SARVENDRA NATH SHUKLA, former minister and leader of Rashtriya Janta Party-Nepal, is a well established veteran politician from Madhesh. Having secured victory several times in the national parliament from Rupandehi district, Shukla, who is now a key figure of Madhesh based RJP-Nepal, spoke to KESHAB POUDEL on various contemporary political issue. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Feb 16, 2019
With so many contradictions within, it will be no surprise to see a rebellion in a merger of unnatural communist allies - a party of violent militancy and another of electoral champions. At a time when foreign investors are fleeing the country one after another due to the unfriendly government policies, interestingly, prime minister K.P. Sharma Oli has gone to address World Economic Forum meeting in Davos
By Keshab Poudel Jan 26, 2019
With small interventions such as rehabilitation, farmer managed irrigation systems, which had been unable to increase productions for centuries, are becoming a game changer in Nepal to increase productivity, diversify crops and commercialize agriculture. Financed by Asian Development Bank (ADB) with involvement of government agencies, local users groups and elected bodies, rehabilitated irrigation systems under Community Managed Irrigation Agriculture Sector Project (CMIASP) in Jhapa and Ilam districts have shown how proper local institutions and pertinent water supply can enhance productivity and commercial agriculture. At a time when bigger irrigation projects are yet to achieve success, the CMIASP has shown that small is beautiful
By Keshab Poudel Jan 13, 2019
Bimal Acharya, a young and dynamic Mayor of Mechinagar Municipality of Jhapa District, is committed to bringing transformation in his area, which has been restructured recently with several Village Development Committees of the past falling under his jurisdiction. Mayor Acharya, a young leader of Nepali Congress, spoke to New Spotlight on various issues related to the local governance. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Jan 12, 2019
Haphazardly and hurriedly prepared, a sub-committee report indicted several ministers and high officials allegedly involved in a massive irregularity during the process of purchasing the two aircraft. Although there are more rhetorical outbursts, presumptions and generalisations, the report has created a new wave in Nepali politics.
By Keshab Poudel Jan 12, 2019
Construction of road is not just for physical connectivity or destruction of local environment, but it is also for livelihood improvement, environmental safeguard and economic prosperity. This is what Asian Development Bank’s South Asia Sub-regional Economic Cooperation (SASEC) Road Connectivity East-West-Highway-Kosi Bridge-East-West Highway road project has shown in Sunsari, Udayapur and Saptari districts of eastern Nepal. Along with road construction, the project has also launched livelihood and environment safeguard programs with the participation and involvement of the local community and elected representatives. The road project has shown how a road can bring economic prosperity in the local level, particularly women, if it is constructed side by side with livelihood components
By Keshab Poudel Dec 22, 2018
Although he also served as an assistant minister at the center and got elected to the central parliament, the Mayor of Baitadi Municipality, Keshab Bahadur Chand, chose to contest the election in his local municipality. Chand, who secured victory as the mayor from Nepali Congress, finds there is more work here to complete. Under the new constitution and act, the mayor of municipality’s exercises more authority than the minister of the center. Chand spoke to KESHAB POUDEL at his office in the Patan Municipality of Baitadi district, reverently about the function and power of municipality. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Dec 09, 2018
After years of high fertility rates and high growth of population, Nepal’s population scenario is rapidly changing. With the decline of fertility rate and birthrate, there is a gradual but drastic decline of the young population. If the government does not take actions, Nepal will be an aged society by 2054 from a younger nation.
By Keshab Poudel Nov 24, 2018
For the freed Haliays, formerly a bondage labor, of far-western and mid-western parts of remote Nepal, small scale livelihood support programs launched by INGOs like Lutheran World Federation-Nepal and community-based local organizations are the game changer. At a time when a large number of Haliyas of 14 districts of far-western remote Nepal are yet to receive the government compensation packages, the livelihood programs launched by LWF-Nepal have shown how economic empowerment brings social and political status
By Keshab Poudel Nov 03, 2018
Rev. Dr. Martin Junge, General Secretary of The Lutheran World Federation is in his eight-day visit to Nepal. While here, he went to project sites and interacted with the community members. Before returning home, Dr. Junge had talked with KESHAB POUDEL in an exclusive interview at LWF-Nepal’s office. Excerpts:
By Keshab Poudel Sep 19, 2018
Rivers are not only a source of water but they are also the source of human life, civilization, culture and religion in Nepal and India. From the time immemorial, Kosi and Gandak rivers have been linking and integrating the people of Nepal and India. However, the essence of rivers has changed with the colonial perception of looking at rivers as a source of revenue and resources rather than its religious sanctity. With states coming with engineering interventions to contain and regulate the water flows, the era of rivers as a civilization integrating communities has come to an end. Although dams and embankments were built to minimize the flood and use the water for irrigation, this has not only maximized floods but disconnected people from their involvement in river management. At a time when there are more discontented on the present river management issues, communities living in river basins, experts and civil society leaders recently gathered in Indian state of Patna to find a way to revive the involvement of communities in river management
By Keshab Poudel Sep 08, 2018