Submit your Article

Gandaki Province Chief Minister Krishna Chandra Nepali Pokhrel has praised the role of Nepal Police to the establishment of peace and order despite the availability of limited resources. In his address to a program organized by the Gandaki Province Police Office, Pokhara to mark the 67th Police Day here today, the Chief Minister acknowledged the 'special' contribution of the Nepal Police to the enhancement of the nation's peace, security and order. He took time to mention that the Nepali Police had its relations with the liberation army that had a crucial role in the establishment of democracy by eliminating the Rana's rule in 2007 BS. The Nepal Police has a glorious history, according to him. He said the Nepal Police which had demonstrated its integrity and accountability in each moment including the time of natural disasters and in maintenance of peace and security proved it equally competent in the professional forum. On the occasion, he honored and awarded families of martyrs’ police and other personalities for their contribution to the profession. Gandaki Province Internal Affairs Minister Dobate Bishwakarma said the role of Nepal Police to the establishment of peace and security was commendable. He was hopeful that the Nepal Police would show its role as in the past to hold the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly in a free and impartial atmosphere. Gandaki Province Police Chief Deputy Inspector General of Police Ram Dutta Joshi said the Nepal Police that was always aware of the delivery of pro-people, transparent and prompt services dedicated itself to the service of the nation and the people.  He pledged to take up the role to hold the upcoming elections peacefully. The best wishes message sent by the Inspector General of Police Dhiraj Prasad Singh was read out on the occasion. Similarly, the 67th Police Day has been marked in Hetauda, the capital of Bagmati Province in Makawanpur district, today. The Bagmati Province Police Office organized the function. On the occasion, Chief Minister of Bagmati Province Rajendra Pandey laid a wreath at the image of the 'Immortal Police'. All those present at the ceremony garlanded the Immortal Police memorial. Chief Minister Pandey lauded the role of police in maintaining law and order in the country. It is the responsibility of one and all to move forward by protecting the federal democratic republic and the constitution.

The minority Sunaha community has called for recognition as indigenous nationalities. The Sunaha have been demanding with the candidates who are coming to their settlements seeking votes in the upcoming elections that the Sunaha be recognized as indigenous nationality community by the State. "We have so far not got the State recognition as a separate ethnic identity. The party leaders only give us assurances in each and every election. But they forget it once they get elected. We have been demanding that the election candidates take initiatives for giving a separate ethnic identity to the Sunaha community," said local Kalu Sunaha. He also demanded that the Sunaha should be provided reservation quotas in all the state services as the Sunaha is a minority community. He added that the government has recognized the Raute community that is on the verge of disappearance as a separate ethnic minority group and is providing allowances. But he said that the Sunaha community is deprived of such state allowances as it has not been recognized as a separate ethnic group. Meghadevi Sunar complained that the political parties have been using the Sunaha community merely as a vote bank at the time of the election. "The political parties and their candidates only make false promises to us at the time of election that they will resolve our burning problems. There is nobody to speak for us after the election is over," she said. According to her, although they have demanded time and again with the government to recognize the Sunaha as a separate ethnic community, their demands have not been heard. The Sunaha people traditionally live by collecting gold from sand on river banks. The Sunaha's traditional occupation is also on the verge of disappearance in recent years. Ghanashyam Sunaha called for making provision for providing free education to the Sunaha children. "Sunaha is also a separate tribe like the Raute. The government should provide quotas to Sunaha like it is providing to other indigenous nationalities. We should also be recognized as having a separate ethnic identity," Ghanashyam said. The Sunaha communities who live only in Bardia and Kanchanpur have been calling for recognizing them as separate indigenous nationalities since long, but their demand has so far fallen on deaf ears.  

The World Food Program estimated that nearly 19 million Afghans are facing food insecurity on the occasion of World Food Day, Business Standard reported. On World Food Day, which was observed on Sunday, residents of Kabul said that the lack of jobs and economic challenges is threatening them with severe food insecurity, reported Tolo News. The World Food Programme in Afghanistan said that a survey conducted in February and March indicated that nearly 19 million people are facing food insecurity. "The results of the (survey) show that nearly 19 million or 18.9 million people are facing food insecurity and they need food assistance and humanitarian assistance," said Wahidullah Amani, a spokesman for WFP Afghanistan, reported Tolo News. "We plan to attract international humanitarian aid, support the small and average industries, and to launch major economic projects to support the infrastructure in Afghanistan," said Abdul Latif Nazari, Deputy Minister of Economy. "I have seven children. My husband is jobless. When I eat breakfast, we are worried about our lunch, when we eat lunch, we are worried about our dinner," said Suraya, a breadwinner for her family of seven members. The high rate of poverty has compelled dozens of students into hard labour, reported Tolo News. "I work from 6:00 am in the morning to the end of the day. I make between 20 to 50 Afs. And I am confused about what to buy with that money," said Beheshta, a child labourer. According to the National Statistics and Information Authority (NSIA), the daily income of Afghans is 102 Afs, reported Tolo News. Some other citizens of the country expressed frustration over the rise in food prices in the country. "There are no jobs and businesses now. For many of those who are working, their salaries are low. Those who are working outside as vendors and other jobs make from 100 to 200 Afs which is not even sufficient for dinner," said Arash Sultani, a resident of Kabul. World Food Day is observed annually on October 16 to highlight the millions of people worldwide who cannot afford a healthy diet and the need for regular access to nutritious food. The theme for 2022 is Leave NO ONE behind. World Food Day 2022 is being marked in a year with multiple global challenges, including the COVID-19 pandemic, conflict, climate change, rising prices and international tensions. All of this is affecting global food security. The Day is led by The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).

Nepal's urban population has reached 66.08 percent. As per the preliminary statistics of the National Census, 2078 BS, the size of urban population has increased in comparison to the earlier Census, 2068 BS, said Joint-Secretary at Ministry of Urban Development Ramchandra Dangal. As noted, the urban population was 63.19 percent and rural population 36.81 percent in the year 2068. According to the World Cities Report, 2022 published by UN Habitat this month, the urbanization process was found rapidly increasing in developed countries. Almost 79 percent of the population reside in urban areas in such countries. If the same growth continues, the urban population is projected to reach 87 percent in advanced countries. The report has also projected the population growth rate of 0.46 percent in developed countries from 2020 to 2025. The report was made public on the occasion of the World Habitat Day which is marked on the first Monday of October at the call of the UN Habitat. In 2022, World Habitat Day (WHD 2022) under the theme "Mind the Gap. Leave No One and Place Behind" looks at the problem of growing inequality and challenges in cities and human settlements. World Habitat Day 2022 seeks to draw attention to the growing inequalities and vulnerabilities that have been exacerbated by the triple ‘C’ crises — COVID-19, climate and conflict. The United Nations (UN) had started observing the day on the first Monday of October since 1986. Nepal has also started marking the day since 2001. This year Nepal is observing the day today by organizing several programs with the theme 'Necessity of inclusive urban settlement: shared commitment of all". As the eighth day of Dashain festival was fallen on the first Monday of October, the ministry has decided to mark the day on third Monday, the ministry sources said.