement.

Sapkota, representing a northern bordering district Sindhupalchowk, shared his experience of China’s aid in Nepal. He specified an example of the high maintenance cost of a school constructed by China.

Samjhana Thapaliya raised concerns about the border issues with India in Saptari which need to be resolved by both neighbors, India and Nepal.

Former Secretary Krishna Gyawali congratulated CESIF for the findings and further commented on small aid in Nepal.

He said that although small aid assistance is very important, its sustainability after the departure of donors’ funding also needs to be taken into account. He saw lobbying from politicians as the most important factor for small scale funds at the local level.

Secretary Gyawali noted that the objective of small-scale aid must be aligned with national interest, with appropriate monitoring, operation maintenance and accountability mechanisms. Former Secretary Lal Shankar Ghimire expressed his concern on Nepal having an agreement with Tibet, a province of China instead of its central government.

Overall, the participants were united in expressing that small scale aid is important from both India and China. However, it needs to be regulated by the Nepali state mechanism. For this to go ahead, there has to be an institutional cohesion between ministries.